Beauty is torture!

I've been wanting to get Evan's ears pierced for a while. Richard was for it but just said he couldn't be there when it happened. So, I talked to Caroline about taking Sydney with us and off we went to the mall. Just a note...it was Halloween...that's why her ears are being done by a lady bug:) The mall was so crowded that day and this lady was the only person working in the store but she did a great job and was very calm and patient. Sydney was going to go first but then decided to let Evan go.
The first one...not knowing what was going to happen.

A little upset for the second. The store was full of people and as I looked up I could see all these people watching and I just felt like they were saying, why are you torturing your child like that! She just cried for a few minutes and has never messed with them.

Needless to say after watching Evan, Sydney got her face painted instead :)

The purple marks are from where they marked her ears.

I love it and think she looks so sweet and feminine! A girl in her class at daycare who has just a little more hair than Evan. recently got hers done after Santa thought she was a boy! :)

Misc pics

Just some pictures I wanted to share. This is Evan's new face she makes...so funny!

Chan with phone in hand as always. He doesn't give me many picture opps.

Hudson doing flips on the trampoline.

Evan after some baked ziti. She is an awesome eater and does a great job of feeding herself! (Evan if we do have to go straight to the bath tub!

New Cousins

At the end of September and first of November, we were able to welcome 2 new babies to our family! My sister Ashley and her husband Collin has their first baby on September 28. Brianne (Bri) Marie. This makes the 10th grandchild and evens out the boy/girl ratio but not for long...Mary is having another boy in March! She is a cutie and it's fun/weird to see Ashley with a baby. She's always been the baby. She's a great mom and I can't wait to see Evan and her play in the many years to come.

This was her blessing day on November 22nd. Ashley and Collin live in the Hoover ward area but are serving in Ensley so we were able to visit that small branch that day.

Collin did a great job and Bri's dress was beautiful!

Richard's brother Russell and his wife Jill had their first baby on October 4th. Carson Ryan This is exciting because this is the first cousin on this side of the family for my kids. It took a little bit for Hudson to understand that Carson was his cousin but not Sydney's :) We are very happy for them and excited for the fun years ahead! I am an awful aunt and do not have any updated pictures of Carson. He had a kinda rough delivery and first few days so the only pictures I have are through the glass in the nursery. I can't believe I haven't taken any pictures since...what's wrong with me? Anyway...congrats Russell and Jill!

I love this girl!

The life of a 9 month old

Evan has been having lots of fun since she's growing and becoming more mobile! She crawls (army style...so cute!) pulls up, and is cruising! I can't believe what a big girl she is! He's some pictures of what she's been up to.

First taste of an Oreo cookie!

Spending a few hours at work with mom. Destroyed my shred box!

Late afternoon nap at daycare. Chilled out! (note:this is one of her backup outfits...I did not send her to school in that) I think she's outgrown this bouncer...pushing it to it's limits! She has since moved up a class at daycare and she loves it! They go outside several times a day and she has more room to explore!

Watching Alabama football and looking quite adorable in her cheerleader outfit! Her dad has been waiting a long time for her to wear this.

Happy Birthday Chandler!

Happy 14th birthday Chandler!

Here are a few pictures for us to see how much you've grown in the last couple of years.

The first day of school this year, 8th grade. Taller than me and gaining fast on his dad!
Last summer during all-stars.

5th grade graduation (2 1/2 years ago ) Whew...I was a lot smaller then too. That diet is long overdue!

Chandler is a great kid and Richard and I are very proud of him. He is still taking guitar lessons and has learned a lot. He loves classic rock and listens to a lot of the same music that I listened to at his age. Weird! He loves Hudson and Evan and all his cousins and they love him too and look to up to him! He still plays baseball. He's very social and into something all the time but has great friends. I can't believe that now he can go to dances and youth conference and that this time next year, I will be taking him to get his learner's permit! Love you Chan! Happy Birthday!

Vacation part 2...Orange Beach

The kids and I left Calhoun, Georgia on Wednesday about lunch and headed to Orange Beach. It look us forever to get there. I missed a turn and it cost us over an hour. Considering I was traveling by myself with 3 kids, we did great. I was totally stressed out and my nerves were shot but we made it. Needless to say, we didn't do anything that night but check out the house and get settled. The great family that let us stay in their condo last year, let us stay in the house this year. It was beautiful and had a great neighborhood pool that we pretty much had to ourselves when we went. They have 5 children so everything was very kid friendly and they had plenty of toys and games. Thank you so much Sellers for your great generosity! We had a blast! Richard's parents came on Thursday afternoon and Richard got there late Thursday night. Richard's parents were at the World Series, too and his mom was a great help with Evan! Thanks Juanita! She's also spent the summer entertaining Hudson and has been a life saver! Enjoy pics of the beach trip!
Evan's first time on the beach. She didn't seem to mind the sand at all. I was worried about her getting it on her hands and then rubbing her eyes but she was okay. I didn't keep her out there long at all. We're more pool people.
The boys are getting so big and actually got along pretty well this trip.

How cute is her swimsuit?

She really starting trying to crawl but couldn't quite get it down. I love this skirt I got at the Children's Place Outlet for $2.99!

She was way excited when the waitress at Lambert's gave her this balloon!

The house backs up to Gulf State park and there was a pond behind the house and several little lakes in the neighborhood the boys fished in. Richard saw a baby alligator one day and we were warned about snakes by the owners but luckily we didn't see any of those!

Of course we did the putt-putt and go carts. Evan stayed with Me-maw while we did that. Richard and his dad did a great shrimp boil one night and we played lots of Uno. I love my family and vacations!

Vacation part 1...The World Series in Calhoun Georgia

Hudson's World Series was held in Calhoun, Georgia. That's about 45 miles north of Atlanta and 45 miles south of Chattanooga. It started on Thursday, July 16th with opening ceremonies at 5:30pm. Since Richard was the head coach of the team, he had to be there by 1 for meetings. So, he and Hudson and another dad and son left early Thursday morning. I worked til 12 and then me, Chandler, and Evan headed out. We didn't make opening ceremonies but I wasn't too upset about it because it's usually a big chaotic mess and a lot of standing around. So we headed straight to the hotel. The games started Friday morning with pool play over the weekend. We had 2 on Friday. We won the first one and it was a great game. We were behind the whole time but came back the last couple of innings and won it...it was great. The rest of the weekend didn't go so well for us. We lost the next game on Friday and the game on Saturday. After finding out how the rest of the games in our pool turned out, we realized we did not make it out of pool play to advance to the bracket to play for World Series Champs but that we could play in the consolation bracket. Everyone voted to stay and play ball. It was a single elimination bracket. The kids were excited to stay longer. I think Hudson cared more about staying so he could hang out with all his friends and swim at the hotel! The consolation bracket games started on Monday and we played 2 on Monday, 2 on Tuesday, and the championship game on Wednesday. We won! The team got a huge trophy and all the kids got trophies. They had a great time and I was so glad they could walk away winners. Hudson mostly played outfield but he had a few innings at catcher and first. Our team was so great with great parents and siblings. Chandler had a great time with all the other siblings and it was just a great trip. The weather was great as well! I don't know what was up but that week was so cool and wonderful! There was only 1 really hot day but it wasn't unbearable. That was such a blessing!
All the little sisters loved Evan and she had someone giving her attention all the time!

Evan's first time in the pool. She loved it!

Getting ready to go swimming and clapping. She had just really learned to do that! So cute!

One night we were able to go to a Rome Braves (minor league) game for really cheep. It was a lot of fun and once again, beautiful weather. We were in lawn seats in the outfield where they have picnic tables or you can just sit on the grass.

Evan and all her friends.

This little girl, Megan, adored Evan!

One night, us and 2 other families were also able to go to a Braves game in Atlanta. They played the Mets and won! We all had a great time! Evan can sleep through anything!

It was such a great experience and a blast! The kids and I left straight from Georgia on Wednesday and headed for the beach! Richard had to go back and work a day so he came really last Thursday night. So...part 2 of our vacation will be another post.