Where's Emmy?

I have a question, why do we (parents) think it is a "fun" idea to take our children to a crowded mall full of screaming children and ask them to wait in line to sit in a strange man's lap and take a picture?

It just sounds crazy to me, yet I did just that today. I was positive Tate would have nothing to do with him considering the whole way to the mall he would say, "I do not like Santa. I do not want to see him!" While Emmy said to Tate, "I will hold your hand, Tate." We get to the mall and there he is all dressed in red sitting in a large green chair. Tate is still telling me he does not like him and Emmy is saying she wants to see him and ask him for a baby. Well, it comes time for our turn to see the man in red and Tate walks up to him, gives him five and crawls up next to him and starts up a conversation about trains (what???), while Emmy is having to be coaxed by Mimi just to walk on the red carpet Santa's chair is on. So, in the end, we had Tate making a best buddy and Emmy in tears because she did not want to be within 5 feet of Santa. Tate got a small coloring book from Santa and he thinks it is the best thing ever. He has told me that Emmy did not get one because she did not like Santa. Maybe next year... Tate still looks unsure in the picture,

but I think he was more afraid of the lady taking the picture than Santa.

A Cowboy Santa and a Snowman with a Penguin...

OK, Brad and I broke down and did something we said we would never do...we got not one, but two blowups for the yard this year. A Cowboy Santa Claus and a Snowman with a penguin inside. The kids were VERY excited to put them up when Brad came home yesterday, so we bundled everyone up and headed out to the front yard. At first, Tate was excited to "help" Daddy and I put them up, but the excitement soon turned into, "I don't like it...I want to go back inside to play with my animals and barn." So, he decided to stand at the door and watch us from inside. He was not happy about the new additions to the yard, until he saw that Emmy was not scared, then he (slowly) came around to the idea and started posing next to them in the yard. All ready to help out Daddy.

(Don't ask about the attire!)

The Cowboy Santa is up!

Maybe these things aren't that bad after all, Sissy!

Helping Mommy put in the stakes.

Posing with Daddy

Do you see the snow?

(Emmy told us, "You can't touch the snow, it is inside")

Emmy and the Penguin

Tate at the end of the project.

On another note, I put the tree up yesterday during the kids nap so we could put the ornaments on together, and Emmy was scared of it when she woke up. She said, "Turn out the lights and put it up. I don't want it." When Tate got up, he said, "A Christmas Tree...I like it!" Go figure!!

All Bundled Up...

After Thanksgiving, we went to spend a few days in Clifton. It was cold and yucky weather, so we mostly stayed in and played, but here is a picture of Boots and Aunt Courtney taking the kids down to the barn to feed the horses.

Thanksgiving Feast...

We had a great Thanksgiving Holiday. Thanks to a softball injury, we had Daddy home all week and got some great family time in. :) We have so many things to be thankful for this year, health, wonderful family and friends, and so many other things. We went to Mimi and Papaw's for Thanksgiving day and had a great time with everyone.

(Even if Molly was the one to win Monopoly!!!)

Thank you to Mimi and Papaw for a wonderful dinner, we all enjoyed it. :) Emmy really got into the Thanksgiving Parade this year...

I think she watched the whole thing without getting up.

Here is Mamaw and Tate, she was trying to put his sock back on him.
Emmy enjoying some mashed potatoes

Silly Tater

Emmy is into tearing her food up into pieces.

Very serious stuff

Brad with Brody B. They had a great time playing.

Emmy and Mimi reading at the end of the day.

Happy Birthday, Miss Ellie!

We went to Clifton this weekend to celebrate Ellie's first birthday. The kids liked the party, especially the cupcakes and ice cream! This was after Mimi dropped us off in Waco and we rode to Clifton with Aunt Laci and Ellie.

(Tate is fixated on a Mickey Mouse movie)

Yum...Ice Cream and Cupcakes...

Miss Emmy playing football with Daddy. :)

Slowing Daddy down, just a little!
Sugar high!!!
Emmy and her Rooster

My Tater...

Busy, Busy

We had a very busy weekend. We started off on Friday going to the park with our friend Jack, then the kids went to stay with Honey and Coach on Friday night. On Saturday, we went to Evelyn's birthday party at the Wiggly Play Center. The kids had a great time playing. Then on Sunday we went to church and watched the Cowboys win.

Emmy all ready for the park with her baby, diaper bag, and sunglasses.

She loves walking across the bridge, as long as Tate is not jumping on it.

Tate having fun at the park

Let's go!

Emmy and Daddy at the party

Tate loved building with these blocks and then knocking them over.

Mimi bought the kids a new video (Leap Frog's Letter Factory) and they LOVE it!! They think it is so cool to sit up on our bed and watch it. Here they are after their bath last night.

Thanks, Mimi!

Weekend...

Last weekend, we went to Clifton after the Baylor Dedication.

The kids had fun feeding the horses and playing at the ranch. Look at that Tate!

Emmy and Tate reading Goodnight Moon
Some advice from the Tater

Emmy, Tate and Ellie

Tate playing with all the animals...pajamas, hat, boots and spurs

Emmy reading to her baby (Carol Jane)

Tate passed out on Boots and Banty's bed

Baylor Dedication

Last Friday, we traveled south to Waco for the dedication of The Immortal Ten Memorial at Baylor University. Boots has worked very hard over the past several years and they did a great job with the dedication and the campus looked beautiful. The kids seemed to enjoy running around campus, which was neat for Brad and I to watch them play where we walked to class just a few short years ago.

Oh, how life changes! :) This was as close and still as I could get them.

Future Baylor Bears????????
After the dedication, we went to have some ice cream. YUM!
Tate has started to try ice cream lately, not just the cone.
Such a lady! :)

Halloween Carnival...

On Halloween night, we went to our church carnival and the kids had a great time. Mimi, Papaw, and Jo Jo were able to come with us. The kids got to play games, eat great food, get candy, listen to some music and see the real Boz (which they were petrified of). Overall, it was a great night! Emmy enjoying the carnival

Mimi and the kids

Mommy and Tate sharing some candy

Emmy enjoying a little piece of candy

Aunt Jo Jo and the kids

Papaw and Tater

Enjoying the music

Jo Jo and Emmy dancing