McWane Fun on Monday

Nathan was off work on Monday, so it was a good day to take the kids to McWane with an extra set of hands. They both had a ball! Before now, it's been really easy to take both b/c Watson would usually stay in the stroller. Not this time though. He was on the GO from the second we got there, all over the place, and so was she. They had so much fun and both were asleep right out of the parking lot! Now is a good time to go since they just opened the snow exhibit.



























H-34 mos
W-9 mos

The Weekend before Christmas

The countdown is on, only one week until Christmas! This has been a really fun December so far. We've had alot of low-key activities this month-cooking, decorating, parties, Christmas movies, fun stuff at school, etc. which is just what we needed at their ages.


But we've also missed out on a few things since they're still so little this year, like things that happen during morning nap time and Candlelight at church and the zoolight safari, etc. But I know there is always next year and each year will be a little different the bigger they get!



One fun thing we have started this year is Christmas movie night. Hayes has never really watched a movie, she's not good yet at being still and following along. BUT, if you tell her she gets to stay up late, turn off the lights, put a huge bowl of popcorn in her hands, cuddle up under a blanket and tell her she gets to watch a Christmas movie, she will GLUE her eyes to the tv and watch. So we have done that twice now and it's been so much fun for everybody, except Watson, we wait until he goes to bed! He might get to participate next year if he can behave.Friday night we watched Sesame Street Christmas from 1979. It was slooooowwww and painful for us, but she LOVED it and has watched it 99 times since then so that's all that matters.



On Saturday we had Nathan's family Christmas pary and it was lots of fun! All the cousins were there, with exception of a few. We loved getting to see everybody. W and H both got some fun toys, and they both love this little Cars rocking toy that he got. He is so funny riding it!

Family pic of 3


Once big sister gets in, everybody gets a little exasperated b/c of her dislike of the camera. Seriously, how do people get good family pics?! Our 2 are complete wiggle worms when they see that camera.

On Sunday our cousin Sara Grace was baptized at her church, so we went to that and then they had a big yummy lunch afterwards. It was so sweet and I was so teary. Then she spoke during the lunch and I teared up even more. Baptisms are super emotional for me these days. Every time I watch one I think about Hayes and Watson! We enjoyed being with some of our B'ham cousins. They are right here close by and we still don't get to see them enough!


Sara Grace and Watson and Claire and Davis, and Hayes dancing onstage


Claire and Hayes


She found the stage and jumped and ran around like a wild woman


cousins Claire, Sara Grace, Alice and Hayes

So that was a long post about a good weekend. I'm thankful for all these memories I can post on here. I would forget everything we did if I didn't have somewhere like this to put them. Thanks for caring about our memories too if you are still reading!

Soaking up the Days

There have been lots of happenings around here lately during the month of December. Some important and some not-so-important for the blog, just lots of good family time and togetherness which I am most thankful for. But one to document was the Watson Family Christmas Dinner this past weekend. It's an annual family reunion for my daddy's side of the family and the older I get, the more I look more forward to it every year. Some of the people we see many times during the year and others this is the only time we see them! It was in Montgomery this year. We really missed my grandparents and my great aunt Ease being there. They always started preparing early for "the dinner" as in what they would wear, what we would wear, what songs they would sing and jokes they would tell. It was always a day in the spotlight for them since they loved and lived to be the center of attention together!


Santa made an appearance and brought gifts for all the kids. The bigger kids liked him, the younger ones not so much.


ELATED to see all her cousins. She didn't even sit w/us and thought she was big stuff with her cousins at their table.


Please get me out of this strange man's lap!!!!!! This is definitely my last attempt at Santa pics for this year. Neither of my children care a thing about him obviously and that is okay. There is alot for them to soak up around December with so many parties and activities going on. Our main goal for Hayes this year is for her to simply understand that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. I keep trying to expand on the Christmas story for her, and she gets sidetracked and starts asking for a snack or something. But I know she's listening and absorbing more than I think, hopefully.


There are lots of things I want to start next year when they are both a little older, but so far our December has been full of family time and I love it. Here is another milestone reached, both sitting up in the extra large buggy at Publix. Watson was all smiles until he realized that Hayes got a cookie and he didn't. So we may have to resort back to him in the front and her in the back so he doesn't know he's missing out on a treat!


Merry Christmas!

School Picture and Smart Friends

We have a super, duper, uber smart friend named Jason who is like a technology wizard. He knows all things computer/technology, and thanks to him all my pictures are now finally backed up and saved. THANK YOU JASON!!! We appreciate it waaaaay more than you know. There is no telling how many pics are on this computer, and I know one day this old dell will crash and burn eventually and everything on here will be no more. I know nothing about hard drives and backing up stuff so I just haven't been doing it w/pictures and videos (except posting some of them here and on youtube.) Risky I know!! And I would probably just fall out and die if I lost all the documentation of pictures since Hayes was born. That's a whole lots of memories!!! Isn't it so neat how God gives everyone such different gifts and talents? Technology is definitely not my gift, but I'm so glad it's Jason's gift! Thank you for sharing your gift with us Jason.

Moving on, my oldest is now old enough for a school picture?? She is just getting way too big.


Hayes-2 years-Covenant Day School-2011
(not sure why it scanned like this!)

It's Christmas Time!

I just realized today that Christmas is only 20 days away! how can that be? Our house is decorated, but there is not the first gift under the tree yet. I need to get busy I guess. Although if there was anything under there it would surely get opened/destroyed this year so I guess there is no point in having anything there. This past weekend we went to the pancake breakfast with Santa. Hayes has never liked Santa or wanted to be near him and this year was no different. She spotted him way across the room and kept her eye on him the whole time!!
The Vestavia rockette girls from the high school were there serving and mingling and Watson was smitten! He did not know who in the world those pretty girls were in his face. It was hilarious.


Hayes wanted nothing to do with them and pretended that they were not behind her trying to talk to her. They were all so sweet though!



Family Santa pic 2011-there was no way our 2 were about to let us hand them off to Santa and Mrs. Claus, so we all jumped in and it was much more peaceful that way!



Watson loved Santa's beard and kept grabbing at it. Hayes looks so thrilled. All she wanted to do was get to the park across the street and get 1 billion miles away from this big man with the beard! She's just not a fan yet and that is fine. We keep reminding her that Christmas is all about Jesus' birthday and that is what and why we celebrate. It was a fun event and I hope they do it again next year!

H-34 months
W-9 months

West Playdate

We had company a few weeks ago, Rebecca came to stay and play the week of Thanksgiving. Hayes loves Mr. Becca-haha-that is how she always says her name. Thanks for coming, Rebecca! We always love having you here!! The kids had a great time playing together!

Christmas Art

We've had a good, loooong week at home this past week. Hayes was sick early in the week so we have been home all day every day except for Friday. I have loved it. Our tree is up and the house is decorated so that makes it a little more festive and fun to stay in all day w/a sick one! Watson has been napping good too this week, so Hayes and I have gone crazy with some Christmas crafts and glitter while he's been asleep. Nothing fancy and nothing from pinterest, just good old fashioned kindergarten crafting! I must say glitter (which can be a HUGE mess) is not nearly as disastrous with one child as opposed to 16 or 18 five year olds, and SO much fun for them to play with.


Hayes is all about shaking some salt and pepper on her food every day-cereal, casseroles, green beans, whatever-so I knew she would love shaking that glitter. She wanted to do everything BLUE of course.

We glittered names



and a Christmas banner for the playroom-turned out okay but was good for working on letters


and made reindeer hats-which will probably last 3 seconds. Watson ate most of his last night.




Easy, breezy stuff-all you need is some construction paper, scissors, markers, glue, etc. She is at a fun age to do art with!