My BOYS!

Getting warm with Hot Chocolate!

After coming in from the snow we enjoyed a nice cup of hot chocolate.

A good day after hearing the terrible events from yesterdays Westroad's Mall shootings. We had not gone out at all and didn't know it had happened until later because I had been cleaning and getting things ready to feed the missionaries. So when I watched the news yesterday, Tanner asked why people were crying. I told him people had been hurt and some died so they were sad and crying. He then got a sad face and kept walking around the house repeatedly telling Andrew and I, "People died, they're crying, sad, they died, they're sad, sad mom!" I instantly wondered if I should have told him. But he slowly forgot I guess and didn't say anything again!
What a crazy world we live in! Our prayers go out to those who lost loved one's!

Fun in the SNOW!

It started snowing this morning and didn't stop until this afternoon. Tanner being to little to remember snow last year thought it was wonderful. When it was still snowing pretty good and we were watching from the window, he would say, "Mom poke it, mom touch it!" So you can imagine his reaction when he got to go and play in it. I showed him how to make a snow angel, but with the wind slightly blowing little snowflakes would hit his face, and he didn't like that to much! In one picture you can see mine and Tanner's angels together!
It was a fun day for us!

Back home!

So for Tanner's 2 year check up, they had him strip down and put on a little hospital gown. I thought it was to cute so I had to snap a few shots. At the other THREE places we've lived and taken him to the doctor they didn't do this, they just strip him down and let him freeze until they're done, so it wasn't just cute, but smart!
Tanner and his friend Hunter playing in Tanner's "grandma made" play house.
Having just a bad day! He kept screaming and crying until I took his picture. He finally stopped and wanted to see it. Then gave in and fell asleep!

Touring Duke's campus!

This campus is by far the prettiest and coolest campus I have ever seen. The buildings were amazing, the dorms even looked amazing with wooden doors rounded at the top. We had a lot of fun checking out the sites; and for Andrew, standing in the basketball stadium that looked like a high schools it was so small. Nathan and the other's back east went to a game a little while ago and said it was crazy because the fans are so close on the sides they can touch the players, so of course for the opposing team they get a lot of distractions.

All the leaves on the trees were still changing with green, yellow, bright red and oranges. It was really beautiful. Sylvia and Jared want to convince us to move back there when we are done with school. We'll see about that.

For the North Carolina fans, we came back sporting Duke shirts and loving the campus. Sorry... but GO DUKE!!

Thanksgiving football and races!

Everybody went to get a work out before getting their bellies full of turkey and gravy. And surprisingly NOBODY was hurt. The kids had fun and I think the men did too! I don't know who they said won the races, but I think they all have their story of who won. :)

Fun at the Greene's!

Sylvia gave Tanner a little Birthday party at their house and this time he didn't hide under the table! Tanner really liked getting to play with MaryBeth and James. And they did really well with him.


Nathan, Jenny, Andrew, Sylvia, Will, Jared, and Julie. (Sorry about the hair Julie, I only had one other to choose from and both you and Jared were looking down).
Getting ready to head to Apex after a YUMMY Thanksgiving dinner. Thanks guys! We had a lot of fun!

Going and coming from NC for Thanksgiving

Tanner has flown once before, but was to young to remember it. So as you can imagine it was a real treat for him. He loved watching the "Big jets and planes" take off and land. When it was our turn to take off Tanner said, "Ready... Set... Go GO GO GO GO" (I am sure the other people on the plane enjoyed him screaming.) But once the plane left the ground he grabbed the arm rests, put his head back, and made a sick unsure face. He seemed to be cool with it, just a "I've never felt this way" look. Once the plane evened out he looked at us with a big smile and said, "Whooo... big jet".

Tanner had a lot of fun with his cousins in NC and was glad they all came to see us off. Leaving the warm weather and headed back to the frozen tundra!

Happy Birthday! I'm 2!!

On November 18th Tanner turned 2~ HOORAY!!! Well this is the only picture I took on his birthday. I video taped the opening presents and blowing out the candles. Which.... by the way.... as soon as we started singing "Happy Birthday" he jumped down off the bench and hide under the table. We had some friends over, so I think he just had a little to much attention and got embarrassed. I felt kind of bad for him! Thanks aunt Camille for the awesome shirt he's wearing!

Abi Yoyo

I took this about a month ago. This is part of a Halloween song Tanner learned at music time. Abi Yoyo is the giant's name, the people sing it to put him to sleep so a magician can make him disappear and get ride of him. Anyhow... every time we pass the club house (where music time is) Tanner will start singing the song. I thought I'd take the camera and get him. But of course he stopped before I got the camera out, so I had to prompt him a bit.

I have been Tagged!

I have been tagged so I have to tell 6 interesting fact/habits you probably don’t know about me.

1. I absolutely love going to stores around Christmas time. The atmosphere of spicy candles, Christmas songs playing in the background, sparkly decorations, and kid’s excited faces is great. I wish stores were like it all year round.

2. I want to help kids that have come from bad families or have just had their own problems. Working at a few different places that have helped children & families has really got me thinking about what I could do on my own to help others…. I’m still in that process! :)

3. I have earned my Bachelors degree but would love to go back to school and further my education and just take classes that I wanted to take and never did. I liked college a lot and think I could defiantly benefit from more.

4. I want to learn how to dance. Like really learn how. Everything too…. Hip hop, swing, waltz, jazz, everything. Now I will dance around the house with Tanner and we both look retarded… (Andrew likes to busta move occasionally too!) One day I’ll be able to rock out!! I know sounds cheesy but it is something that I have always wished I could do. Maybe I’ll just have to get the whole family in lessons once we have the money!

5. I have the hardest time falling asleep at nights. Even when I was little, Amber and I used to hide in the closet playing card games because we couldn’t sleep, (until Camille would tell on us). I could lay down at 10 and not fall asleep until after 2. Nothing works. Even waking up at 6 in the morning and not taking a nap. I know…. I have issues! Meds work sometime, but I would rather not become a drug addict. :)

6. I can’t think of anything else people already don’t know. Ummm… when I get reading a book I have to finish it and carry it with me as I change Tanner’s diaper, do the laundry, etc. until it’s finished. I get anal about it!! (I do stop to feed him though)

I tag Amber and Camille. You have to say 6 things about you!

Look alikes

Andrew's dinner!

So I figured with us living so far away from family we wouldn't ever get a good turkey dinner, because I've never cooked my own turkey. I don't have to cook for Thanksgiving this year either because we will be in North Carolina, but I thought I'd get some practice in anyway. I went and bought two Cornish game hens ~starting out small :)~ and I'll slowly work my way up to a yummy turkey! They ended up turning out pretty good. Andrew and I were a little freaked out to have a full hen on our plate, so we split one after Andrew poked and prodded it for about five minutes and asked questions about it until he finally gave in and dug in. He ended up eating half of mine and part of his! Tanner seemed to like it too.... only after he forgot about me dancing it around with it's wings out before I put them in the oven. :)

Next up.... I'll have to see what the grocery store has to offer. Or maybe I'll be brave and go straight for the turkey!

MY BOYS!

Aren't they cute?!!!

You think my tractors sexy!!

Lately Tanner has spent a lot of his days sitting on this little tractor riding it around saying, "Bye mom, Bye dad!" Thinking he's hot stuff and pretty cool. He puts his golf ball in front and Thomas trains in the scoop behind him. Everything a little boy needs right?!

OREO's

One of Andrew's favorite snacks is oreo's and milk. He tries to hide it from Tanner, but there is no stopping this little munchkin! As soon as Tanner saw him he said, "Daddy, help you!" Meaning 'let me help you eat them'. Andrew was sitting in the livingroom ready to share when I said no way and to put him in his high chair. It's a good thing to, as you can see from the pictures. He likes to dip them in milk like dad, but takes a bite and dips the whole time he chews. Anyhow he enjoyed himself and had a yummy mess!

It's Halloween FUN!

Getting ready to go and get some candy! Can you tell he is excited?!
Tanner wanted to stop and swing for a little bit, but since his costume was to slick he kept sliding out of the swing. We would laugh and put him back on. But finally he had had enough of us "making fun of him" and put his face in his hands. It was too cute we started laughing harder so that is when he started to drop down to the ground and Andrew went to comfort him. Luckily he finally came up "Peek A Booing" and wasn't to mad at us after all. The wonderful joys of being parents!

The Lauritzen Gardens

The Lauritzen Botanical Gardens invited our townhouse complex on Halloween for some activities for the kids. They had story time, Trick or Treating, different crafts, and then some Halloween treats for the kids to enjoy. I have to say that Tanner liked seeing his buddies, the fish, and flowers the best. We had never been down inside the gardens before so it was fun for us all to go!

Music group buddies!

Because music group ended up being on Halloween, all the kids dressed up and did a lot of scary songs and had fun showing off their cool costumes. Tanner and I ended up leaving a little early because of a melt down for not getting enough sleep. But it was fun while we were there... until the last few minutes at least!

Three little dragons!
Tanner doing the "La La La Laaa" song with puppets! He loves this!