Stir crazy...

This winter has been tough...we are all a little stir crazy! With a new baby and lots of snow we don't get out much. I had to find something to get Jack out from in front of the TV! So, we decided to make some yummy turtles! I had all intentions of giving these to his Sunday School teachers...however due to my lack of a brain lately that never happened :( It's the thought that counts...right???

I love that four year olds think it is FUN to help out! Mommy didn't have to unwrap any Hershey kisses!

ready to melt the chocolate!

Jack is extremely picky about textures...mixing food...well, just food in general. Notice his leary look on his face.

You can tell here he is trying to like them...notice the yummy piece of caramel dripping down his chin!!! I would say this was a success!

Feelin the Love

Thankfully, Jack is in love with his baby sister!!! He asked her the other day "Why don't you laugh at me like Adeline?" I tried to explain to him that she would be cracking up at him any day now! He loves to talk to her, act crazy for her, and he always gives her kisses. I couldn't be more grateful for the wonderful big brother he is to her! He just jumped right into his new role.

I caught this moment without him knowing! He was in the flooring talking to her and playing!! It is those moments that I have to stop and thank God for the many, many blessings in my life!

Ginger Bread FUN!

So, I seriously LOVE the holidays! I love traditions and the closeness it brings to our family. With all the changes in Jack's life lately I was wanting to do something "special" for him. Being the perfectionist I tend to be I would have loved nothing more than to make a HOME MADE gingerbread house...you know the kind you actually bake real gingerbread for. Well...that didn't happen. So, thanks to some Walgreens Jingle Bucks ( you know I love a coupon) I was able to purchase this precious kit for only $2.99...that's right....this was some cheap fun that I plan on making a tradition in our home.

Sweet boy with the finished product...pretty good if I don't say so myself. It wasn't too many days later the gummy bears went missing on this...wonder where they went???

Nana insisted on talking to Jack in the middle of teh project...today happened to be a day he didn't mind :)

Four Years Old...what!?

How is is possible that it has been four years since my precious boy was born! Time flies when your having fun right! He is so big these days especially since Analynn is so tiny. I realize everyday that he is becoming a little boy and totally isn't the baby I'd like him to be sometimes! He is independent, head strong, and is own person! All qualities that make an amazing young man. I am so proud of my Jack and I can't wait to continue to watch him grow! God is so good for giving him to me!!

It was a big day for Jack...here he is rounding the corner and seeing his birthday present for the first time!!!

That's right folks...this four year old is the proud owner of a new big boy bike!! He was so proud it made me want to cry! Now if we could just get the weather to cooperate he could test that bad boy out!

Those of you that truly know me, know that my motto is "Safety First!" At four years old a helmet is cool...I'm thinking that might become a fight somewhere down the line :) Look at that precious face ready to ride!!

Deck the Halls and Trim the Tree

Good times decorating the tree this year with my boy Jack! I didn't even move the ornaments around after he went to bed :) When we were finished he said to me, "Wow Mom, it is beautiful!" Such a sweet heart that boy has!

Pictures were pretty blurry but I had to include this one.

I love this one!

Beginning to smile BIG

Sweet baby girl is starting to smile BIG...here she is showing off for her Bubba and Daddy!

Look at those toes....crack me up!!

Great People!

Had to post this precious picture of Analynn and my two favorite nurses ever! Having a baby is not the easiest thing in the world, but when surrounded by wonderful caring people it is so much easier. God takes care of his people, and I needed these sweet ladies in my life!

Dilver, Dollar, Dity (aka Silver Dollar City)

I posted previously about our Thanksgiving in Branson...of course the highlight of the trip was Silver Dollar City, or as I use to say as a kid Dilver, dollar, Dity!!! Jack was so excited and only interested in seeing the famous singing Christmas tree!!! It is quite an amazing sight and absolutely magical for an adult let alone a four year old boy!! Analynn spent most the day in her stroller due to the fact she was seven weeks old :)

Now for the most exciting detail of the trip....drumroll please....MATCHING hats! As you view the picture below you will see that all our hats match. That's right...my mom (Nana) made all of us hats to wear to Silver Dollar City. They really were cute! I mean look at Chris and Chad don't they look like they are loving their hats :) As we walked through the park we were stopped frequently and asked where did you find those matching hats, and Nana would say with a smile, "I made them!" She was too cute and proud! We had a wonderful time and even had a few (ok several) good laughs!
The magical tree!!

Jack and Nana...
sucker face = one happy boy

I love this precious picture...Analynn is MIA but she was snug as a bug in her stroller!

I absolutely love this picture of my mom and dad!!! Love them soooooo much!

it is obvious why I had to include this picture of Chad enjoying his corndog :)

Popcorn...a Jack FAVORITE!

Only on vacation would I allow a sucker this huge...ugh!

Turkey Day or Bust

This year it was our year to have Thanksgiving with my side of the family. Due to many different factors we ended all meeting together in Branson, MO! It use to be a tradition for my family to go to Branson the day after Thanksgiving. So, we thought it would be a great way to get away and enjoy family once again. It is about a 7 hour drive for us. Since Analynn was seven weeks old we didn't know quite how it would go. However, she was fabulous! We are thankful for a DVD player that kept Jack's attention as traveled! We were almost there and saw the BIG signs for the "real" original Bass Pro Shop...of course knowing my boys we HAD to stop! For Chris it wasn't near long enough of a trip, but it was enough to have some fun! By the way, at this point we were starving and since The $17 meals at the Bass pro restaurant were a little out of our budget, we ended up at the snack bar. Well, at this point it was almost 8:00...needless to say the only they had left was a chili dog that all three of us split ...not the highlight of my stop!

Four wheelers EVERYWHERE...Jack's dream world!

They had a beautiful display of santa's sleigh and his reindeer...love my boys!

Jack especially liked this one...it was just his size he thought. Little does he know he will NOT be getting on one of these for a long, long time!

Baby girl was checking the place out.

Doing What We Do...Hanging Out

Life is different around here...since Analynn was born the weather has been cold and we have been at home. I use to feel really guilty about this. Jack is so use to us out running around all the time. Now, we tend to stay in Pj's longer than others would say we should. However, this is only temporary. I'm learning to juggle things better each day and I know as the weather warms and Analynn grows we will be out and about in no time! For the mean time...this is us :)Analynn LOVED her mobile on the pack and play...so sweet to hear her talk and smile at it!
This is my classic Jack smile...I love this boy so much I can't stand it!!!

His Little Lamb

When Jack was born my sister bought me the most precious gown matched with the most perfect cap and booties! On the hat and gown is says "His little lamb." On the back of the gown it says "The Lord is my shepard." I absolutely loved this gown and everything it represented. We brough Jack home in this gown. I felt it was appropriate as we strive to instill in both our children that the Lord is indeed their shepard. I had intended on bringing Analynn home in this same gown however, as you remember from a previous post my mom surprised me with the dress i wore home from the hospital. So, inspite the fact that she did not come home in the gown, I still wanted pictures of her in it. I mean how special for both my children to wear such a sweet and meaningful outfit. Well.......nothing tends to go as planned for our sweet Analynn.....you will see what I mean from the pics below lol....Oh boy!This is our sweet Jack in the hospital in the gown. Seems like forever ago since he was that small.
Here she is...the diva! This is the only "decent" pic I got of her in this outfit. Not quite what I had dreamed in my head for these pictures, but then I realized that made them all the more special. I will forever remember this photo session!

Here she goes....

laid back and relaxed :)

Dressed for Church

Yet another precious outfit...too bad she has lost her hair since then :) This may have been the last time I could put a bow in it.

I feel pretty...oh so pretty!

As I write this blog you are going to hear several times about how fun it is to dress my baby girl!

This is my FAVORITE outfit that she outgrew way too quickly. It was given to me by my good friend Melody! She is adopting a baby girl soon and I can't wait to return the favor ;)

She looks pretty happy about the million pics I was taking doesn't she :) ha!

Trunk-or-Treat give me something good to eat!

Trunk-or-Treat was great! I decided at the last minute like any good mom that my baby needed a costume too :) It was more of the guilt of not having her pic in a costume that made me go out the day of Halloween and buy her a costume. Anyway, if you know me, I found a great deal on this precious, precious strawberry and I'm so glad I did!! I was so proud of my precious kiddos!
Calling Dr. jack...

Analynn was having a GREAT time :)

Jack enjoying his loot before I made him stop lol

Here is a precious wedding slideshow picture of Jack and Lucy Beth...he stills says she is the one he is gonna marry :) Only time will tell!

Trick-or-Treat!

Halloween fell on a Sunday this year. So trick-or-treating took place on Saturday. We celebrated by attending the Whitlock annual Halloween party and trick-or-treated a very few places! These boys are too stinkin cute!

Napping, Napping, and more Napping

I know one day soon the napping will end and she will be wide awake ready to go!! For now though I'm gonna enjoy this precious phase!
Daddy's favorite spot!
Sleeping on Mommy...pic is upside down...not sure why...too long to upload again so enjoy! Ha!