They Saw Mommy Kissing Santa...

And boy, did they tell us about it!

Saturday was Jake's preschool Christmas program. The class did a GREAT job, and we were all so proud. Our class rocks!

My videos won't upload but as soon as they do, I'll be happy to share. :-)

Warning: Cuteness Cousin Overload

We had some great family time last weekend visiting Claire and also celebrating my in-law's 40th wedding anniversary.

Here are some pictures of my three favorite cuties...




















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Little Pookie's birthday wrap up

Though we did celebrate Jake's birthday while we were in Disney, I just KNEW that I would get the "crappy mom award" if I tried to pass all that off as "the" birthday party. 1st birthday? yes. 2nd? sure. 3rd? possibly. 4th? Not a chance. These kids talk.

So, we planned a birthday party for Jake at the Children's Museum for the Friday we got back. We invited our church family, his "Carolina Cousins" and just a few friends from school to make a nice manageable group. Having just come back from our vacation, it was all I could do to muster up the energy to walk into Walmart and buy a cake.

But, Jake had a great time, I got "good mommy points," and all is well.



Jake is all about Monsters, Inc. these days...a great 2001 classic. It was so nice of Pixar to come out with the pre-quel this year so I could get this cute Monsters U cake for the party.

Target, however, is on my s---- list because they decided to not have ANYTHING Monsters U party related until the week AFTER the party. Jeez.

This was baby Claire's first trip to the museum and her first cousin birthday.
She loved the celery.


Our annual Big Red Chair Family Picture...

Cousins!



Thanks to my mom I actually got some pictures of Jake playing since I was a bit tied up in the party room. :-)


Carolina Cousins unite!

Jake is 4!

Last Saturday, my precious boy turned 4 years old. It just so happens that we were in the Happiest Place on Earth for his birthday. Not too many kids can say they rung in their 4th year in Disney World, and I'm glad that the timing worked out for us to do this. It was great fun, and we made a big deal all day (but with minimal presents since we didn't want to have to transport to and from AND Jake collected enough new stuffed animals as souvenirs that he could probably cast his own Pixar film).

My what a difference each year made!

Happy birthday, sweet Jake-Jake. I hope 4 is just as great as 3 was for you (minus the tantrums and potty training that lasted all of 12 months).

May you always know how much we love and adore you. You brighten our lives every day with your infectious laugh, mischievous grin, and shining eyes.



A Few 4 Year Old "Favorites":
Food- Grilled cheese, chicken nuggets, "squeeze" apple sauce, yogurt, grapes, bananas, goldfish crackers (all the crazy new fancy kinds), Cheez-its
Drink- Apple juice and milk
Movies- Finding Nemo and Monsters, Inc.
TV Shows- Bubble Guppies, Berenstein Bears, Dora, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Activities- Playing on the playground/swing set, Legos, playing with his (Brooklyn's) Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, baths, bounce houses
Animal- Zebra
Phrases- "I meanted to say...." and "Juuuuuuust kiddin"

Looking back on the last 12 months...

Ok- if the first few years went by fast, the last 12 months went by at an unbelievably record pace.

Chad and I have looked at each other more than once and said "Are we hallucinating or is this parenting two kids thing getting a little easier?"

This past year, Jake had his first trip to Bald Head Island, and became quite the (shoeless) fisherman.

He had his first pre-school Christmas performance and rocked it.

We said goodbye to the crib and he got his "Big Boy Room," much to my sadness and resistance.
 
Jake also became a big cousin. He fell in love with Baby Claire immediately and continues to be enamored by this sweet one.


And we started making him earn his keep around here...

Probably the thing that affected me the most this year was the Big.Boy.Haircut.

Shocking.

His smile was contagious, though, and soon I was smiling and embracing the new do.

He still loved the beach (thank goodness), and Brooklyn and Jake have really recently started playing together.

For short amounts of time.

He's still our Pookie, though, and such a snuggle bunny.
And a bit of a clown.

I fear he may not be a mama's boy for long, though, because he already started doing domestic work with his "wife," Haley.


What a face this one has! Still has that "What? I'm not doing anything wrong" face.

This boy melts me. His smile. His laugh. His engagement with friends and strangers alike. His compassion. His creativity.

This boy is gonna be 4 on Saturday. And I just can't believe it.