One Last Christmas Post

So, this post is out of order.  Before we left Charleston to head to our families, we had our family Christmas.  The boys got to open their presents from  us.  It was nice and quiet and the boys had a great time.  We  went to dinner at Miyabi's which I thought the boys would love.  Hughes was scared of the fire and Banks was totally  not interested .  Oh well, when we got home they really got interested.  

Banks enjoying Whack a Mole (Hughes' gift).

Hughes playing with the Leapfrog magnet/matching game (Banks' gift)
Banks loved his car.  In fact, Hughes loved it, too!  

We're going to the zoo, zoo, zoo - How about you, you, you?

The Saturday after Christmas, we met some of my St. Matthews friends at the Riverbanks Zoo.  Between Ashley, Julie and myself there are 5 children and one on the way (no, it's not me).  It was a little overcast but pleasant.  There was hardly any one there.  We had a great time catching up and letting the kids play around.  We headed to the Vista for lunch afterwards where the kids were perfect once again.  It was truly a great adventure.

Check out these love birds!  The zoo has this exhibit where you can go into the birds' free flying area - yeah, sounds great, huh?  Well, not when they have diarrhea!  David and I braved the cage with the boys.  When I first walked in, one immediately flew down and sat on my shoulder.  I was scared stiff!  He quickly flew off after realizing I had not bought any nectar to feed him.  David got pooped on but lucky for him he had on a windbreaker so it came off real easy with some wipes.  I, too, got hit but just a little on the cuff of my coat.  At that point, we decided to leave the birds to themselves and get the hell out of dodge!

Snack Time!

Anna Parker and Grayson Cuttino, Kate Wehman, Banks and Hughes Holman

The husbands opted out of this photo.

When we started to head home, we quickly learned of 26 being at a standstill thanks to a timely phone call from Ashley.  We averted the traffic  and hit the backroads.  You forget how interesting the backroads of SC can be!

Christmas Day in St. Matthews

We had Christmas day in St. Matthews.  I don't have a lot of pictures from opening presents but here are a few random shots.  We got some Lightning McQueen bedroom slippers, McDonald's cash register, and a lot of other goodies.

Banks likes to wear his daddy's socks and, oh yeah, a springform pan as a necklace.

Santa was good!

Santa also visited the boys in St. Matthews at my parents' house.  Hughes loved his 4-wheeler.  We're still practicing on how to steer it but he loves it, nonetheless.  We had to leave it in St. Matthews until this wkend until we can go back to get it.  There was just no room - it was either leave the kids or the 4-wheeler - Don't ask me which one I was volunteering!

Santa Came!

Christmas morning was a whirlwind.  I'm not quite sure Hughes got what was happening but he sure did love all the new toys.  Below are some pictures of the boys checking out their new stuff.

Can you tell I'm forcing the talking Cookie Monster on Banks?  
Hughes playing with the Batman motorcycle and a dinosaur at the same time - multitasker!
What boy do you know who Santa brought two pairs of shoes to:  cowboy boots and winter crocs with dogs on the front?
Drinking out of our new Thomas the Tank Engine cup - Santa really knew what to bring these boys!
Banks giving his gas pump a ride.

Christmas Eve in York

This was our attempt at getting all three children to stand in front of the tree before the Christmas Eve service at church.  Kate was all for it as long as she was the only one in the picture but when the boys jumped in all she could say was "My tree, my tree".  So, unfortunately this is the picture - cute story, crummy picture.

Getting ready for bed so that Santa could come visit.

Come on Ride that Train

While we were in York for Christmas, we visited David's sister, Deyna, in Charlotte.  Deyna has a little girl, Kate.  We decided it would be fun for the kids to go ride the train.  Of course, we made a huge deal about it - talking about the train, making train noises, saying "all aboard" a million times.  Little did the kids know that we were riding the commuter train.  The kids did great and got only a little bored the last 10 minutes (40 minutes round trip).

Hughes was in heaven.  He couldn't stop looking out the window.
Deyna and Kate enjoying the ride.

There's our train in the background.  This adventure was cheap:  kids free, adults $3 round trip.

Museum of York County

On our way into York to have Christmas with David's family, we stopped by the Museum of York County where David's Mom works.  I was not quite expecting what we saw - it was incredible!  It reminded me of the movie Night at the Museum b/c that is exactly how you felt walking down the hallways with all these real (at one point) animals surrounding you!  Hughes could not get over the elephant and I think Banks was just confused.

Hughes and his elephant

Banks and the Fish Story Board.

Clorox Take Me Away!

I am so disgusted right now.  I'm also sorry for the post I'm about to write.  Anyone with small children who haven't been through potty training might want to stop now.  Anyone without children should definitely stop now!  

I warned you.  

Hughes is in his room for quiet time.  He was making a lot of noise and I was afraid that he was going to wake Banks up so I went into his room to tell him to keep it down.  When I walked in, it hit me right in the face - the smell, that is, of a nasty poop.  I asked Hughes if he had an accident, he replied no.  Normally, if Hughes needs to go potty during nap he knocks on the door profusely until I come.  Today that was not the case.  I checked his pants - nope.  I checked a pull-up on the floor - nope.  Then I spotted his step stool that has a lift-up top - right!  He used his step-stool as a POTTY!  

I am shocked, disgusted, confused, etc.!  Why did my sweet boy do that?  He's never done anything like that before.  We don't even teetee outside!  We always use the potty!  Why did he choose to use his step stool?  He's been using the potty since Oct.  - why is he experimenting now?

I fussed at him and told him that we do not use the step stool as a potty and took it out of his room.  I put him in the bed and closed the door.  Then, I had to clean the damn thing!  More disgust, more shock, more confusion!  I want to wash my hands in clorox and throw the step-stool away!!!!!!

Is my sweet boy turning into some crude child?  If this happens again, I'm going to throw up!

Picture Time

Christmas Pictures of the boys - one in their Christmas outfits and one in Christmas pajamas.

Crustbreakers Weekend

This weekend, we headed to York, SC for David's parents annual black-tie Christmas party. Besides David being sick all day Saturday and some Friday night, we had a great time.  The stomach bug that we had last week was creeping up on David all last week and finally caught him about mid-party Friday night.  We got a few dances in before David started feeling really ill.  

Family shot in front of the tree before the party.

 During the fabulous dinner - David still feeling well.Below are the three Holman grandchildren:  Hughes, Banks & Kate (Deyna's daughter).  These three monkeys had a great time all weekend!  Thanks Granna and Grandaddy for the weekend!

I couldn't resist posting this picture.  Who could resist this elf?

Playdate Christmas Party

On Friday morning, our neighborhood playdate has its annual Christmas Party.  The boys had a blast!  I'm not sure if it was the spirit of the party or just dumb-luck but Hughes and Banks were both in fantastic moods.  Hughes stood in front of the tree for his picture and said "cheese" - which is a first.  Banks walked around the house just checking everything out.  

Conley and Hughes playing some music together.  This trumpet was the toy of the party.  Thanks Thomas for sharing with us!  Santa is all shopped out so maybe next year Hughes. 

Check out that 3 year old - growing by leaps and bounds every day!
Suzie wrangling the kids for a group shot.  Banks was tired at that point.
Here is the entire playdate - lots of kids, lots of fun, lots of holiday cheer!

We Survived!

After being quarantined since Wednesday in the house, I think we have survived the stomach virus!  Now, let's pray David nor I get it.  Banks came down with it on Wednesday with Hughes following on Thursday.  I think a Christmas present to me will be to get my carpets and furniture cleaned.  Anywho, I just wanted to let you know that we survived and I pray that we don't get it again for a very long time - at least not until everyone knows to hit the toilet!

Now, on to getting a Christmas tree and decorating!  YEAH!

WARNING - Bodily Fluid Discussed Below!

It has been quite an explosive day here in the Holman household.  For the past couple of days, Hughes has had controlled diarrhea - yep, I said it.  Thank goodness he is potty trained!  Other than the occasional potty time, he's been fine - eating good, playing normal, sleeping better than usual.  So, this morning Banks gets up and he wasn't into his grits as he usually is in the morning.  This boy can put away two packets of instant grits and still cries when they're all gone.  So, when he didn't even finish one packet that should have given me a heads up.   Of course, BAnks waits until after David leaves for work AND we're upstairs on the carpet  before he lets the grits come exploding from his mouth - all over our bedroom carpet, all our David's bedroom shoes, all over anything that is near.  After I cleaned that up, the other end of him started acting up.  15 month old s and diarrhea don't mix.  His hiney is raw, he's puking everywhere, and there is not a whole lot that I can do.  I pretty much did a lot of laundry today and a lot of changing clothes.  You would think - Oh, poor Anne Wimberly.  But no, David comes home from work and Banks immediately wants to go to him.  David is contently snuggling with Banks when Banks gets the great idea to welcome him home with a huge explosion.  David was shocked.  I cleaned it up, told David I would start a bath, and left him and the boys downstairs.  David brings the boys upstairs, bathes Banks, gets Banks out of the tub and into a towel when Banks decides to show Dad his new trick with his hiney!  

After all this cleaning up, David asked me how I made it through the day without crying.  I think Banks did all that to David to show him what he had been putting his mama through all day.  Let's pray this stomach bug is a one-day visitor.  I'm not sure I can do this all again tomorrow!

Chuck E. Cheese

Well, I caved.  I finally took my boys to Chuck E. Cheese.  I had a lot of reservations about this place (food terrible, dirty, someone got shot in the parking lot last year, etc.).  We got some coupons in the mail which sparked my interest.  So, we decided to go the Wednesday before Thanksgiving b/c no one wanted to cook and figured there wouldn't be a lot of people there.  We were correct on the people party - I think there were two other families there in the entire place.  I mean, it was dead.  Which was great, because Hughes and Banks could run around and I didn't have to be scared I would lose them in a crowd.  Also, we had my two cousins who are students at USC join us.  

We had 150 tokens and the games are one token each.  Banks' favorite ride was the car with Chuck E. where you get your picture.  He wanted to keep riding it until he saw the skee ball game.  Then, he just wanted to get in the way and play with the balls.  Hughes, I think, just loved running around and checking out all the games.  He really enjoyed sitting in the race car game pretending to drive it even though he couldn't see over the steering wheel.  The rest of the adults enjoyed playing the games and winning tickets for the boys.  We had a blast and the pizza wasn't bad at all.  So, my opinion of Chuck E. Cheese has changed for now.

Sweet Memory Lane

I thought I would just give this a try... why not! (it might get interesting)

Do you remember when?Here are the rules.

1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn't matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If we're only blogging friends or if you're a blog hopper who happens upon my blog regularly...leave me a comment. There must be reason you keep stopping by! Say something! If you don't have a blog or don't know how to sign in, sign up for an account! You won't regret it!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog (if you have one) and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty fun to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I'll be sure to write one about you... either on your blog, in my comment box, or I will email you back!

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all!

The Thanksgiving feast is over, dishes are clean, my boys are asleep, and David and I are pooped.  I have a lot to be thankful for this year.  I thought I would just name a few.

1.  happy and healthy children

2.  healthy spouse who ran the whole way with me during the Gobble Wobble Run

3.  great friends - those whom we see all the time and those whom we don't see enough

4.  friends who care about us enough to read our blog

5.  a husband who works and studies very hard  and yet still has the energy to be a fantastic dad

6.  friends who step in and give me a break

7.  grandparents, aunts, and uncles who dote on our children

8.  job

9.  food - albeit hot dogs or steak - it's always good

10. a roof over our heads that keeps us warm

I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with lots of love and laughter.

Self-Sufficient Hughes

We have one little boy who thinks he can do everything!  We created a monster.  A monster who knows where the spoons are and how to use the stool.  Earlier this week, I was upstairs getting ready while Hughes was downstairs watching cartoons (I'm sure they were educational).  When I came downstairs,  Hughes had helped himself to THREE yogurts.  He has been known to get one but there were three empty containers beside him on the floor.  And to top it all off, he left the fridge door open!  This morning, he used the stool to get the empty (thank goodness) milk carton off the counter top and proceeded to try to drink the leftover milk at the bottom.  What am I going to do with him?  I've already been researching fridge locks.

On a totally different subject, Hughes has decided to cut out his nap and instead play in his room.  Which, really, is fine with me.  We all get what we want:  Hughes has quiet time, Banks takes a nap, and I have alone time.  Lately, when Hughes has fallen asleep during nap then he won't go to bed at night until around 9:30!  He'll just stay in his bed talking or playing.  Now, he's racked out at 7:30.