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.  

Chief Banks

At playdate on Tuesday, the children had the opportunity to make Indian head dresses.  Of course Hughes refused and chose to cut all his feathers up (safety scissors may be in the stocking come Christmas morning).  Banks and I made his.  So here is my little Indian.  We've been working on the war cry but so far he hasn't gotten it.  He just looks at David and me like we're crazy!

Christmas Questionnaire

I received this questionnaire from a friend and thought I would post it.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper

2.. Real tree or Artificial? real

3. When do you put up the tree? I try to do it the weekend after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? before new year's

5. Do you like eggnog? no, I find it disgusting

6. Favorite gift received as a child? all the notes Santa would write us explaining why we didn't have a present (fish don't like to fly so go to Wal-Mart to pick some out, go-cart to big for the sleigh but it's coming in the mail)

7. Hardest person to buy for? dad

8. Easiest person to buy for? Hughes and Banks

9. Do you have a nativity scene? BecBec started one for the boys

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? mail

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?  Size 16 windsuit, it was a joke but I still remember my shock when I looked at the size

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Christmas Vacation

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? June - I'm always trying to find the perfect gifts

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? oh yeah

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? ham right out of the oven

16. Lights on the tree? white - nonflashing

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night and anything by children

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? travel 

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? yes

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? bow

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? David,the boys and I open our presents to each other before we start traveling so really around the 22nd.  As a child, we opened all our presents on the 24th and then Santa came on the 25th.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? "happy holidays" instead of "merry christmas"

23. Favorite ornament theme or color.  the ones I've bought for the boys from places we've traveled to

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? traditional dinner: turkey, ham, sweet potato casserole, green beans, biscuits, etc. etc.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? health and happiness for all my family and friends and if Santa could throw in a maid that would be great

 

Frat House

So, I'm pretty sure I'm raising a total fraternity guy.  Sunday morning David brought the boys downstairs.  Well, he had to go back upstairs to change Banks' pants.  During that time, Hughes opened the fridge door, got himself something to eat, and took it to the table to have breakfast.  Great, huh?  Except he didn't grab yogurt or cheese, he grabbed cold pizza from the night before.  And he unwrapped it out of the tinfoil and proceeded to munch down on COLD PIZZA!  Total Frat Guy!  David and I just stood around laughing at the scene.  Hughes is becoming a lot more self-sufficient but I don't know if I'm ready for this.

Lunch Nap

I guess Banks was just too tired to eat lunch today.  We skipped his morning nap and this is what happened.  Just in case you're wondering, that's cheese quesadilla on his shirt.  And surprisingly, when I wiped his face with a warm rag to get off all of the cereal bar, he didn't even move or wince once!  

A Gift

Last night, I was upstairs folding laundry when David came home from school.  He said he had a surprise for me.  I got excited but came down off my high when he showed me a bag full of contacts - $200 worth to be exact.  He was only teasing me, at least he thought he was teasing me!  So, we continued our conversation as he was taking off his shoes.  He turned around and to my surprise and shock he did have a present for me - a big, brown, 6-legged, bug-eyed, antennae twirling ROACH on his back!  I quickly jumped out of bed and grabbed my tennis shoe but quickly put it down b/c I  thought I would hurt David with that.  Instead I grabbed my bedroom slipper, told David to stand still, and proceeded to beat the ever living daylights out of David's back.  Now, during this time, David had no idea what was going on.  All he knew was that I told him to stand still and something had prompted me to jump out of the bed and start beating him with my slipper.  After a good beating, I was sure the roach was dead.  David turned around and was grossed out.  We don't know how he got on there or when but we do know when he got off and how!

Coastal Carolina Fair

  We conquered the fair last night.  We went with the Steeds in hope that Conley's bravery towards rides would rub off on Hughes.  Well, it did.  Big Time!  We got the hand stamp and the boys were off.  Here is a quick pic of the boys checking out that great fair merchandise.

Here we are on the first ride.  We rode the helicopters several times.  Parents got to ride free on the ones that required a parent.  Banks got to ride his first ride even though we didn't have tickets for him.  The nice carnie man offered to let him go free.  This was the only one Banks participated in.  
Here the boys are at Super Trucks.  Lots of fun.


Riding the elephants - a parent had to ride on this one.  Good thing b/c had my hips not been there, the boys would have slid on out of Dumbo.  It went in a circle and was pretty fast.  It was a tight squeeze but safety first!
Sweet Picture of the boys holding hands and Suzie leading them through Ladson's finest.  There was definitely an interesting array of people.
After a quick dinner break, we're heading back to Kiddie Land.  Hughes is super pumped!
Mr. James taking one for the team and riding the dinosaurs with the boys.  Again, they loved it!
Here they are riding the train.  Hughes kept saying "choo choo" on every ride he went on after this.  I guess he thought it was a spirit call or something.
Okay, so this one didn't go over to well.  It was by far the fastest one, no parents allowed, but the boys wanted to do it.  It was a true roller coaster.  Conley did fine.  Hughes was terrified!  This picture is in the beginning.  Let's just say, I had to go up onto the platform and pick Hughes up.  Bad idea sending him on a roller coaster by himself.
Best Friends Forever

Banks thinking "what is this place".
 So, how much does the fair cost in 2008?

Admission for two adults  $16    Children free 4 and under

Handstamp  for unlimited rides $20    Easily rode $40 worth of rides so we came out on top

Fried Pickles $5       Shared with Suzie

3 Corndogs $12

1 Lemonade $4.50

1 Elephant Ear $6.00  Totally worth it!

Juices Boxes I snuck in Free

Water bottle I snuck in Free

Snack Items I snuck in Free

Carnie Watching Free

We had a great night.  Hughes was in hog heaven and just about loved everything.  Besides the normal dirty fairgrounds and, well, let's just say interesting mix of people, it was awesome!  Great behavior, greasy food, and lots of laughter make for a great night!  

Banks and Spiderman

  One day, while I was playing on the computer I kept hearing the Spiderman toy in the den go off.  I assumed it was Hughes pressing all the buttons.  Banks hadn't quite figured all the buttons.  He mistakenly would hit the buttons but never with intent.  So, for all the bells and whistles to be going off I assumed it must be Hughes.  At this point, Banks also hadn't figured out how to climb onto it yet and sit.  So, imagine my surprise when I peeked around the corner into the den and saw Banks sitting on Spiderman and pressing all of the buttons by himself.  He was so proud of himself.

Echo Echo Echo

There is obviously an echo in my house!  While giving the boys a bath tonight, I discovered my echo.  Banks loves to stand up in the tub.  I have a hard time getting him to sit down.  So, we were having one of those battles tonight.  Banks kept trying to put his knee up on the side of the tub.  I kept pushing it back down and telling him "no" in a firm voice.  At which he just laughed at me.  We did this little routine about 8 times with my "no's" getting firmer and louder with each leg push.  Well by the 9th time, his little laugh was not so cute anymore.  I gently popped his hand.  This is the point in the story where my echo appeared.  Hughes popped Banks on the behind and said "no".  I about cracked up.  Mainly b/c Hughes had not been paying Banks any attention and all of a sudden decided to take action.  I guess he was tired of hearing me say "no" and being a push over that he thought he needed to put his foot down.  Well, a pop on the hand and the hiney did not effect Banks.  He kept on putting his knee up and smiling.  So, I did what any sane mother would do - I took him out of the tub.

   I think God may have given me my brother's child by mistake or are all 2nd children wide open?  I can give Hughes a stern look and "no" and he'll stop what he's doing immediately.  Banks just smiles at me and keeps doing it.  He is going to be a hand full but also a heartbreaker!   I guess Hughes will continue to have to be the man of the house while Dad is in school.

Post Trick or Treaters

After the trick or treaters, we (Murphys, Steeds, and Holmans) had an adult party at the house complete with ghoul-ade, keg, jello shots, and lots of yummy food.  It's always fun getting to see people's imaginations and creativity at work.  There were some fabulous costumes.  I didn't manage to take lots of pictures but here are a few.
witches' fingers
Juno couple (Suzie and James - check out those legs)
Fisherman and a School of Fish
Pirates (Nelson and Anna)
Britney and K-Fed (Kelly and Ed - I'll never think of them the same again)
Goth Couple (Will and Jennifer - and, no, the piercings aren't real but did hurt)

There were also a Raising Arizona couple, Joe the Plumber, Sweet Tea Vodka Firefly, more pirates, witches, Dr.90210 with wife, beer pong table and ping pong ball,  and more.  Our individual costume winner was Chris (British Chris).  He made an excellent pirate - looked just like the ones you see at the Provost Dungeon downtown.  Our couples costume winner was Will and Jennifer for their portrayal as a goth couple.  It was a great night.

Trick or Treat

We had a blast last night.  Above are our spooky pumpkins that greeted trick-0r-treaters at our door.  We met at the stop sign in our neighborhood for a group shot at 6.  All the kids (and some dogs) were dressed to the nines.  


Here are my tamed animals.  


Our favorite tree!
Samson the Hotdog - Does he look happy or what?
Here is a cowboy, princess ballerina, and Buzz Lightyear!


Thomas the Lion
Bumblebee dog
check out that tail!

After the group picture, I went to a few houses with the boys but soon left to return to our house to hand out treats.  David took the boys to a few more houses.  Hughes still wasn't sure about the whole deal but was warming up.  When they got back to the house, I took Hughes to our culdesac neighbors.  WOW - by that time, he got it!  He was running from house to house.  Always having great manners with please and thank you.  I think  he may have eaten half of his candy while trick or treating.