It's Pumpkin Time

No fall around these parts would be complete without a trip to Burt's Pumpkin Farm. The kids had a great time picking out the prime pumpkins. Andrew was particularly proud of his pick(it is a variety that makes the pumpkin look like it has warts!). We had a brilliant time as we had Auntie Genevieve along for the fun and we met up with some great friends, the Barnses and the Rothaermels.

Isn't Our Baby the Cutest

And This Is Why We Don't Give 1 Year Olds Blackberrys!!

We Have New Pajamas

Mummy went shopping today and look what we got!!!

Now I Am 3!!!

Our beautiful little Andrew is now 3!! I cannot believe how quickly time has passed. I still remember when we brought him home, still just 6 hours old. I remember standing in my kitchen that night, we had put the other kids to bed and Stuart had gone out to get take away and could hardly believe I had given birth that afternoon, couldn't get my head around the idea that the day before we had no baby and that day we did!!

In 3 years he has transformed our house, mostly because it is like having a tornado constantly winding its way through our house!! He loves playing with the Brio train track and doing puzzles. He loves to watch the animated Mr Bean series, Thomas the Tank Engine and he is no doubt counting down the days until Cars 2 comes out on DVD. When my Dad took him to see it over the summer and was so excited he stood up for the entire movie!! He is also very protective of Gogi(Jacob), in that he is the only one who is allowed to beat him up! He is now going to pre-school 4 days a week at our local YMCA, which he loves. Every morning he asks if he is going to school, "I go school, I go Y". He is such an independent little character and we are so very grateful for him.

Happy Birthday Andrew!!!!

Eleanor's Baptism

Sunday October 9, was a very big day for Eleanor, she was baptized!! She has been coming to church for quite a while now and several months ago asked if she could get baptized, well actually this is Eleanor so we weren't asked as much as informed that she wanted to be baptized!! Since then we have had the missionaries come and teach her all the discussions. Thank you to Elders Boerstra, Smith, Astell and Baker for your time and love of the gospel. We are grateful for you all. Grandpa and Auntie Genevieve were both here and Grandpa actually baptized her. We got a special exception for her to be confirmed on the same night and Elders Astell and Baker, Bishop Wuergler, and Brothers Lee(our hometeacher), Anderson and Rothaermel stood in the circle.

We are so very proud of Eleanor for the decisions that she has made to get her to where she is today.

Just Because

I love this picture of Andrew and Jacob, I just love the expressions on their faces. It shows their personalities perfectly.

Baseball

I am trying to catch up with my blogging!! Several weeks ago Jonathan had his end of season team party. This was Jonathan's first time playing baseball and he had a blast. In fact only a few weeks into the Spring season and he was already asking to be signed up for Fall season!! This season he was a Ranger, which he liked as they are the Texas team. He had two wonderful coaches who were very patient and encouraging with him as he had not only never played before, but didn't know really how to play. He usually kept us on the edge of our seats each time he was at bat as most time he went full count, watching and waiting for just the right pitch, but also not swinging at anything he didn't think was worth swinging at. The parents and coaches were brilliant and we have found a baseball family already. It all became a bit hectic with game schedules towards the end of the season and so many games got rained out and the beginning. But his team were triumphant and they finished the season first in the league. Sadly, they missed out on the championship title. I am so pleased that Jonathan has found a sport that he loves so much.
This was the cake that I made for his end of season party. It would have looked a bit better if Andrew hadn't thrown his bottle on it in the car on the way over!!!

My First Haircut

I have finally given up trying to keep up with Jacob's hair and took him for his first official haircut. He was so well behaved and sat in the chair and let the lady cut away. What a champ. He looks so cute!!

Club Granpda Is Officially Open For The Summer!!!!

Since we moved to the States it has become tradition for Jonathan to spend part of the summer at Grandpa's house. The first year we were here he went as Stuart and I were going back and forth to England, last year he wanted to go again, just because and this year he has gone because that is just what he does at the beginning of the summer. Jonathan loves having this time just the two of them, and Grandpa always has lots planned for the to do. He has only been there a week and already they have been to Oklahoma(a new state for Jonathan and for Grandpa!) and out to the fossil park where you get to keep what you find, and to a national park that has a river with dinosaur footprints in the rocks!! Next week they are heading down to Houston to stay with our friends Jess and Mary. We will be joining Jonathan on June 24 for a 3 week stay. The picture is Jonathan sporting he new summer haircut in Oklahoma.

Peter's Pavement Pounders

On Saturday the 21st of May we had the great honor of taking part in Great Strides Atlanta. This is an annual walk that raises money for Cystic Fibrosis Research. Our dear friend Peter, has brought this condition to our attention and how could we not help him. It wasn't that long ago that the life expectancy of someone with CF didn't go much beyond infancy. Now the prognosis is much better and sufferers are living well into their 20's and even 30's. Our family raised $103, the total for the walk was nearly 1 million!! We were delighted to take part and plan to continue to raise money for this cause that is so close to our hearts. Here is to getting Peter a cure.
Andrew blowing Peter's Pavement Pounders bubbles!!

Jacob's 1st Birthday

Our beautiful baby boy has turned 1!! Jacob is such an amazing addition to our family and love having him in our home. He is crawling and standing himself up whilst holding on. He has also proved us right with Andrew. Andrew picks on Jacob sometimes and can be a bossy big brother, however, Andrew takes after Stuart's side of the family which means he doesn't have much chance of being more that 5 1/2 feet tall, and Jacob takes after my side of the family which means he doesn't have much chance of being under 6 feet tall. So we warn Andrew not to pick on Jacob, and tell him one day he will be bigger than you, without much success. Until the other day when Andrew was doing something to annoy Jacob, so he biffed Andrew with a mean right hook!! We rather enjoyed the I told you so moment it provided!!

Being only 1, he had no clue that it was his birthday and that the presents were for him and needed to be opened. Fortunately, Andrew was on hand to help him out. He had a brilliant time opening Jacob's presents and cards. We had to tell him that they were Jacob's numerous times so that Jacob would be allowed to play with his toys.(We have possession issues with Andrew!! Everything is his.) This morning he has taken notice of his toys and seems to like the Airplane that Grandpa got him the best.

Christopher's 16th Birthday

Yesterday was Christopher's 16th!! Can't believe we have hit that milestone already. It does comfort me somewhat to know that he won't be driving yet. We had a nice evening, a family meal, with Grandpa and Chris's girlfriend Marrissa. We got him a new amplifier, one that should produce enough sound to bring the house down! He is delighted with the money that he got from Grandma and Grandad, and Auntie Michele and Uncle Colin and the Amazon gift card from Grannie and Grandpa. I am sure he will love me for posting this picture, but it is such a nice on of him.

Atlanta History Center

Dad Dad is in town this week!! We love to have him come stay. He has come to celebrate Christopher's 16th and Jacob's 1st birthdays. On Saturday we went to the Atlanta History Center. What a wonderful place. We started in the Olympics exhibition. They had the participation medals and torches from all of the games. Upstairs the kids got to try out some of the sports from the games. We then walked through the Battle of Atlanta exhibit. The museum is built in the grounds of Swan House, which belonged to one of Atlanta's foremost families. We toured the house and had a wander through the beautiful gardens, we had the perfect spring day.

Egg Decorating

Andrew, Eleanor, Jonathan and I had a wonderful time yesterday afternoon decorating our Easter eggs. Each year we always buy the kits and they never turn out like they do on the box, but who cares, we have so much fun decorating it doesn't matter how the turn out. Eleanor and Jonathan colored the eggs, the purple ones were our attempt at tie dying them. It kind of worked! All of the stickers are curtesy of Andrew. We had Cars and Easter bunny themed ones. He would point to which sticker he wanted say "That's the one!" I would then peel it off and hold it on my finger for him to take and put on his egg. So much fun. Stuart took the picture of the eggs in his light box that he got for his birthday.

We wish all our friends a very happy Easter.

Spring Break

This year we finally made it out of town for Spring Break, and am so glad that we did. We had a brilliant time with our friends the Rothaermels, the Butlers and the Shanklins down in Destin, Florida. Megan, Eleanor's best friend also came with us. Of we went, 4 Moms and 13 kids!! The restaurants loved us when we turned up!! We drove down Monday, we were the first to arrive, sadly the beaches were closed, because of the wind, so the kids let out their energy, stored up from a 7 hour drive, at the hotel pool. Good thing no one else wanted to use it! Kids had a brilliant time together. That night we ate dinner at a fantastic place called Fudpuckers, and before you ask, yes we said that wrong several times! It was the perfect place, big and noisy, great food, and a pond full of baby alligators. Jonathan at first didn't want to go as he thought it lame that a place with alligators, then didn't serve them up! Hmm. Luckily for us, they did serve alligator tail. The boys devoured a plate of tail. Jacob ate a kids order of Macaroni and cheese, Andrew had about 3 bites of his grilled cheese sandwich, and the girls had the old staple of chicken nuggets.

Tuesday morning we headed for the beach, determined that the wind would not thwart us. She had a good go when we tried to put up the sun umbrellas, but we beat her, atleast with my umbrella, Kelleyn lost! The kids all headed straight in the water. I had bought a little beach tent for Jacob, I laid him down in it and he slept most of the time we were at the beach. Clearly, he was not impressed with the white sand and turquoise water. Andrew was perfectly happy playing and digging in the sand. For us Mom's it was great to catch up and enjoy each other's company. Clearly during the day Andrew and Emma had had fun playing together as they sat next to each other at dinner and then when we left, she got her car seat and wanted to put it in our car as she wanted to sit next to Andrew, and he got in her car and refused to get out, because he wanted to sit next to her!

After dinner I got to indulge my weakness for Dooney and Bourke handbags as there was a store at the outlet mall. I was very impressed as I came out with 2 bags for less than the price of 1 at department store prices!! Stuart still not impressed though! Men just don't get handbags!

Wednesday we spent a few hours on the beach before heading to the Back Porch for lunch. Such a great place, delicious food and the best view. Because you are a bit high up on the beach when you are sitting at your table all you can see is ocean, so feels like you are on a cruise ship. Andrew and Emma walked from the cars to the restaurant holding hands! Sadly, that was our last day and after lunch we headed for home. We had 3 fantastic days and really hope that next year we all will be able to head off on another adventure together. Thank you to my friends for making it such a wonderful and fun trip.

I Knew They Were Going To Be Trouble!!

This is what Andrew and Jacob did this afternoon, while I made a quick trip to the bathroom!! Andrew then went to great pains to point out to me that there was a mess. Oh, and the blueberries. Have you ever tried to get blueberry stains out of a cream colored carpet? That will be tomorrows project, and did I mention that they did this about 2 hours after my cleaners has swept, mopped, and waxed my floors?

4 Years Today

Four years ago today I married my best friend, my knight in shining armor, the love of my life. He came along and swept me off my feet, or maybe I was just easy?!!? He has brought me endless joy and happiness and has taught me what true selflessness is. He loves me more than I knew someone could love another and taught me how to love him back. I sit here and look at the beautiful flowers he has bought me and the words of love on the card. I look around me at the beautiful home he provides for us, I have just put to bed the two most amazing little boys that we have had together. He has asked me to be a mother to his two children, and in return has been a father to my son. I am grateful for the man who makes me the happiest woman on earth.

Atlanta Car Show

We have had a wonderful weekend. Saturday Stuart took Eleanor and Andrew on the MARTA. Andrew loves "DooDoos"(in Andrew speak) and so Stuart thought it a great idea to take him for a ride on one. So much better than the little one they have at the mall. He had a brilliant time. Jonathan had a baseball game so I packed up him and Jacob and headed for the field. We had hoped it would be called off as it had rained all night and most of the morning. When we got to the field it was raining and I thought it crazy that they were planning to play. Jonathan jumped out and ran on ahead while I got the wagon, all our stuff and Jacob out. I managed to rig the umbrella in the wagon so that Jacob was covered and off we trecked. Just as we got to the field Jonathan was heading back as they had decided to call off the game. Typical, so loaded everything back into the car, poor Jacob was very unhappy about getting wet. We then headed for some lunch. Jonathan wanted to go to Five Guys as it has the ultimate soda fountain, he reckons they have about 50 different sodas. As soon we got into the restaurant we knew we had made the wrong choice as they have big boxes of peanuts that you help yourself too. This was not the place to have Jacob, so not knowing how allergic to peanuts he is we quickly ordered and I went out to the car while Jonathan waited for our order.

Saturday night we were supposed to go to our friends the Hepplers for Bruce's surprise 50th birthday party. Just as we were getting ready Jacob's temperature spiked to 102 so thought it best not to leave him, especially as he had been near peanuts earlier. We gave him medicine and being a bit nervous to just put him to bed I brought him downstairs and held him until he fell asleep. I then brought his travel cot down and laid him in there next to my desk. By morning he was fine.

On Sunday we went to the Atlanta Auto Show. I did a deal with Stuart as he wanted to go there before we took him to the airport. He is in England for the next 2 weeks on business. If we came to the auto show, when he gets back he will come to church with us. What a fantastic show. I got to show Stuart the Suburban I want, hard to believe that we need something bigger than we already have!! Jonathan got to indulge in his love of super cool cars, getting to sit in a Corvette, Jaguar XKR, and a Porsche 911. He also got to see an Audi R8, 2 Lamborghinis, and some Aston Martins. Pictures below are him in the cars and him and Andrew(doing his best East End chimney sweep impression) in front of the Audi R8. The best part of the show was when standing by the Jaguar, having some guy get out of it and asking how you change gear as there is no gear lever. I told him it must be a flappy paddle. I was right!! Yeah, me. He was very impressed that I knew. Must now send a letter to Top Gear, as watching their show has now paid off!

We then went for some lunch and took Stuart to the airport. We sat on the top level of the parking garage to watch the planes landing and taking off for awhile before coming home. What a brilliant weekend.

Under My Desk

Jacob has figured out that it is a shorter distance under my desk than around my desk to get to Mummy.

Old Photos of Jonathan

As I have a new computer I have been transferring pictures and have had a brilliant time looking through them. This series has to be one of my favorites. I think they sum up Jonathan perfectly!!