Catching up!

Thanksgiving was spent with the whole extended family. I set the table with great Grandma's plates that we used on the farm every year. Two days after that we went to ride the polar express train in Chattanooga. It is always a magical ride and they are giddy for the elf tuck-in afterwards. After it is the mad rush till Christmas. School plays, teacher gifts, neighbor gifts, Christmas cards, a visit to Opryland, getting a real Christmas tree, decorating......... It is always a blessing to arrive at the beach and just relax. I look forward to this family time every year. The slow down happens for a little over two weeks. This year after an overnight storm man-o-war came in with the tide. Great science lesson. The sting rays came in a few nights later. So many great memories.

Easy Apple Dumplings from The Pioneer Woman

This is the perfect quick dessert for a busy weeknight. My family loves these. I love the simplicity and they are delicious.
Apple Dumplings

2 Granny Smith apples
2 cans crescent rolls
2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla
cinnamon
1 small can Mountain Dew

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream

Bella lost her first tooth!

Bella made her tooth pillow today in the shape of a heart. She sewed it up and ran upstairs to stuff it under her pillow. She is so excited to see if the tooth fairy will make an appearance tonight. Bottom left tooth is the first one to make an escape. She did not want anyone to pull it so it basically got so loose it just fell out of her mouth.

Retro Retreat

Our camper has been lugging us around these past two weekends. We took the kiddos to Beach Bend Park two weekends ago and then to Montgomery Bell this past weekend. Little Man finally got back on his bike after his early summer wipeout. He did awesome. He biked around the big loop at the campground over and over again. Ella even rode her bike around and made friends doing it. Her first tooth is loose. She is soooo excited. Lots of family memories happening on these impromptu family trips. I love that we found the camper and actually made the purchase.

School

Little Man has been to school for a week now. He loves his teacher Ms. Lloyd. Bella was supposed to start today, but ended up in the ER this morning. Her tonsil clot started to bleed and we raced off to make sure it was going to stop bleeding. She doesn't seem too terribly upset to stay at home and watch princess movies.

Our newest family addition

We drove to Columbus this past weekend to buy a 1973 retro, fully renovated camper. The kids are so excited to go camping. We had to leave the camper there due to a brake issue and Pops is going to bring it down for us on his next trip here. Bella has her tonsil and adnoid surgery on Friday. Camping will have to wait a few more weekends.

Summer 2011

We have been so busy running around this summer that I haven't been on to update. We went to Beach Bend Park, loved it, Chattanooga Children's Museum and stayed the night, Huntsville Children's Museum and went on to the Bridge Street outdoor mall water fun, rode the merry-go-round, ate candy apple and caramel apples, stopped in at Russel Stover, picked peaches, blueberries, grew tomatoes, went swimming, went to the drive-in movies to see Cars2, saw Fireworks, ate at Marcy Jo's, ate at Shaffer's, went bowling, Chuck E. Cheese, etc. I probably could continue to bore everyone with all we have done, but the point is I was trying to get the kids to go to the YMCA to swim with friends this morning and they did not want to leave the house. WHAT!!! I could not believe it. Who stole my kids and gave me new ones?

Bella nixes the make-up day

Due to flood and snow days, Weekday School was having a make-up day for classes missed. I asked Bella if she wanted to go and she said, "they're going to teach us to put on make-up?" Too funny Bella. When she found out it wasn't about make-up she wanted no part of going to school. Love that she wants to hang out with the fam. No more of the free bird schedule next year. Our Bella Boop will be a kindergartener.

Reading with Ms D

We have an absolutely fabulous neighbor. She has an attic full of dress up for the girls, a cabinet full of movies to borrow and the best snacks. The kids wake up asking to see Ms. D. Today they were doing a dress up tea party and storytelling on her patio.

Happy Birthday Bella!

Bella turned 5 yesterday. It is so hard to believe that 5 years ago she was in the ICU at Vandi for a week. She is our shy, tender-hearted child. She is the girl, who on her wedding day, will indeed be the one who dreamed of that day her entire life. We love our La-La.

Windows

The kids were out back playing in the yard, so I decided to wash the windows on the backside of the house. I started on the inside of the back door and then preceded outside. Inside the door Bogey, the bulldog, decided to chase the paper towel. Note to self....Clean outside first, then clean inside. This will eliminate having to do the inside twice.

Dance Observation

Bella had dance observation class on Thursday. She was so proud to show off what she has learned so far this year. It is hard to believe that she will be five in a few weeks. What a fantastic big sister and litte sister all in one.

Little Bit turns one

It is hard to believe that little bit is one. She had a great party with the family. She was so dainty with the cake that I barely had to clean her up. Little man's half birthday is today. He chose to eat sushi for his pick for dinner. I was tempted to buy him a half cake. He loves to celebrate.

Driving

Bella went off with daddy to pick up the pizza. The pizza guys happened to drop one of the pizzas, leaving Bella and daddy waiting in the car. Bella leans over to daddy and says, "Can I take it for a spin?" She is a piece of work. At four, she is already asking her daddy for the keys. Watch out world! Bella is taking over.