1/2 Marathon Training...

This week Matt and I started a 10 week 1/2 marathon training schedule with plans to run the New Orleans Mardi Gras 1/2 marathon in February...I'm so excited! A training schedule, means Saturday morning runs and this morning, it just happened to be warm enough to load up the kids and go for a "family" run. I LOVE running with Matt and the kids...it is a time we can talk and just be together with no interruptions. And not only that, we like to think we are setting a good example for our children...hopefully they will share our love for exercise.

Now wish me luck as I juggle going back to work (Monday), a husband, two children, and a training schedule...this will mean many "early" mornings for sure! But in the end, it is all worth it and running for sure makes me a better wife and mother...I'm confident of that!

I wish Anna Lauren had her hat on in these pictures...she was so stinking cute in her pajamas, mittens, and hat!

Daddy with the kiddos...

Mommy with the kiddos...

Disney on Ice Presents Princess Wishes...

A couple months ago, Regina and I decided we would buy Disney on Ice tickets for the girls, Anna Lauren and Holli Grace who are the bestest of friends. As time got closer, we told them about the tickets and they were so excited and could not wait for last Thursday night to arrive so we could go to the show. So Thursday night came and we dressed them alike, ate Mexican for dinner, and headed to Disney on Ice / Princess Wishes! The girls had a blast and the show was SPECTACULAR...such a fun night for everyone!

Of course they would not take a "normal" picture...they just wanted to take silly pictures...

Sassy Holli Grace...and yes, she is just as sassy as she looks...LOVE this little girl!

In their seats waiting on the show to start...so excited!

And I wish you could have seen their faces when they saw Mickey and Minnie...Anna Lauren is not really into the princesses but she loves her some Mickey and Minnie as does Holli Grace.

Holli Grace sat just like this the entire show...she never moved...Anna Lauren of course bounced around but LOVED the show and watched every minute of it...she just doesn't sit still EVER!

Regina and Brooks, Holli Grace's brother...

The girls in their crowns...yes, they got the $10 cotton candy so they could have a crown!

Tinkerbell...

Mickey and Minnie saying goodbye in their "fancy" clothes...

On the way out, we ran into Princess Carson, their good friend from school...

Sweet hugs...Carson is the most lovable child...she will give hugs for days!

Santa...

Tuesday night we made our annual trip to Bass Pro Shop with the Williams family and the Wright family to see Santa Claus. Our children are getting older so we anticipated that maybe they would sit on Santa's lap but no such luck other than Cooper who doesn't really care who holds him. And Anna Lauren even told me she was going to sit on his lap so I was a little surprised she didn't, but o'well, we can mark that "to do" off the list until next year...

As close as Anna Lauren got to Santa...last year she did at least tell him what she wanted but not this year. She had NOTHING to do with him.

Cooper thought Santa was "ok"...probably just happy to be out of his stroller and being held by someone / anyone...poor baby!

We did attempt a family photo since Anna Lauren would not sit with Cooper in Santa's lap...now if you think these are bad, you should see the ones Bass Pro took...they will bring great laughs when Anna Lauren and Cooper are older!

This picture makes me laugh out loud because it is so typical of us when we are all together...just crazy...people always look at us like we are NUTS...I swear Billy is going to quit going places with us.

The Wrights...of course they are PERFECT! Ann Hardie is not smiling but still...how sweet are they?

Ann Hardie and Anna Lauren coloring a Christmas ornament...

Daddy thought Cooper should shoot the gun...and the lady beside them is of course looking at us like we are NUTS...I told you!

Matt was proud of his "catch"...

Madison Christmas Parade...

This past week they were building a float for the Madison Christmas Parade at Ridgecrest (Anna Lauren's school). Well, if you know Anna Lauren, you know this meant many questions and once she heard it was for a parade she was all over it and begging for us to go.

Thankfully, one of my best friends from high school invited us to go with her family and some of their friends. We had a fun breakfast at her house and then off to the parade, which of course, Anna Lauren LOVED!

Thanks Jennifer for letting us join ya'll...it was a fun morning for sure!

Cooper doing what he does best...just hanging out in his car seat...

Oh wait...maybe I should open my eyes and see where I am now because it is always somewhere different every time I open them. Thank goodness he just rolls with the flow...

Anna Lauren sitting on the curb waiting for the parade to start...

Little better view from Daddy's shoulders...and just a clapping!

Anna Lauren did not want a "family" picture...however, Jennifer was smart enough to take one while she was watching the parade and didn't have a clue that we were taking her picture...thanks Jennifer! And where is Cooper...you guessed it...sleeping in his stroller!

Just a waving...

Enjoying the parade with all the kiddos...

Doing what he does best...such a sweet little boy!

She LOVED the bands...

Clapping with her candy cane...it was another band...

Oh wait...I think I'll wake up and have a bottle!

Who Needs Toys?

Anna Lauren is a bit on the "unusual" side for a kid...she doesn't watch TV and she doesn't play with toys. However, she will play with random things such as paper products and crafty stuff that makes a huge mess for Mommy and Daddy to clean up, but because she doesn't play with the "normal" stuff, we let her play with whatever so we can have a few minutes to do something...it is worth cleaning up the mess.

After coloring for a few minutes (see coloring sheets on couch) she asked if she could have the boxes of paper products...needless to say, these are now "toys" rather than paper products to use for company, parties, etc. Anyway, I walked away and came back to find this...and then she said, can I cut the napkins? Of course, I said yes because that gave me another 5 minutes to do something.

And now...the living room is all clean and we are headed to bed...ahh...it was worth cleaning up for the 10 minutes of peace we got tonight!

Cooper's 2 Month Check-Up...

This afternoon we had Cooper's 2 month check-up and were pleased to hear his heart sounds great, and he is doing exactly what he should be doing at this age. He is a growing healthy boy!

Dr. Joe said he is still on the "little" side, but he doesn't predict that to last long...

Weight ~ 11 pounds and 13 ounces ~ 25th percentile ~ 5th percentile at 2 weeks

Length ~ 23 1/2 inches ~ 40th percentile ~ 25th percentile at 2 weeks

Head ~ 15 1/2 inches ~ 10th percentile ~ less than 5th percentile at 2 weeks

While waiting for the nurse to give him his shots (3 of them...poor baby), we did get a few smiles from the little man. Needless to say, he had no clue what was about to happen and once it did happen, there were no more smiles.

Another Baby Shower...

Just like with Anna Lauren, Matt's co-workers hosted a baby shower "after" the baby...the women have found out if they wait until after the baby is born to have a shower that Mommy will bring the baby and they can spend a little time "oohing and awing"! And that is exactly what happened this morning...we did not touch Cooper the entire shower...he was well loved on to say the least, and we got some goodies to bring home with us that were much appreciated.

The shower was actually for Cooper and Aden...Aden is the son of one of Matt's co-workers, and he was born 3 weeks after Cooper.

Terrible picture, but I had to post because we love us some Uncle Joe! Matt has an unusual situation...he has two bosses and then the "big" boss. Joe is one of his bosses that got the name of Uncle Joe probably 5 years ago and it has stuck...however, he is also the one that plans the fun "work" trips for Matt so he is well liked / loved!

Some of the ladies loving on our Cooper...

And getting all of his smiles...the hat was a gift from Matt's "big" boss, and he wanted to put it on him as soon as we opened the gift. Too cute! Watching men at showers is so funny!

And last but not least...all the goodies we got today...