Harris

I was glancing through my blog and realized that I haven't posted much about Harris lately (yes, I know that I haven't blogged much lately in general... I'm just talking about the ones I have posted!). So, here's a little update:

Harris:

* calls the grocery store "My Teeter" instead of "Harris Teeter". He told his teachers that he lived in the cookie aisle at "My Teeter".

* loves Mack Truck and Speed, although, sadly, he has started to correct us... "Speed" is now becoming "Lightening MCQueen". * is a 4-wheeling maniac. He can drive the new 4-wheeler like you wouldn't believe. He loves to play Follow the Leader with Daddy on the big 4-wheeler and him on the small one. He also loves to ride with Jackson riding behind him!

* loves to sing. I often hear him singing to himself as he plays with his cars or trains. His favorite right now? Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. Of course. * is trying oh-so-hard to stop wearing his cute little outfits. He usually protests (unless there is an airplane or a truck on it) and wants to wear "pants and a t-shirt".

* is not quite interested in using the potty yet. He'll use it occasionally, but he'd rather not bother. Jackson is dying to get Harris a "potty train" for when he finally goes... I think more because Jackson wants a new train than becasue he wants Harris to have it! * is quite a talker... much more than Jackson ever was. We don't completely understand him yet, but he is getting better and better almost daily it seems. Sometimes he gets going so fast that we lose him completely!
* goes and goes and goes and goes... nonstop. The only quiet time of my day is when he is at school or when he is asleep.

* loves music at school. I heard he had a crush on Miss Jodie, the music teacher! * loves his grandparents. He is always asking where they are and what they are doing.

* talks about Papa's Waterhouse everytime we pass the marina (twice daily!). We often go there for lunch, just for a change of scenery, and he never wants to leave.
* loves a canoe ride! He'll take his fishing pole (that has a fish attached), cast and reel it in, so proud of his catch.
* still loves giving hugs and kisses. He will come up to me out of the blue for a huge squeeze (he's a great hugger!) and kiss. He also will take my face in his hands and study it for a few moments, like he is memorizing my features, before he plants a big one on my cheek!
* is starting to get into art. It doesn't entertain him as much or for as long as Jackson, but he is enjoying our projects more and more.
* is just so super-cute. I love listening to him laugh when we tickle him, I love his sweet singing voice, and I love to just hold him tight when I can get my hands on him.

Welcome

Welcome to the world

Ann Ballard!

9 January 2008

1:11 pm

7lbs 5oz

Congratulations, Steve and Tyler!

We can't wait to meet your new little blessing!

Love,

Amanda, Jason, Jackson & Harris

Christmas 2007

Not having family in town, our Christmas' get spread out over several days, and we get to celebrate numerous times! For the actual day of Christmas, Nana and Papa T were here to share it all with us. After a family chruch service and a reading of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" at Betsy's house, we headed home, excited but exhausted. Of course we were ready for Santa to come, too! Jackson got us up a little before 7am to tell us that Santa had come to his house. I'm not sure that he really GOT the idea in the past that Santa actually came into our house to leave presents, but this year, it was crystal clear. He was so excited to see what Santa had brought!
It was a huge rush to get down the stairs, and both boys were thrilled by what they found. Stockings are a big deal at my house, and the boys loved them as much as we did!

This was, by far, the biggest hit at my house. The boys spent hours riding in the backyard on Christmas day. Jason took out his big 4-wheeler, and they played "Follow the Leader" around the house.



We had a huge, amazing dinner that night of turkey, roast, stuffing, cranberry risotto, asparagus, and green bean casserole. It wasn't long afterward that we fell, exhausetd, into bed!

Papa and Lois showed up the day after Christmas, so we celebrated again!

Our final celebration was in Florence with Aunt Amy, Uncle Scott, Lindsey, Kaila, Connor, Ganny and Gandaddy.
Lindsey and Kaila got a chocolate fountain for Christmas, so we got a chance to try it out. Harris and Jackson were amazed by it, and they both loved dipping their pound cake and bananas in the warm chocolate!

On our way home from Florence, we stopped in Santee for BBQ. Jason wanted to take us for "the real deal", so we ended up at Lone Satr BBQ. He hunted with the owner this fall and was excited to show us the old building and the yummy food...
Harris enjoyed the banana pudding!
Our final Chirstmas was with my friend, Betty. The boys were thrilled to see her, and even more thrilled that she came bearing gifts!
What a great Christmas we had! It was an amazing time with family and friends, and I so loved sharing the magic with my boys.

The Holiday Season

I know that I was a bad blogger in December... we had so much going on that I was too busy enjoying the season to blog (not to mention, I was worn out!)! Here is just a bit of what we were up to...Our supper club Christmas party

A visit from Nana

Shopping for birthday party goodies

The boys' first snow experience at the Holiday Festival at Piggly Wiggly!

Jackson's first snowball

Celebrating a 5th birthday
The Little School Christmas pageant
Harris was the cutes sheep out there! Jackson was in the choir and was up front the whole time. Unfortunately, we didn't see him at all during the pageant.
Jackson's class Christmas party was on his birthday, so it was like he had one long birthday party! I was one of the party moms, so I got to be there for it... we decorated cookies, made ornaments, listened to Christmas stories, and munched on the yummy cookies we had decorated! Jackson was the happiest kid there... it was his birthday, the other kids were all wishing him happy birthday, he got to decorate and eat cookies, AND his mom was there for it all! What could be better for a five year old???
We had our annual B.U.G.S. children Christmas party. We made and decorated cookies, ate a yummy picnic lunch, exchanged ornaments, and played our hearts out!
We had such a great time during the month of December. All of these fun events and days with friends and family definitely helped us to define for our children what Chirstmas is about.

Tree Adventure

We had the highest hopes for our Chirstmas tree this year. We decided to head out to Toogoodoo Farms to look for a tree. While we knew we probably wouldn't cut our own (Jason wanted to look at their precut Frazier Firs), we thought it would be fun to experience the whole tree farm scene.

The boys loved checking out all that the farm had to offer: this fun little airplane, a train ride through the farm, a talking Christmas tree, and a petting zoo.

Nana was in town and got to experience all of the fun with us, and I know the boys were thrilled to have her with them on this fun day.

We weren't thrilled with the selection of trees there, so we headed back into town to try a lot a friend recommended.
While we were there, I spotted the coolest, fattest tree I had ever seen. It wasn't Jason's frazier fir, but it was a great tree. I thought it would be fun to do something different, and it didn't take long to talk Jason into it.
Well, four tree stands later, we decided it wasn't so cool... it was too big and heavy for a normal stand to contain. Jason (cursing under his breath) sent me to Lowes to find another tree stand or another (smaller) tree!
I found a heavy-duty stand, we got back in the holiday spirit, and we started decorating.

Nana even played Christmas carols to make the day even more cheery!

Unfortunately, it didn't last long. The tree went over. Water everywhere, ornaments smashed, and Jason again cursing under his breath. However, it was nothing that a little heavy duty picture hanging wire and more Christmas cheer couldn't overcome... we bolted our tree to the wall.
It really was a great tree, no matter what Jason tells you. I loved it. It was a memorable tree, and one that we will (someday) laugh about.