Black Friday

Well - I am officially a grown up. I shopped Black Friday all by myself. I have gone with mom before, but then she had the plan and just told me what to do and we were a great team! This morning I arrived at Walmart at about 4:15. I am so grateful my kids are not old enough to really care what they get! The lines for the big ticket electronics were crazy! I found a ton of great things, chatted with some ladies while we were waiting, and even had fun getting through he maze of aisles.
Here is the best part. I really wanted to get Asher her first cabbage patch doll. They had newborn ones on sale that were pink and purple. I finally found them and grabbed one. The box was a little bent up so I grabbed another one. When I got home I was so proud and showed Matt. It was then that I realized I had bought a dark skinned cabbage patch doll. It is super cute - just the opposite of my very white skinned baby girl! We decided to name her "Holly Berry" to celebrate multicultural dollies and the Christmas season. Asher will love it.
Merry Christmas!

Christmas is coming...

We got our Christmas tree up this weekend. Our investment of the pre-lit tree pays off again. All I had to do was stack it up, plug it in, and fan the branches. I highly recommend one.

I know it's not even Thanksgiving, but we figured since we are going to be out of town next weekend we should get it up now. Aidan liked it and kept saying he didn't know how to put ornaments on it. Later he helped us put some on but kept putting two on one branch. Asher was very interested in the tree. Here are some videos of her. Just a little early taste of the season.

This was Asher's first take on the tree. Later with the ornaments on it we had to keep an eye on her. She kept grabbing the ornaments to look at them.

This was Asher later this evening practicing her Santa Claus routine. She has to sneak in, leave the presents, and dash out of there. Notice the piggy slippers that she got from the Shocks for her birthday. She loves them and will actually keep them on.

Here are the elfs next to the tree. Look at them holding hands!

As you can see Asher is waving.

When I grow up...

I have asked Aidan on several occasions what he wants to be when he grows up. Now, most kids say things like Superman or a fireman or something along those lines. The first time I asked Aidan this question he said, "I want to be nothing." Hmmmm.... Well, he has decided....
Yesterday in the car on the way home from school we were talking as we usually do every day. I asked him again and he said, "I want to be a dog catcher." I thought maybe he meant a vet or something along those lines so I asked him if he wanted to be a doctor that takes care of sick animals and makes them better and he said, "No mama, I want to be a dog catcher. Can you get me a big cage so I can put the animals in there when I catch them?" I am not sure where he got this idea from. We have never talked about it or saw a "dog catcher" in action catching a doggie....
I love Aidan's one of a kind comments. :)

'Tis the Season

Well - 'tis the season for the kids getting sick...
It seems like we have had one or both of our kiddos sick for the past month or so. They both have been fighting fever, runny noses, and fussiness lately. Grandma even pitched in and watched Asher today so Matt and I didn't have to miss another day of work. We hope Asher will be fever free in the morning and able to go to Miss Claudia's.

On a side note, Aidan's latest kick has been having both Matt and I put him to bed every night. We have to each hold his hand and then when we walk in the room one of us has to go pat Asher's back and the other tuck Aidan in. We have both always tucked him in, but now he is adamant that it has to be at the same time. I also didn't realize what a creature of habit he is. Tonight we put Asher to bed a little early, and since we usually put their jammies on at the same time, Aidan didn't have his on yet. We walked upstairs and I wanted to brush his teeth before books. Well, he told me, "That's not what we always do mama." I quickly realized that he knows our bedtime routine better than I do...

They Love Each Other

I absolutely love the fact that Aidan and Asher love to play together. Yesterday Aidan wanted to read to his sister and did a great job telling her the stories.

He was helping her feel the different parts she could touch on the book. Asher wants to do whatever big brother is doing, follows him around, and wants to eat whatever he eats. She loves having a big brother!

We love to dance to country music in the living room! Matt and I usually each take one and dance, but Aidan decided to dance with little sister and Daddy and I got to dance together some too.

The Pooh train that Uncle Zach got for Aidan a few years ago is one of Asher's favorite toys! They now push each other around the house. Daddy had to teach Aidan that he had to "help" Ashy push him. They love this train!

Asher is pretty good at sitting like a big girl at their little table. Aidan really likes having her sit by him. She sits at a table at Miss Claudia's and even sleeps on a sleep mat instead of a pack and play. What a big girl!

The kids are growing up so fast! Aidan LOVES to play outside now that he has the awesome fort daddy and grandpa built. He has such a cute little personality. We asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he said, "toys, winter clothes, and little eggs." Where he got the winter clothes from I have no idea! He must have heard daddy and I talk about it or learned it at school. He still loves the little plastic Easter eggs. He can write his name and learned his first word, it. We like to go on a hunt for the word when we are reading and are trying to learn the which is a little harder. He loves to read, especially right before bed. He is doing great at school, learning a ton and having fun. He is a great big brother and a big help to mom and dad.

Asher is so beautiful. She understands when we ask her questions and nods yes or no. You can tell she is trying to talk, and has said duck and we think cup. She runs everywhere now. She loves the doggies and lights up when she sees Aidan. She also is really good at following directions. She loves to brush her teeth, and wants a toothbrush if she sees anyone else brushing. She has been pretty good about letting me do her hair and put bows and ponytails in. I love doing that!!

I love this stage the kids are in. They make each other so happy and we love to watch them play!

Aidan's Big Day! (9 Weeks Later...)

They grow up so fast...

This summer Tiff changed school districts in an effort to be closer to home. At her new school, Old Town Elementary, there is a class for teacher's kids in which Aidan is now attending. He is there with other teacher's kids and Pre-K students with special needs.

He has learned a lot and loves going. In the morning he plays in Tiff's classroom for a little while before going to his class, and after school he gets to play in her room and watch TV some too. She loves having him there. It is cute to see him walking with his class in the halls and sitting in the cafeteria eating (sometimes) his lunch. He has a 'girl' friend in his class. According to his teachers they are like a married couple; either friends or arguing. Everyday when he gets home we have to sit on the front porch and dump the sand out of his shoes from the playground at school. Sometimes the sand is in his hair. Everyday I ask him how his day went and he says 'fab-a-lous.' He is turning into quite the little boy.

Here are a few pictures from his first day.

Aidan all ready with his lunchbox and backpack.

Tiff and Aidan walking from the parking lot to the school

Aaaa!

This wasn't from the first day, but it is cute to see them in their matching Old Town Texans T-shirts.