334/365

Today we stayed home and tried to get caught up on some things.  Ana Kate played and watched movies while I edited pictures, cleaned, decorated the Christmas tree, and worked on my knitting projects.  I didn't get anything completed, but made progress on all.  We did get our tree decorated...even a little one in Ana Kate's room (I didn't get any pictures of that one tonight), but I still have lots of other decorations to put up.  She helped me with all the ornaments that weren't breakable, but I still had to re-arrange sometimes.  I am not really happy with how my ribbon looks, so I might readjust it tomorrow.

Today Ana Kate has been wearing a different hat every couple of hours.  She started out with a sun hat that's way to small for her, then her winter hat with a pom pom on top, then when were decorating she found the Santa hat and wore it for most of the night.  After putting some laundry in the drier I came downstairs to find Ana Kate putting her puzzle together and she has improvised another 'hat'.  Too cute!  So of course I had to get some pictures.  She is getting so good at her puzzles.  She can do the 48 piece with no problems and she gets mad if I even attempt to help.

333/365

Today Ana Kate has school.  It was a little strange after being off for a week.  She was super excited about seeing her teachers.  Thankfully her stomach issue appears to have passed, so we are back to normal around here.  After I dropped Ana Kate off at school I ran to the store to pick up a few more things for our organization project.  I am not quite finished yet, but it's getting there.  I made zero progress on the Christmas tree today.  I did drag out all the ornaments, I just haven't done anything with them yet.  I have been working on a new project this week.  I am teaching myself how to knit and it's actually a lot easier than I thought it would be.  I am working on a scarf and a baby beanie and I'll hopefully have them both done pretty soon.  Between that and editing my photo sessions from last week I have stayed pretty busy. 

I thought I'd include a few photos from my session last Tuesday.  I took photos of my friend Sue and her two children.  We were racing to get them done before the sun went down and it was very chilly, but I love the way they turned out!

332/365

Not much going on here today besides cleaning and organizing.  We got most of the game room organized and I finally put the Christmas tree up.  We haven't decorated it yet, but it's up!  I was busy editing pictures today and tonight and realized I hadn't taken any of Ana Kate yet.  She was in bed, but not quite asleep yet, so I managed to get one.

331/365

We had a great day today....even though Ana Kate was not on her best behavior.  I started out the day with a photo session for my friend Paula (she led the bible study I was a part of this this semester).  Her family is great and it was a lot of fun.  I got tons of great pictures, so it will fun to edit them.  I came home and got Ana Kate ready and we headed out to even more shopping!  She was so fussy at the store, but in her defense I don't think she felt well today.  I thought her diarrhea was gone, but it returned out of nowhere again late this afternoon.  I am really not sure if it's something she has eaten or maybe a virus.  I'll give it a few more days and see how she's doing.  If it doesn't get better we'll be going to the doctor again. 

At one of the stores today as we got up to the cashier to checkout we notice that their back was turned, so Ana Kate says (very loudly), 'Excuse me lady'.  When the cashier turned around it was a guy (a guy with long hair....that did look like a girl from behind).  It was SO funny!  I could barely look at him the entire time we were checking out.  It was embarrassing and funny at the same time.

Tonight we worked on re-organizing our game room into more of a play room and hopefully I will get the Christmas tree up tomorrow.  I'll have to post some after pictures when we get it finished.

330/365

Today we picked Doug up from work and did some shopping in Fayetteville.  We only got a few things, but I think we are pretty much done with our Christmas shopping.  Yay!  I started wrapping a few things tonight and Ana Kate got super excited.  I still haven't put the Christmas tree up, but there is always tomorrow and Sunday.  I have a photo session in the morning, so I think I'll be going to bed soon.  Only one picture today and slightly blurry....but it's all I got.

329/365 | Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I got up and cooked ALL day long!!  But we had an amazing dinner and it was worth it.  I actually didn't eat too much at dinner, but I definitely ate too much dessert.  When I got up this morning Doug had already cleaned up Ana Kate's toys and he made a quick trip to the store and got flowers for both of us!  They are really pretty and looked good on our table today.  I am so thankful for my family, my amazing girls, my wonderful husband, and my Mom & Dad and brother.  I am thankful for everything God has done in our lives and continues to do.  I hope everyone took a moment today to reflect on all their blessings.

We had my Mom (Mimi) and Whitney & Josh over for dinner.  Mimi helped me cook and I think everyone really enjoyed dinner.  Whitney and Josh are planning to do the early black friday shopping, but we aren't going to do it this year.  I might do some shopping tomorrow when Ana Kate and I get around, but we won't be getting up at 4am....or any time close to that.  If they don't have what we want...oh well, I'm not too worried about it.  I should have taken more pictures today....but I just stayed busy in the kitchen and didn't think about it until I got Ana Kate ready for bed.  She wasn't too interested in pictures, so I only took a few.

Our weather turned unbelievably cold overnight.  When I went to bed it was in the high 60's and right now it's only 25....and falling!  We even has some sleet here today...crazy!  I'm hoping it doesn't stay this cold all weekend, I had planned to do all my Christmas decorating this weekend and it won't be fun decorating the outside in these temperatures.

Happy Thanksgiving!

328/365

I woke up with a horrible headache this morning that eventually became a full blown migraine.  Ana Kate continued to have stomach issues, but she always made it to the bathroom and I think it might be getting better.  Hoping tomorrow she will show more improvement.  I am just now starting to feel normal again and hoping I'll be able to get a good night's sleep.

Despite the headache I did manage to get all my desserts baked for tomorrow.  Ana Kate helped me make apple and pumpkin pies and I also made cherry delight.  It looks SO good!  I had to tell Ana Kate and Doug both that they couldn't have any until tomorrow.  : )  I had planned to do some cleaning, but that will have to wait until tomorrow morning.  It's really just Ana Kate's toys scattered throughout the family room and kitchen.  And sweeping and vacuuming.....maybe I can get Doug to help me tomorrow since I'll be cooking all day.  Pictures were a last minute thing.  Doug let her pick out her outfit tonight after her bath and this is what she chose.  I'm not sure I would have put those all together, but it actually looked ok.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We will miss all of our extended family and will be thinking of them tomorrow.

327/365

Today was pretty quiet until Doug got home from work.  I headed out the door for a photo session as soon as he got home.  I did a small session for a friend of mine and her kids.  We didn't take many photos because it was quite chilly.  I haven't edited them yet....but there are several that I really like.

When I got home Doug was in the middle of cleaning up quite a mess.  TMI warning!!  Ana Kate was sick to her stomach and apparently it came out both ends....at the same time.  So it appears my child has perfect timing....she waited on Daddy to make a mess!  : )  She seemed to feel fine, but continued to have diarrhea all night.  I hope her stomach settles by tomorrow....this is really awful now that she wears big girl underwear.

We got Ana Kate changed and headed up the street to vote (runoff election) and then picked up dinner.  Ana Kate ate really well, but her stomach just isn't handling it well.  Looks like we'll be eating lots of bananas tomorrow.  That was pretty much it for our day.  I completely forgot to take Ana Kate's picture until she was already asleep.  (Yes she is asleep...even though her eyes are partially open).  It was so cute when I went up to check on her she still had woody and jessie....she has been taking them everywhere lately.

326/365

Not much going on here today....cloudy, rainy weather and we were feeling pretty lazy, so we spent the day at home.  Of course we watched another toy story marathon, and Ana Kate loved it!

325/365

We really didn't do a lot today.  We attempted to go shopping at the mall this afternoon, but after the 2nd store we decided to head home because Ana Kate desperately needed a nap!  She slept for almost 3 hours and was happy when she woke up.  We headed back out to the store to pick up a couple of things....when we were at Target we found toy story 1 & 2, so of course we had to get them both.  We had dinner and then sat down for a toy story marathon.  She watched them back to back and wanted to watch them again, but it was bedtime.  I'm sure they will be watched at least 2 more times tomorrow.  : )

Pictures were pretty last minute tonight....so I only got a couple, she wasn't into posing for them...imagine that!

324/365

Not a lot going on here today.  Josh stopped by to help get my Christmas decorations out....so I suppose I will start working on those tomorrow.  I never decorate for Christmas before Thanksgiving...but I'd rather have it all up than have the boxes laying around.   We'll see how much I actually get done before Thursday.  We really didn't do much else until we went to church.  Tonight was our long night and we only had 2 kids in our toddler class....it was super easy and they were fun!  I enjoyed our service tonight and Ana Kate enjoyed her class.  As we were walking to the car she said, 'I love church!'  It makes me so happy to hear that!

 

323/365

We had another early morning today....even earlier than yesterday, but it went so much more smoothly.  Ana Kate woke up around 6am....so she was in a good mood by the time I got her ready.  We headed out to my MOPS meeting and we had to be there earlier than normal because my table was bringing the food.  We had a great meeting today and I got to meet several new Mom's.  And I finally got to hold my cousin's new baby...he is precious!

After MOPS we came home and I put Ana Kate down for a nap.  She slept for almost 3 hours....she was SO tired!  When Doug got home we had dinner and then went shopping for a few things.  That was pretty much it for our night (other than watching toy story 3 for the 500th time....good thing I like that movie so much).  : )

322/365

We had a rough start today.  I had to wake Ana Kate up and she wasn't happy about that....add in rushing to get out the door and we were both a bit cranky.  She was super once we got to her school and gave me a big kiss when I left.  Today was the last day for my bible study.  I loved the study we did and I'm sad to see it end.  I learned so much from it and it has really helped me to grow and experience scripture in a new way.  I have had such a great time with the ladies in the study group and I'm hoping to sign up for the next one in January.

After I picked Ana Kate up we went to the store and then picked Doug up from work.  We relaxed and watched some tv, but I'm heading to bed early tonight....I am exhausted!

Pictures were quick because it was quite chilly outside, but Ana Kate had to have her candy cane ornament in them.  She found it at Target and calls it her glitter cane.....she had glitter from head to toe tonight!

321/365

Today we didn't have anything planned but a lunch time playdate with Annie and her Mom.  We met up at chick-fil-a and let the girls play and had lunch.  It was fun seeing them together again....so cute!  Annie has been home from China for just 4 months and she is doing amazing, she is the sweetest girl!  After lunch we made a quick trip to the store and then went to pick Doug up from work for the day.  He is still pretty sore, so he got a ride to work and left a little early.

When we got home I worked non-stop in the kitchen until about 6pm.  I had to make something for Ana Kate's school party and my bible study tomorrow....plus dinner.   By the time I got Ana Kate to bed and cleaned up a little I was exhausted.  But....I still have to do my bible study lessons before tomorrow!  I have felt so behind this week and just haven't had enough time to get everything done.

The only pictures I took were of Ana Kate and Annie today.  They really didn't want to cooperate with me....but I did manage to get a few.

320/365

Today I woke up with a headache so we stayed home, but I really didn't get a lot accomplished.  Around 12:30 Ana Kate was getting very cranky so I put her down for a nap.  Shortly after that Doug called and told me he broke his collarbone.  He was playing ultimate frisbee at lunch and somehow fell and broke it.  He decided to have a co-worker take him to the emergency room so that I wouldn't have to wake Ana Kate up.  He got home right after she woke up with his clavicle brace and a sling.   He said it's still hurting, but they gave him some pain medicine....so hopefully it will feel better in the morning.  Whitney broke her collarbone when she was 2, so I knew they wouldn't do much for it....it should heal in 4-6 weeks.  So much for getting help with all my Christmas boxes....I might have to enlist help from Josh.  : )

We didn't do pictures until it was almost dark.....and Ana Kate's hair is wet from her bath, but they were taken outside!  She was making some very funny faces.

We're hoping to go to the park tomorrow for a play date, so hopefully it will be nice outside.

319/365

We were up at 6 this morning and had a busy day all day.  I dropped Ana Kate off at school and then headed over to Whitney's to help decorate her Christmas tree.  We realized that we needed more lights about halfway through, so we decided to drive into town and get a few things.  We went to Marketplace for lunch and had a good time.  We don't typically have that much time to talk, so it was nice.  We did a bit more shopping and then picked Ana Kate up.  She was so excited to see Whitney there with me....and she had a great day at school.  (Well she did choke on her food at lunch and throw-up....so she had to change clothes....but otherwise she has a great day.)  We took Whitney home and finished up the decorations.    I also did a horrible job taking pictures today.  I lugged my camera everywhere I went and didn't take one single picture....not even one of the finished tree!  I have to get better about capturing things....especially when we're with Whitney....I don't get too many pictures of her now that she's moved out.  I am SO glad we have nothing planned for tomorrow because I am super tired!  I hope Ana Kate lets me sleep in a little.