HO HO

We were pretty certain that Caroline would have another terrifying visit to sit on Santa's lap this year, but we were going any way. So today we stood in line for about 30 minutes at Brookwood Mall (I love going there b/c they let you take your own pictures in addition to the one they take). Armed with multiple snacks, suckers, and candy canes and with Christopher in tow (I bribed him with promises of an afternoon nap) we weaved our way through the line of screaming kids. This is the first year Caroline has really understood that she is supposed to tell Santa what she wants and that he will come down the chin-chee and leave her toys by the fireplace. She got her list straight in her mind several weeks ago and has been able to rattle it off on command. When we would ask her if she was ready to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted she would say that she wanted to tell him her list, but "no sit on his wap". However today, after waiting patiently in line and watching the other 80 kids go, she quietly slid out of Christopher's arms, ran over and hugged Santa and was happy too sit on his lap and just look at him. Rutland immediately went for his beard (which was real) and his glasses, then laid his head on the furry part of Santa's coat. The pictures still weren't great because it was impossible to get both of them to look at the camera at the same time, but they were light years beyond what we envisioned happening - which was a complete melt down. Caroline was so proud of herself when we left. I hope Santa's got everything on her list!

We took a few pictures in front of our tree before church the other day...

Walking Tall

Rutland has officially graduated to walking! He actually took his "first steps" right around his 9 month birthday in November, but it has taken him about 3 weeks to coordinate hands, body, and feet together enough to make it from point A to point B. His teachers at school put on his report card for Wednesday that he had taken 8 steps in a row at school, and literally when he got home, he took off. Unfortunately for him, there is no speed control yet, so he takes off and then just crashes or latches on to something. But even just through the weekend, he has gained so much more balance. It is hysterical to watch something so little scurry across the room. Christmas morning should be interesting...

Disney on Ice

Several friends from playgroup decided to fork over the $32 bucks a ticket to take the kids to Disney on Ice. I have to say it was pretty worth it. Caroline has never been to anything where she had to sit in a seat for an extended period of time, but she is so "into" Disney stuff right now, I thought it would catch her attention enough to enjoy it. She was absolutely mesmerized by it and could not get over the fact that the Disney characters came all the way from Disney World to see her! After the initial shock wore off, she asked me with the most serious face, "Why don't their mouths move when they are talking?" Obviously the dialogue and songs are projected over speakers and the characters like Mickey and Minnie, etc. don't have moving mouths. I was so shocked that she noticed I didn't have a good answer. I think I used the old "duck and distract" technique and luckily she moved on. The other precious comment was when we were leaving the show, she said "Mommy, I am ready to go to Disney World now." We have mentioned a few times that we will get to go see Mickey, Minnie, Cinderella and her castle, etc. this summer with Daddy, Pops and GiGi, so I guess she has stored that in her mind and is counting down the days. I hope she's ready to sweat it out too, because our trip is in July!!!!

Harris and Caroline waiting for the show to start

Waving at Mickey and Minnie

Cinderella and the other pricesses came out together, which was a little diappointing that they didn't have their own "segment" in the show.

More waving...and a wipee to clean off the cotton candy ($10)Lion KingNemo was a favorite!Harris Crumpton, Campbell Moore, and Caroline after the showHarris and CarolineThe finale with everyone!

Cute smiles

Christopher played "photographer" the other night while he was fixing my camera and got some sweet pictures of both kids. Earlier in the day, Caroline was invited to her first Cinderella birthday party and Cinderella was actually there in person. I knew she would be blown away so I took my camera to catch the excitement. When we got there, she was acting very shy (she had just been woken up from her nap early and I slapped on her Cinderella costume, bed head and all - GRIZZLY BEAR!) and would not get out of my lap. In the process, she accidentally knocked my camera and it hit the floor and I couldn't get my lens cap off. So, no pictures of Cinderella or the party! I was so sad, but we did have a great time. Oh well...at least Christopher got the camera fixed and he got some cute shots anyway.

The Thames Bee Hive

Caroline and Rutland dressed up as bumble bees for Halloween this year. Caroline picked her costume out of a magazine and my sweet friend Jennifer had an infant bumble bee costume she let me borrow for Rutland. So that's how we ended up a beehive! They had a great time trick or treating this year, and even though we stayed up later than normal Saturday night, everyone was up bright and early with the sunrise on Sunday. They did NOT get the memo that you gain an hour and sleep in despite the sun peeking through the cracks in the shutters. Rutland was up at 6 (7 old time) and Caroline at 7:30 (8:30 old time). Whoever invented time change Sunday was NOT dealing with anyone under 2 years old! I am looking into blackout curtains for Rutland's room...

Finally a Vegetable!

Caroline has finally found a vegetable she likes! Several months ago Pops (my dad) talked her in to trying some of his delicious corn he cooks on the grill. She hasn't looked back since. But don't make the mistake of cutting it off the cob for her. That's part of the thrill! She loves the handles on the side. And yes, that is juice dripping from her chin - yum yum!

Smiley

Rutland has earned several nicknames at school this year and it's only October. But, they always tell me how happy he is and that he smiles all the time. So, they have added "Smiley" to his long and distinguished list of nicknames. My favorite ones are "little big man", "There's the little playboy" (Christopher said he had to live with that nickname as a child too - whatever!), and the one we knew was coming "Rut Rut". I have to agree with them - Rutland is a happy child and will flash a smile at the drop of a hat. He's such a sweet boy!!

Yes, he loves to crawl in the dishwasher!

Pumpkin Pickin'

Each year we go to Andy's Nursery on Rocky Ridge to get pumpkins. So this weekend, we loaded up at 9:30am in the rain to go get a pumpkin (we were 30 minutes behind schedule). Now, why may you ask would we A. go in the rain and B. try to get dressed and out the door by 9:00??? Because daddy is certifiably CRAZY on game day, and we have to have him at the chosen football watching location and settled at minimum 30 minutes before kick-off. So, I'm sure you can imagine how excited and helpful he was when we got to Andy's. He literally walked up, grabbed 4 pumpkins and thought that would be it. He obviously hadn't noticed the children's matching pumpkin outfits and my camera ready to take some of my favorite pictures all year. So, we did manage to get some cute pictures and our pumpkins and had Daddy in front of the pig skin idol his required 30 minutes prior to kick-off.