the celtics

Alex has started playing basketball for the YMCA again this year. To say he loves it is an understatement! It is cool to see how he has developed from last year to this year. He is good at defense-he stays on his man like white on rice! His daddy has been talking to him about how to play defense and see the ball and his man :). Alex will guard his man so close his man doesn't even have a chance to get the ball, much less make it to the goal!:) His first game he scored 4 points and his second game he scored 8 points!! He gets just as excited when a teammate scores as he does when he scores-I love it!

Happy Birthday Alex!

The day we came back from New Orleans was Alex's birthday. We were so happy to see him! He didn't go to school because he had stayed up late and watched the BCS game, so he got to stay home and have a fun day with Dar Dar and Grandaddy. As soon as we got home he wanted to open his birthday present, so while Avery was still sleeping he ripped into it!

I love this picture!

He had been asking for catching equipment since last baseball season.

Wednesday, the 11th, I took a cookie cake to his school and his class sang Happy Birthday to him. He had a crown and a special badge they made him-it was so special and he loved it!

Thursday, the 12th, we met Grammy and Papa at Chick-fil-a (per Alex's request) for him to open their presents and have a little celebration. He asked for a power ranger ray gun for Christmas, but Grammy and Papa must have bought it before Santa could bring it to him:). It makes sounds and has a sword on the end-just what he wanted.

Avery wanted to wear her hat...not a fight I'm willing to fight.

We didn't get to decorate his room the night before his birthday so we did it a couple of days later. We filled it with balloons and hung streamers from the door. He was so excited waking up to all of the balloons!

I love you sweet boy! You are my favorite little boy in the whole world! I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

I took Alex for his 5 year check up on the 12th. He weighed 51.5 lbs (95th percentile) and was 46 in. tall (97th percentile). He has always been my big boy so that was not surprising at all. He had to have blood drawn, a TB skin test, and an MMR and chickenpox vaccine. He was not excited about all of the pricks but when we told him he couldn't go to kindergarten without these shots he calmed down and gave in.:) Alex's favorite food is still hotdogs! He can't get enough. His favorite restaurant is Wings-he loves the corndogs:). He loves music and playing any sport. Right now he is playing basketball and taking swim lessons and then of course, baseball will start soon. He loves going to Alabama games, whether it is football, basketball, or baseball. For his birthday, Grammy and Papa gave him an away basketball game trip to Mississippi State. Grammy got sick so him and Papa went by themselves. He ate jollly ranchers and peach rings (YUCK!) on the way there and had his hot dogs (yes, that means more than one) at the game:). They had a great time!

Alex is a great big brother to Avery. He lets her play with him (and shares with her) and they play well together-for the most part. He hugs and kisses on her and is sweet to her when she gets hurt. He is all about Daddy and "the boys" winning games! He'll say, "Mama, me and Daddy are going to play you in basketball." Of course, they end up killing me and he jumps up and down and loves it! He also will say when we are in separate cars, "I want Daddy to win" (we always race home) or sometimes just sitting at the dinner table he will say, "Boo girls side!" How crazy is that??!! He loves to be with his daddy and play sports or his new favorite, Mariokart, on the Wii. He loves to tell silly knock knock jokes. He remembers things very well-he always reminds John and I how old we are, he can tell you how to get almost anywhere in Tuscaloosa, he can count by tens to 100, dress himself, put up his dishes, and clean up his room (with help). He loves to wear a watch and tell everybody what time it is. He is all about knowing the score of games and who wins and loses in races. He is a sweet,sweet boy! I can't believe he is five!:( I asked him yesterday morning after breakfast if he would stay five forever and he said, "no, I want to be twelve."

He loves preschool and has learned SO MUCH! He comes home everyday and tells me, "Today was the 93rd (or whatever) day of school." Because he knows on day 100 his class gets to have a party. He has made many new, sweet friends at school. I can't believe he will be in kindergarten next year!

BCS trip to New Orleans!!

Saturday, January 7th, me, John, and his parents headed out for New Orleans! I was so excited-good food, fun traveling partners, a break from work for John, a break from the kids for me, sleeping in, a little shopping, and a national championship game!

Emily and I in the courtyard of our hotel. We bought these "handmade Hawaiian" beads for Avery but I had to sport them one night. Every time she sees a picture of me with them on she reminds me they are "her" beads.

At the famous Cafe Du Monde for beignets Monday morning.

Finally, the game!

WOO HOO!!

It was so much fun! All of the reasons I listed above for wanting to go were all of the reasons I enjoyed the trip so much!

December Merry Days!

At breakfast with Santa (at church) the kids made an angel Christmas ornament. Alex asked this girl why she was wearing that hat:).

Avery got aome help too.

Lincoln and Alex.

Alex's class Christmas party! He had so much fun! They sang a song and said their prayer and then got to eat. The parents went on a scavenger hunt for their child's papers to take home. He made me a cute Christmas plate that he painted a tree on. I will have to post that later because I washed the tree off. I was so sad:(! He is repainting it for me at school. 19 boys and ONLY 1 girl! Can you imagine??

Story time with Mrs. Cassandra.

On the mall train! I think I will be sad when they are too old for this.

Avery got ahold of my camera...

Self portrait.

I finally got it back. The Pugh's brought the kids over their Christmas gifts. Avery got a glow in the dark soccer ball. She LOVES it!

Alex got this handy bag full of outdoor games, like volleyball, badminton, and frisbee. He wanted to go play with it right then.:)

Off to deliver cookies at the hospital with Chase!

Potty trained little girl!

December 4th was the first day that she didn't wear a diaper at all-Avery was finally potty trained!! She had used the potty a few days in a row here and there and then she would go back to not sitting on it at all. All of a sudden, she did it all on her own one day. She loves her Minnie Mouse underwear and Fairy underwear she got for Christmas. I also told her she has new pink underwear when she starts staying dry through the night. She asks often to see it:) We are so proud of her!

McWane Center with friends

New Years Eve we went up to Birmingham to meet April, her little boy, Clay, Jessica, and her kids, Joshua, Lauren, and Jacob, and Tina and her little boy, Jack.

Alex has a great time playing with Jack Hebert and he enjoyed getting to know Joshua a little better. Clay and Avery played a little but they were in to two different things all the time.

Diggin' for dinos!

Waiting their turn...

to play virtual soccer.

Alex on the zipline.

Avery on the zipline.

Joshua ziplining...

and Mrs. Tina!

Playing in the "snow."

April and Clay playing with bubbles.