Taking Candy from a baby!

And finally, here's what really does happen when you take candy from a baby!!! She's not quite two, but we get the idea she's about to start tantrums....you know the kind with tears and you see the kid laying on the ground kicking. Those are real tears, people! Such drama from our little llama.

Holidays in Florida!

After we saw family in NC, we got on a plane and traveled to Florida to see relatives. We saw aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and friends! They just live a few minutes from the ocean, so we make time to go see the waves and see what Sydney thought.....And...she scared me to death, this kid has no fear. I thought Trace and I could just roll up our pants a little and walk in the shallow water, but our little swimmer had other ideas. She was ready to play! We also went to the Disney Vero Beach Resort while we were there and she got to see Donald Duck and Goofy. She was SOO excited. She kepted waving and telling them "hi" and she gave "high five's" and was a bundle of enthusiasm that afternoon. It was precious! We had a great time! And just so there's at least one pic with Santa...Here goes....

Drawing with Aunt Karen...

She found Pa's straw hat and Granny's slippers and she was off to the races...














Sharing some smiles, M&M's and sunglasses with our Florida family.










Our day at the beach and Disney resort...









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http://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/guest/resorts/resortLanding?id=VeroBeachResortLandingPage&bhcp=1

Holidays in TN!

Watching Sydney enjoy the holidays has been such a joy this year. There really is something magical about enjoying the Holidays through the eyes of a child.

She loved the lights, the presents and after about 10 (yes, 10!) visits to Santa, she warmed up to the jolly fella and got some pics on his lap! We traveled to North Carolina and Florida to see relatives for the Holidays (more on those trips and some Santa pics in another posting)...

And a cute one of Sydney using her purple and gold "poms" from Grandma Dotty. GO Catamounts, GO! And...thanks Grandma Dotty!

Holidays in NC!

Enjoying time with relatives in NC!

One of my favorite times during the Holidays is our visit with Aunt Pat. It's the one Holiday get together that always feels like the Holidays. She is one of the best cooks EVER! (I'm not kidding- she's the real deal). Last year when we had over 20 people at our house for T-giving, she was the first one I called for advice.

The Holiday's at Aunt Pat's house mean that at least a million Santas, Elves, trains, snowmen and the likes come out of storage for their place in her home. (Ok, maybe not a million, but there isn't a space in her house that does have something Holiday in it). As you can see from my little brother's expression, I'm not the only one who enjoys the Holiday's at Aunt Pat's house :)

After the morning with Aunt Pat, it was on to see the Grandparents in Sylva and Bryson City....Here are pics from those visits..

We've been trying to explain Jesus's birthday, Santa, presents and a whole host of other concepts, but at the end of the day, she understands...

1-presents are FUN to play with and unwrap

2- We keep telling her to sing Jesus loves me and Happy birthday, but she isn't sure the connection

3- it's another time of year with candy!

4- she gets extra time at home with her family!

5- everywhere she goes there are lights or Santas and Santa says "ho Ho ho".

Pics from the Farragut football banquet

Yes, of course, her Daddy is so proud.

I'm working on the Christmas post today...stay tuned.

The Potty Dance...

Now that Sydney has been using her Elmo potty for a few weeks, we've come up with some routine around this event. One component of this routine includes a song. Thanks, Jamie M., for sharing this song. It may never leave my brain :)......Anyway, after Syd does her business, she sings her potty song (and Trace and I sing it too). It's a big deal and it includes hand motions. I'm not posting a video yet b/c all of them include Trace and I singing as well. Maybe later.

I was tagged!

and I'm supposed to put up my 4th picture from my 4th file...... Here goes....It's a picture of Trace and I from Christmas 2000.

No, we weren't dressed alike on purpose.

This is at my friend, Natalie's apartment before a night out in Asheville.

This is also the first time I brought Trace home to meet my family in NC. If you ever want a giggle and have a few minutes to hear the whole story, ask us about that week :). We hadn't been dating too long and after returning to Atlanta after a few days in NC with the family, it was a turning point for Trace and I. I called my sister and said after the last few days, this relationship would definately take a turn-we would either get married or never talk again. I'm so glad we're married!

Julie L- You are tagged! What do you have in your prize closet?

Blast from the past....

I know everyone says Sydney looks like Trace, but I found something in the picture vault that says she may have a few of her Mommy's traits as well. She is starting to reflect traits on both sides of the family. It makes sense too b/c I don't even know who brings our mail. HA HA- just checking to see if anyone is reading the posts or just checking pictures :).

(This is the Christmas pic of me when I was about 21 months- 3 months older than Sydney's current age)

CANDY...

Clearly, someone still remembers what happens on Halloween.......

Beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

There really isn't anything sweeter than seeing the excitement on Sydney's face when we light up the Christmas tree. She is really enjoying the holiday season. Tells us that Santa says Ho Ho Ho, LOVES lights, wants all the candy she can find (though I think that's leftover enthusiasm from Halloween). Last weekend, we went to see the Living Christmas Tree. If you haven't ever been, it's worth checking out.

And one more from Tgiving

where Sydney is showing her Grandpa Robb (Robin's dad) the tree we started decorating....Enjoy

Moods

Sometimes we're sweet and say "pleeeeez" and sometimes we're grumpy when we don't get our way.

November Updates...

So, it's been a while since I've posted.......Here are some fun November updates....

Sydney has decided she's BIG. She is pretty sure she can drive (see below). She also LOVES to wear Mommy and Daddy's clothes, shoes, etc.

Sydney is now a potty fanatic. She loves to come home and sit on her Elmo potty and make presents for her Mommy and Daddy. What a sweet kid! And smart too - she's really getting the hang of this potty stuff.
She loves to make laundry-folding time fun. No neat stack of clothes is safe from this little in-home tornado. She prefers clean clothes to be moved all over the living room!
She can say tons of words and is fairly skilled at communicating her thoughts. She's even started helping out around the house. Here she is helping vaccuum and sweep just before Thanksgiving.

Oh Boy....They made it. Sydney enjoys PLAYtime, Grandpa shoes and showing off the tree we started decorating Tgiving Weekend.

Her Uncle Mike also came down (no pics of Mike as she's not yet 2 and he's scared of her yet!) and we went to see her first movie, Madagascar II. It was awesome. She loved it. In fact, she roared at the lions for the first 30 minutes of the movie.



We are so thankful for every day, for every smile, for every eskimo and butterfly kiss.