Christmas EVERYWHERE

Whoa! Christmas with a toddler is very different. Ornaments and decorations have already been pulled on, destroyed and our tree isn't even up yet! We get a real tree, go out to a Christmas tree farm and make a day out of it. It's much more work but so much fun to make those memories together! We want to wait a little so it makes it until Christmas and we have less needles to pick up.

We have duck taped the stockings and are crossing our fingers we can make it through without any major destruction.

David Franklin is all over the place! In the last hour I've gotten dirt, leaves, rocks, and even a milkbone out of his mouth, or most of it anyway. Yesterday, I found a soured bottle under our bed, who knows how long it had been there- gross! We found our phone in the pocket of my pants hanging in the closet, an ink pen in the wine cabinet, and shoe in the laundry basket! It's a continuous game of hide and go seek at our house. I sound so neglectful but I watch him like a hawk!

It's an adventure and with the Christmas decorations out, it's even more so!!

Thanksgiving 09

Taste testers

There is so much to be thankful for this year, including living in a country where the government declares a national holiday for thankfulness. That is pretty remarkable in itself!

We gave thanks on this Thanksgiving, to our health, love, jobs, good food a plenty, and so much more. God is good. We had a great holiday that ended with a bon fire on the lake with family friends and an awesome game of Catchphrase!

The Beatles "In My Life" is a song I can't get out of my head today. Here are a few of the lyrics:

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them
In my life I love you more.

We are most thankful for our friends and family. Those we can spend time with this holiday season, and those we cannot. You are with us in spirit, whether you are across the state, country, or the heavens.

In my life, I've loved them all

A surprise letter!

Is this a normal practice? Imagine my surprise to find a message in David Franklin's pants today from his teachers! I must admit it was very effective... He will have new diapers on Tuesday.

Buckets

David Franklin has buckets and buckets of drool these days. Do you think he is teething or what? He has his hands constantly in his mouth and this drool is out of control...check out that shirt! I'm not sure which teeth come in next. He has his front 4 on the bottom and front 4 on the top. I guess it's the ones in the back that hurt more...wonderful.

Buckets reminds me of the Bob Dylan song, "Buckets of Rain." My brother, Jason, is a HUGE Bob Dylan fan and I first heard this song when I was very young. I thought it was so funny because of the lyric, "I got buckets coming out of my ears." I'm afraid this song is relating more to DF's life than I want it to right now. Not only does he have buckets of drool, his ears are really hurting him. I can just tell. He was super fussy/clingy last night and this rarely happens. We are going to the doctor today for our ear infection check up from 3 weeks ago and I won't be surprised if they are back.
I am sick of these ears, and want him to feel better! I also don't want him to become immune to powerful antibiotics, so bring on the tubes if that's what it will take. I wish I could put buckets in his ears and drain all of that fluid that is causing him so much pain!!

***Update- we are back from the doctor and ears are clean, no infections. YAY!! All of that pain is due to those stinking back teeth.

Blahg

So, I've been pretty bored with the blog lately and it's turned into the blahg for me. I'm still reading others, but my own has gotten so boring....sorry bout that!

My baby boy is still precious though, and anything but boring! He's
started trying to run this week and climbing on everything so he's covered in yellow bruises on his legs and head. Uh oh is a word we are hearing more and more of. I think this is the stage everyone has been warning us about!!

Cowboy up

On Friday morning we met up with about 30 others for a playgroup at Family Farm in Malvern. We went on a hayride, the petting zoo, a little John Deere train ride and there was a hay playground too. It was all really neat.

My camera battery gave out so this is a picture from my phone. The owner of the farm, Mr. May put his hat on DF and sat him up on a pony. He didn't go for a ride or anything but wasn't afraid at all of the animals. He wasn't necessarily thrilled with them either.

Now if you were in Fayetteville, and happened to bump into Franklin, then you've already seen this picture. He was showing everyone. He sure is proud of his little partner.

Wordless Wednesday

Halloween Day Fun

Is this not a GREAT costume?!

David Franklin (looking so serious) with 2 little bears: Ryan and James.

David Franklin and James

Hayride Time!


With "Mama Bear" Kim!

We started the Halloween fun at the Van Bebber's house on Saturday afternoon. Alyssa had thought of everything. Tons of food, bounce houses, and even a short hayride around the neighborhood. There were lots of people and kids everywhere!!

Kim or "Mama Bear" is James' mom. James is David Franklin's good buddy. I put this picture up of DF and Kim, because he was her boy that day. He walked up and reached up for her to hold him at least 3 different times and would snuggle into her shoulder. It was so cute and she was so sweet about it, but at times she had David Franklin and James on both hips! I had to swipe some pics of her blog, so thanks Kim :)

After the Van Bebber's we went to a neighbor and friend's house for chili and trick or treating. There were lots of kids there too! We all loaded up when it got dark and struck out. It is a hot spot for trick or treating at the end of our street! Some of the houses didn't simply turn a porch light on and stick out a bowl of candy. There were strobe lights, music, witch's brew (dry ice), and big time decorations. It was really something, I got a little scared at one house! Trick or Treating was really just a stroller ride for DF while the big kids went and rang doorbells but it was fun watching them get so excited and have so much fun.

Trick or treat

Halloween was a treat this year! The little lion had fun but peeled out of his costume pretty early. I will post what little pics I got later.

This is after the parties back home... He even got to pass out a little candy before bed. We have some adjusting to daylight savings, our early bird just got earlier!

Today is also bella's birthday so she gets a treat herself. Maybe a whole chicken breast- that's huge in Bella's book!