Billy Graham Library

My parents came to town on Wednesday the 23rd. We'd planned to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens that night, but Griffin was way too tired. Mike offered to stay home with him and my parents and I took Miles and Noah to check out the lights at the Billy Graham Library.

We knew some activities would be outside, so had to get bundled up. Miles decided that his warmest clothes were his feet pajamas. We were in the holiday spirit, so we encouraged him to go for it. The boys and I all wore our Santa hats too.

Inside, we settled in for storytime. My dad snapped a photo of us.

Outside we checked out a live nativity scene, including a camel!

We intended to take a carriage ride, but walked up just as they were ending the rides. We then learned that people had been in line for 2 hours for the 15 minute ride! Holy moly! I'm extra curious about it, now that I know that people were willing to wait that long (though I have a feeling its just a carriage ride to check out a bunch of white lights). The inside scoop is that if you go on a weekday, early in December, that there is not a wait at all. Definitely our plan for next year!

Home for the Holidays

We had a great holiday this year. I l-o-v-e-d having the boys home for two entire weeks. I wish, wish, wish we had year-round school options in Charlotte. Three week breaks spread out throughout the year...seems idyllic.

Mike and I were pretty strict about tv after school started in August -- movie nights on Fridays and Sundays and that's it. Once the holidays came, I lifted that completely. I recorded every kid's holiday special that I could and we settled in to watch. Griffin always seems sit in the same leather chair, stretch out, and cross his legs at the ankles. I love it.

Noah loves the couch. And, he can't go anywhere without a bunch of toys with him. He's always amidst his treasure du jour.

Miles mixes it up. Sometimes he squeezes in with Griffin. Sometimes he shares the couch with Noah. Sometimes he grabs his own leather chair. I loved it when he grabs a hat and puts it on backwards. Makes him look so much more grown up to me.

The early days of vacation were also about just being around the house, playing together. There were many days that the boys pulled their trains out of the closet, built different tracks, and wheeled around. Something about the specialness of just being home together on a Monday. A random Monday in July?? Not this relaxed. They boys seem to have forgotten about the trains completely, or they are the most boring toys on the planet.  :) Again, let's bring some year-round schools to Charlotte.

The Light

I am so behind on the blog. Two preschool Christmas programs. One first grade holiday party. A Christmas visit to the Billy Graham Library. A houseful of family (Clericos, Baileys, Browns, Schuberts & Hedgepeths -- it rocked!) here for Christmas. An Uptown adventure on the light rail to see the singing bears and check out Discovery Place. A fun shopping excursion with my mom & sister. A New Year's celebration with amazing friends. A New Year's Day brunch with neighbors. A trip to Summerville for a shower for Dana & Brad. And a bunch of little everyday moments that were just plain fun to capture. One of these days I'll catch up on our amazing holiday. I just made it through all of my pictures, so the light at the end of the tunnel is peeking through. But that's enough progress for tonight. Maybe Sunday?

Mountain Weekend

What seems like ions ago now, I spent a weekend getaway with my dinner club girlfriends. We had manicures and pedicures in Charlotte and then traveled to Blowing Rock to shop, relax, cook, talk and laugh. A daring few of us (that could ignore all of Dr Oz's gross warnings) hopped into the hot tub during the first snow of the season. (I'm still alive. It was worth it.) I love these women. They make me laugh. Until I cry. And, oh how I love to laugh with them. We share recipes, advice, miscellaneous shoes that no longer fit, books, music, matching pjs, a growing collection of ornaments, weekends away, funny stories, motivation to tackle new things (triathlons, home renovations, a filing system that will change-your-life), comfort and support during our trials and sadness, bottles of wine, rockin' eggnog, contagious laughter, a handful of silly songs & poems, maybe someday a fancy necklace or convertible (remember that article, girls?), and so many memories (that the girls often fill me in on, since my memory is equivalent to a sieve). This group gets it right. We are the perfect balance.

While I was away, my parents were in town. My dad and Mike took the boys to the Southpark Mall to have breakfast with Santa. This entire season, Miles and Noah have been on to the visiting Santas and know the secret -- that these Santas are really just the real Santa's brothers. They are so smart. :)

I ♥ Faces: Pets

This week on I ♥ Faces its all about pets! Here's a picture of our guy Bodie taken last summer on Father's Day. He was catching his breath on top of a playset after chasing his three favorite boys around. Love this sweet dog! 

Check out more cute pets at iheartfaces.com!

Gingerbread Houses

This afternoon our family decorated gingerbread houses at a Community School of the Arts event help uptown.  It was fun!  Each family was given two houses, a table and insane amounts of candy.  The boys loved eating the candy as much as they liked decorating (no surprise).  Turns out though, their favorite part was having Mike make snowmen out of marshmallows for them.  Go figure.  :)  

Afterward, we had dinner uptown and then drove around to see Christmas lights.  We showed the boys the spot Uptown where Mike proposed to me 10 years ago (December 18, 1999).  Miles' response was, "how did you know her name, daddy?" as if Mike proposed upon first seeing me.  Sounds romantic.  :)  

Banana Claus

We took the kids to a cute Christmas event at the Mint Museum today. "Banana Claus" is Santa and Mrs Claus' son and he is hilarious. All three boys loved it -- laughing out loud throughout. The Williams were there, too, and Ella was recognized for her prize-winning drawing. Go Ella!

PS Dad -- I could totally see you as a SC Banana Claus!

Another Big Boy

Griffin is such a little cutie. He's laid back, he's a little comedian, he's super affectionate, and he adores his brothers. He frequently says, "mommy, take a picture of me!" and then proceeds to pose. Its hilarious. He does things just to get a laugh and is quick to laugh when someone does something funny. He loves to chase his brothers around the house and pretty much loves doing anything they are doing. He still carries around his favorite dog and has added two others to make a posse (he's given them the names of "doggy", "peppers", and "snipper").

Griffin turned 2 1/2 on November 23rd. Two days later he started using the potty. Like clockwork. He's not 100% there yet, but I'm hoping to have him fully potty trained (during the day) by the end of the year. I forgot how cute little buns look in undies. I bought him tons of character underwear, but his favorites are the boxers. They came in a 3-pack, so all three boys broke them in one night before baths. :)

A few days later Griffin said, "I'm a big boy. No more passy." He proceeded to throw his passy away. Seriously. Can it get any easier? Mike, are you sure we can't have a 4th? :)

Dana's Shower

Lindsey and I (and several other girls) co-hosted a bridal shower for Dana. It was a fun afternoon and I loved seeing all of the out-of-town guests: my mom, Lindsey, Brad's mom Rachel, and her 2 sisters. Isn't this a great picture of Dana and her new mother-in-law (on Dana's right) and aunt-in-laws (on Dana's left)? Brad is a lucky man!

Our sweet mom came to town to help Dana celebrate.

Lindsey took a bunch of pictures with her new camera. Doesn't she look super cute behind it?


Check me out! Don't I look super tall? haha :)


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Here are a few of the engagement pictures I took of Dana and Brad. I took hundreds and narrowed my favorites down to around 150 (how do professional photographers do it?). A few more of them are on my flikr page.