Starting to Put up Christmas

This is our weekend to decorate for Christmas. We were planning on starting yesterday but I did not plan on getting a little stomach bug that kept me down all day. I am posting pictures of what we have done and will update when we get the rest done. We hope you like.

Our Mantle. We need new stockings so bad none of these match but they all mean a little something but I will give these up this year and finally get matching good stockings.

These are pictures of my kids or nephews with Santa or holiday pictures. I only put these holiday pictures out at Christmas and I get so many compliments. I can not wait this year to put up the pictures as we have a new nephew this year.

View of the upstairs banner. Hard to tell but wrapped in Garland with White lights and plaid bows.

Dining Room Center piece. Hard to tell but one of my favorite Holiday decorations in the house.

The Playroom Christmas Tree. Our playroom is done is Sesame Street so the tree matches with all sesame street figures.

Over our sink in the Kitchen.

Banner going up the stairs.

Warning A lot of Pics! Crafting Weekend.

So I am posting a lot of pics of our craft projects this weekend. We are headed to Disney World in the first of December. So we are starting to get ready. I made 2 autograph books for the kids. One is typical Disney and the other is Princess. We are also making shirts for animal kingdom. I have included pics of all. Hope you like. Still have some project to finish but here is a good start.

BIg Girl

She is finally done fighting us with her treatments and can sit there on her own. Yeah!!!!!!!!!!!! So Big!!!!!!!!

Movie Night!

We have started a Family Movie Night about once a month. Last night was Family Movie Night and we watched Kung Fu Panda. It was pretty cute. Of course Ava does not participate one since she could not stay awake and two she does not really like to watch TV. She is getting a little better though she will now do a 1/2 hour show. Hayden was so excited about movie night at 4:00 he laid out the blankets and pillows. We were not even starting till Ava was in bed. Just a little excited to say the least. I feel very lucky that we can do these things as a family. We try once a day to have a meal as a family and do special activities like these. I am blessed to have my family.

My Darling Son

Hayden never seems to amaze us with his sweetness. My birthday was yesterday but with work and a dinner I had we did not get a chance to celebrate. Hayden went to his cousins house to play for the night and as we were driving he said he has something to tell me. He told me he did not have any money but he had the best present for me. I thanked him for the thought and said he could give it to me when we got home. He of course fell asleep on the way home and forgot to give me my present. But he remembered this morning. I am so happy his Daddy caught it on film. He got his guitar and sang me a song. The best part is none of this was provoked. He has the biggest heart and this is the absolute best present I could have received.

Ava's Hospital Trip

Ava and Daddy reading a book

Ava loving wearing mommy shoes

Daddy got her this Elmo balloon and made her day

This is her leg in the bath hard to see but I forgot to get a picture when we first went in

Playing puzzles and hanging with her IV

Should be sleeping but instead being funny loving her jail

Sorry so long on the update. As some of you know by now Ava ended up having to be admitted to the Hospital on Monday. She had MRSA. This is the new superbug going around and is very resistant to antibiotics. We were lucky we caught it early thanks to her teacher Sarah calling us Friday about her bite. It did not make it into the bloodstream or the heart. And we were able to get antibiotics in her that worked against MRSA. She responded to the antibiotics and we are now home with no fever, and her leg looks good. One positive thing about this is we got to spend some great one on one time with Ava. She was contained to her hospital room and could not go out of the room. We are amazed at how strong and big she is. She barely cried the whole time was so big and friendly to everyone who walked in and out of her room. And she cracked us up the whole time. She would put on a show with her monkey and dancing. She would wear my shoes around the room. I will say it was not fun chasing a 22 month old with an IV pole. I posted some pictures from our stay. We want to thank my family, for all the help with Hayden. Annemarie and Judd kept him Saturday night, and Betsy had him Monday - Wednesday. It was so great to know that he would be OK and have so much fun. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts. Ava is doing great except she might now be a little on the spoiled side.

Ava to the ER again part 2

Ava went to the ER again this weekend. Only this time it was not for a smashed finger but for a staph infection on her leg. On Thursday she was bite at school by a spider we think. By Friday it was so sensitive to touch and driving her crazy they called me to pick her up. I called the pediatrician and we took her in started on antibiotics and told me the signs to watch for. By Saturday afternoon the spot was much bigger and felt like fire to touch. She also had a fever of 103.4. So we headed off for another ER visit. They planned on admitting her but did a great job of getting her IV antibiotics and lancing her abscess. They let her go home to her own bed and we returned this morning. She is feeling much better but does not like you near her booboo. She is getting back to her old self and is even able to go back to school in a few days. Other then having to pack the wound and change the dressing she is well. I really really hope this is the last of the ER visits for awhile. Poor Ava.

No David!

My Friend Ranice picked up this book for Ava. It is NO David by David Shannon and Ava loves this book. She carries it everywhere and when she went to bed tonight so did NO David. They read this book at school a lot so Ava can already read the book. It is so precious and we thank Ranice so much for finding this book for us.

Ava to the ER again!

Ava, Ava, Ava. For my girl she is my little daredevil. Well we were having a great weekend. Getting everything ready for Disney all crafts made when Ava through a wrench into our plans. My mom and I needed to run to Walmart for a few items and Ava and Hayden wanted to play at Betsy's house. So off they went to Betsy's. Now when all of the cousins get together there is too much fun to be had. As we are about to pick up lunch for the kiddos we get a 911 call from Toby to come home immediately Ava's hurt. She had gotten her hand shut in the door. So we went home right away as we are driving I'm thinking its a hand can't be too bad. But it was. She actually only got a finger but according to Bets it was smashed and twisted in a way Betsy has never seen before. We tired to ice it but noway was Ava having that. Finally Toby convinced me to get her to the ER since the swelling and bruising was getting worse. Off we head to the ER, Mima, Ava and myself. She is screaming so hard she falls asleep or passes out from pain not sure which one. Needless to say they xray her nothing broken, and they tell me to ice, elevate and have minimal use of the hand. I look at them and say shes 21 months you want her to be cautious of her hand?!? As we are waiting for the doctor we asked her how she hurt her hand? Ava proceeds to name everyone in the house except Betsy. She is funny even in pain and at the ER. So as my mom and I are talking about little Ava, this girl makes the most frequent ER visits. This was now number 4 in 21 months. Glad nothings broke and shes OK. Our little girl can hang with all of the boys but she needs to give her mommy and daddy a break from the ER.

Fun Friday!

I am so glad it is Friday. I have had a super busy week, work was crazy but glad for today. I am headed to my moms tonight and tomorrow for a weekend of crafting. Super excited we are finishing all of our Disney projects. Hopefully even start some other projects, maybe Christmas Gifts.

I am especially excited because I finally found words for above my crosses. Can't wait to do these maybe Sunday.

An update on Mike's Grandma. She is out of the hospital and in a skilled nursing facility. Still no movement on her right side but does have some sensations. She has no speech, but is alert. We know she is hearing. She has started her physical and speech therapy. All is status quo. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Hope this finds you all well and Happy Friday to everyone.

Look Mom I got a Haircut!!!

Hayden got a haircut today and the lady put a little gel in it and he thinks he is so cool now. I think oh my my baby is so big. He going to be a lady killer (I'm biased).

Happy Halloween!

Here are some pics from Friday night. A good time had by all.

Ava is Peace!!!

Just thought I would post a cute pic of Ava. She had such a busy week she just looked so peaceful asleep. I will never get tired of looking at my babies sleep. It is one of my favorite mom moments. Hope you like.

Boo at the Zoo

Hudson as an Army Man. What a trooper

Sam Asleep he could not take it anymore.

Ava and Hayden

Ava sharing her lollipop with Jack.

We went to Boo at the Zoo this year. Just a few pics to post. We always love going here but just what we needed more candy. We had already been to the Fall Festival and Monster Mile. Now Boo at the Zoo and we still have not even made it to Halloween. We went with my sister and her kids, Mima of course, Nannette, Niki and Hudson. We also met the Brit and Jeremy and Heather and Mark and their kids. As always it did not disappoint.

Monster Mile

Our friends the Harmon's invited us over for Monster Mile in their subdivision. We had so much fun. It is a mile of trick or treating with characters set up along the way. Ava was beside her self for the princesses. And Hayden still talks about how cool it was to meet spiderman. It was so much fun and we look forward to doing it next year. Hopefully we are invited back. A lot of pics here sorry.
Nicci Mike Toby Ava Hayden and Jack
Spiderman with his new friends Hayden and Luke
Baby Sammy Such a cute elephant
Jack giving Buzz a high five
The scarecrow Rhett all tuckered out
Ava with Cinderella

Fall Festival

Hayden and Ava had their Fall Festival at school. Unfortunately Mommy did not get to go this year but Daddy was a trooper and took the kids. They had so much fun and that started the week of Halloween celebration along with all the candy. Hayden loved the cake walk and won cupcakes but instead of the dozen he only wanted 1 cupcake. Owell so much for a cupcake for mom. Thanks to Daddy for always pitching in. The kids and I are so lucky to have Mike in our lives.