ICE!

Our lazy day! Worn out little buddy

So Aunt Tisha called us this morning and said that her friend had given her 2 free tickets to ICE and was wondering if we were interested?!?! Which we were! We had no plans for the day. It was basically a lazy day for us. So we were lazy pretty much all day. Cole was obviously worn out from our 3 days of celebrating. He slept until 9:30! We played and watched movies. Cole fell asleep on the couch and then we met Tisha at 4pm at ICE! This year the theme was Frosty the Snowman. It is amazing! Truly amazing to see what these people are able to sculpt out of ICE. It is 40 ice sculptors from China who come and do it. Who knows what it all cost, but with the prices they charge, I am thinking it is A LOT! So glad we had free tickets! It is $27 for an adult, which starts at age 13 and then kids are $17.95 for 4-12 years and then 3 and under are free. Don't get me wrong it is amazing, but the whole thing only last around 20-40 mins depending on how slow you walk and look at everything. Oh well, we had free tickets and it was AWESOME! I highly recommend you to go if you get the opportunity for free! hahahaha....

ICE fun at Opryland

Mexican dinner date after ICE with this silly boy

Christmas 2013 in the books!

Soooo.... It was wonderful! Feeling very blessed. We had 3 days of busy, busy, fun! It started on Christmas Eve when Cole and I went to Aunt Tisha's "building" to make cookies for Santa. We had a fun time. I was so glad Aunt T was there to help guide us. I have never made cookies where you roll them out and use cookie cutters. Aunt T had lots of fun shapes and we brought the sprinkles so we were ready!!

Christmas Cookies!

That night we got ready for Santa and ate our Christmas Fettuccine!  Ha! Yes, Fettuccine. A few years back we watched the movie "The Holiday" and on Christmas Eve they eat Fettuccine and refer to it as "Christmas Fettuccine" and act like that is what everyone eats as a tradition on Christmas Eve (either in London or California). Casey thought it was a great idea and thought it should be a tradition of ours! We set out the cookies and took a few pics before going to bed. The next morning around 8am we heard on the monitor "did Santa come, did he come, did he??" It was so funny and so cute! Cole was so excited, but a little overwhelmed with it all too! We had a great morning playing and just enjoying the moment. That night we went to Papa and KK's house to celebrate some more. It was minus Brad and Karen since they are on there honeymoon. We did face time them on Christmas Eve while they were at the beach!!! Well Uncle Craig hit the jackpot with a Batman bat cave and bad guy figures. Cole was SO excited! and Papa and KK gave him a DVD system for my car. Cole was so funny. There are two monitors that came with it. When I put it in the car he said, "mommy there is one for me and one for Bella!" hahahaha....the things this little boy says crack me up!

My sweet little family

Then on the 26th we went over to Uncle Lincoln and Aunt Pam's. We just hung out all day! Casey had to work but got there around 5pm, but the rest of us where there for lunch until about 9pm. We missed the Herren's, but Jennifer broke her foot so she was propped up and had to go to the doctor. Cole was hilarious opening presents. Of course we didn't have the video going, but it was classic. Uncle Lincoln gave him this box and said this is from me, I think you are going to like it. He opened it up, squealed with excitement and said "its just what I wanted!" and then ran to Aunt Pam, almost tackling her, and squeezing her neck. It was a t-shirt that said University of Arkansas, but it had spider-man, hulk and wolverine on it. When Uncle Lincoln said "Cole that was from me, where is my hug?" Cole replied with "not yet!" but then a few minutes later Uncle Lincoln got a big hug too!!
We had a wonderful Christmas and we are looking forward to 2014!!! Thank you Lord for this beautiful life you have blessed us with!

Rolling the cookie dough out

Aunt Tisha!

Putting cookies for Santa out!

He came!!!

Batman with his bat cave

Cole playing scrabble

Getting Uncle Lincoln

Someone found the icing bowl

Thanking Uncle Lincoln for his cool new shirt

Present from Uncle Craig

with Papa!

Even Super Heros brush there teeth

Winter and "why"?

So the temperature has definitely dropped! This past weekend we were under a ice possibility/scare. We actually got out of school 2 hrs early on Friday because the threat was to start coming in at 4pm. Nothing happened, but it is always nice to get out of school 2 hrs early on a Friday.

My sweet boy

Cole is NOT in the Christmas spirit. If you ask him what he wants for Christmas he says "nuffin". I said you don't want ANY toys? "No mommy! I don't want any toys!" I guess I should just take advantage of this time, right? He is just so adamant and funny about the whole thing. We did go see Santa as well. He was not a fan at first, although he did not really resist, fight or even try to get out of Santa's lap. He just sat there crying. Me and the assistant were jumping around hollering things he stopped, looked at us and we got a little smile. The photographer laughed and said "well, mom you got both shots. Cry and Smiling"
So just in the last 3-4 days Cole has started saying "why?" to any and everything. Even when there is nothing else to even question, he does! Oh my goodness! It has been a long 4 days of "why?" hahahaha...
He is ALL about super heros and bad guys. Although in his mind the super heros are bad guys. Not sure why he thinks that? but he thinks they are great. He talks about them ALL the time. He is also really into TMNT (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). So Santa is a little scary, but not turtles that have mutated into the size of humans?!?! hahaha... It's really funny how much he is into them when he really knows nothing about them. We started watching a few, but they are just so rough for 2 year olds. i mean he is only 2. Casey did find a cartoon that has like baby/little heros on youtube and Cole has liked that show. I am not sure what it is called though. Since he has this love Uncle Craig has become a HUGE fan. Cole talks about him ALL the time. Craig is a big comic book fan. He has a whole room of his toys and comics. Cole has seen this and now talks about Craig all the time. Seriously, if you did not know Craig you would think he was Cole's imaginary friend. Anything and everything is "and Craig too mommy?" and then of course " I miss Craig", "I want Craig", etc... Craig is loving being the #1 Uncle right now for sure! :)
Cole and I went  to Alabama this past Saturday. We had it planned for a little while. Cole had been asking to see the girls and then Julie got tickets to  go see Disney on Ice. I want sure what Cole would think of it, but he really liked it. It was really good. The theme was Princess' and Heroes. The Heros were the Prince characters from the movies.

Being goofy!

Not liking Santa :(

Realizing he isn't so bad :)

Fun at Disney on Ice

Worn out from the weekend on AL

Its Fall and Wedding Time for Brad and Karen

So we had a big weekend...Brad and Karen got married on November 9th. Everything went well. They are married and it was very nice. It all came together in 10 weeks! That part is still a little crazy. Karen's whole family came down. There were about 75 people there. It was sweet. Cole was the ring bearer and Maggie, Karen's niece who is 3 was the flower girl. Maggie loved Cole and wanted him to hold her hand ALL the time. There was a little drama right before the wedding when he did not want to hold her hand anymore! but all ended well and two cute, sweet kids came walking down the aisle.

Ready to blow bubbles as the new Mr. and Mrs. leave

Mr. and Mrs. Brad Parnell

I love this time of the year. The leaves are SO pretty right now. Cole is officially 2 and a half and testing his luck with us. He is SO funny. He is a very opinionated little boy who knows what he wants, that is for sure! It is really hard to not just laugh at him sometimes. Right now we have been talking a lot about Santa, trying to get him ready for pictures this Saturday. He is VERY adamant that he is not going to see Santa, he does not want Santa to come see him or bring him ANY toys. He said that "Brad, Karen and Craig will bring me a present!" Where does he get this?!?! We did a little Christmas mini session with a friend of mine, but Casey was gone and not able to be in them. We got a cute one of Cole and I though. He is such the little boy, ALL boy! We are having a fun time and enjoying him SO much!! Looking forward to the Holidays!

Being a boy and finding all the sticks!

Me and my mini :)

Fun Fall Weekend

Well, Fall is in the air. The temperature has dropped a lot and it has been absolutely beautiful.I have been on fall break for the last 10 days, which has been SO nice. I was able to get lots done as well as rest and relax. Friday night we had a bonfire party for Brad and Karen to celebrate the upcoming "I do's". We had it at our new lot. It was a perfect night. We didn't have the best turn out, but a great time with the friends that were there. Since Casey and I were hosting the adult only party, Cole had his first spend the night party with Aunt Tisha. It was a success! Tisha said he asked about me a few times, but went to bed and slept well all night. He had a good time. He LOVES his Aunt Tisha and "her building" which is what Cole calls it. He is quick to correct you if you call it her house. He is such a funny little boy. Aunt Tisha lives next to a fire hall, so they went to check out the fire truck and meet some fireman as well. Sunday was a last minute pumpkin patch trip. We knew we wanted to go to one but I has about convinced us not to go today, but it was to perfect of a day. This year we went to Honeysuckle Hill in Springfield, TN. We had a great time. Cole loved it. I am sure I will be hearing for the next few days if we can go back! :)

Pumpkin train with daddy

Cow train ride

Milking a cow!

What a fun weekend!

Ahhh... we had a taste of fall this weekend with the high of 77. It was beautiful. We tried to do as much as we could outside. It started Saturday morning at a birthday party for Haven. It was a pirate and mermaid theme! Cole had so much fun being dressed up. Then we went to the Nashville zoo for the opening of the kangaroo kick-about. It was so fun to be able to walk into the exhibit and see the kangaroos up close and personal. They seemed to be a little timid, (and so did Cole) but I am sure it was an overwhelming day for them. They were the stars and all of Nashville came out to see them. Sunday we went to brunch at Black Jack Cove, the restaurant on the river right by our house, which we have never been too! Been there about 2 or 3 years now. Shame on us. It was so nice to sit outside and watch the ducks. That afternoon we went to the park and just enjoyed running around and playing. We came home and played in the driveway with chalk. Cole wanted to outline everyones body, Bella included. I wish I would have taken a picture. It was pretty funny! What a fun weekend we had!

Tent fun! Found this jewel at a consignment sale Friday afternoon

My little pirate ready for the party

Feeding the ducks with daddy 

watching the ducks at Black Jack Cove

Cole taking "selfies"

Fun at the zoo seeing the kangaroos

We are in full swing...

...of the 2013-14 school year. We have just finished the first month! Crazy!! So happy about the 3 day Labor Day weekend. Although, that did not start like I had planned. Cole got sick last night and threw up a couple times. He has not run a fever and seems to be ok, so I am guessing something just didn't sit right on his stomach. So today has been a lazy day at home, which is nice to have. This school year is a little different, since I have a new title and my boss is gone (sniff sniff). It has been ok, not what I was thinking, but ok. I get the feeling now that what we were told in May with our job change is actually different than it really is-I think they said some things that they knew my boss would want to hear, but now that she is gone they are just going right back to the old ways (sigh).
So here is what has happened in the last month with us...
Welcome Back to School! Cole got bit at school!! It looks pretty bad, but within about 24 hours the mark was gone. It didn't break the skin. They wrote it up and we had to sign it, but they couldn't tell us who bit him. I guess it is a HIPPA something. Anyways, when I saw Cole he walked straight up to me and said "Gibson bit me mommy"hahaha

Casey's grandmother passed away. This was his mom's, mom. We knew that for the last year or so she was up and down, but it did just seem to kind of come fast. We got a text message on Tuesday saying they were not sure if she was going to make it through the night. She ended up passing away on Thursday afternoon around 1:45, August 15th. We woke up early Saturday morning and drove to the funeral in Macon, GA. Cole was a trooper. Actually amazing! My little not so good traveler did SO good. It was a long, fast, exhausting weekend.

Our good little traveler-headed down to GA

So tired-driving home Sunday

Worm out at the funeral

So, it looks like I am going to have a sister-in-law!! Brad asked Karen to marry him on Friday August 23rd. I knew it was coming. Brad had been talking with me about it and shopping for rings (texting them to me for my opinion! :) The one thing I didn't know was how fast it would happen. She first said Oct 19th or 26th, over fall break, but they couldn't get everything lined up for those dates, so it will be November 9th, 2013. So that is exciting! Lots of fun things happening in the next 9 weeks to get ready for the big day!

It was kind of last minute, but Cole and I decided to go to AL. We were thinking we would go Labor Day, but then we got an invitation to Carley's birhday, Julie and the girls were going to be out of town Labor Day, so we just decided to go. I figured we could see more people and then maybe actually relax for the long weekend. We had such a good time. On Saturday we went and got our hair did! Cole was so good with Morgan cutting his hair. I hope he keeps it up. He has been terrible the last few times getting his hair cut, then we went to Sissy's pool to go swimming with everyone. Cole experienced the ice cream man for the first time! He was so funny. He just ran with the other kids like he knew exactly what he was doing. That afternoon around 4pm we went to Carley's birthday party and saw lots of friends.

Carley's birthday party!
Carley, Julia, Jessi and Cole

Pool fun at Sissy's

Enjoying our ice cream treats

First time to pee pee in the potty! He was pretty excited! Probably a fluke, but he was excited. He wanted me to take his picture! :)