Preschool Christmas Party/PJ Day

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Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 has come and gone! It seems every year I spend many hours making sure everything goes perfect for Christmas and then it comes and goes oh so quickly. This was the first Christmas that Taylor and Carson have asked for things and have been so excited about Christmas. We left early Saturday morning bound for Kentucky. We had Christmas at my parents house on Saturday, then stayed in Campbellsville for the entire week to have Christmas with Adam's parents and family on Wednesday. Of course we drove back to Knoxville, so that Santa would find us back home on Christmas morning. Then we finished the week with Christmas at my Grandparents on Thursday evening. It was eventful but exciting!

Happy 30th Birthday, Adam!

We were talking the other day how this is our 14th Christmas together. Time sure does fly. Adam and I started dating back when we were 16. Many years later, a few college degrees, a couple of different cars, a couple of kids, a couple of houses, a few different jobs, a lot less hair, a lot more stress...same people just getting older! Happy Birthday, Adam....you are a soul mate and a best friend. Thanks for all the memories that we share and the many more to come.

Stomach Bug

So, Adam and I both woke up to the Stomach Bug on Saturday morning. It was not a pretty picture around the Jessie Household pretty much all day on Saturday. Taylor and Carson felt completely fine and pretty much had rule of the reign...whatever they wanted to do, they did. Adam and I hung out in the bed or in the bathroom for the entire day. Carson made his and Taylor's lunch and dinner and whatever they wanted for snack...not exactly sure what they had but knew they had eaten something. Carson did bring me up a Sprite and cup later in the evening. Pretty scary when 4 yr olds are taking of you! We woke up today feeling back to normal, but spent many hours this morning cleaning up spills, scattered toys, etc.

Cookies and Milk with Santa

We all went and waited in snowy weather to see Santa at the Knoxville Zoo on Saturday morning. Santa didn't arrive at the zoo until 11 am, but we were there at 10:40 very eager. It took us 45 minutes in line to finally get up to the tent where Santa sat. We all were FREEZING! Taylor and Carson never once wanted to leave though (only ME!) Adam kept saying how "cool" it was that it was snowing and we were going to see Santa. "Cool" wasn't exactly my thoughts......but nevertheless T and C loved it. Taylor, Carson and Adam all wrote Santa letters this year and have mailed them. Taylor asked for a lovely princess television while Carson asked for a blue microwave. Adam's list (too long to mention) included a riding lawn mower that turned in to a Spiderman motercycle (Carson added the last part). Should be an interesting Christmas!!!!!! We also saw Rudulph (playing Checkers) and T and C dashed to give him a huge reindeer hug. We did some crafts and played some other games, but I was never so excited to get back to the van and start the heat!!!!!!! T and C both cried when their hands burned going from cold to warm! Not sure if they had ever been that cold for that long.

Bad Blogger

So, I know I haven't blogged lately and was called out about it yesterday (thanks Jenny). We have been on 3 trips in less than 3 weeks, so in my spare time I am in the laundry room. The trip to Disney was great, but extremely exhausting. The next weekend after our Disney trip we went to Pigeon Forge for the weekend with Adam's entire family. We usually go to Opryland, but this year all met closer to us. We so appreciated that after spending 10 hours in the car with 2 four year olds. We had a great weekend to kickoff the Christmas holiday. I enjoyed lots of shopping while Adam played with the kids in the indoor waterpark. We all went to Dixie Stampede which Carson and Taylor reinact daily. Uncle Scott and Aunt Jenny rode some stick horse in a race on the arena floor. Carson and Taylor now ride their stick horse all over the house. They try to race with Adam, but he has yet to give in. Carson's favorite race was the pigs which he continues to yell "Go North Pole" around the house. The food was pretty good but way too much food for us for sure. We came back from the Pigeon Forge trip and a couple of days later headed to Kentucky for Thanksgiving. We had a quick visit but enjoyed our time with family. We then came back from KY country on Thursday late evening, so that the shopping madness would begin. Due to tradition, I met my parents and my brother at the outlets at 10:30 pm in Pigeon Forge on Thanksgiving night and began the craziness. We got home around 3:30 am. Adam left at 4 am to go to Walmart, Home Depot and Dicks. He got home at 6:30 am and my mother and I left for the malls at 7:30 am. We were all exhausted and wondered why do we do this to ourselves. It is fun and part of tradition. I am glad that most of my Christmas shopping is complete. I just need to wrap gifts and work on Christmas cards. I haven't completed my stockings yet either. I love this time of year!!!!!! :o)

Walt Disney World 2008

4th Birthday at Walt Disney World

We had a blast at Disney World this year. There are too many things to mention, so I came up with Taylor and Carson's top ten favorites (in no certain order) of Disney this go around.

#1 T and C enjoyed getting 44 character pictures and autographs for their autograph books. Taylor's favorite autographs include all of the princesses (of course), Chip N Dale, Minnie, Daisy, and Pluto. Carson's favorite autographs include Buzz and Woody (of course), Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, and Chip N Dale.
#2 T and C enjoyed the character dining each day. We ate with the following characters sometime during our time at WDW: Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Trumane, Anastasia, Drucella, Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore, Jo Jo, Goliath, Leo, June (Little Einsteins), Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto.
#3 We watched the Dreams Come True show at the castle 4 different times because Carson liked Donald pretending to be Captain Hook and then seeing Captain Hook and Peter Pan come out. Carson chanted "Dreams Come True" the entire week. We also watched the parade 3 times.
#4 Taylor enjoyed getting her hair, make up and nails done at Cinderella's Castle. Princess Taylor was the first princess to open the Boutique on Thursday. She was completely in awe and loved being Princess for a Day. She received special treatment for her birthday.
#5 While Taylor was being treated royally, Carson was the first one to ride the Buzz ride at Magic Kingdom and received 2 free photos of Papa, Daddy and Carson shooting at targets on the Buzz ride. He loved the certificate of being the first in Tommorrowland on that day.
#6 When we got back to our room the 1st full day at Disney, Taylor had a personalized autographed birthday card and 5 x 7 picture of Cinderella waiting on his bed while Carson had a personalized autographed birthday card and picture of Mickey waiting for him on his bed. Taylor and Carson were so excited that Cinderella and Mickey were in their room and left them something for their birthday.
#7 Taylor enjoyed dressing up like Cinderella and eating dinner with her and taking pictures with her while Carson enjoyed dressing up like Buzz and getting to meet him. Buzz was so excited to see Carson. He spent a lot of time with Carson since they looked a like.
#8 Walt Disney World Guest Services saw that it was Taylor and Carson's 4th birthday and randomly gave them 25.00 each to spend in the Emporium at Magic Kingdom for a new stuff animal. Carson choose Donald because he thinks he can now talk like him while Taylor choose a Princess Minnie because it was Minnie all dressed up in pink with a pink hat.
#9 Loved the birthday songs, birthday cupcakes, and birthday dances with the characters.
#10 Favorite ride: Toy Story 2 (rode it twice...thanks to the fastpass).

4th Birthday Party at the Park--Mickey and Minnie Style!

Halloween

Halloween was incredibly hectic yet enjoyable this year. Before Trick or Treating, we celebrated my Mom's birthday dinner at the house with family. We then set out to trick or treat with my brother Brannon, Brooke, Reece and friends of ours-Carrie, Nathan, Tyler and Christian. We had a great time. Taylor and Carson received plenty of candy for the entire family. Carson was Peter Pan earlier in the day at school for the Costume Party but decided to be Buzz Lightyear for the trick or treating while Taylor was Belle earlier in the day and was Tinkerbell for the evening. Reece was a flower fairy.

Happy Birthday to the greatest Mom in the World!

Happy Birthday(on Thursday) to my mom! Everyone that knows my mom knows that she is the most thoughtful and sweetest person around. There is no doubt that my mom is my best friend. I call her on the way to work (when I work) and call her on the way home and call her many more times through out the day. (Thank goodness for mobile to mobile cell minutes) She is a prayer warrior for my family and myself and has always been. When I found out I was going to be a mother, I immediately began taking note of what an incredible Christian mother she is as a mentor for myself. I knew I had big shoes to fill. My mom always thinks of others before herself. She has always bought things for my brother and myself (and now our families) before she ever buys things for herself. My mother took off a year at work when I was pregnant with the twins to stay with me during my 6 week bedrest to take care of me and my household. She drove from Kentucky every week to watch the babies when I went back to work to finish out the school year. Her endless ways and dedication to my family will never go unnoticed. Thanks Mom for being a fantastic person, but more importantly thanks for being a great example for me to follow.

Pumpkin Carving

Tonight was the designated night for the pumpkin carving at the Jessie House. Taylor and Carson were so excited. They each took their pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and helped carve faces on them. We put candles in them and put them out front. Of course, Taylor and Carson had to check on their pumpkins multiple times this evening before going to bed just to make sure they were still "scary." Taylor and Carson have 3 Halloween parties next week, so they are deciding what they want to be for each event. Carson has Peter Pan or Buzz Lightyear to choose from while Taylor has Cinderella, Belle, or Tinkerbell. They will use all of their outfits at some point, just not sure which costume for which party just yet. Carson told Adam tonight that Daddy should dress up like a Power Ranger. I think that would be a great idea, Adam. I will look for an adult Power Ranger for you to dress up as. You can't disappoint your son. Ha! Ha! Ha!

Happy Birthday Uncle Blake!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Uncle Blake, Happy Birthday to you.

EVERYTIME we pass a gorilla billboard for the zoo before getting off the Broadway exit, Taylor and Carson ALWAYS say "There's uncle Blake." So, I couldn't find a picture of our dear funny man, Uncle Blake, so I just had to improvise.

Don't worry Uncle Scott. I already have your picture saved from a long time ago in the picture archives and ready for that big day in November!!!!!!! :o) Enjoy your day Blake!!! We love ya!

Circus/Race for the Cure

We had a busy weekend last weekend with the Circus on Friday night, Race for the Cure on Saturday morning, and then friends over for dinner on Saturday night. Taylor and Carson loved the circus. Their favorite part was the funny man with the dog and the elephant doing tricks. Taylor also danced a little when the acrobats did an Elvis number before doing their acrobatic show.

Adam ran in the Race for the Cure, and of course we all went to watch him even though it was early. The Race for the Cure was set up like a celebration with lots of booths and things to do and see. Taylor and Carson enjoyed seeing the mascots for the Smokies Baseball team. They enjoyed it so much, that we forgot to go over and watch Daddy finish the race. Adam had to call us on the cell phone because we were not at the finishing line. Carson wanted Adam to run the race again so we could see him finish. Funny.

Other happenings going on with us:
Carson and Adam went to the UT vs MSU game last night. We all went tailgating and then the girls came back home. It was entirely too chilly for us to go and watch UT play a football game. Carson loves going to the ballgames. I told Adam today that I think he has already gone to more basketball/football Tennessee games then I ever have. Carson kept talking about how good Tennessee was because they kept scoring all night. He was also concerned that #4 for TN and #16 for MSU got hurt during the game. Carson is by far Tennessee's biggest fan!

I am enjoying fall break this week. It is my understanding that we may not have fall break at all next year, and I will be sad. Some parents and adminstration are definitely pushing toward that for sure.

My good friend, Letitia, had her baby boy #3 last week. His name is Jay. I can't wait to see him. I went to the hospital, but she hadn't delivered him yet. She left the hospital the next day. She is such a trooper. My other good friend, Emily, is having her #3 this week. I can't wait to see him. Babies all around.

I hope you have a safe week and continue to pray for our country during this time of politics and economic struggle. Remember that God is always in control.

Our newest addition to the Jessie Family

I am sure that title caught some of your eyes. This newest addition goes everywhere with us these days. Taylor and Carson said that he really wanted to take pictures with them, so here they are. Enjoy.

The Tinkerbell Party

Taylor had a blast at Emma Grace's Tinkerbell Party! She absolutely loved the cupcakes! Thanks Cindy for getting it all together for the girls. Taylor can't wait for the Tinkerbell movie to come out next week!