Scary Santa

Once again we've struck out with regards to the Santa photos. We have been talking about the "sitting" on Santa's lap for weeks now and Aiden has been so excited. He's even beeen carrying his wish book around with him in anticipation of the big visit.

Well needless to say Aiden is still very scared of him...and it didn't help that the guy looked like he'd just been put on work release from prison. He had NO personality and no enthusiasm. Where do they find these guys?? What happened to the jolly old guy with a big fat belly and the "fake but looked sort of real" beard. Our fine Apple Blossom Mall (BLECK) santa had a very stringy REAL beard....it was all just icky! (He actually reminded us of BBT in Bad Santa)

Is there anywhere else to take the kids to see a santa without traveling an hour away??

A future in photography

Aiden has become quite the little photographer. Recently he's taken a particular interest in our little cannon. At first I would snatch it away everytime he got his little fingers on it, but recently he's FINALLY figured out how to use it so I said, what the heck, let's let him have a go at it. He's not bad. For every one good picture there's about 10 bad ones, but the good ones are really good!!

This morning as Luke was preparing to leave he came over to give me the usual kiss goodbye and Aiden just so happened to be sitting in his chair eating breakfast. He had a clear view of our smooch. Afterwards, Aiden says, "mommy, daddy, you kiss again, I take a picture!" (AHH, so cute, right??)

Unfortunately the little camera was nowhere to be seen. I have since found it and we'll give our future Ansel Adams another try this afternoon and of course, we'll post it for all to see :)

Until then....

Photos!

Here are some photos of the last month!

October Update

Jees, now it's really almost the middle of November....where is the time going? I can't get a grasp on how fast it's really flying by.

October was a super busy month. In an effort to suppliment the slow swimming seasion I have officially become a consultant for a company called Thirty One. They sell all kinds of cute stuff, and for a momma who's as organized as I am, thier stuff is RIGHT up my ally.

Swimming is still going great! It's just slower in the fall and winter, however we are still going strong and we have just passed our 250th student. Actually I think we are closer to 300 now. It's been a wonderful year and I'm blessed to have things turning out this way! (Now if only I could find a way to have my own pool, I'd be set)

On to the babies....

Aiden is c-r-a-z-y BIG. He's talking all the time and he's such a great help when it comes to his little sister. He still has his moments but for the most part he's doing such a good job! He's learning so much at school and he has now mastered his new bike with training wheels. He's swimming once a week with one of my other instructors and he's doing such a great job. He's almost swimming on his own (CRAZY I KNOW).

Avery has been another story. Since my return from Florida our nights have been really difficult. She was waking every hour or every other hour. Basically she was using me as a pacifier and soother. We took her to her 6 month checkup (AGAIN, I KNOW....the time thing, RIGHT??) and she's growing beautifully. During our appointment I asked the doctor about letting her cry it out. We didn't let Aiden cry it out until he was 9 months old, but then again, we didn't need to either. He slept very well at day one. The doc basically told me that when I'm ready to get sleep, she's ready to cry it out. Needless to say, "operation Ferber" began that evening and so far SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOD!! The last three nights she's slept for almost 12 hours. Oh, and we also stop swaddling her which I'm assuming has helped too. YAY AVERY!!

She's an eating machine too. I don't know how she's still so tiny because the girl will put down some serious food. She'll eat two stage 1 foods a meal and then down a bottle of milk. She's definitely my daughter..hehe!

Halloween was a blast. This year the Callas family dressed up as Toy Story 3. The photo speaks for itself:

We had a blast and I'm already planning next year's costumes!!