Week events

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Our awesome little man finally made it to the magic number 1000! He is sooo happy!

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We’ve completed our work on graphing, tally marks, and tables.

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We have continued with our spelling, worked on naming nouns and pronouns, completed a simple study of the Voyage to the New World, complete with the Pilgrims and Indians, and spent lots of time on Science. This is an example of creating a cloud in a bag and watching the water vapor turn to rain. We also have charted the weather and watched a bean sprout in a jar. I love that they can see how the study of science is everywhere around them, slowing down for observation is the fun part!

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Abigail copied her numbers to thirty!

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She has learned to recite the months of the year. We also have completed a couple more nursery rhymes and poems and Jackson finally memorized the following…

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We had some fun lining up the trucks and Jackson finished the level three of his reader!

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He also had another great spelling test for review week.

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We hauled some wood

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Raked a few piles of leaves

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And enjoyed the cooler weather.

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For extra fun, we helped Cousin Elijah celebrate his fourth birthday. We had a blast!

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The theme was construction trucks, Jackson was thrilled.

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Abigail was thrilled to get treats from the piñata.

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Aunt Fran was happy to be with all of the littles.

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A nice afternoon.

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Hang on birthday boy!

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We had fun celebrating with you!

Abigail’s Day!

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Many days have passed since our last update. We have continued to celebrate our sweet girl turning four!

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We’ve moved into December, healed some runny noses and belly aches, and tried to maintain some sort of schedule!

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We’ve been happy!

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Birthday girl spent some time creating a new friend at Build A Bear on her special day.

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Brother and sister also joined the fun!

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We had a fun afternoon picking out accessories for each and naming our new friends.

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Meet Sparky the Big Dog, Sister Bear, and Pinky the Birthday Bear!

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Celebrating her day with a special lunch and dessert.

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Our sweet happy girl!

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Our second sweet happy girl, loving the freedom to walk on this cold afternoon.

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Sweet Abigail!

Abigail had a celebration for her fourth birthday on Sunday. We celebrated with a Little Golden Book theme of the Poky Little Puppy and The Shy Little Kitten. As she said, a puppy/kitty party.

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I can’t believe you are four!

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She absolutely loved the cake. The pictures match the characters of the puppy and kitty perfectly.

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You were so excited to see the decorations of balloons, streamers, and books when you woke.
We have this tradition that daddy and I decorate when we put all babies to bed. We cover the tables, add some decorative bling, and stage balloons throughout parts of the house. The morning excitement of seeing our modest creation, lights each of your eyes like lanterns, as you shuffle through balloons scattered throughout the floor!

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The really sweet thing about Abigail is she always expresses her appreciation. She thanked us out of the blue for decorating, the puppy and the kitty being on the cake, and for “making her special!”

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Daddy is holding a small picture of you on your first birthday. My how you have grown!

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Making a wish with Jackson and Elijah!

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Love the gifts! You received books, puzzles, clothes, two pairs of boots, two dolls, and money.

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Adding to her Calico Critter collection, a bunny family.

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Your favorite from Papaw and Nana, your first big girl bike. A basket for your animals in the front and a carrier in the back for your baby.

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It didn't take you long to understand the brakes and gain confidence. Slow down is all you hear from your mommy!

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A happy brother with a new truck

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Waiting their turn for a ride on the new bike!

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Happy new baby sissy with a new pink phone

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Making music for their birthday girl sister!

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A VERY happy mommy and daddy! The story of your birth is a wonderful memory for us. Your daddy took me to the emergency room on Thanksgiving morning. As he pointed at my about to explode belly, he said he needed a doctor because I had swallowed a turkey! You joyfully joined our family at the same time many families were sitting down to enjoy their Thanksgiving Feast! You were precious!

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Happy Birthday Sweet Baby Girl! You are AMAZING! Thank you for making our family so special!

Warmer Days of November! 11/3/12

Once Halloween passed we have been busy living life and enjoying all that is offered!

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More memories enjoying a warm autumn day at Dollywood.

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Our first family favorite when we enter the park is to ride on the saddled horses!

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Although Isabela has ridden this ride many times before, today was the first day she actually was strapped safely on the horse and rode alone. She LOVED the up and down motion and to be riding beside her brother and sister like a big girl.

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They were able to get close and touch the real horses from one of the demonstrations. The mother horse was twenty one and her baby was five months old. Jackson enjoys these trivia facts.

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The one thing they wanted from the moment we parked were the big icee’s and the huge tub of popcorn.

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They were satisfied! A successful trip because of the little things.

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Daddy and Abigail on the flying elephants.

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Abigail and I were able to finally talk Jackson into joining us on the teacups. He did enjoy the ride.

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Sweetness enjoying the day with her daddy.

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I could never tire of seeing these two hold hands from behind mostly because I know as time passes this will be one thing that will pass as well. However, I do wish I would have captured the view in front. The double stroller is loaded down. Today was the one day we let them also enjoy playing MANY games. The stroller has one sleeping baby, a Tennessee basketball, a Gators football, a cow, a pink pig, a huge stuffed dog as large as Isabela, a snake, a blow up dolphin, and a red shark! We looked funny exiting the park with our load!

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Thumbs up for a family fun day!

We Loved Halloween! 11/1/12

What a fantastic day full of wonderful memories!

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These three were excited from the moment they woke!

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Cloudy and cold on the days before, once the sun came out on this day, they were over the pumpkin with happiness.

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Happy to capture some pre-dress up moments with my bright eyed three!

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A pig and a dinosaur, an unlikely combo!

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The pig has the Dino by the tail!

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Pink puppy Isabela

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Daddy and Isabela enjoying treating in downtown Dandridge. Prior picture of Abigail, so confident with her curly tail, wand, crown, and wings. Love her enthusiasm!

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Finally, he gets it! He actually had joy in approaching people and receiving their treats. He enjoyed the costume, walking with his sisters, and feeling good about talking to others.

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It didn’t take Isabela long to see how the process of putting your bag up equals someone putting in a treat! We were really excited at her enjoyment as well as how she looked at every person that treated her!

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We finished up a fun day playing in the leaves. We love this time of year!

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Football, Cheering, and Some Saturday Fun 10/20/12

A cool windy Saturday but we finally made it to one of Jayden’s games, our first little league football experience. For a moment Jackson and Abigail actually thought Jayden was playing in the game!

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Jayden cheers and we loved getting to go see her great spirit!

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Bundled up with Daddy

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We joined Nana and Aunt Fran

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And Cousin Elijah

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After the game we took a quick slide and climb at the City Park

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Our next stop was to buy some fresh fruits, vegetables, Mums, and pumpkins.

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Home to get our hands dirty and carve one of our Jack O Lanterns.

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A good excuse to play silly and get some laughs! Love the pumpkin with long curly blond hair!

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Was she trick or treating?

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Scribbling and NOT wanting me to take the pencil

Beach Memories, 10/15/12

I could never tire of seeing these guys here. We love it at this place! Never too crowded, plenty of space to explore and be together.

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Abigail says she wishes she could dig in the sand everyday. I like to see my baby girl get dirty in a dress!

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Jackson wants to catch a fish or maybe even a whale with our new butterfly net!

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A handful of tiny shells to add to our enormous collection.

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Isabela is happy to be here. Notice Jackson and Abigail running behind her. Love the freedom the wind offers them.

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So very thankful for this family and for the wonderful memories created!

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Waiting for Starbucks sticky buns and apple fritters, all our favorites.

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Playing at the pier after lunch outside

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Arcade fun with games and rides. We got a ton of tickets to pick out prizes and had way too much fun before our LONG journey home.

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Thank you daddy for escaping with us and treating us to this weekend. It’s because of you these three rejoice in their new experiences on the coast. They LOVE to have you NOT at work!

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Ready to go back to Tennessee. Abigail in one of her many pairs of shades. Everyone loves them.

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Beach Day, 10/14/12

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A boy and his trucks! Jackson was really excited when I pulled out some of the trucks I had brought from his collection, especially the ones that could haul the sand.

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All three wanted to ride in this wagon beside of the giant sea. Abigail was so sweet to happily pull her baby sissy. Their laugh is pure music.

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Our happy girl in a hand me down swimsuit! I enjoy seeing the years of use and comparing photos. Abigail loves to see her sister wear her clothes.

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Satisfied girls with their daddy smelling the sand and salt and waves. Finally was able to stop Abigail from running and splashing in the shallow pools of water and waves to snap this moment.

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Always working! Wagon is loaded and ready for digging. Isabela is looking for her ride! Below, these two worked together shoveling sand to fill the bucket. Isabela helped her sister dump it out and start again.

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2:30, Ready for napping in the tent. The girls were asleep in seconds! I love to stick to the sleep schedules even on the beach. This tent has made the trip since Jackson was just a few weeks old!

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Wave playing in October! He was sure we were swimming near the dolphins we had seen earlier in the day.

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Fresh from nap and loving the sand, maybe not the bright sun so much.

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Thankful to observe their joy. My cup runs over!

Harvest Day at the Coast, 10/13/12

It was a very windy day on the coast when we woke up and the waves were crashing loudly! Too active to set up tent on the sand or to play in the water.

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We decided to visit the Harvest Festival and Butterfly Exhibit at Brookgreen Gardens. We hoped we not only would find pumpkins but also our butterfly we had released earlier in the month!

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We couldn’t believe how many species of butterfly’s were in this tent. We had to be careful where we stepped because they were all over the path we were walking. In the back of the tent was a viewing window with probably fifty chrysalis’ displayed on branches with some emerging butterflies drying their wings. Flowers and bushes in the exhibit were covered with beautiful colorful butterflies all around us.

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We took a ton of pictures of never before seen butterflies but this was the most plentiful type and our familiar favorite!

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A praying mantis, river otters, foxes, tons of birds, farm animals, and an alligator were a few of the living things we took pictures of. The children were super excited that the animals were even celebrating the colorful fall season with pumpkins in and around their habitats.

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Jackson had some laughs with this statue before heading to the field to play in the hay.

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He and another little boy moved almost every bale of hay and had a blast jumping off! He had made a new friend and his confidence soared as he jumped each time higher and higher.

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The two girls fell asleep in the double stroller. When Abigail woke up she was happy to see this fuzzy black and white stuffed puppy we had bought her. We named it Oreo. She wasn’t sure she wanted to sit on the hay but she liked climbing in it and running between the scarecrows.

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Isabela was just happy to see her daddy when she woke up! I couldn’t stop taking photos of her hugging him and having the sweetest expression of love.

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There was pumpkin and face painting, bird feeder and scarecrow making areas, and great music and food scattered throughout this crowded field of pumpkins and kids! These two little birds hung out together very close to their daddy.

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We had a great morning at the festival. Other than the wind, the weather was perfect.

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With a canister of three balls, one for each, and two rackets, they were ready to hit the courts for tennis and caged running for the baby. Jackson wanted to hit over and over. He actually had good form and follow through. He loved hitting the ball over the net. Pure focus and commitment as always. Love for him to experience a skill, stick with it until he is satisfied of learning the basics, and then display confidence growing a little more. Abigail was like him. She enjoyed hitting the balls even though she showed frustrations if she didn’t hit it each and every time. She also spent a lot of time chasing her and Isabela’s hat from the crazy wind. They giggled every time the wind blew it off and threw it across the court.

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A full day of fun for my little birds! They were so happy to play together. I of course am just happy to see their good health and excitement for each other and what they are doing.

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I love your laugh and excitement Abigail!

Beach Memories 2012, Day 1, 10/12/12

Harvest is behind us and it is time for our family beach excursion, finally October! We struggled in planning the perfect weekend getaway between schedules and weather.

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A LONG journey to make it there, many stops for the restroom, answering many times “are we there, are you sure we are going the right way” we finally are on the coast!

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Just like the other two, Isabela loved the water, sand, and freedom to play! Only once did she whine when the sand stuck between her toes.

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As high tide went out, there were small pools of water all over the sand that they loved running and playing in.

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Finally relaxing after making it to a familiar place, Jackson is back to normal enjoying the afternoon.

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Isabela loved the waves tugging her out and the sand swirling around her toes. I absolutely cherished hearing her giggles and feeling the excitement in her body.

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Beautiful afternoon with these sweet girls. We almost had the whole beach to ourself.

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Playing on the deck and ready to eat! Thanks you two for stopping to smile for another quick picture! I love your spirit.

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Waiting for our food and a chance to trade the sand for some grass in the courtyard. Notice the swollen lower lip. Not long after hitting the sand she took a fall. Sand and blood are not a good mix! She barely wanted to sit still to stop the bleeding.

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There isn’t a better place to find inspiration to complete a spelling test than on the coast! Good attitude to complete some work. All words for the week were spelled correctly.

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