Picture of the week

I call it: (well Olls calls it) LEAFS!!!
All 4 billion of our leaves made it to the curb this week, thanks to the Loflin Family Yard Service. Ollie has had THE most fun playing, jumping, swimming, probably eating those leaves. I told him he was going to get full of red bugs, and Matt said, "Whit, how many times do I have to tell you, there's no such things as red bugs." All my life I grew up with a fear of that red little bug, my mom would say, don't play in that, you'll get red bugs, have you ever heard of this alledged bug?? Holiday recipes by Whit on Wednesdays...stay tuned!

The Highlights!

Thanksgiving with the Hannams was super fun, especially the fried turkey, it was oh so delicious! We had family from Minnesota, North Carolina and Pennsylvania come visit in good ole VA! Ollie is learning to love and appreciate his grandmas and grandpas so much, it is really sweet.

This morning we went to pick our Christmas tree from this small family farm. We got a 7 foot Norwegian Spruce for $28, beat that Bruce Wagoner!!! We may or may not have even sealed the deal on our family Christmas card photo, it's my year you know!

Then all the cuteness wore off, I am almost always the one behind the camera, so I wanted a few shots with my boy, but this unfortunately was as good as it gets...he was asleep in the car pretty soon after! Stay tuned for a really cute pic of the week and a new blog feature...holiday recipes by Whit! Happy Sunday...oh wait, it's only Friday, yahoo!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Parental Advisory: EP (This video contains a very cute toddler, who does at one point, eat paint, EP.)

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours, I'm thankful for non-toxic items!

Picture of the Week

I call it: brrr beet beet. (beet beet is what Ollie calls "driving" a car, for practice you know.)

The OCH update!

We finally got to check in today with Dr. Kieffer for Ollie's 20 month check-up. He's been so healthy (praise the Lord) that we haven't even been over to Carolina Pediatrics since June, which is very different from last year. Anyways, Olls got a clean bill of health. He is 28.5 lbs, 36 inches tall, which still keeps him in the 97th percentile, and his head was average I think, I'm sure. She was impressed by his left-handedness and those beautiful green eyes...recessive he is (neither Matt nor I are left handed.) We've been super blown away lately by his language skills (okay here goes the mommy bragging session, please feel free to stop reading and try and figure out what is stuck on his face in the picture above.) Ollie talks all the time and even says 3 and 4 word sentences. Like today when we sat down on the counter at the dr's he said, "don't want it, " how clever, he figured out where we were and he didn't want it. He did have to get 2 shots and a rather lengthy finger prick. He will hide in one of our closets and then jump out and say, "I see you." Oh and my personal new favorite, when he has a preference for something, like me moving his toy shelf to a new spot in his room he responded, "I like it."

It's crazy to think that it's been almost 2 years since we so joyfully brought our little Ollie into the world. He is such a joy to us and all around. Tonight when I was putting him to bed, we sang Jesus Loves Me, it's part of the routine. Then I said Ollie you have so many friends, let's pray for your friends. I started naming all of his friends, he would say their names after me. There were a few at school that I forgot and he said their names. And then as I laid him in his bed he said "Taylor", she keeps Ollie for us on Wednesday nights so we can have a date night. What a sweet little guy...I luz you, Ollie!

Picture of the Week!

I call it: Hooray!!!

This is Run/ Walker # 199 checking in. That's right, today I officially finished my first 5K. Overall, I'd say it was a huge success. I was greeted Friday morning with my bag o goodies for participating in the race. It had so much "swag" (stuff we all get) that I was just so excited I could hardly stand it. My kids in 2nd grade especially enjoyed me teaching math with my relaxation mask on, :). Then we got to the race this morning there was even more stuff, Starbucks coffee (not sure who drinks coffee b4 running,) donuts, oranges, apples, granola bars, I love seizing the value of free stuff. I did the whole race 3.1 miles in about 45 minutes. I admit I could have run more than I did, but I just wanted to take in every moment, as mentioned earlier, exercising is not my thing. But maybe it just might become my thing...who knows what's next for this gal...maybe golf, ha, probably not!

You're Invited!!!

Hello friends...if you are in or near the G-Boro area this Sunday you should stop by my house at 4:00 pm. I'm hosting a Tastefully Simple party. If you've never experienced Tastefully Simple products you should come and check it out. This stuff is so delicious and so easy. Most of the mixes are under $10 and they make great gifts for a great start to a fun gift basket or such. We'll be tasting 15 things on Sunday, so come hungry! You can check out the website here for product description, prices and recipes. And if you don't live nearby or can't make it but would still like to order some stuff from my friend Lucy, leave a comment and I can get your info to her. It'll be fun...it'll be yummy!

Hair!!!

Today I cheated... on my hair dresser! I have pretty normal, straight, easily managable hair. I get my hair cut normally at a pretty shi-shi salon and pay roughly $45 with a tip and all out the door. Well today I wanted to get a trim, while still keeping to our new, trim and slim budget. So I cheated on Lynette by going to Great Clips, and getting a $13 hair cut for, get this...$7.99 thanks to the coupon from my attractions book. Not too bad do you think??

Speaking of hair, this is what happens when the lovely blonde locks of this cute little fella wake up a little too early from his nap, whoa!!! He's probably thinking get that camera out of my face, woman!!

Whew, that's better!

Picture of the week

I call it: Bounce U Rocks!!

Ollie and I celebrated Asher's 2nd Birthday this morning by going down this slide a bunch of times. In other news I just ate an entire Zagnut (old time classic) candy bar, I really do have big feet and I'm off to take a nap. I love Saturdays!

Making my list...

...checking it twice. Ollie wants to know if anyone has Santa's number.

Stogging

Hello my name is Whitney and I am a stogger! This is a phrase I have coined for stalking the blogs of people I don't know in real life, you know instead of blogging it's stogging. Tonight I added a couple sidebars of two blogs that I frequent a couple of times a week. Both are written by women who worship and serve the same Lord I do, both are moms, both have IN-CRED-I-BLE stories and both are strangers to me except when they open up their hearts to let little old people like me get a glimpse into their worlds. So now I am inviting you, grab a cup of coffee, get a cozy blanket and be inspired, I sure have been!

Picture of the week

I call it (and Olls calls it): Hi-Ya!

Matt surprised me with Ollie's pick of costume this year: a ninja! Here he is at his school carnival with his good buddy Chase. Happy Be-lated Halloween, Hi-Ya!

Please Don't Go Girl!!!

I headed down to Charlotte, NC on Thursday afternoon to meet up with my mom, to cash in on my early and very awesome Christmas present.

To see these guys...NKOTB or "The Block" as they like to be referred to as of 2008.

Here are a few snaps of the evening, we really did have great seats, but my camera just wasn't into taking great pictures that night, the close of up Joey was on the Big screen above our heads.

Ok, here's my honest (and somewhat sad) review. Back in the day, lets say about 20 years ago (whew hard to believe) my friend Erin and I would prance around her house in our pj's every weekend. She was into Jordan and I was into Joey Mac. We would bolt out the lyrics, play with our NKOTB Barbie dolls, put on our pins, stare at our bookbags, fun times, those were the days! I'm here to tell you that THOSE boys are all grown up now! We got at the concert around 8pm surrounded by 30 something women who looked just like me, they all probably drove mini vans, all had a diaper in the purse, all had pics of their kids on their cell phones, you get the picture. Well of course there were opening acts, the chick that came on before New Kids referred to herself as Lady Ga Ga or something, she pranced around in her underwear referring to a man's disco stick, sorry my blog is not G-rated today. We should have known she was setting us up for something. So finally out come the 5 men, who used to be kids, the new kids. They sang and danced (not as lively as they used too.) Some of them looked like they were having the time of their lives and then Jon looked as if he was bored out of his mind. Then out came the half -naked back up dancers swirling their little tushes and everything else all around The Block. Donnie dropped the f-bomb like 3 times, yeah, I said f-bomb, referred to sex more than once. When it was over I think my mom and I were like, "what just happened?" I mean I'm glad I went, it really was a dream come true, but I guess that's just it I guess my dreams are different now, I've changed, they have changed and apparently sex sells! Will I be loving youuuuuuuu....forever?