Festival of Lights

We wanted to take Brody to see Christmas lights this year so my mom mentioned that Wild Adventures was having a buy one get one free sale for their Festival of Lights, so the Saturday before Christmas we packed up with NeNe and Papa (my parents) and headed to Valdosta. This is the first time Jason and I had ever been. We called ahead and found out there would be about 6 kiddie rides open. We got there around 5:45 and didn't leave until 10PM.

It's amazing how much Brody has changed since the fair. He was so excited to ride the rides. He would get off of one and ready to ride the one right beside it. I think my parents had just as much fun as Brody. There was one time when my dad was walking with Brody and Elvis Christmas was playing throughout the park - he was so happy!!! Here are a few pictures of our evening.

Papa and Brody riding the SLOW choo choo train.

Brody, Daddy, Papa, and NeNe rode the spinning dragons. I don't do spinning rides.


Here's our last ride of the night - the ferris wheel. All 5 of us rode this. Brody wasn't so sure of this ride, but he was a trooper. He was definitely ready for bed.

I think Brody had a such a good time because even a week later he is saying "I ride turtle", "I ride he he (which is the horse)", "I ride bee", "It was fun". This is the first time we have been noticed him remembering something for a period of time. It's so cool to see how their little brains work.

The Santa "family" photo

Last Tuesday, we took Brody to see Santa. We had been pumping him up about Santa and showing him pictures in hopes that this would get him ready for the jolly man in red. We got to Town Center around 6:00 and of course there was a line. If you are familiar with any 2 year old's level of patience - it is at ZERO!!! Jason and I took turns walking Brody around so he wouldn't have to stand in line. We kept showing him Santa but he was really only concerned with playing in the green areas with the big kids.


Once it was our turn - about 45 minutes later - Jason tried to slowly get Brody use to Santa. Of course Brody wanted nothing to do with the big man. The candy cane didn't even work. Santa finally said "I think it will be a family photo". I guess we were taking too long and he thought it was a lost cause to get a 2 year old to sit on his lap. Here's our great "family" photo with Santa - check out Brody's face - does he look terified or what!

Picture Tag

I have been tagged by Tara to a picture challenge. Here are the rules....
1) Choose the 4th folder where you store your pictures on your computer
2) Select the 4th picture in the folder
3) Explain the picture
4) Tag 4 people to do the same
NO CHEATING! (cropping, editing, etc!)

This picture was taken back in August. Brody was really starting to enjoy riding the "horse" around the house. I have to admit this wasn't so great of a picture. I'll have to do better next time. I only have one person to tag - Stephanie.

Parties at the Beach!!

Jason and I had 2 places to be Friday night - his mom graduated from UNF and she was having a party and my annual Christmas work party held at the owners home on the beach in Ponte Vedra. We were able to stay at the graduation party for about and hour before heading to the my work party. The party consists of mingling, entertainment, eating, mingling and gifts. Overall the evening went pretty well. We always look forward to the gifts and this year they were great as well - gift certificates to Whole Foods, Williams Sonoma, Photography session, River Club, and chocolate. I am so blessed with a job like this that treats its employees so well.

We got back to Jason's moms house around 10:30 and Brody was still awake - however, he was like a zombie. It only took him a few minutes to fall asleep once we got in the car to come home.

Will it get better?

On Wednesday Brody had his 2 year doctor's appointment. Let me just say, THANK GOODNESS Jason came along. Of course Brody was starting to get a little sick (typical cold) so I didn't think it would go too well anyway so I had been trying to prep him for the past couple of days by telling him we were going to see Dr. Hardman and she was going to tell him how big he was getting. He kept repeating what I was saying so I thought that was a good sign. Boy was I wrong.

It all started when the nurse needed him to take his clothes off. He of course was NOT in the mood to do that OR stand on the scale OR lay down on the table to see how long he was OR take his underarm temperature. He screamed SO loud and tears were running. You would have thought they did the shot first. Dr. Hardman came in and he actually calmed down a little - with the help of some candy corn. She is SO wonderful. He wouldn't talk much which we had to assure her that he talks ALL the time. He finally started showing his jumping skills by jumping off the scale and of course was all over the floor. That was really grossing me out - but I wasn't about to try and change his mind.

Everything changed again when Dr. Hardman needed to listen to his chest - he DID NOT like that. It all started over again - SCREAMING and TEARS. It took all Jason had to hold him in a tight bear hug so she could look in his ears and mouth (of course she got a good look when he would scream). She said this is very normal and starts around 18 months old. He only had to get one shot but it took ALL 3 of us to hold him down for that. It wasn't so much the shot but just the fact of being held down. He didn't even scream that loud when the needle went in. So trying to let the doctor know that he knows his colors and can count to 10 went out the door at this visit.

The stats - He is in the 97th percentile in his height so he's pretty tall. I sure hope he gets better by his 3 year appointment.

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Last Sunday after church we went to get our Christmas tree. Yes, we are one of the few that still get a real tree. This has been one of mine and Jason's tradition since we got married - going to pick out our tree together. Of course, Brody went this year. We actually were pretty quick in picking one out. Here's a before and after picture of our tree.

Happy Birthday Brody!!

Yes, I know I am quite late with this post - oh well!! Last Sat. we had Brody's birthday party which is why the deadline for the playground!! The few kids - and adults - had to have something to play on. We knew this was going to be a busy day - parade, nap, party, and SEC game - how would we get it all in. The party started at 3:30 in order to give the kids time to play outside before it got dark - but of course this was only 30 minutes before the game. I decided it was a birthday/Gator party. Since Brody was born in 2006 when the Gators won their last SEC title I knew he was always going to be a Gator baby and his party would usually fall on the same day. Oh well - it could be worse. Here's the whole family all decked out in our Gator attire.

Brody and the couple of other kids had a blast on the playground. It was a huge success. No Major accidents which was great. The timing worked out great that presents were opened during halftime but he only had 15 minutes for presents and cake!! He is really getting into opening the presents - one small piece at a time. He got lots of great gifts that he is already enjoying playing with. The theme of his party was Thomas the Train - he is in love with Choo Choo trains which is pretty neat since both Pop Pop and Papa worked at CSX. Brody had been waiting a long time for his choo choo train cake. I was very excited about it as well. We ordered it from Sheila's Cake and Catering on the Westside. We use them for all our cakes at work and they are wonderful. Here's a picture of his cake. He loved it.

The kids enjoying the playground.

Kids of all ages enjoyed the playground.

Na and Brody enjoying his new train.

Bring on the Shriners

Saturday was the big Callahan Christmas parade. This was the first year for Brody. As well as Jason and I haven't been in A LONG time!! We definitely forgot how crowded it gets, but the last time I went to the parade I was in the band so I didn't have to worry about parking - yes I know that was a loooong time ago. We met up with Bryan and Tara (Na and TaTa) and walked a little ways to try and find a decent spot so Brody and Cale could see. They both did great. Brody just sat in Jason's lap for the first part to take it all in. There wasn't much expression on his face - good or bad. I think he was just in awe. Once the shriners past, here came the candy. Brody saw the other kids going after it and some as well. We weren't prepared for all the candy but thank goodness we had the stroller to house all the candy because my pockets were overflowing.

Here are a couple of pictures of Brody in awe of the parade.

TaTa and Baby Cale

First and maybe the Last!!

I've always wanted to make sugar cookies and decorate them, so for Brody's party I found a train cookie cutter and I thought I would be Ms. Domestic and make cute train cookies for his birthday. Well, I was smart enough to at least buy the rolled sugar cookie dough so I didn't have to make that from scratch. Of course, Brody wanted to help because he's been waiting to make choo choo train cookies since he saw the cookie cutter.

Needless to say, this was a difficult task. After rolling the dough out to try and get it as smooth as possible and then cutting out the train - sometimes the train didn't cooperate in being transferred to the cookie sheet. I was so excited to see what they looked like (even though my hopes weren't too high). When they came out of the oven - they didn't look like much of a train. However, Brody still knew they were choo choo train cookies.

Of course, I had to try and decorate them. The only chocolate icing I had had chocolate chips in it so of course this didn't come out of the make shift icing bag (ziploc bag with a small hole in the corner). After 5 bags busting, the wheels were finished. The blue train was a lot easier even though I'm not quite sure they look like trains. Oh well, you live and learn. Not sure if decorated sugar cookies will be on the menu for Christmas. Here's the final product.

Finally Finished

IT'S FINISHED!!! After about 4 weeks of working on Brody's swingset - a little blood, sweat and tears - Jason has finally finished it.

Brody was a little timid about the slide at first but after a little coaxing from daddy - he was ready to go. Climbing up the stairs and flying down the slide and around he goes again. There will be many long hours on this swingset.

I'm TWO!!!

I can't believe Brody is 2. He turned 2 on Tuesday but due to wanting to spend time with him the blog comes a couple days late. Everyday Jason and I see something new that Brody has started doing and it makes us smile and usually laugh. He is repeating a lot of what we do and say - we hear him tell Allye - "Allye, No mam". Now, we are working on his manners to adults but I guess he thought he would start with dogs instead. He has also started singing a lot as he walks around the house. He gets this from his daddy - who loves to sing. We're not sure what he's singing though. However, I was able to capture this little song in honor of his birthday.

Tonight was one of the funniest things we've seen him do. He received a Florida gator backpack "Albert" from my friend Clair. He absolutely loves Albert. After he ran around the house with it on, it was getting time for dinner. We turned around and he had put his big Albert and the new Albert backpack in their own chair at the table and went and got a spoon to put in their hand. It was absolutely the cutest thing ever. His imagination is starting to grow. Here's a few pictures.

God has blessed Jason and I with such a wonderful and healthy boy. We are so grateful and we try to cherish every moment with him. We can't wait to see what's in store this upcoming year. Happy Birthday Brody!!

Almost Finished

Here's the latest update on the swingset. It's sooo close to being done. We know once the slide gets on it Brody will be so excited and we won't be able to get him inside the house.. He is getting better at going up the back steps. The deadline is Saturday for it to be completed so hopefully I'll have more pictures then of the final product.

A Shopping Tradition!

Of course like thousands of others out shopping, my mom, cousin Charleen and I went shopping on Friday. We left at 5AM and headed to Kohls, Avenues, and Towne Center. We don't try to fight for the best deal of the day and really don't have anything in particular to buy, but it's always our annual tradition. I even went 2 years ago when I was 9 months pregnant with Brody and he was born the next week. I guess you could say I am a die hard!

It was a very tiring but productive day since we didn't get home until 9pm. However, I am almost finished with Christmas shopping. Check out the back of my vehicle.... These aren't all my purchases though - thank goodness.

Happy Thanksgiving

This year we had Thanksgiving lunch with my parents. Since there is only 4 of us and Brody we didn't want to go all out so we bought our precooked turkey and dressing from Fresh Market and then mom made the 3 other sides. This made it much easier for us all. You may be wondering why Fresh Market since it's so far away for us - but my work gave me a gift certificate for Christmas last year so what better time to use it.

While Jason went to play golf that morning, Brody and I watched the Macy's parade and he also helped me in the kitchen with the potatoes for potato soup that night. Here's a few pictures of the start of our day.

Brody watching the Macy's parade.

Our pretty turkey - Fresh Market style.

Brody loves to help me in the kitchen. He even tried to cut some of the potatoes for me - with his blunt toddler knife needless to say.

Jason "carving" our turkey.

Our boy loves to eat.

Here's a couple of pictures of Brody trying to help me decide the best deals for Black Friday.

Poppy and Nana came over Thanksgiving night to visit.