Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving was so wonderful this year.  I think all 3 of us needed a break from work, school, and soccer, and just some time for us to get some quality family time.

We did our usual split of family time between both sides.

Thursday was so wonderful.  We were outside ALL DAY.  It was so nice to be in the warm sunshine, and away from technology, Elmo, and Mickey!

There were lots of cousins to run, scream, and play in the dirt with!

And, what's a day outside without some good ole sidewalk chalk.

We feasted this year with the cotton fields as our backdrop, and I couldn't resist getting some pictures in the cotton fields.  I've been dying to go pick cotton all fall...no joke.

 The Taffs, Thanksgiving 2012

Eli and Aunt Katie

Ginny and Eli

Pops and Eli played sotter in the yard.

After Thanksgiving in Elba, we loaded up the car and made the trek to Pansey for Round 2.  Sadly, I got no pictures with Eli and my family, but we had just as much fun!

 

I think this year I finally reached fat kid status.  I ate so much on Thursday I threw up Thursday night at my parents house (really I think it was just something that didn't agree with me).  It wasn't all food and stretchy pants though; over Thanksgiving Break I ran just shy of 12 miles.  I'm quite proud of that accomplishment!  I've got a goal to run 40 miles in between Thanksgiving and New Years-40 miles in 40 days.  I'll let you know how that goes! : )

 

I'm grateful that we have an extra week in between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.  I'm loving Eli's age and am glad we have a little extra time to soak up the holidays this year!

Eli Lately

I have been a bad blogger here lately, but we've just been enjoying life, and blogging has honestly seemed more like a chore.  I do want to capture and document moments from this season, so I am going to try to blog more consistently, I promise!  Thanksgiving 2012 will be up later this week.

This is one of those "baby book" kind of posts that are really just for me to look back on lately.  Eli is doing and saying sooo many adorable things here lately.  I certainly wish I could freeze time right now.

*Eli is such a good climber.

*Eli can sing his ABCs by himself, all the way through (and with great expression!).  He loves to sing any song.  Happy Birthday is another favorite.  We sing Happy Birthday to every family member several times a week.

*"Come on" is "Ma Nom!", then he waves his little hand and I melt a little instead, and of course I follow him wherever he leads!

*Whenever someone gets up and leaves the room, he loves to take your seat and laugh whenever you come back.

*Last night, Eli called the 'Christmas tree' the 'business tree' and Christmas cards are "business cards".

*Eli loves Chick fil A just as much as Mommy.  Anytime he sees the logo he screams "chick, chick! applesauce!"

*Whenever a bird is circling in the air, no matter where we are, Eli looks to the sky and gives the War Eagle battle cry.

*Eli loves to run.  We run around and play chase around the house.  He also likes to run when Mommy and Daddy run.  I think his max is a half mile run with Mommy and Nana.

*Eli loves recognition and praise for things.  He exclaims, "I did it, Mommy!  I did it, Daddy!" a thousand times a day.

*Eli loves giving high fives.

*Eli loves his cousin, Mannie (Maddie).  He talks about Tia, Mannie, Clark often, and then tells us that Mannie is in Texas.  We sure wish we lived closer to them!

*Eli says "It's daaart" whenever a light goes off, or the sun goes down.  He also says "doooold" for cold.

*Eli has a thousand jackets, but only wants to wear his black/red Under Armour jacket.

*Lilli, Lo Lo, Allie, and Riley are your BFFs at school.  The four of them plus Mannie are your regulars that you want to pray for.

*Eli says "bless you" after anyone sneezes or coughs.

*Eli is a Momma's boy when he gets sleepy or doesn't feel well.  He doesn't really have a lovey or anything, but he loves to play with my hair.  It's his thing.

*Eli loves "baTHs".  He never fights it.

*Eli is a sports guy like Daddy.  His favorites are fooootball and sotter, but he also talks about bassetball sometimes too.

I wish I could video a whole day with him.  He's just so stinkin' cute and sweet.  I may eat my words later, but I don't think the 2 is terrible at all!

the Peanut Festival

 I grew up in Dothan, AL, self-proclaimed peanut capital of the world.  Because of this, we have a little celebration called the National Peanut Festival.  I went every year growing up.  Multiple times a year.  Somehow though, despite being with him for nearly 9 years, Wesley has never been!  With Eli being a good age, I decided it was time to take my little family to the fair!

When we walked in, we headed straight for the tractors!

After that we headed for the animals.

The cows and sheep weren't in pens, they were just tied up/roaming around.  We got crazy close to them!

Ash, these next two pictures are for you!

Being the nerd/bookworm/teacher that I am, I kept thinking about Charlotte's Web.  I love that story.  I read it to my kids every year.  In fact, I found myself thinking about my 20 little kiddos and wishing I could have brought them with me!

Eli loved the sheep.  He even bravely petted a few of them.

After leaving the stalls, we headed to the Petting Zoo.  I get the ag animals, but I'm not sure why there was a giraffe at the Peanut Festival.  Still neat to see so up close, but I felt a little bad for the guy all caged up and in a small tent.

The goats were climbing the gates for food, 

but they weren't the only climbers.  Eli climbed to get a closer look at the baby goats.  He told me over and over again that the little goat that you see was "tired."

Feeding the Zebra - again, not so much of an ag animal, more Madagascar...

Hang on, Ginny!

After leaving the animals, we decided to go grab some supper.  We ran into the Peanut Queens and Eli got his picture made with them.  Of course he played shy with Miss Peanut (former Miss Houston County!).

Next, we introduced Wesley, Ginny, and Pops, to the deliciousness that is the Corndog Man.  You don't eat any old corn dog at the fair.  The Corndog Man is the only way to go!

After dinner it was time for rides!  First up was the carousel!

Eli and Ginny rode the Wiggle Worm.

Mom and I

Nana's favorite ride is the swings, but Eli wasn't tall enough for those, so she and Eli rode the next best thing- flying Dumbos.

Eli also rode the spinning teddy bears!

Little man was so well behaved.  He did so great on all of the rides.  I was so proud of him!  One of our favorite memories from the night was Eli getting off of a ride, swinging his arm and marching off like a big boy, proclaimed, "I did it!  I did it!"  : )

Looking up at the Ferris Wheel

We even ran into some of my oldest friends!  So good to see them and hug their necks!

Because it was Ginny's birthday, she came back to the house so we could do cake and presents!

Love this picture of them! : )

It was a wonderful, wonderful weekend.  We had SO much fun, and I'm already looking forward to taking Eli (and Wesley) back next year!

Halloween

Halloween this year was SO much fun, and SO busy!

It started with Eli wearing his costume to school for the Hallelujah Parade.  Tonto was not excited about getting his picture made.  He insisted on wearing a Goofy "dicker" (sticker) and holding TWO motorcycles.

 You'd have thought I was pulling teeth trying to get those red stripes on his face.

After school, we hurried back home and changed back into our costume for trick or treating and the Fall Festival at church.  Eli was not a happy camper little Indian.  Not at all!

(He looks upset in all of these pictures.  I promise he had fun!)

Our first stop trick or treating was to Daddy's old house!

Then we stopped by to see our neighbors, the Trawicks.  They never answer the door, but we try every year anyway.

By this point, Eli is really getting the hang of what to do at each house.

He bravely rings the bell when we stop by to see the Owens.

Mrs. Amanda gives candy AND cookies at her house!  Of course we go every year!

We finally made it to the Fall Festival at church.  We played lots of games with Abigail Minnie Mouse, and other BFG friends!

We had a wonderful time on Halloween.  Eli did great in his costume, despite all of his tears in the beginning.  He didn't even mess with the feather and headband; he kept them on all night long, which really surprised me.  And, we now have an obscene amount of candy in the house.