Visit with Santa

Yes these are a bit late! Just got them from my sister- as this mommy forgot her camera that day! We decided to kick off the week of Christmas by heading to visit the Bass Pro Santa! We actually hadn't visited Santa this year because of Tucker's great fear last year. We figured he wouldn't be interested in Ho Ho yet- thinking we'd try next year! Well, we were wrong! We met up with cousins for a group Santa photo. Tucker walked right up to Santa and sat on his lap. He even told him how he wanted his orange dump truck and a Diego cup! Afterwards, he kept talking about how Ho Ho gave him a candy cane and was working on his toys in Ho Ho's workshop! Wow! What a change from last year!

Merry Christmas!

What an amazing Christmas our family had this year!We were blessed to have almost all of our immediate family around to celebrate (the best would have been having Mema and the McCormicks with us as well). We started our celebrations on Christmas Eve. After attending church with the Loftus family, we came home for a low key evening of clam chowder and getting ready for Santa. Gamm and Pop Rhodes came and joined us for dinner. Tucker was very excited about Santa coming to see us. He put gingerbread people out and HUGE carrots! Those reindeer had a big snack. When we woke up on Christmas morning, Tucker was surprised to find all that Santa left him. He wasn't really sure what to think of it all- eventually warming up to it and enjoying his presents. Santa brought him exactly what he asked for (orange dump truck and Diego cup) as well as extra (work bench with tools, McQueen slippers, cars, games, etc). After a small breakfast snack and some playtime at home, we headed to the DiPiazza's for the King Christmas brunch. Lots of fun was had by all! There is nothing like a morning of bloody marys, mimosas, brunch, dirty santa and King girl chatter! You never know what will come of the conversation!! After fun and games, we headed home for Tucker to enjoy a nap before heading to dinner at Gamma and Pop Rhodes' house. After a much needed nap for all of us, we headed to a nice relaxing evening with the Rhodes and Franklins. Tucker enjoyed opening his gifts, reading stories with Aunt Becca, and playing in Pop Rhodes' bronco. By the time we headed home for bed, our big guy was still in play mode and thought we would keep on going with toys and presents. Little did he know, it was bed time! After some work, we all finally hit the sack after a wonderful day!! Poor Tucker is not going to totally understand why all the lights will start to go away, decorations come down and presents end. But he is learning that we truly celebrate Christmas all year by celebrating the birth of baby Jesus and the life of Christ! Merry Christmas! Rhodes, Franklins and Rhodes

Opening his Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

Reading a Mater book with Aunt Becca

Best gift of all- a big empty box!! Playing with Abby!

Excited to get to open his presents first at King Family Christmas

All eyes on Tucker to open his gifts

Trying out a few items Santa brought

Breakfast with camoflage

Checking out his stocking

As Tucker put it- "Santa made a mess and needs more cookies!"

Finally checking out Santa's gifts

Not sure what to think of Santa's gifts

We woke up to find our house had been visited by Santa

Leaving cookies, carrots and milk for Santa

Gingerbread Houses

Aunt Michele arranged a fun morning of Gingerbread House making. Tucker had great time decorating and playing with his cousins. Great way to start off the next couple of days!

Group picture
Final products

Mommy and Tucker

A sweet moment with Sarah

The building

Tucker checking out the scene before attempting

Showing off Abby's Dora Backpack.

Tucker wore this teh entire time we were there!

Throw Me Some Candy Mister!

Christmas Parade: Part Three! We headed to the Chelsea Christmas Parade to watch Catherine Twirl! This as become an annual event- since before Tucker was with us. We all load up, bring some Krispy Kreme yummies and cheer for Catherine. The kids have great fun hanging out and then catching all the goodies thrown their way! This year it was extremely cold which added to the excitement! Our Twirling Catherine (wearing the red headband)
Sarah and Abby

The view from above

We Three Kings

Ready to collect HIS candy (as he says)

Hanging out in the car before the parade- it was tooo cold!

Watch out for falling milk cups

So, in the midst of being sick, our big guy got a boo boo! It was a big deal to Mama. Tucker dropped a full sippy cup on his big toe. You can see the consequences. It immediately caused bleeding under the nail and is now all black and blue! But as Daddy says, it won't be the last nail that he loses or turned black and blue (spoken like a true rugby player)! So, Mommies watch out for those big sippy cups full of milk- they can be DANGEROUS! ;)

Just love those size 10 monkey toes!!!

Tucker James and the No Good, Horrible, Sick Week!

So, for the past week we have been locked down in the house. Our little man has been running a fever all week as well as has a pretty nasty cough/cold. So, needless to say, we have busy trying to come up with things to do other than watch tv (although there as been WAY too much of that!). Here are a few pics.. and yes, he is in the same pjs everyday! They were washed somewhere in there. You know~ you do what you have to do to make a sick boy happy!

Grandma loaned us her playdough animals!

They are our favorite and we have played with them daily!

Making a christmas hand wreath.

Figured he'd be doing these things at school,

so we made on here at home since we missed school all week!

Excited that St. Nicholas left him a treat in his shoe last weekend.

Now Scoop has a playmate... Muck!

Christmas Parades 1, 2, and eventually...3!

Well, the parade season has officially started! We started off our "tour" of parades on Thursday when we went to the Gardendale Christmas Parade. We met up with Gamma and Pop Rhodes. Pop Rhodes had reserved us a great spot with his truck. We enjoyed a quick tailgate dinner and then cheered on the parade. Had a great time! I even saw a student (in the parade as Miss North Jefferson) from my first year of teaching! She was a little surprised to hear me from the crowd! Then we were on to the Homewood Christmas parade to cheer on Will as he marched with his cub scouts. It was a cold, snowy morning but we were there! And thank goodness- because we saw the best part of any parade so far- the Mayfair Dairy Brown Cow. He is our favorite thing right now. We see him when we go and visit Grandma and Pop King. Sometimes he is there and sometimes he is missing! We have to roll down the window and yell to the cow. Today, we saw him up close and personal! We were more excited about Brown Cow than Santa! In a couple of weeks, we'll be heading south for our final parade in Chelsea to cheer on Catherine as she twirls! We love the Chelsea parade and can't wait to cheer her on!

Watching the parade and holding on to candy! THE BROWN COW!! OH MY!

Will Will throwing us candy!

Cheese Mommy! Yes, I am cold and Yes, I wish I was playing in the snow!

Abby freezing in the cold as we waited for the parade to start! Tucker waving at the parade. He has that perfected!

This was one of my students from my first class I taught! She was surprised to see me! It was fun!

With Gamma and Pop Rhodes

With Mommy and Daddy at the Gardendale Parade

Thanksgiving

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We had a busy day but very thankful to be able to share our day with family! We started out up at Smith Lake with the King side at the "Wesson Compound." We were able to enjoy a morning of play and lunch with Cousin Jim and Monica and all our cousins. Tucker couldn't wait to play with his cousin Wyatt (who is only 5 months older). He had a great time. We were able to get our family Christmas picture taken as well as a few other great shots (thanks to our professional photographer- my sister Michele). Then we were off to a relaxing dinner in Jasper with the Rhodes and Franklin families. By the time we headed home, Tucker was worn out! He had played all morning and afternoon and only slept about 30 minutes on the way to Jasper. He had a great time once to Jasper: seeing cows, driving tractors, and jumping on a mini trampoline (which somehow ended up in our trunk- great for a rainy day though). Here are a few shots from our day, minus the family one of course- have to wait until we mail out our Christmas cards!

High Five with Daddy

Say Cheese!