Our 9th Anniversary

9 years! We have been super blessed in the last 9 years.  Even just our last year has been a doosie, with John's new job, selling the house, moving, new schools for the kids, the list is endless.  I feel VERY thankful-I can't stress it enough-VERY thankful I get to do it with John.  As the wise story goes, if everyone threw their problems in a hat, we would pick ours right back out ;) Even the fact that we are still so in love with each other is something to be grateful for.  He keeps me going, that is for sure.  And for us, every year definitely gets better.  Opa and Nana usually take the kids for us for 1 or 2 nights during our anniversary or around it and so we typically don't drive further than 2 hours or so.  So thankful for the time away, we can't thank y'all enough!!

We decided on The Dillard House and Tallulah Gorge.  We had a great time having a whole day of talking or just sitting in silence and being able to hear one another without being interrupted ;) I am sad its over, but it was great to get home and see the kids.  

 The Dillard house seriously just puts all of this on your table and breakfast was the same way!! YUMMMM!!

 When we first got to the falls, this is how it looked! Thank goodness it cleared up!

All about Jackson and his 5 year old personality

 Jackson's personality has changed so much in the past 2 years.  He is MUCH more outgoing and hardly ever has a meltdown about being shy.  Actually, he hardly ever has meltdowns these days.  If he starts to have one, he is usually pretty easy to talk down.  Mainly b/c he is finally understanding life.  He understands that while we may have to leave the playground or finish playing a video game, that he will indeed play it again another time.  He can now rationalize things and has such a better attitude on life in general.  The only exception to that rule is food.  Ugh, he is still so hard headed about what he will try and what he will eat.  But, we are getting there and he is leaps and bounds better than he was.  He is so super sweet and is always saying "please, thank you, and no thank you".  He always takes his plate to the sink after a meal and is so good about doing things like putting his shoes by the front door.  These may sound trivial, but everything they do themselves is so awesome for me and gives them confidence.  He has such a kind heart and if I cry or get hurt, he is always making sure I am ok.  In fact, yesterday John and I were snuggling on the couch and he said, "awe, that's so nice that you are snuggling with Daddy". He has such sweet compliments.  He told me my hair smelled beautiful the other day.   He LOOOVES to snuggle just like his sister.  He will give me lots of hugs and kisses throughout the day :) He has a HUGE imagination and is so fun to watch what he makes up.  He loves his new friends from down the street and wants to play outside with them constantly.
He has many wonderful talents.  He knows our phone number, can zip his own jacket, he is beginning to read with me (I am using Hooked on Phonics and it is fabulous!! I highly recommend it!), and  he knows all of his letter sounds.  He gets himself all ready for school every morning and typically I let him pick out his outfit, he does pretty good :)  I love the questions he asks me.  He has such a sweet little mind and love when he shares his thoughts.  He absolutely loves school and learning in general.  His teacher is SO good about making them do things themselves and showing them they can do it.
I still can't believe his is 5.  He is still so little though, I watch him at Karate and just could cry at how sweet, innocent, and little he still is.  He has blessed us in so many ways and taught us so much about life.  We are so very lucky God chose us to be his parents.

All about Bailey and her 3 year old personality

"Hi, I'm Bailey Ballard!".  She says that statement at least once a day.  To a stranger usually.  She is the complete opposite of Jackson and completely takes after me with her outgoing personality.  She is NOT shy by any means.  She has a great sense of humor and loves to tell jokes (that usually are not funny...which make them funny).  She is VERY opinionated too...hmmmm where does she get that from?! haha, yes, sadly from me too.  haha  She will let you know if she doesn't want to do something or wear something.  In order for her to put this dress on for our family pictures, I told her 3 days in advance and anytime I could remember to remind her during that period.  

She has many new talents.  She finally dresses herself, whew...I wondered if that would ever happen.  She doesn't nap anymore, except on a rare occasion.  She comprehends so much.  She told me a while back that she didn't want to wear a pull-up to bed anymore.  I said, "well, then you can't pee pee in your pull-up at night time and you can wear your panties if you keep it dry".  That was it.  She never did it again.  She is doing great riding a bike, but still likes to just run around like a crazy person instead.  She knows all of her ABC's and has for a long time.  She ask me, "what does (any word) start with?" everyday.  And a lot of the time, she will be right when I ask her what she thinks.  She loves her nails painted and everything girlie, like princesses, Barbies, Dora, and ponies.   

She is in her tantrum/demanding phase.  Jackson went through this too (and thankfully, Bailey is not quite as bad). She just has a tough time communicating b/c she typically will whine or cry through what she is saying and we don't understand her. She just has her limits and can definitely be exhausting.  

She will eat or try just about anything.  She LOVES to dip her food.  She even has a song about dipping her food.  LOL.  She loves cheese dip, ranch, broccoli, salad, corn, yogurt, and of course dessert!  She also LOOOVES to snuggle.  She is so very snuggly :)  I am enjoying every moment of it.  She loves to twirl, dance, and sing.  She is always telling me, "turn the music on!" if we are in the car and I have forgotten.  She has the kindest heart.  She is always saying the sweetest things like, "Mama, you the best Mama ever.". And she has excellent manners (when she is not demanding things with her strong will that is!).  She never misses a thank you.  

We love her more than words can express and thank God everyday for blessing us with her.  

Here are her stats:

Weight: 30.5 lbs (49 %ile)

Height: 36 3/8 inch (35% ile)

BMI: 16 (64%ile) 

Blood pressure: 106/63

Halloween 2013

Well, it has been a LOOOONG week around here.  Last Saturday we all kinda felt sick.  Especially Bailey and me.  We were coughing like crazy at night (and still are...booo) and in the morning.  Then on Tuesday Bailey woke us up at 5 am b/c she puked in her bed, then proceeded to do that 2 more times until I decided we were staying awake and going to play in the tub.  She got a fever and definitely had the stomach bug. Well, needless to say I washed everything I possibly could...twice and sanitized the house up and down.  She felt back to her normal self on Wednesday when she woke up and knock on a whole lotta wood, non of us have gotten it.   So thankfully we all got to join in the Halloween festivities at school and trick or treating at home!

At the kids new school they get to wear their costumes and have a parade...which was GREAT!!!  At our old school you weren't even allowed to say Happy Halloween. lol.  They also had a festival (which I worked and was exhausted, I don't know how the teachers do it everyday) for all the kids and it was so much fun :) Love their school so much, feeling blessed :)

 Here is Jackson with some of his best buddies at school.  Peyton, Jackson, Jaden, and Rowlin.

 And her is Bailey with her little best bud, Sutton.  

 Here are the Ballard and and Goldin children.  The Goldin's have quickly become our best friends and live 4 doors down.  We always have the best time with them and the kids get along great.  (Bailey is crying b/c she is stepping on her dress which I quickly fixed with a safety pin)

 Grandma and Pop came along with us.  We had the best time and our new neighborhood was absolutely packed with children...such a nice change :)