December (pre-Christmas) Fun!

Before I jump into Christmas, I had to make sure I remembered all the fun we had leading up to it! So Penelope's going to start it off. She's really starting to get this posing thing down!

Penelope is 6 months old, I really can't believe it! Time is flying by at an alarming rate. It's making me a little nauseous, truth be told.

Right now she is loving playing with her little jungle gym.

And I had to include a picture of her lashes. They're still sticking around, thankfully! On her left eye, they honestly touch the middle of her eyebrow! I'm dying to put mascara on them, but Steve won't let me.

Oliver especially loves holding "wet, naked baby" fresh out of the tub.

Sometimes things get a little raucous, but she doesn't mind. She's such a good sport!

The only good thing about nasty old winter was being able to see her in this faboo hat. Swoon. And double swoon over that angelic face.

Ollie and Hud love reading to her. This picture cracks me up. Notice him licking his little finger to turn the page...of a board book no less. How do kids pick up on those little things?

Right now they all love playing in her crib together. Hud is reading them a Christmas story.

Here we are in a rare moment of alone time. I had to capture this memory of us snuggled up on the couch together, watching The Kardashians in our jammies! We're besties for sure.

Such a biggie girl, sitting up in her Bumbo. I can't believe she's big enough!

This is probably my favorite outfit on her right now. I can't get over the rolls in her legs and her chubby knees. These tights accentuate them perfectly!

My doll baby

And speaking of posing, here is the boys' latest obsession. Posing for pictures also. Here we have several super hero poses from Oliver.

Isn't he the toughest? (As Pop C would say, "he's anything but")

And here's Hud...ready for action.

Check out those guns!

Is this sweet girl ever going to be such a nut?

I hope so!!

Thanksgiving 2011

This was Penelope's first Thanksgiving!

"Thanksgiving Eve" was spent with the boys having a sleepover at Grammy and Papa's. They got to play with their cousins, make cute "thankful" posters and stay up late! The next morning we all met at their house for a yummy breakfast. It was apparently too early for me to remember my camera, so no pictures :(

We ate dinner with my aunt Holly's family at their home. It's always very entertaining with any of the Rawlings' around!

Pippi Pie was up for a photo-op with everyone. She was the star, of course! Here's my cute cousin Andy. He wishes she was his.

This is a classic look right now from Hud-Man. I can see everything he's thinking.

Pop C and Pippin

Hilly made these yummy spice cupcakes with penuche frosting. Mmmmm!

Andy. Parker and the kids had fun watching a movie. They are so good with our kids. I know I always say it, but I love being so close with our families; it has made for a lot of great memories!

Huddie Bear's 6th Birthday

Hudson was so excited for his "jammie" party! And what better to go along with jammies at bedtime than cookies and milk? So that's what we did!

I found this invitation and knew it was perfect because it had chocolate milk instead of regular. I think the last glass of regular milk Hudson had was when he was about 18 months old, when my mom decided he should get to have chocolate milk. He's never gone back...can you blame him?

Here's the spread. I originally was going to make 6 different kinds of cookies (since he's turning 6, right?), but then my mom told me she thought that was a little ambitious, so I settled for 4.

I made Hud's two faves for sure, which are M&M and gingersnaps, and then million dollar caramel cookies (which are chocolate with a Rolo in the middle and then rolled in crushed Skor bar), and then also sugar cookies in the shape of moons and stars for the kids to decorate.

I love how his chocolate chip cookie cake turned out! He LOVES cakes (the making/decorating them more than eating them) and so he was so excited about it too.

I found Ben & Jerry's Milk and Cookie flavored ice cream, so obviously that was a must! Here are some of the cookies all wrapped up and ready to send home with the kids.

All the kids came in their jammies and we read a bedtime story called The Cow Loves Cookies.

Here's Hud with his bestie/girlfriend "Lily C". And you can't leave out the "C." because there's also a Lily G. in their class at school, and there can't be any confusion! He is so darling with her--it is true love!

The kids also brought their favorite stuffed animal and we played a game taking turns matching each child's stuffed animal to them.

After that we decorated the sugar cookies, which was a huge hit. For some reason I don't have any pictures of that!

I'm telling you--they don't leave each other's side. Look at that grin on him! Could it get any bigger?

Our darling, big birthday boy!

This is my cousin Tenley with Oliver. My cousins are so great with our kids--we are lucky to be so close to our families!

After cake we opened presents (no pictures of that either! I'm not sure what happened?!).

The highlight, however was an Ultimate Easy-Bake Oven from Holly, Tenley, Parker, Andy, Hilly and Briski. If this kid doesn't grow up to be a baker I will be shocked!

Parker just loves Penelope. He's so sweet with her.

And here's one happy boy giving me a hug after his fun-filled day. We love you so much Huddie! These 6 years have been full of adventure with you!