Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 was a fun and crazy 5 days. It started Christmas Eve afternoon over at Daddy Sam's and Momma Ruth's house with lunch and the frenzy of gift opening. Mary Anna really got in to the swing of things this year and was even trying to open others gifts if we where not looking. One of the big gifts was a princess potty - yes it is actually supposed to play a 'royal tune' when the princess uses it. So far we have not heard the tune very often but we are trying. Mom also got a Wii Fit which has told her that she has no balance!! Once all the paper had been thrown away Mary Anna was on the way to Granmommy house with her cousins Jake and Erin while Mom went to Christmas Eve service at Hope Church. After Church mom meet back up with Mary Anna and Daddy to have a great meal with the Kalb family. Of course there where more gifts exchanged and Mary Anna received a 'my first big wheel' complete with helmet! One more stop was made to the annual Robilio Christmas Eve party. Another plate of great food and visiting with friends helped us to wind the night down so we can get home for Santa.

Christmas was actually more laid back then Christmas Eve. Mary Anna went down stairs to find a new tent, shopping cart and cash register. Daddy made pancakes while we watched the Disney Christmas parade and every one had a nap before it was time to hit the road to Mississippi to grandma Carol's (Mary Anna's great-grandmother) house. Again more great food and fun with cousins. That night Granna came over to mom's house where we relaxed and enjoyed some quite time.

Mary Anna's checks out all the fun toys from Santa!

That Friday mom had to work - yuck! This is the first time in years that she did not have off the two weeks for Christmas! But after getting off of work on Friday - mom, granna and Mary Anna headed to Searcy Arkansas for the Arnholt Christmas. We got to spend the weekend with cousin Kelly, Aunt Karen (thank you for all the great pictures!), Uncle David and grandma Zette (another great-grandmother!). It was a whirlwind couple of days and we are so blessed to have some many friends and family to visit and share these holidays with. Wishing every one all the best in 2009!

Next to the Christmas tree - Mary Anna loved the bubble lights. When she wanted the tree on she would say 'bubbles'.

Mommy and Mary Anna before dinner in Searcy.


I love my cousin Kelly!

Halloween 2008

This is the Frog Prince (Gavin) for the Princess

Playgroud at school

Yum! What do we get next?
Princess hanging out waiting for Trick or Treating to begin.

Ok I am ready to go.

Sugar high at its best!!!!!

Halloween was a very busy day for the "Princess". It started with a Fall Fest party at school where all her classmates dressed up and played games outside before heading in to the classroom where the regular healthy snack was replaced with yummy treats (the first of many of the night). Right after leaving school we headed down to daddy's house to trick or treat in his neighborhood. The Princess was not really in to going door to door but was all about sitting in her stroller eating M&M's - the most chocolate she has had - ever! It was a fun time for mommy and the Princess.

Cedar Hill Farm - Hernando MS

Mary Anna and her friend Tyler went to the Cedar Hill pumpkin patch. After some playing in the big sand box we took a hay ride out to the pumpkin patch where Mary Anna found a good place to take a rest. It was getting close to lunch so the corn maze was not the best idea at the time but we all made it through before the big melt downs.

Sunday at the Zoo

Sunday at the Zoo

Mary Anna and Gavin

Even though Mary Anna was not feeling that great I thought some fresh air would be good for both of us - so we meet Jennifer, Gavin and Brooke at the zoo. I told myself before I had kids that I would never put them on a "leash" - but after trying to keep up with an 18 month old at a semi crowded zoo I tried out Gavin's new "back pack" that I like to call it now.

Mary Anna and I watching the monkeys.

Breakfast at The Arcade

Before we headed out to music class one Saturday morning Mary Anna and I meet our good friend Brooke (or brookie as Mary Anna likes to call her) at The Arcade restaurant downtown (http://www.arcaderestaurant.com/). With the fall weather the pumpkin pancakes sounded yummy to us all. Brooke also bought a real pumpkin at the Farmers Market for MA.

Bye bye bottles!

We said bye bye bottles this week. Mary Anna was only taking one at night while we where reading and we still are having some milk in a sippy cup. Thank goodness it went well - so that kind of goes to show that it was more mommy trying to hold on to her baby.

First piece of jewelry...

This is my first edible piece of jewelry made by Mary Anna. It is a stunning piece of pure Cheerios accented with wooden stars at the end. If I was not afraid of birds snatching it off my neck I would wear it every day!

Labor Day weekend at Pickwick

Labor day weekend Mary Anna and I headed up to Granna and Grandpa Jim's cabin at Pickwick lake. We had a great time playing out on the back deck and taking our first ride in a boat. Mary Anna found the horn on the boat and was letting every one know to get out of her way.

August - month of change

With August came change for both mom and Mary Anna. After trying out traveling for 3 weeks mom decided it really was not for her any more. The first night was like a mini-vacation but after that I missed my baby way to much. A great job opportunity presented itself here in Memphis and I took it. I am now a commuter traveling to an office every day - it is a trade off - I am missing play dates and afternoon outings! Getting myself and Mary Anna ready in the morning is an adjustment - planning every thing out in the evening is a must.
Mary Anna was also promoted to Toddler II class where she will stay until she is 24+ months old. Our favorite teacher Mrs. Dinah did not move up and we both miss her :(. Several of her class mates where all ready in Toddler II so there was some familiar faces. Mary Anna is growing and changing every day. She will repeat most words in her little baby voice and is still using her sign language which is a big help. At this time for some reason we are on a Thomas the Tank Engine kick - other wise known as "choo choo". Thank goodness that books are still a hit as well and some times she seems to be trying to read to who ever is in the room - in her own language. It still amazes me how much she has changed just since December! Fall will bring a lot of adventures so stayed tuned...

Destin Florida 2008

The end of July found us back in beautiful Destin Florida for the yearly family beach trip. This was not Mary Anna’s first trip to the beach but last year she was only 4 months old so she spent most of the time in the condo instead of on the beach. Instead of making her sit in her car seat for 7 hours Mary Anna got to have her first plane ride where she did great both ways – it did help on the way back that we had the row to ourselves leaving room to spread out. After hearing stories from other moms about how their child did not like the sand I was not sure what to expect but as you can see in the pictures below Mary Anna loved the sand and even the ocean. Of course it would have been better if the jelly fish where not around and the waves so big but we did get some time in the ocean.

What a life sitting on the beach being feed blue berries!

Dinner at one of our favorite spots - The Back Porch.

Having some breakfast before hitting the beach.

The following are several beach pictures and a video.

It was a great trip but we are both glad to be back home and look forward to next year!

July 4th in Searcy

This fourth Mary Anna and I went to visit the great-grandmothers in Searcy AR. Uncle David, Aunt Karen and cousin Kelly came from Knoxville for the weekend - it was the first time that they had seen Mary Anna. We had fun playing on the swing set in the back yard and just hanging out with family.

Memphis in May

Beale Street Music Fest

BBQ Fest

Mary Anna has had a fun May attending the different events for Memphis in May. It started with the Beale Street music fest but we were lucky enough to enjoy the music from a friend’s house that overlooks Tom Lee Park. At BBQ fest we had fun playing with our friends Tylan and Jack on top of Hog Wild BBQ team booth.