First Snow in Illinois!

This morning we woke up to our first snow in Illinois. We measured 2 1/2 inches on our front porch.

The great thing about snow here is that it is like powder. None of that hard, icy stuff, although that does make it harder to make snowballs as Hayes and I found today. Also since it hasn't gotten above freezing here yet this year (not kidding) the snow is not going to turn into slush by the end of the day.

Thankfully the streets are clear if you need to go anywhere, although our school district and some of the surrounding ones were closed today. We had two snow plow trucks come down our street this morning so we are not snowed in. This is a good thing since the baby is due at the end of next month. I was starting to get a little anxiety about the thought of getting snowed in, since this mama is going to need an epidural.

We went out and played before and after lunch. Of course Hayes did not want to come in, but I was afraid his poor little hands would be frostbitten if we stayed outside too much longer. All the snow quality mittens I've been able to find are too big.

We had to improvise with what we had from South Carolina, a sand bucket. We made snow castles and then headed in for some hot chocolate. I wanted to show Hayes how to make a snow angel, but I was afraid I couldn't get up. Maybe I'll try tomorrow.

Happy 7th Birthday Roscoe!

Well I thought it was time for Roscoe (aka Roscketti, Houdini, Boscoe Russian Beagle, and a few other choice names I probably shouldn't mention) to appear on the blog, and what a perfect time. Today is his 7th birthday. He is celebrating by taking some strong medication for his new found skin allergy he has developed here in Illinois.

Roscoe spends most of his other days being told to get off the couch and stay away from Hayes' bars. Hayes now calls him swiper as in Swiper the fox from Dora the Explorer. He says, "Roscoe no swipping!"

Roscoe is so cute, but you know what they say about looks. I challenge Cesar the dog whisperer to come to our house any day.

Happy New Year!

So sad that Christmas is over and don't want to take down our Christmas decorations today, but I'm excited for 2010!

Sheldon, Hayes and I celebrated the New Year by going to a great restaurant, 20's Hideout Steakhouse with live piano entertainment, here in Marion. The name "Hideout" came from Tommy Gunn's secret password back in the 20's. We had to wait about an hour since they didn't take reservations and Hayes was so good. Sheldon had the Private Eye, which is a 12 oz Delmanico cut of a Rib-Eye and I had the 8 oz Flapper Filet. We topped it off with a dessert Hayes noticed upon arrival, The Untouchable. It is a generous portion of oven-warm homemade chocolate chip cookie smothered in ice cream and topped with Kahula fudge and whip cream. The food is as they boost, "dangerously good" so if you come for a visit and are looking for a great meal that is the place to go. http://hideoutrestaurant.com/index.php

P.S. We got a new camera for Christmas and I can't post new pics yet. Every time I plug the camera cord into the USB port on my computer it crashes my computer. Working on it because I've got some things to share.

Merry Christmas!

We actually had to wake Hayes up around 8:15am because we had family coming over to see what Santa brought Hayes. When he made it downstairs he was ready to see if Santa ate the cookies and drank the milk. Sure enough he did.

Hayes got a voice activated big wheel that he really likes. It tells the weather and says 'it's going to be a sunny day,' which is funny because that is what Hayes says every morning. Santa brought some play doh, LeapFrog learning toys, a long overdue umbrella, books and some other surprises.

Maybe he can save the day with this umbrella?

Nana came over to see what Santa brought Hayes...

...so did Pap and Meamie.

This was probably Hayes's favorite thing Santa brought. A $1 flashlight stuffed in his stocking. He does like the Wubzy book too.

Sammy and Sharkie tagging along with us as usual on Christmas Day. (Notice the red marker on Sammy?)

Wow. Thought this was too cute and Hayes loves this book and the movie. All I can think of though when I look at it on is A Christmas Story.

Christmas Eve

We had a delicious lunch on Christmas Eve at mom's, watched the kids open presents and then walked down to the hospital to look at the Christmas trees and gingerbread houses.

Tuesday, mom and me.
Nana making cookies with all her grandchildren:

Ashlyn, Madison, Hayes and Haley. Aren't these the cutest aprons?

Hayes got to celebrate his birthday one more time and he loved the chocolate ganache cake. I don't know what's up with the name tags.

"Red, like Christmas"

On Decemeber 23rd Hayes went to bed really late, around 10pm, on a pallet in the room Sheldon and I were staying in at the Porter's home. I went to bed around midnight and when I walked in the room I thought is was so strange that the tv was on. I looked over at Hayes and immediately noticed something red on his face. For a split second I thought it could be blood, but I knew it was not. I then noticed that it was all over the wall - my mother-in-laws faux rag painted wall - and on the embroidered pillow sham. The pillow stuffing was sewn into the sham. It was not just your typical sham covering. Then I looked and it was all over all of Hayes's stuffed animals and somehow on the pillowcase that was on top of the regular bed.

All I could do was bust out laughing (once I realized it was not blood), and call for help. Sheldon's brother came in first and we both started dying laughing. Matt turned on the light and Hayes started to wake up and everybody else came in to evaluate the damage...

At first he wouldn't tell us or show us what he used, but we quickly figured it out. Hayes had gotten a red marker AND glue stick out of a box from the closet and went to town. He put the red marker and glue stick back in the box (which I have no idea how he opened in the first place).

He said he was "red, like Christmas."

Sheldon stripped him down and gave him a bath. He still had a slightly red tinted face for Christmas Eve. Also I still noticed some red in his head about a week ago while giving him a bath.

Thankfully the red came out of everything. Thank goodness for washable markers!

Sleigh Ride with Santa!

After a family outing to Mast General, OP Taylors and the St. Francis Festival of Trees at the Hyatt we headed down to the Mellow Mushroom for some yummy pizza.

Did you know that the most eaten food on Christmas Eve is pizza?

After dinner we walked up to the Westin Poinsett to wait on Santa and his sleigh. I don't know how long Santa has been visiting downtown Greenville, but it was a fun, family outing that I highly recommend. http://www.sleighwithsanta.com/

Rhett, Hayes and Garrett waiting at the Poinsett for Santa.

Front row seats with Santa! We could hear Hayes giggling at Santa throughout the ride.

Yes this is the best picture I got of Santa, but what I really want you to pay attention to is the cold hard cash in his left hand. Based on how many people fill Santa's sleigh and with the rides lasting about 15 minutes we estimated Santa was making about $600 per hour. Let's just say Mrs. Claus was going to be getting something 'really nice' for Christmas.

The money was well worth the memory and experience. Santa was awesome and made us all laugh almost the entire ride. Some was nervous laughter because Santa would say 'Santa likes red...HO HO HO!' and then ran every red light on his route. Then he would turn around to talk to us and the sleigh would stray to the right where all the cars were parallel parked along Main Street. At first we thought he may have had a little spiked eggnog.

Gail and Michelle sitting behind Santa.

Matt sneaking in the picture of Sheldon and I.

Christmas at The Pruitt's!

Today we went over to Aunt T's house for some family time. The cousins decorated some Christmas cookies, played, opened presents and watched the Polar Express. We had a fabulous dinner that consisted of a smoked bone-in prime rib (I think that's what it was), salad, pototoes and bread.

Hayes, Haley and Ashlyn decorated some cookies.


Hayes was excited about getting several dinosaurs and shouted out a "ROAR!"

I just thought this was the sweetest picture of Hayes and Ashlyn.

Hayes' 3rd Birthday - December 16th

Here are some photos from Hayes's 3rd birthday celebration.

Hayes requested a chocolate cake with sprinkles. He blew the candles out the second I put the cake down on the table while Sheldon and I were still singing. One of his favorite presents was the dinosaur egg in the bowl. He was more interested in that than checking out his big present.

Some birthday presents and the cake.

Hayes on his big boy bike that looks like a motorcycle.

Hayes was already ready for it to hatch. It didn't hatch until the next morning.

Hayes trying to get away from Sheldon and the chocolate mustache.

Taking it to the street (well an alley like street behind our house). At first he was real worried about cars being on the road, which is a good thing.

Storytime with Santa at the Library

Well the local library had storytime with Santa today, which just happened to land on Hayes's birthday. I always said I would never do anything Christmas related on his birthday, but I thought this would be fun.

Yeah...he's about ready to get down now. I don't think he loved this Santa as much as the one at Walker's Bluff.
Here is Happy the Christmas Clown making doggie shaped ballons for all the kids.
And here is the final product.
After the librarian read a couple of Christmas books we got some snacks (they had a spread of holiday treats and juice for the kids along with take home goodie bags). Then Hayes made a couple of crafts. We then went into the children's section of the library and played some games.

Great time today at the library!