Busy time of the year

Wow, the holidays are upon us. We are very blessed to be within a reasonable driving distance from most of our family members. This means that we will be visiting them over the next few weeks. We will begin in Lawrenceburg at my husbands grandparents house. It is always a very good time. We are meeting at 10:00am this year so that we will have plenty of time to spend together. Next weekend we will head to Paintsville to visit with my dad's family. We haven't made it to their Christmas gathering since we have had children, so at least 4 years. I am excited about going, but it is also the longest drive. Sunday we will be in Lexington with my mom and then at our house for Christmas Eve and with Chad's parents in Georgetown on Christmas Day. Sounds like a lot of traveling in a short period of time, but we are thankful for the opportunity to be with family. To add to the events, Henry's birthday is New Year's Eve (can't believe my baby is going to be one) so we are planning a birthday/New Year's Eve party.

I had to pleasure of meeting a very nice photographer recently who will be taking pictures of the kiddos this weekend. I am very excited to get some new pics. I know they will be great because I have seen some of her work and these are my kids we are talking about. I do worry some about keeping Charlie in line (he likes to run around a lot!), but hopefully we will manage.

Henry is cutting his sixth and seventh tooth so he has been a little cranky, but overall he is so pleasant. He is pulling up on everything, but hasn't tried letting go. I am afraid we will be there soon though.

Charlie has been talking a lot about being a big boy. He decided on his own that he didn't need his keys except at bedtime anymore. We are working hard on potty training, but aren't really getting anywhere. He is afraid to get on the toilet. He cries and cries until we finally get him settled and he "says that wasn't so bad", but the next time the whole process repeats itself. He has been talking recently about wanting to go to school like a big boy (the preschool where Isabelle is currently). He has to be potty trained to start at 3. I have tried to use this as motivation, but again it is a work in progress.

Isabelle has been the star student this week at preschool. Monday she colored a poster board. We helped her put some pictures on it and then she decorated it with stickers. Tuesday she took in a collection of her hairbows. Wednesday was her favorite movie (Wizard of Oz), today was her
favorite book (Purplicious), and tomorrow is her favorite game (hungry hungry hippos). She has had a lot of fun doing this. She is also really into baking right now. She loves to make things with "lots of ingredients", but she doesn't want to eat them. We are trying brownies next. I don't think she has had brownies before so maybe we will find something she likes.

Hopefully I will have new pictures to share from the photoshoot and our upcoming visits with family soon.