Christmas Parade

Saturday night we took the kids to the Nine Flags Festival Christmas parade. The Nine Flags Festival runs from the weekend before Thanksgiving to Christmas with different events and activities each week. Nacogdoches is the oldest town in Texas and the Nine Flags Festival represents the nine different flags that have flown over Nacogdoches. This year the theme was the American flag in honor of our Nation’s Independence.

Emory and Cason did real well waiting on the parade. Emory entertained Cason by making silly faces. She is such a mess.

 They were all smiles!

 Just before the parade started the Grinch ran around waving to the crowd. Emory was not too sure of the big green “monster” dressed in a red Santa suit.

 Some of the floats from the parade. Emory and Cason both enjoyed the parade.

 It did not take Emory long to learn that floats = candy. She definitely had a good time.

  Cason enjoyed himself too. He clapped and cheered at all the people and did not miss one thing!

 

Aunt Rachel, Mckenzie, Mimi, and Peepaw came to the parade too. I think little Mckenzie had a good time also!

Trip to the tree farm

Every year we go to a local Christmas tree farm to get our Christmas tree. Yesterday we went to a different farm that was a little closer to our house. I am not sure if it was this particular farm or the drought, but the largest unclaimed tree we could find was just 8 feet tall. We usually get a tree around 10 feet tall but decided on going ahead and getting a smaller one rather then driving all over East Texas searching for a taller one.  

 This is the one we chose.

It is a little crooked and has a few holes but once it is all decked out it will be perfect!

 Emory singing We wish you a Merry Christmas while Bradley cut down the tree. She is really into Christmas this year. She is constantly telling me how happy she is and how beautiful Christmas decorations are.

Cason checking out all the trees!

Our tree all decorated minus the tree skirt and presents!

O Christmas tree O Christmas tree

Last weekend I put up Emory and Cason's Christmas trees in their rooms. I started collecting Santa ornaments for Emory the Christmas before she was born and typically add two or three Santa's each year. However this year Emory discovered "E" ornaments while shopping with me at Hobby Lobby and insisted on buying some because "E is for Emory Mama." So we now have a few "E" ornaments mixed in with the Santa's

Emory singing jingle bells.

Emory's Christmas tree 2011

For Cason's tree I decided on collecting cowboy and farmer Santa's for him. I think I will add some "general" Santa's later but for now his tree is all things cowboy and farm!
 

Cason's Christmas tree 2011

 I also found the cutest bandanna ornament balls and had to include those!



8 Months Old

Cason Bradley you are 8 months old today!  

You weigh around 20 pounds and are wearing size 6-9 and 9 months. You are a tall little boy and have the chubbiest little legs. You are still in a size 3 diaper but I think we will be buying 4’s soon. In the last week you have started to sleep through the night more nights then not, which I am so thankful for. You have 6 teeth (top 4 and bottom 2) and I feel like more are on the way because you are a little drool machine again.

 You are a happy little boy with the sweetest smile. You get tickled so easily and just laugh and laugh. Your big sister can really get you going.  

 You are little chatter box and can say mamama and dada. You are so funny when you get to talking because your little voice changes depending on your mood. We definitely know when you are being serious or silly. You also love to sing.

 

You eat baby food three times a day and LOVE puffs and melts. You are a great eater and will eat anything but definitely prefer some foods over others. Your favorites are sweet corn with rice, turkey and veggies, blueberry pear, and oatmeal with apples and cinnamon.

 You are everywhere these days and have ventured into just about every room in the house. You are still army crawling, which is fine by me because you are quick enough as it is. You got up on all fours yesterday and rocked back and forth several times, so I feel like you will take off on all fours soon! You can pull yourself up to your knees and stood up for the first time yesterday for a second before falling.

You love taking a bath!

Happy Birthday Grandma

 Happy Birthday Grandma and thank you for all you do!

I made pretty signs on the computer but our printer is having technical difficulties today.

I just had to include the bottom picture too!

Ice Skating

Friday we took the kids to an “ice skating” rink that was set up as part of the downtown Christmas lighting festivities in my parent’s town. The rink was not real ice but skated like real ice. Emory had a great time and towards the end wanted to skate all by herself. Her fearlessness is starting to worry me just a little. Ha! After a while Emory told us she was ready to go because skating was slippery. After the ice skating we rode in a horse drawn carriage around the downtown area. Emory and Cason both seemed to enjoy the ride. Today figure skating was on TV and Emory got excited and told me that she did that yesterday.

Away she went, no hesitation, no worry, just a big smile!

She wanted to do it ALL by herself!

Cason cheering on his big sis!

Emory enjoying the ride through town.

Cason having a good time checking everything out!

Thanksgiving 2011

Wednesday we headed to southern Arkansas to my parents house for Thanksgiving. This year was Noah's year to be at his dads for Thanksgiving so it was just my kiddos there soaking up all the attention from Grandma, Pawpaw, and Aunt Shirley. Needless to say they have had a blast. We had a nice dinner and then just hung out and visited. I did manage to get a better picture of Emory and Cason. My trick was to sit in front of the TV, this way Emory is at least still and looking at me.

Emory Grace and Cason Bradley Thanksgiving 2011



As you can see Cason is always on the move.



Emory would NOT smile at me no matter what I did, so.......



I asked her to show me her teeth and this is what I got. Not exactly what I had in mind!!