Trail of Lights

Friday night we went to the Trail of Lights on the bluff with Janis and Kate. It was so nice. There weren't too many people and the weather was a bit cold, but not wet.
Kate took some great photos with her amazing camera... I will post those once I get them from her.
Saturday morning, I took Hope to the Country Club to see Santa. She wouldn't sit on his lap, but she did agree to accept a cookie he offered her. Then she got to color a Snowman craft and drink some yummy cider.




Saturday evening, Daddy and I took Hope, Janis, Kate, Granny, Emily and Reed to the Ledbetter Trail of Lights. It was a hayride into this property with all sorts of Christmas lights and decorations along the way. It was cold and misty outside, but it was fun! Once we got to the center of the property, we toured two houses and got cookies, cider and hot chocolate. Then we visited Santa. This time, Hope was willing to sit on his lap and let me take a few photos! We were so proud!

First Date with Mason

Hope and Mason had their official first date on Saturday evening. Mason's parents needed a sitter, so we gladly watched him. We took Hope and Mason to Grammy and Papa's Christmas Party in Columbus where Papa was going to be Santa Clause. On the way there, they held hands in the car the entire 20 minute ride. Once we got there, Papa (not dressed like Santa yet) took both kids by the hand (one on each side) and walked into the building. I wish I had taken a photo of them walking, it was so cute! He is such a good Papa! So we visited with Grammy and Papa and colored a bit. Many people walked up to us and wondered if they were twins. We introduced Mason as Hope's boyfriend. Grammy asked Hope if Mason was her boyfriend and she said "yes!". Grammy told me that Hope has good taste! Mason is a cutie! A little while later, Papa had to leave and then Santa appeared. Hope was intrigued and Mason ran right over to me and froze. He was a little nervous to say the least. Santa proceeded to hand out gifts and each child sat on his lap and opened their gift one by one. They left Hope and Mason until the end so they could see what the other children were doing. When it was Hope's turn, she immediately walked up to Santa and sat on his lap. I couldn't believe it! She sat there the entire time and opened her gift as we all snapped photos and I cried a bit! We were so proud of her. She was such a big girl. Then it was Mason's turn and he was so scared, poor thing. We had Hope go and get his present from Santa and bring it to him. He loved the gift, but wasn't quite sure what to think of the man in the big red suit. So the children's party was over and the adults were about to do their white elephant gift exchange and we decided to go ahead and leave. Hope and Mason held hands about 1/2 the way home and apparently Mason didn't want to hold hands anymore. Hope kept calling Mason's name and asking for his hand. It was so funny... she can be a bit demanding! As we are turning down our street, I asked Hope if she saw Grammy and she said "yes". I asked her if she was Papa and her response was "Papa Santa Clause". I looked at Wayne to see if he heard what I heard and I asked her "Who was Santa Clause" and she replied "Papa!". That little smartie know that Papa was Santa Clause! We couldn't believe it. We guess she recognized his voice. Mason's parents came over to pick up Mason and we sat around and talked for a while and then gave the kids a bath together and got them ready for bed and Mason went home! It was a wonderful evening and both kids were great! All Hope could talk about on Sunday was Mason, Mason, Mason. When she talked to Granny (or Grammy, I can't remember which one it was) on the phone on Sunday, she mentioned Mason and said "boyfriend" right after his name. Then later, Hope and I were laying in our bed watching TV and she said out of the blue "I love Mason" and smiled at me. I asked her if she loved Mason and she looked at me and said "yes" with a huge smile! Young love!!! Daddy isn't quite too sure what to think about his little girl being in love already!! Just wait dad, if you think it is hard to handle now, just wait until she is about 15 or so! Let's just hope she is still in love with Mason as he is a good kid and has a good family!! We love Mason too!

Winter Wonderland

Friday morning and late morning we got snow!!! Hope and I played outside in it a bit before going to Ms. Keri's. Hope got to play in it again around 11ish at Ms. Keri's and she learned out to catch snowflakes on her tongue. Ms. Keri said Hope wanted to stay out in the snow and had to have Honey get her to come inside. (First photo of Hope in her snow boots enjoying the snowflakes.)
Blue dress photos are from Saturday before we went to Jaley's second birthday party. She didn't want to take her backpack off, so we just kept it on.

Rocky Creek - Saturday, November 28th

Saturday, Granny and I took Hope, Emily and Reed to Rocky Creek... it is very much like Dewberry Farms just on a smaller scale. When we got there, the kids immediately went to the huge slide. Emily helped Hope climb up the steep hay bales to the top and they slid down together and then Hope slid down by herself the rest of the time. She isn't afraid of anything and she absolutely LOVES any slide!! Then the kids went thru this little hay maze. Shortly after they enter the maze, Emily walks out and says... "look what Hope found" and hands me thirty dollars! Apparently Emily and Reed walked right passed it, but Hope found it and picked it up and said "money". (I tried to turn it in, but the owner said no one had mentioned losing any money and she felt it was "finders keepers", so I gave Granny $20 and kept $10 and we all got in free that day!) After that, we decided to go thru the corn maze, which took about 20 minutes or so. Hope got to see what corn looks like as it grows. Then we rode on a another tubular slide and tried to catch butterflies in the Zennia garden. Then we went on a hayride thru the farm, a train ride and milked a wooden cow. Hope and I left a little early as it was way past nap time and I could tell she was getting tired. We had a nice time and will definitely be back again next year!













Hope has a finally learned how to sign "I love you!" She was having the hardest time getting her fingers to go where they were supposed to, but she has it now! She is always telling us "Love you" and showing her "I love you sign". It melts our hearts everytime!! Here is Hope and Reed sending their love my way!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope and I went to Aunt Mary Jane's and Uncle Bootsie's this year for Thanksgiving. Wayne got an offer from Uncle Joe at the last minute to go to the Dallas Cowboys game in the new stadium, so guess what he did! We had a nice time and didn't have to drive very far. Since Daddy wouldn't be home until late, Emily and Reed spent the night with us. The three of them played and played and had a great time! I was nervous Hope wouldn't want to go to sleep with the other two kids there, but she did and didn't make a fuss; I was very proud of her! (This is the dress Janis and Kate bought her. I just LOVE it!)