Creating and Discovering...for Free!!

Zachary has had a very big and busy past few days! The day before Christmas Eve, the Creative Discovery Museum downtown had free admission for the holidays, so since Kyle and I are both home during the day on Wednesdays, we took Zachary to go play for awhile. You can't pass up free!! This was Zachary's 2nd trip to the museum. The first time was right after his first birthday, a few days before he really started walking, but I had forgotten to bring my camera that day.

There is plenty to do at the museum, but some of the events and activities are for kids a little bit older. However, there is one section called The Little Yellow House that is perfect for toddlers, so that was where we spent the majority of our time. It is set up just like a huge play house, with all the rooms like a kitchen, playground, tool shed, dog house, flower garden, etc.

We ventured out of the Little Yellow House for a bit, and let Zachary lead us to where he wanted to go. We had planned to avoid the water area this day, but that was not the case!! He loves the water and loves to play in it! I think he looks so cute in that little smock!

Back at the Yellow House, Zachary gets busy doing his chores: sweeping, cooking, and then both at the same time!! He loved those little brooms, which was great since Santa was bringing one for Christmas!

Zachary loved playing at the Museum and we plan on using some of his Christmas money to get him a year membership so we can go play whenever we want to, especially while it is too cold to go outside!

snow...Snow...SNow...SNOW!!!

(In case you couldn't hear me singing the title for you, it was supposed to get you singing from "White Christmas!")

We were given an early Christmas present here in South Tennessee this year! The first weekend in December we woke up to a beautiful blanket of SNOW! Zachary's first REAL snow!

We had all slept in that morning, so when I woke up and saw that the weatherman was really right this time, I quickly got some warm muffins cooking and woke the rest of my sleeping beauties!! We ate quickly so we could go play before it all melted away!

Zachary was none too impressed with the snow. He just wanted his swing!

I sure do love his little hat!

Not enjoying the cold and wet snow!!

He was ready to go inside rather quickly, but he did have to wait for Mommy and Daddy to take a few minutes to play in the snow! Maybe next year (if we get any) he will enjoy the snow! I'm hoping this early snowfall is a sign for a snowy Winter for us!!

Trimming the Tree....Part 2!

Apparently we were not finished decorating the tree before! One day while laying on the couch, I looked and noticed there was an ornament WAY back in the tree and thought that unusual. When I looked closer, I realized it was one of Zachary's toy trucks. =)

I have also found wooden nesting blocks and plastic toy dishes in the tree, too! Such a helper!!

Trimming the Tree

We were good little boys and girls and waited until December 1st this year to put up our tree. We weren't quite sure how it all was going to go with a little toddler this year!

Here is a look at our tree when Zachary first saw it. While he napped, we put it on the stand, got the lights on, and decorated it with bows.

Checking out the tree...quite mesmorized!

Getting ready to hang his first ornament on the tree-with Mommy's help!!

Not the finished product...but close!

We didn't put near as many ornaments on our tree this year. And we kept the bottom third of the tree all soft ornaments-for Zachary's sake AND the cats! Zachary got to help decorate the tree, too! I unwrapped the ornaments, he took them to Daddy, and Daddy hung them up-it was so much fun having him help us this year!! I know lots of special memories are being made this Christmas!

We Are Thankful

Kyle had to work on Thanksgiving this year, so since we couldn't travel to be with the family on Turkey Day, I decided last minute to prepare my first Thanksgiving feast for just the 3 of us.

I made a quick, last minute trip to Bi-Lo and found a huge turkey on sale for just over five dollars. I had no clue how to cook a turkey, but thought for 5 dollars, we could give it a shot! Along with the turkey, we fixed dressing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and apple pie from scratch. Kyle actually ended up fixing the turkey, and even though it was still partly frozen when we put it in the oven, it turned out pretty good for two first-time turkey cookers! We all really enjoyed our small little Thanksgiving together!

Thanksgiving leftovers?

This was the only picture I got...bummer...Zachary LOVED getting to eat his first Tukey dinner FIRST-hand and we were fortunate enough to drive up to Knoxville the next day to join the rest of Kyle's family for a second meal. Again, no pictures...bad Mommy!

Reflection Riding

When we were choosing where to have Zachary's one year pictures taken, this one of the top places on our list. Even though Kyle has lived here practically all his life, he'd never even heard of it. My boss told me about it and it's Beautiful! Especially in the fall. So we decided to go out and try some not-so-professional photography shots with Zachary. Out of about 150 pictures, here are a few of my favorites (mainly because these are the few you can actually see his face in...kind of...)

He had no idea we were trying to take pictures. He just thought this was a super big playground!

Little blond head!

Yes, he has his paci in every picture! Would NOT take it out that day! Probably a good thing, though. That week he had fallen two different times and gotten big boo-boos on his mouth. The paci actually kinda helped to cover them up!

All he needed was a little fishin' pole in his hand!

My two favorite boys. This picture is priceless to me.

If you'd like to check out more about Reflection Riding, or visit it sometime, go visit their website here: http://www.reflectionriding.org/

Halloween in December

So, yeah...I've got some catching up to do! Back in October, we were invited to the Annual Appleby Halloween Party. Because they are trying to sell their house, she held the party at one of Chattanooga's great parks. I had been to Vandergriff park on a field trip a few years ago, so I knew my little spider would love it!

He wore his costume the entire time at the park!

This was the only picture I could get of him looking. I yelled, "ELMO!" really fast, and he looked right as I snapped this picture. Being extremely active and Elmo are pretty much two of Zachary's favorite things these days! The Appleby's had yummy Halloween treats for the party, but my little spider was happier to be running around and climbing on all the equipment, rather than sit down to eat!

Our first stop trick-or-treating was MomMommy and Brampa's house! Last year, cousin Matthew was the spider and kindly let us borrow his costume this year. Why not?! They have no idea yet!

Having a meltdown because he had to be still for a picture!

After the boys got special treat bags from MomMommy, Aunt Jamie and I (both Daddies had to work) took the boys to the mall to go eat some supper. Then we visited Memaw and Papa's house for some more trick-or-treating fun. When we got there, the boys just thought we were there to play. I don't have any pictures from there because my battery died, but Zachary just climbed on their rocking horse is his cotume! Once we left there, we were heading home to go trick-or-treat around the neighborhood, but my little spider man fell asleep on the way home! So, that was the end of our trick-or-treating experience this year! Oh, and let's just say Zachary LOVES M&M's!