Cute kids

Madeline has a mind of her own and wanted out of her seat before she had even started her waffle yesterday. So I just figured she wasn't hungry. I got her out and put her on the floor. She let me know that she was indeed hungry and wanted her waffle. She just wanted to be mobile with it. It is so funny to see her personality coming through!

Her scrunch face. She does this b/c she knows you will laugh and then she laughs- very cute!
Clay took this of Jack the other day and I just think he looks so BIG! My baby is a boy!

Jack's Stage Debut

Jack had his Christmas program at school last week. It was hilarious! He was very excited to be on stage singing "Jingle Bells." He was also excited to see us in the audience and couldn't stop waving!

And yes, in true boy form, he picked his nose on stage and...
ATE IT!

He also pushed his pants up to his knees which was a good look. All we could do was laugh! It was a lot of fun and we look forward to many more Christmas programs to come!

We took the kids to see Santa but only Madeline would get on his lap. By the look on her face, you can tell she wasn't so sure. Jack just stood next to me and talked to Santa from afar.

Snow Day

My sister- with a newborn and a 3yr old- informed I am a blog slacker and she is right. So I am trying to catch up. Two weeks ago we went to Knoxville to meet my cutie patootie new nephew Cael and for a baby shower for my friend Clarice. We woke up Saturday morning and were pleasantly surprised with a few inches of snow on the ground. We were not prepared but Jack really wanted to play in it. So Mimi aka Grandmother of the Year, headed straight to Target at 8am and got Jack all the gear a boy could need for the snow! Hats, gloves, boots- he put it all on and off he and Mom and Dad went to have a snowball fight. He had a blast!

Goose got Jack good!
"Umm, hello?? In here! I am in here! I want to play in the snow too!"

While I was at the shower Mom and Dad took Maeve, Jack and Madeline to see Santa and real live reindeer. Jack and Maeve wouldn't sit on Santa's lap but opted for the backseat of the sleigh. Madeline isn't too sure what to think.

Hamming it up for the camera in the matching pjs Mimi bought.

Me and my sweet girl

Cutie Cael

The blocks I made for his nursery

Shower for Clarice

My good friend Clarice is going to be a mom in less than TWO weeks! A bunch of our high school friends got together in Knoxville to give her a shower and celebrate Sloane's upcoming arrival. It was lots of fun and we can't wait to Sloane to get here!

Robin Meyer Houpe, me, Clarice Berry Cawood, Laura Slyman Piers, Betsy Kohl Couch, Whitney Miller, Rena Grantham, Ashley Wilson Vonderahe
I made these blocks for Sloane's nursery.

10 months

10 months today! These photo shoots are getting harder as Madgirl is not one to sit still anymore! She loves to move and is usually following Jack wherever he goes. She loves to play "chase" now. He crawls after her and says "I'm gonna get you" and she crawls fast and just giggles the whole way. It is super cute! She eats almost everything now and usually the last one still eating at any meal. Her thighs don't lie! She has started saying momma mostly b/c she hears Jack say it ALL DAY LONG. Madeline is still not a fan of the bottle. I try to give her at least one a day but usually end up pouring it out, which is quite frustrating. She sleeps 6:30am-6:30am, waking at 4am to eat. I know she doesn't need this but I don't have the heart to let her cry it out yet. I am almost there.

Madeline is such a happy baby and very mischevious already. I love seeing her personality come through. She is going to give her big brother a run for his money pretty soon!

FIVE YEARS!

Clay and I celebrated our five year wedding anniversary on Thursday. This blog has documented the last three years of our marriage (and growing family) quite well. I thought I would recount some of our courtship. There are parts we definitely don't need to relive but here are some good highlights!

First official date: Fernbank Museum Black Tie Fundraiser

June 2003

It was a Roarin 20s/Swing theme. Clay says I asked him. I had the tickets through work. He offered to be my date. I think that means he asked me. Anyway, it was a fabulous night! I learned that Clay was a great dancer and since that was at the top of my list in husband qualities we were off to a good start! The jacket was his grandfather's!

My sister's wedding- November 2003
Our relationship was still "undefined" at this point but I knew he had to come with me. He agreed and the weekend was a blast! Clay fit right in with my family and I loved having him by my side!

New Year's 2004

Country Club in Franklin- It was a great start to what would be a great year for us!

These might be my favorite of Clay's pants!

Valentine's Day 2004

Clay planned a trip for us to Savannah

80s Prom party- Never a dull moment with Clay!

March 2004

Clay asked me if I wanted to hike the Grand Canyon- hike down, camp overnight and then hike back out. "Sure, I would love to!" It was the biggest lie I have ever told him. I hate to camp and I don't really like to hike. But I was out to impress and since we were in the middle of marathon training I knew I could do it. The GC gets an average of FOUR days of rain a year. Guess who was there for TWO of them? It was pretty miserable but I survived. A good test for our relationship!

And then we celebrated by driving to Vegas! Hot showers and warm beds- we couldn't drive there fast enough!

April 2004- Nashville

The second biggest lie I ever told Clay was that I liked to run. He wanted to do the Country Music Marathon. I signed up for the Half Marathon. It turned out to be quite addicting as I have since run three. It was also great to train together!

After the race, we got to meet Brad Paisley!

July 2004

Clay kidnapped me on a Monday morning and drove me to Charleston (my favorite city ever). He proposed on the Battery. It was perfect!

I came back to Atlanta late that night to find my room decorated by my roomie, Emily!

We enjoyed being engaged for about three days before the planning began! We decided to get married in Costa Rica- just the two of us- but come back and have a big party in Knoxville with all of our friends and family...

Costa with the Mosta

November 26, 2004

We hopped a plane the day after Thanksgiving to Costa Rica. It was just the two of us and we had a day out of the storybooks. Clay planned everything (he speaks Spanish) from the hotel, to the flowers, to my hair appt. We arrived just before lunchtime and had a delicious lunch of fish tacos out on the veranda at the hotel. We parted ways after that and I got my hair and make-up done which was the only glitch of the whole week. The ladies did not speak English and I do not speak Spanish so needless to say I did not come out looking like I wanted. Oh well- I was getting married to the love of my life!

We took lots of pictures at the hotel and then headed off to get married! A beautiful night!

We spent the rest of the week at the beach in Quepos at two different resorts- Macanda and La Mariposa. One was small and intimate and the other busy with lots of people- a great mix. It was the perfect week. Clay did an amazing job planning it all!

Knoxville

We came home to the States and headed straight for Knoxville where we had a wonderful weekend of celebrations! A rehearsal dinner (which we called a Roast and Toast since there was nothing to rehearse) with lots of fun stories told and memories made! Highlights were the grits bar (a hit amongst our Northern relatives) and the Rice Krispie Treat cake (Clay's favorite).

The next day we split up and the guys went to a sports bar for a friendly pool tournament complete with brackets and the ladies had a lovely luncheon at the Donaldsons.

That night we had a reception complete with dinner and dancing at Gettysvue. I got my hair and makeup done by people who spoke English and it turned out much better! It was a wonderful evening celebrating with friends and family! We were relaxed, tan and had nowhere to be but present with our favorite people!

Some of my favorite pics:

I got to wear my grandmother Madeline's earrings- very special!

Clay and his brothers- this is very typical Councill

The Connor Family

Crazy that we have added four kids and Julia (almost) to our family since then!

It has been an amazing, adventure-filled five years and I cannot wait for many, many more!

I love you Clay!