Thanksgiving 2011

{Still playing catch up.  Hang with me, folks.}  Shortly after Huck was born, we packed up again and headed down to Pensacola for Thanksgiving.  We were so thrilled that Daniel, Joy, and baby Danilo were able to come up this year to join in the family gathering.  We had a good time playing Bocce ball, football, and of course eating too much. 

 

 

 

 

Nana and Grumpa watched the kiddos one night so that Daniel, Joy, Philip, and I could go out to dinner.  We went to McGuire's pub, a first for Joy and me.  The ceilings are literally papered with millions of dollar bills.  The downside for them is that they have to be hand counted at tax time.

 

Four generations of family:

 


Ready for the Iron Bowl!

 

We were able to make a quick detour to Mobile on the way home in order for Philip to meet baby Huck.  Lots of cousin love that weekend!

 

Spongebob and Spiderman

Spongebob.  {shudder}  The rude rectangle of yellow sponge.  I loathe him.  Though Caroline has never seen his show, she loves him.  In fact, she goes around saying, "Mommy, I LOVE Spongebob," fairly often. 

Caroline and Spongebob first met when he emerged from the bottom of a cereal box at Mimi's house.  At that time, she called him the Yellow Square.  Then, a well-meaning cousin put a name to the character.  She knows I don't like him.  I tell her he's rude.  I think it makes her like him more.  

Today, at the doctor's office, an entire bucket of stickers was placed in front of her.  She could have chosen Tinkerbell, Tiana, or a plethora of other typical little girl stickers.  She went for the pink starfish from Spongebob (I don't even know his name).  I have no idea how she knows him, but she said, "A Spongebob guy, Mommy!" And I felt judged by all the mommies when I let her display him proudly on her chest.  

Oh, well.  He goes well with her Spiderman umbrella.  At least she throws fairy wings and a crown in the mix, too.  What can I say?  She's well rounded.  

"I want a pink brother!"

With two new nephews entering our families through birth in 2011, we took the opportunity to explain to Caroline that her new brother or sister would be coming in a very different way.

We talked about going on a plane to get him or her.  She was ecstatic about that part!

We talked about the fact that her new brother or sister wouldn't be an itty bitty baby like Danilo and Huck.  {Our age range in Colombia is 0-35 months.}  We explained to her that, in fact, he or she may be one or two years old already.  She accepted that easily enough as well.

We then went on to explain that her new brother or sister will look different than her as well.  We have several friends who have adopted trans-racially, so this is not a new concept to her.  In fact, it didn't phase her at all.  She had that cogs-turning-in-her-brain kind of look, and then exclaimed, "I want a pink brother!"

I'm Your Huckleberry

{I'm still catching up with the fall/winter happenings for the Ryle family. Who knows; maybe one day I will actually be blogging about current events!}

 

Our next big event last fall was the birth of our nephew, Huck.  He was born November 17, and I am so glad that Caroline, my parents, and I were able to be in Mobile when he came! He is a precious, sweet little thing with a dimple (see pic above) just like his daddy, my brother Matt.  Matt and Amanda better watch out.  In my experience, kids this cute have to be a handful.  :)

We also got to briefly see our Kentucky cousins, which was a fun bonus.  All the kiddos loved their new cousin Huck.

 Caroline and Anna

Laura Beth and Huck

Joshua and Huck

 

Caroline wanted to hog him the whole time 

Mimi's turn

Dressed in his gameday gear

Proud Papa

We managed to squeeze in a visit with Elizabeth, Ava, and Ellis as well.  There is always time for a dance party!!

 

 

 

Catching Up (Fall 2011 Edition)

First day of three year old preschool 

Caroline is attending the same preschool again this year, but only two days a week.  She is also taking dance (ballet/tap) now. At school, they actually take a kids Zumba class once a week.  I would love to be a fly on the wall during that time.

Pumpkin patch and a train ride

Fall is my favorite time of the year.  I love the colors (they actually go really well with the colors in my house) as well as all the flavors (pumpkin...yum!).  One tradition I love is the pumpkin patch.  We tried a new one this year at the Calera Railroad Museum (which is really a glorified railroad graveyard).  Caroline enjoyed riding the train to the patch and picking out a pumpkin.  It was an unseasonably warm day.  

Trick or Treat

 

Caroline dressed up as Jessie for Halloween, complete with removal of the hat and a "Thank you, ma'am" when she received candy.  They had a parade at school and a party afterward.  She had a blast!

Homeschooling

We continued homeschool activities at her pace, including a really cute Toy Story preschool pack from 1+1+1=1.  She does really well with the tracing activities (especially when she holds her tongue just right).

Disney on Ice

Our awesome friend Sharron gets us great prices on tickets to shows like Disney on Ice, so we went to see it with some friends.  Caroline LOVED the Peter Pan segment, and it instigated an obsession with captain Hook and Mr. Smee.