Night Parade and Dr. Campbell

Linden Christmas Parade

This is as close to Santa as Jon Daniel would get and would not allow Santa to touch him!!



Waiting on the parade to start.

UA Graduation

Jon Daniel waiting on the ceremony to begin, he was such a trooper!

Roger in line to get his Doctorate!!

After the ceremony, wouldn't you know we get a good picture of Jon Daniel and Drew has his eyes shut!! But as he says "At least I don't look that fat!!"

Busy Days

I promised there would be pictures with this post, but once again the camera is in the car and it is frigid outside (I see a pattern developing here). We have been so busy at our house the past few days, I guess it is just another sign of the holidays. On Friday night, Drew and I took Jon Daniel to the Christmas parade in Linden. We saw a few of my students, many of who were surprised to see me outside of school and got to watch a beautiful parade of lights. Jon Daniel really enjoyed seeing the "ight" and the funnel cake we all shared. This morning we were out and about early to go to Tuscaloosa. We went to see my uncle graduate with his Doctorate in Chemistry from the University of Alabama (ROLL TIDE!!). Over 1700 people graduated in the short ceremony (not all with a Doctorate of Chemistry!)! Jon Daniel did very well during the ceremony, amazingly well actually. We are so proud of "Ogur" (Jon Daniel tried to mock me when I said Roger and that is how it came out!) and his family! We love them all! Now we are trying our best to have nothing to do tomorrow but go to church, we are all too pooped to go right now!! Sorry again for 2 posts without pictures, maybe tomorrow I can get the photos from our weekend uploaded and on here! Lots of love to you all!!

Justa Buncha Words

I know most of you will be most disappointed that there are no photos with this post, but the camera is in my car, I am already in my pjs, it is so blame cold outside, so here's 'justa buncha words'! That phrase by the way comes from a very sweet little boy in my classroom that saw me reading a 'big kid' book the other day and asked me why I wanted to read a book with justa buncha words, when he asked I just laughed and told him that they didn't make 'big kid' books with pictures. That story aside, this post is to update everybody on all the new things Jon Daniel has decided to start doing in just a few short days. Here goes:

• Shaking his head like a mad man, for no apparent reason.
• Telling us "NO!" when we ask for a kiss or hug. Our hearts are broken over this one!
• Repeating almost everything we say in some form. Cute, but now we have started speaking in code so he doesn't repeat something he shouldn't!
• Pretending! He just started doing this tonight and hopefully when I can bribe Drew enough, he will go to the car for the camera and I can get a video of it before it isn't cute anymore. Jon Daniel likes for you to say "Good Night" and then pretend to be asleep and then wake him up. When he 'wakes up' he pops up and say "Goo Moning!".
• Jon Daniel has also discovered that it drives me nuts for him to touch the Christmas tree, ornaments, or presents. However, to make Pop real proud, he does it anyway!

Congrats!! You are now completely up to date on the goings on with Jon Daniel! Enjoy the remainder of the week and as Drew and I were once told by a VERY wise friend -- "If you can't be good, be good at it!!" (P.S. Next time there will be photos - seems like a sin to blog without them!)

Happy Turkey Day!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! This was Jon Daniel's second Thanksgiving but his first to get to eat the 'good stuff'! He enjoyed everything he was given and truly stuffed when he was done. We have so many things to be thankful for and hopefully we will teach Jon Daniel to be thankful each day instead of just once a year!!

Jon Daniel enjoyed all of the attention he recieved! He really liked climbing on cousin Allen's back and playing with him! He even told him "Hey!" when he got on, just in case he didn't realize he was there!!

First Visit with Santa

After we left the zoo, we decided that we should go by the Bass Pro Shop in Prattville to get a jump start on some Christmas shopping. While we were there we had dinner at Idolamorada Fish House (one of my favorites) and saw Santa! Jon Daniel discovered that he LOVES broccoli and HATES Santa!!

Zoo Fun

We took a little trip Sunday to the Montgomery Zoo. The Elephants were Jon Daniel's favorite. The baby elephant shown in the photo below was celebrating her first birthday while we were there!

Waiting for the train ride to begin!

After visting all the animals at the zoo and riding the train, we decided to see what the gift shop had that we might need. Above is what we came out with along with a small stuffed elephant and giraffe. Jon Daniel has gotten where he doesn't like to wear anything on his head, but decided very quickly that he loved this visor! He was too cute in it for us not to get it!!

Fairhaven Fall Festival

Our church had a Fall Festival on Saturday night. Jon Daniel had so much fun with his friend Trent in the bouncy house and loved picking up the 'duck ducks'!

Such a cute scene, perfect for a fall photo!

Daddy had to encourage Jon Daniel to pick up only one duck!

Fun in the bouncy house!

Jon Daniel and Trent!

Happy Halloween!!

We started our Halloween afternoon with a party at the Demopolis Public Library. We had so much fun listening to stories and parading through downtown!

The first house that we 'Trick or Treated' at was Mr. Joey and Mrs. Laura Morgan. Jon Daniel wasn't quite sure what to thing of the whole thing, but enjoyed his goodie bag and cheese puffs. I think that it was his favorite house to 'Trick or Treat'!! We only visited 2 houses and then decided to call it quits since our little fella was less than impressed with getting in and out of the car. We decided that we should just enjoy the rest of the night at home, which turned out to be the best idea of the day!

" Seriously, we gotta give my gummies away???"

Our favorite 'Trick or Treater' of the night!!

Coming home for the evening was indeed the best idea! Since Jon Daniel is so young, he really doesn't know about all the goodies he missed out on tonight!! Luckily, he loved the giving out of our treats. He was a hoot to watch! Drew was able to catch this video of him giving a cute little fairy her treats!

Sidewalk Chalk Fun!

Jon Daniel's First Parade

Drew and I took Jon Daniel back to our college alma mater (UWA) for Homecoming on Saturday. We made it in time for the parade, but decided not to hang around for the game because Jon Daniel was starting to get a little hoarse. He enjoyed the parade and a nice visit with Aunt Whitney and Sam!

Westside Fall Festival

We were so excited to take Jon Daniel to the Fall Festival at Westside Elementary School and even more delighted that he enjoyed the festivities!

Boys and their toys...

... will drive a Mommy and Daddy crazy!! We've always thought parents who gave their children everything they wanted were crazy, until we became 'those' parents today!! After a wonderful morning at Lazy Acres Pumpkin Patch, we decided it would be a good idea to stop at Geoffery's to see what Jon Daniel could ask Santa for and that's when things went wrong, very wrong! They (Geoffrey's) had a sale on Little Tikes toys, you bought one at $24.99 or more and got one at $24.99 or less for free! Drew and I decided that this sale opportunity would be a good time for 'Santa' to get a head start. We had been talking about getting Jon Daniel a Cozy Coupe car for some time, but decided that it would be best if we waited until the Easter Bunny visited. After some debate we agreed that we should go ahead and get it and then get the tool bench that we wanted for Jon Daniel. After some searching throughout the store, the manager found 1 Cozy Coupe car, however it was assembled, but we decided to take it anyway. Here's where the story goes wrong - we decided to let Jon Daniel try it out to make sure he liked it, and he did. He liked it so much that after Drew had pushed it throughout the store and to the car, he didn't want to get out! Drew opened the door and tried to show him how to get out and JDM snatched the door and slammed it. After we decided that he couldn't be pushed all the way home, I just took him out so that we could go on our way and he pitched a fit like he'd been beaten. I thought that my parents would get the biggest kick out of the whole thing so I called my Mom who told me "he'll forget about it by the time you get home!' Well, he didn't! We got out of the car and he went to crying and hollering "CA, CA!" and pointing at the trunk! So guess who got a Cozy Coupe today??? JON DANIEL!!

LOOK!! I can honk the horn with my head!!

Giving his new car love! This was the funniest thing I had seen all day!

And one more for good measure -- drinking from a straw, a new favorite thing!

Celebrating Fall

The three of us took a little road trip to Chunky, Mississippi today to visit Lazy Acres Pumpkin Patch! We had a blast visiting the petting zoo, watching the pig races, riding on a hay ride, and picking out a pumpkin. The weather was perfect and even a little cool - just like fall is supposed to be!

Jon Daniel is learning so much and is starting to share all his knowledge with us. He has been saying "EIEIO" for a few days now and we think it is the cutest thing. Well, today at the petting zoo we got to see the cutest little calf and as Drew was telling him that it was a baby cow, he looked at us and said "EIEIO"! During the hay rides we took, he made his noise that only he can make to let us know there was a truck pulling us (it was actually a tractor, but whatever). I know every kid does this kind of stuff, but Drew and I are amazed at how fast he picks up on stuff and how he is starting to remember to much (more on this later)!

Anyway, enough of all this text, I know y'all only visit our blog to see the photos! Here ya go:

SO MANY CHOICES!!

"I THINK I'LL TAKE THIS ONE!"

OR MAYBE JUST SIT ON IT AND THINK FOR A MINUTE!

One Busy Week

We have had a very busy week at our house! Here is just a little of what has happened:

Jon Daniel's hair started to grow!

And Daddy started showing him how to wash it!

We watched Jackson play soccer one night!

We also hosted an Initial Outfitters Party at our house and had lots of company for it! Jon Daniel really enjoyed everyone coming by, he thinks you all were there to see him!

Since I got out of school early on Friday, Jon Daniel and I went to visit my favorite gift shop, Camden Jewelry and Gifts, with Nonna. Later we got to have dinner with Nonna and Pop and Daddy even came all the way to Thomasville to eat with us! We discovered that Jon Daniel LOVES broccoli and still think we may be raising a vegan!! We've had a wonderfully busy week!

What does the dog say??

OH MY!!! Everybody needs to celebrate - I finally got a video to upload!!! Thank ya, Jesus!! Anyway, we thought that Jon Daniel was too dang cute barking that we had to share it!! I'm also putting up a photo of him in his Halloween costume (our inspiration for teaching him to bark)! Isn't he the cutest Dalmation you ever saw?!

Fabulous Fall Saturday!

We had a wonderful fall day today. We spent most of the day working in the yard and tackled the flower bed in front of the living room windows. We planted 2 azaleas and bunches of pansies. To top it all off we put a layer of pine mulch down. For 2 ameatur gardeners with no sign of green thumbs, I think we did pretty good! I even managed to get the pumpkins painted. Which had been a project I had been hoping to get done all week. I recommend everyone painting a pumpkin once in their lifetime, it was most relaxing! Jon Daniel enjoyed playing outside (until he fell off the steps! -- he is fine, don't email or call about this!) and wasn't happy when it was time to come inside for lunch and a much needed nap! Here are a few photos of our projects!