How to make a Birthday Cake for Jesus!

Step #1 Have your 2 year old pick the shape & colors for the cake
Noah picked Green & Red & a circle (I promise I did not encourage this)
Step #2 Pick cake flavor - Daddy picked Strawberry
Step #3 mix cake ingredients adding lots of (very unhealthy red food coloring) & Bake
Step #4 invite a buddy who likes to lick the spatula over and make frosting, again adding (very unhealthy) green food coloring. Mix and of course lick your spatula
Step #5 Relinquish the rest of the steps to Mommy for decorating

Christmakuh

Yes that's us lighting our Menorah with our Christmas Tree in the background!
I know Jesus is smiling as we celebrate Holidays that He did as we anticipate the celebration of His birth!!!

The "Pink Pig"

Riding the Pink Pig is a big Christmas Tradition here in Georgia. For the Harper's yesterday was #2 of the "tradition". This year Noah and I went with our great friends Mrs Pinson, Tyler and Gram (Ty's Grandmother). Noah was struggled to be patient as we waited in line to 1st buy our tix and than in line again to ride. But it was well worth it.. Once we were the Pink Pig (for those that don't know its train ride set up in an outdoor tent outside of Lenox Mall) It is a Pinkish Winter Wonderland. Tyler and Noah riding the train and than getting to take a picture with Priscilla the Pink Pig. Notice Noah only joined in the picture once Tyler was already there. Thanks Ty for supporting Noah. He is not a fan of "things" in big costumes. Noah got to have a special lunch date with Tyler and his family. Thanks for sharing a great holiday morning with us.

More Thanksgiving Adventure Pictures...

Lunch with Terri, Dancing to Aunt Elana's IPOD, the many faces of Noah reacting to the Parade as it goes by...

Thanksgiving Adventure

Okay. I thought I better write out Thanksgiving Adventure before Christmas!
This year I was determined to DRIVE to 1st Massachusetts and than New York and most of all take Noah to the Thanksgiving Day parade. Praise God the LONG road trip was uneventful. But this adopted Southern was not used to how cold it is up North. I can't believe I spent 4 years of college in Western Massachusetts (loved it) but don't remember HATING the cold! Aside from that we enjoyed our time so dearly with our family. Our amazing hosts Kate and Joanie and Noah's favorite playmate his cousin Liam. What a blessing watching them do EVERYTHING together, playtime, mealtime, bath time, cuddle time. One of the most precious moments was the boys catching snowflakes on their tongues, Noah looks to Liam (his big cousin) holding his hand and says "Your my best friend".

During our time in MA we got to visit with my special friend Terri that I hadn't seem since my wedding 6 years ago. It took Noah awhile but soon they were fast friends and Terri was just a natural with Noah. He still talks about meeting Mommy's friend Ms Terri.

Noah and I spent a morning at the Yankee Candle Factory! It is a winter wonderland with everything from Snow, toys, Santa, Cafes, housewares and of course candles in EVERY scent imaginable. Noah's favorite there were the countless Choo Choo trains either around the countless Christmas Tree's or high above his head.

We all packed up and drove to NY to stay at Aunt Elana's. It was truly a slumber party with 8 of us sleeping at her apartment. We spent special time with Grammy, Aunt Joanie and Kate, Liam, Aunt Elana & Aunt Jodi and a visit from cousins Beverly, Jerry and Debbie.

The big day arrived as each family member backed out (I think the cold and early start time would scare anyone off), Noah, Phillip and I layered up took Noah's 1st NY Subway ride to Broadway and 41st street and claimed our spot at The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Hours later the parade started. Phillips shoulders & back aching from holding Noah and my toes frozen didn't matter. The look on Noah's face as each Balloon, Band and float passed is all that mattered. Aunt Elana met up with us and we venture to Toy R us in Time Square. 4 levels, glass elevator and of course and Ferris Wheel inside why would you expect anything less. We braved the cold and walked to Bryant Park to see the Christmas Decorations and watch the ice skaters.
Ready for Thanksgiving Dinner and a warm house Noah got to take the Long Island Rail Road complete with meeting the "conductor" or guy you clicks the tix to Aunt Linda & Uncle Bob's where the house was full of our immediate and extended family and most important Noah's Great Grandpa Sol. How amazing that he gets to spend time with his "POP POP POP". Noah's favorite on his T-Day dinner plate was crackers. Interesting choice but not strange for our on and off eater. You never know!

The following Saturday we made the long but thankfully uneventful drive back to our home. Grateful for a safe trip but more grateful for the time we spent with our family and for the opportunity to take Noah to the parade.

"Photo Shoot"

We are blessed with special friends. The Sutton's, Jim & Kristi are such an example of God's love through their servant & prayerful hearts and selflessness. Kristi spent several hours with us right before our big trip for Thanksgiving. Here are just a few of the amazing pictures she took of our precious son! Thank you Jim & Kristi YOU are precious friends (and always welcome to "move back in")

Hands on Christmas!

Today the family went to an event that I love, "Hands on Christmas" and Smyrna First United Methodist Church. Since I myself am craft challenged it works out great for me they have all the supplies and ideas and you just show up and craft. Everything is geared for kids and Noah did great this year. Last year it was more like Mommy made everything with a little help from Noah this year Noah did most everything on his on with a little coaching from Phillip and I. He made picture frames, and mini plate of cookies and milk for Santa, napkins rings, a snow globe, a beaded cross and of course a gingerbread house. Check out how focused Noah is beading his napkin rings (he thinks they are bracelets) He patiently put about 30 beads on each pipe cleaner all by himself. Phillip and I just watched him! I don't have the patience to do that, where does a 2 year old get that from.
After nap today he talked to his Aunt Elana on the phone and he is getting so excited about the Macy's Day Parade. He talked to her about riding the subway, and how there will be huge balloons (he has no idea how huge)and how Santa will be arriving that day! I know I have written it before but I can't wait to see his face.

Cabbage Town "Chomp & Stomp"

Phillip found this festival last weekend. I think Noah had the most fun out of the family. Chomp & Stomp is Chomp (Chili Cook-0ff) and Stomp is (blue grass music). Your ticket is a spoon and you walk around to literally hundreds of tents to taste the chili. Of course after 10 or so they all taste the same and you are ready for some pepto. The music as always is Noah's favorite part - he dances and dances and runs in circles never seeming to tire. Of course the festival included a playground including a rope swing. (I AM ABOUT TO BRAG) The AJC Access Atlanta asked to shoot Noah for their article on the event saying "he is so cute he will definite be on Access Atlanta's site" and he was. Go to my facebook page and there is the link or you can search accessatlanta.com. Of course the AJC photographer's pictures or picture I should say is amazing. One shot and she gets an awesome picture meanwhile I take about 30 to get one good one! So here are some of mine. Yes he is swinging on a rope swing like all the big kids did! If any of his grandparents were there they wouldn't have been able to look!

"F" Family Portraits

The boys at school on "F" Day!

Getting excited!

We leave early next week and Noah and I are driving with my Mom to MASS and than will meet Daddy in NY. The Big event is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Noah talks about it like he knows what it is and what to expect. He says "there will be dancers, bands, singers and balloons bigger than trees". I can not wait to see his face when he realized what kind of balloons these are. He also goes over and over the list of everyone we will see. Aunt Elana, Aunt Joanie & Kate, Cousin Liam, Uncle Bob, Aunt Linda, PopopPop (his great grandfather) and on and on. He keeps saying "all those people..all those people and he names each one assuming they are all going to the parade too and think it is the greatest thing since the "Big Boat". (the cruise we took last February during his B-day, which he remembers in great detail) We have spent the last few days hanging out at home, going to the library and watching Thomas Videos (he loves them, me not too much). This week "school" was at our house and it was about the letter "F". Our theme was "friends and family". I will post pictures later, but the boys did a great job painting family portraits and praying for friends & family. And of course on "F" day we had plenty of "fun freeplay"! The best had to be eating "F"ruit Bars for snack and watching them to not make a huge mess. Of course Noah picked Wild Berry flavor so you can just imagine the shades of reds, blues and purples that covered his face. Pics to come!

Surfer Dude!

Maybe it's my STRONG desire to move to HHI SC that I have "brainwashed" Noah so well that all he asked to be a life guard or a surfer dude this Halloween. He got his request. He went from party to party with his surf board and exchanged shells that he found on the beach this summer for candy and Halloween treats! He had a blast we started the day at Casper's Castle in the morning where he, Tyler and Logan played games, jumped in the bouncy castle (that collapsed on them) no injuries just some nervous moms. After nap Noah got dressed in his costume and enjoyed some pizza and games at our neighborhood party and then off to Trunk or Treat at Cumberland Community Church. What fun! Of course Noah's favorite activity is dancing so the live band was all the craze for him. With all the treats and stimulation tonight's dancing was more like running in a million circles. We headed back to our neighborhood for a "bonfire" and smores at Ms Kellie's. Noah was crashing by then so Mommy got to chat with the adults for awhile and Daddy put Noah down for bed. After a packed day of parties, junk food and candy, Noah was so well behaved and still talks about his costume and his buddies costumes and how Ty was a baseball player and Logan was an Auburn Football player and Westray was a train conductor. I am amazed with all the details he remembers!

Recent Memorable Moments

Noah must answer us with "Yes Mommy or Yes Daddy" he is not allowed to say "huh, what, or ok", when we give a direction or call his name. Yesterday Noah asked me a question I answered ok. He said "you mean yes Noah".

When Noah acts like he is in charge I say "who is in charge" He responds "Jesus" or "I say how old are you", he says "2 1/2" I say how old is Mommy he says "36". I reply "36 trumps 2 1/2" He has no idea what I am mean by that but hearing him say I am 36 just cracks me up for some reason.

I am amazed that everyday he learns so much and can talk and talk and talk. He comes up with questions out of no where.

This morning he woke up talking to himself asking (we can hear him on the monitor) "Daddy what do turtles eat" over and over. Was he dreaming about turtles? I wonder!

We will see what he comes up with tom'w

I am still here!

It has been almost a week without internet access at home! So please bare with me we have a ton of pictures from Halloween. But we are up and running and so far so good! I think Noah managed 4 parties on Halloween or more like 3 1/2. Stay tuned for the pictures of what he was this year and guesses still welcome if you didn't see us!

Just some Halloween fun!!!

Okay
1st Halloween - the cutest Elephant
2nd Halloween - the hippest hippie
Can you guess what Noah will be this year! Stay tuned for this year pics but please enjoy the ones from the past 2 years! Guesses welcome (but not from the few that already know)

Where did my baby go??

This weekend Noah and I were getting ready to spend a fun day at a fall festival and than a Birthday Party. I was watching him dress himself and just teared up. How is it possible that he is a big boy in jeans and sneakers (that he can put on by himself). If you know me well you know I am grieving the smocked jon jons era. Not only did he get himself ready but he understood the plans for the entire day and kept saying "mom there will be bouncing castles, dancers and crafts right?" How does he know all this. Than he's asking me can he get a special treat like ice cream or chocolate. A year ago he was talking but these full out big kid conversations are so bitter sweet. He laughs when I say things like "you are still Mommy's baby" he'll say "no I am a big boy"

This morning he truly helped me clean the house. He put away all of his clothes and shoes in the correct place,organized all of his books and toys and helped me fold and sort laundry. And while I needed time to do other things around the house he was content playing with playdoh - and no lie as I was all over the house cleaning I could hear him talking to his playdoh and playdoh tools singing clear as a bell "If your Happy and you know it"!

He truly is Happy, while Mommy is grieving that he is no longer a baby but a BIG BOY!

All you new moms (Jen, Summer etc, when they tell you it goes by fast & you don't believe it which I didn't - believe it)

As he sleeps...

Phillip shot this picture the other afternoon. He arrived home from work and Noah and I were both sound asleep!