The rest of 2011

Joshua and Daddy in The Muppets

We had one last "first" to finish off 2011, we took Joshua to see his first movie at a movie theater. We went to go see the new "The Muppets" movie. We did popcorn, a drink, the movie. It was great! He really liked all the previews - which is good considering there was 35min of them. He sat in Daddy's lap the whole time because his view was partially obscured by the headrest in front of him. He loved the movie. As soon as it was over he said "I want to do that again!" So glad mommy and daddy had some special time with Joshua.

Noah stayed home with Grandma & Grandpa, and his Aunts. He had a great time too. Speaking of Noah, he has a new favorite word that he's used over and over on this trip. His new favorite word is "No." Although when he says it, it sounds more like nyo. He doesn't always use it correctly, he just likes to say it. He'll say no to everything except if you ask him "Can you say yes?" He'll answer "Yesh!" then he's back to his standard "No."

Joshua loves playing Wii Resort

We drove home on the 30th to relax a few days before heading back to work. It was a wonderful Christmas break. We feel so blessed to be surrounded by so much love and family. Joshua and Noah are growing up to be such fine boys. We couldn't possibly be prouder. We wish everyone a Happy New Year as we are looking forward to 2012.
Much love and Many blessings!
The Chatham Family

Christmas 2011 - Part 3

Noah, Granddaddy, and Joshua

Joshua and Ridley

Sweet Noah

After we left Maw-Maw's house we drove to Granddaddy's house to wish him a Merry Christmas. The boys enjoyed opening presents and visiting with Hardy and Ridley (our dogs) who are spending the holidays at Granddaddy's house. Joshua sang Christmas songs and Noah was running laps through the kitchen, hallway, and living room. We enjoyed yummy chili for dinner then we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Joshua, Titus, Noah, & Alice - The only pic where they are ALL looking at the camera.

Chathams and Smiths

The next day we drove up to Huntsville to spend a few days with Grandottie and Jerry Pop. The boys enjoyed playing with Grandottie and Jerry Pop. Also we all got to help out with a project by painting the dining room a lovely shade of cherry tart.  While we were in town and the Smith's were also in town visiting relatives we got together with them. All 4 of the kiddos had a great time. We enjoyed seeing our friends. We miss you guys!

Titus and Joshua

Alice and Noah

The boys with Grandottie and Jerry Pop

We drove back to Birmingham on Wednesday and Joshua got o go fishing with Daddy, Grandpa, Granddaddy and John Davis. Joshua was super excited to catch a fish. Grandaddy did the best catching 8 while Daddy was not too shabby, catching 5. We hope Grandpa and John (caught 0) do better next time.  :)

Proud fisherman

Fishing buddies - Joshua and Grandpa

Joshua, "the fish", and Granddaddy

Christmas 2011 - Part 2

Merry Christmas from the Chathams!

The boys with Grandma and Grandpa

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve was a lot of fun. First my mom cooked a big lunch that we all enjoyed. Then Joshua and I made cookies which we would later leave out for Santa. Next everyone got dressed and we went to mass with mommy's family. Afterwards we went to the Garrett's house as we've done every year since mommy was little to celebrate, track Santa's sleigh (which is really sophisticated these days with a fancy app), eat, drink, and be merry. It actually wasn't hard to get either boy to sleep that night. Noah is always a good sleeper and Joshua was tired and while he talked about Santa, I'm not sure he totally understood he'd be getting presents. We did have to say good-bye to Zoopy (our Elf on a Shelf), at least until next year. I asked Joshua to remind Zoopy that he'd been a good boy this year and Joshua said "No Mommy, I've been an extra-good boy."

Joshua and Grandpa

Noah and Mommy

Extra good boy!

Santa put a new sippy cup in Noah's stocking and he kept testing to see if there was any juice.

The next morning Joshua slept in the latest. When he woke up I asked him "Do you think Santa came last night?" And he said no so I asked "Do you know what today is?" He looked at me still sleepy and answered "Sunday?" I prompted him further "And..." Joshua's face lit up and he said "It's Jesus' birthday!" "Yes that's right! And what else?" He looked at me "Um, we'll sing him Happy Birthday." It is so sweet that he paid attention and remembered it was Jesus' birthday. Then I asked him "Did you hear any sleigh bells or reindeer hooves last night?" He asked "Did you?" I told him I did and he said "Me too! Do you think Santa came?" And with that excited revelation we joined the rest of the family upstairs to eat some breakfast and then open presents.

Joshua to Noah "Look at my moon!"

The boys and Daddy

We opened so many presents from Santa and family. Everyone was so generous - if it weren't for the van and Daddy's car, I'm not sure everything would make it home. I think Noah's favorite thing was an empty box which he thoroughly enjoyed climbing in and out of. I'll have to tell UPS "Way to go! You really outdid yourself this year..." Thanks so much Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunts Celeste and Elaine! We missed seeing Aunt Stoppie and Uncle Chad as they were in Missouri, but we did see them later that week. After opening presents and cleaning up we got dressed and went to Maw-Maw's house in Oneonta for Christmas lunch. Maw-Maw made a delicious lunch. She was happy to have her great-grandchildren together. The boys got to play with their cousin Landon and Logan. I should mention that in probably every picture I took Joshua was wearing a Santa cap because he LOVES it.  I'm actually writing this post after Christmas and backdating it so it's in the correct order, but for days and days he wore that hat from sun up to sun down. Thanks to Aunts Celeste and Elaine for the hat. Oh and for as much as Joshua loves his hat, that's how much Noah hated wearing one, whether it was a Santa hat or reindeer antlers. Different brothers, different likes.

It's a box!

After leaving Maw-Maw's house we went to Grandaddy's house in Pleasant Grove. Pictures from that trip will make the next posting. More Christmas cheer to come!

Christmas 2011 - Part 1

Merry Christmas 2011

All the grandchildren with their stockings

Joshua, Noah and I drove up to Birmingham for Christmas on Wednesday the 21st, with Daddy driving up the following day. It was a good trip up and I have to say how much I enjoyed traveling in the van because even after loading our luggage and gifts in the van, there was still room! Friday we had Christmas with Daddy's family at the annual Nelson, Chatham, & Tilton shindig. The boys loved playing with their cousins and all the kiddos had a great time opening their stockings, which Grandottie made, and all of their presents. Grandottie gave Noah a Raggedy Andy doll, which she has made for all her grandchildren over the years. Joshua was an absolute pro at opening presents. Matt and I had a great time visiting with his brother and sister and their spouses. Joshua - who did not need a nap - fell asleep before we left the neighborhood. Noah who took a nap with JerryPop still fell asleep a few minutes later. Here are some pictures from the party. Thanks to Aunt Dana and Uncle Jesse for hosting! Merry Christmas!

Joshua and Noah opening presents while Jerry Pop looks on

Grandottie with all her grandchildren and the Raggedy Anne & Andy dolls she made them

Wow! This game really is for ages 3 and up.

And to all a good night...

Joshua is taller than the nutcracker

Doesn't that look just say it all: Hold Me!

Santa pictures!

We took the boys to get their picture made with Santa on Friday night and as you can see... it was a success! There were no tears and actual smiles. It started out a little shaky because Joshua fell asleep in the car about 10 minutes before we got there after having skipped his afternoon nap. Then he was greatly offended when I took his socks and shoes off. Luckily, the play area at Chick-Fil-A didn't allow shoes so that improved his mood.

On Saturday we took Joshua bowling for the first time. We all had a great time! He liked watching his ball crawl at a snail's pace to the pins. He only crossed the slippery line onto the lane once as did his mommy. Noah watched from a highchair and if he could talk I think he would have expressed his displeasure at not being able to bowl. Sorry buddy, you'll have to wait until you are older.

Joshua and Santa

Noah and a Reindeer

Afterwards we went to Christmas in Allentown. It's a house that decorates with over 300,000 lights. It's impressive to see! They invite you to walk in the yard and look at all the themes they have set up. They even had a Santa who was handing out toys. The boys had a great time and were happy to see Santa. I think we'll go every year!

Joshua and Noah admiring some lights

Gingerbread Man Cookies

We had a fun weekend. On Saturday we went to the Plant Crist Christmas Party. Santa was there and we had a family photo made with him - mostly because Joshua wanted nothing to do with him. I'll consider this our starter Santa, and perhaps he'll get braver in time. Noah was a great sport about it. He sat in Santa's lap and posed for pictures. Joshua's favorite part was jumping in the bouncers. I'm so glad he had fun! Other than being super paranoid about looking for items that contained nuts, we enjoyed our Saturday.

Joshua is such a negotiator. We had the following conversation about what he was going to wear.
Joshua: Can I wear my baseball shirt all day?
Mommy: You can wear it a little bit, then we have to change into our party clothes for the Christmas party.
Joshua: Oh, then can I wear my Charlie Brown Christmas shirt?
Mommy: Or you can wear your red Christmas tree shirt...
Joshua: I like that idea, but how's about I wear the Charlie Brown shirt instead.
And you can see from the pictures who won.  :)

Ta-da!

On Sunday we started a new tradition of baking and decorating gingerbread cookies. Joshua had a great time mixing the ingredients, then icing and decorating the cookies. His least favorite part was waiting on the cookies to bake and cool but luckily there were plenty other distractions. He thought it was funny we were using a baby bottle as a rolling pin. It was actually Daddy's idea and I thought it was innovative. Noah wanted to help so badly, but he kept putting things in his mouth so we'll wait til next year.

Mommy and her Lil Baker

Joshua's List and more

I've asked Joshua what he wants for Christmas and he has been very specific:
1. A laser, but not a calculator (This is for his Buzz Lightyear costume and apparently accuracy isn't important.)
2. A shrink-ray gun "you know, to pick up big things" (from Despicable Me)
3. And ALL the Buzz Lightyears

Santa better get crackin' if he's going to supply these items to a good little boy. It has been fun preparing for Christmas. Joshua is really getting into everything. We have an advent calendar that forms a nativity scene to count down to Christmas and Joshua is so excited to every morning to see what we are going to add to the scene. He likes to pull out 25, which is Baby Jesus and inform us that this is for Jesus' birthday.

We also got an Elf on the Shelf this year. Joshua named him Zoopy (sounds like Snoopy, but with a Z). We've read the book to him a couple times but I'm not sure that he's grasped all the concepts yet though he's surprised every morning to see what kind of mischief Zoopy's gotten into. And there was a 30 minute cartoon on tv that we recorded that told the story of an Elf on the Shelf and I think watching that has helped as well.

Joshua and Noah still enjoy moving the ornaments around the tree and the room in general. Matt hung lights on the house and when Joshua went outside to look at it, his mouth was open and he almost fell down because he was so excited. "I like it!" he told us. Another decoration he likes is at an establishment we pass on our way to and from school. It's called "Mugs-n-Jugs" and they have decorated with an inflatable Santa and Snowmen on their roof. On Friday we passed it and he said "Oh Mommy, it's so nice. Can we go there?" My response, "Um, no." Speaking of Fridays, it has become known as "Funday Friday" in our house because it motivates Joshua to get up and get dressed so we can go to Chick-Fil-A and get chicken minis for breakfast. We were driving there yesterday and Joshua was so excited that he started singing the following song to the tune of The Muffin Man, "Do you know the chicken momma, the chicken momma...." Matt and I thought that was too funny and have considered making that my handle.