Hanging Out

Sunday, we decorated the front yard. Here Catherine and Soso take a
break.

Snuggled In

We are sitting on the hillside watching the Auburn High Tigers! Soso
is in to watching the game...or band? :)

Game Tonight

Auburn High vs. Prattville

Oh Yes We Did

My brother Mark and I braved the chilling cold to hit the black Friday
sales! We met at 3:45AM. I got my annual snowglobe...& almost done
with Christmas list. Only 6:51, still hours left to shop!
Here's a photo of Mark in line, store opens in 8 minutes...
Line of the day(which we didn't stand in) goes to Target. It was
insane...from the Target front door to about Dick's sporting goods.
Not sure what they had, but there a ton of folks wanting it!

Parade

As she did for her first Thanksgiving, Soso watched the Macy's
Thanksgiving Day Parade with Uncle Mark and parents. Only this year
she was walking and dancing with the marching bands!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Moving Walkway

Sophia loved the moving walkway that ran through the tunnel. She was
jumping on and off looking at fish. It was funny at the end; we about
had to tackle her!!

The "ifshh" Trip

Saturday, we took a side trip to the Georgia Aquarium

I bought us tickets for the first time slot

available-9 a.m.
(We were in Atlanta for a bridal shower for Emily.)

I had a hard time trying to keep up with Steve!
Sophia was waving "hi" at the fish as they swam overhead!
I think she watched every fish...
or at least pointed at every fish!

The observation tunnel was amazing.
Although she doesn't have distinct words,
Sophia can express her feelings vocally...
and loudly!

Sharks!
It was creepy how they were circling...
Sophia could have cared less if we were there.
She was running ahead to see the next thing.

Fourth from the left,
Soso and Steve watch the whale shark
cruise by in front of them!
Huge fish.

They had a "petting zoo" of sorts.
In this tank, rays and sharks.
Sophia was loving it.

Not to worry, Steve didn't let her pet a shark...
but she almost swam with the rays!
Here she's getting a good feel.
The aquarium worker at the end of the tank kept saying,
"Two fingers to pet please"
Soso was using an entire hand...or two.

The same size as adult fingers?

I think she wanted to grab one and take it home!

Dumb rays kept coming by...
you think the first one would have learned,
and shared the info!

Here she is trying to reach starfish,
sea urchins, and horseshoe crabs.
The water was too deep.
She's already seen all of these in the wild.

This sea turtle was pretty cool.
It swam right up to the window,
and towards Soso.
He bumped the window and she jumped!

Checking out the lion fish...
very pretty!

Next was the penguins!

Sophia ran up to the glass of the jellyfish,
sat down and watched them!
I think she wanted to touch them.

She was telling Steve about them.

In one of the displays, a diver was cleaning
the inside glass of the tank.

She walked up to the glass...

he looked up and waved at her.

She BACKED up with big eyes quickly.
Sophia was not liking him...at all.
Poor diver guy tried hard waving,

but no luck.
She was clinging to Daddy!

The look on her face was hysterical...
half accusation, half inquisition!

"What are you doing in there! And WHY!"

We left that area, went back saw the feeding of the whale sharks.

That was an amazing sight to see!

But after that it was time to leave,

Sophia was getting tired.

It was "princess day" and the aquarium

was getting very crowded.

(Every girl, for the most part, was wearing

princess gear and garb. I so dropped the ball

on that one!!)

Sophia was having a good time princess watching too.

Walking around we worked up an appetite!
An Atlanta landmark, The Varsity,
is the best greasy hamburger place ever!
We had hot dogs with fries and onion rings.

Sophia was digging the fries!

Great start to the day!

GA Aquarium

Listen closely for the "ish, ish"! Having a great time so far. I
think she likes it! Funny to see who runs faster to next
exhibit...Steve or Soso?!

Mall

Like Pop Kennedy use to do...SK and Soso held down the bench at the
mall today while I shopped! Too cute!

Reindeer Games

At the galleria, they switched the horses for reindeer on the
carousel...

Soso lit up when she saw the carousel from a distance! Oooo'd, got all
excited. Shelby paid the man and walked toward the ride...Soso was not
pleased that there were no horses. The reindeer freaked her out. I get
it. They looked evil. She didn't cry, just shook her head no, firm no.
After showing her all of them, Sophia decided a nice sled ride was
fine with her! Kept her eyes on those horned deer!

Breakfast

Sophia loves banana with her cherrios. Here she is with chimpmunk
cheeks.

Win!

Auburn High advances! Win over Wetumpka 27-24...good game!

Friday Night Lights

Auburn is 11-0!!! Auburn HIGH School that is. Sophia cheers on the
Tigers as they play Wetumpka in the play offs.

Smiles

Sophia sporting her new T. Thank you Shelby!

Shopping

Went to Lowes...everytime we pushed through this one section, Soso
went nuts.

Few Photos From Party

This is a group effort post.

Without the help of Ashlyn, Shelby, Hal, and Mom;
I wouldn't have had these great shots. Thank you.

Rory my goddaughter

There were games for the kids

Helen and Catherine

(with a tiger head sugar cookie)

View from the top of the bus

Steve engineered the pinata pole for me

from on top of the bus

The big cake for everyone

The birthday girl in her tiger AU
dress found by Shelby

Sophia's cake
Tiger head with a "1" candle on it

She checked it out as everyone sang "happy birthday"

When it came time to dig in...
Sophia was not going to dig in with her hand!

She didn't like the frosting on her fingers!

Finally, I took her hand and shoved it in there!

Not happening...

Shelby handed us a fork,

but she really didn't like it!?

Could have been the crowd.

Woohoo!
Trying to grab some of the decorations.
(It looks like she is thanking the masses for coming out.

"Friends, Auburnites, countrymen lend me your ears...")

Amy and I before the tiger is cracked open!

I had so much fun making it.

I thought about handing the kids

a wrapped toothpick to hit it with!

We let the kids go in order starting with the youngest.

Rory and I talk strategy for attacking
the pinata. She was a little nervous.

But she did well!

Bo goes next.

Ryan connects!

Drew to the plate

Helen photographs Manny tying the blindfold on Gabe.
Manny was the official blindfolder, then spun the kids.

The first really hard hit.

John and Helen watch in the background.
Ashlyn photographs in the foreground.

Sophia was hanging out with Aunt Amy
during the pinata fun.

Jimbo was a serious powerhouse.
He almost tore open the tiger on the first hit.

(We were letting the children connect three times,

then pass the stick on to the next one.)
Jimbo was in the moment and doing well!

Manny had to move in before Jimbo finished it off!
He had a few more than three hits...
I love Jimbo!

Catherine takes a whack at the tiger.
She was laughing and smiling during her turn.
Good show Cat!

Em goes after the target samurai style.
I like the expressions on the faces

of folks in the background including me.

(Great photo Hal)
Ryan chillaxing while watching the pinata whacking.

The crowd watches and waits for the break

Kennedy going low.

She had got some serious licks.

There was another picture of her hitting,

but I liked Helen's and Logan's reaction in this one!

Logan was frightening with the one hand swinging!
We all thought the stick might be flying any minute.

Logan did a great job!

Ash deals the head cracking blow.
Very impressive!

I was trying to let Sophia break it open..
but it was built to last apparently.
I carefully handled that thing around all week
like an egg.

Final whack!
Sophia was not liking the beating up of the tiger.

The kids dig into the loot on the ground.

Jessyca and Jason Hoerter
were in town for the game.

Always great to see them!

Hoerters gave Soso "the Hungry Caterpillar"

Hanging out with Grandma Karen reading the book

Shelby, Emery, Ashlyn with us
Sophia and I both loved that they were here.

Hal and Steve watching the game

After most people left the party

to go into the Auburn stadium,
Sophia changed into her casual outfit
to hang out and roll in the grass.
She kept tripping on the hem of the dress.
I guess we need to practice walking in a dress.

I shared a smarties from the pinata
with Sophia, one of her favorite candies.
Jason covers the action too.

Sophia unwrapping Uncle Hal's gift.
I told him a good gift would be a roll

of pennies. She likes to feed her rabbit bank money.

He gave her a roll of nickles-show off.

Mom taking photos during the party-

thank you so much!

After the Auburn homecoming game was over,
(Auburn 63, Furman 31 War Eagle!)
a group of us walked to Toomer's to roll!

Sophia was in a serious nap on the bus,

Steve hung back with her.

I went to play!

It was a good walk.

The kids ready to roll infront of the stadium.
It was funny how unenthusiatic they said
"War Eagle" because this was a very posed photo.

None of the kids had ever rolled Toomer's before!

We ran into the Swags leaving as we were heading over!

Begining to see the white!

Ryan rears back to throw!

Kennedy over the top!
She was jumping as she threw!

He was having a great time...who wouldn't?
How often can you roll trees and not get into trouble!

Emily and Hal take a second for a hug...
ok, another one I set up-whatever!
(They are getting married in January!)

Grandma Karen shows she still has skills!

Awww...
War Eagle!

(Karen, Kelli, Me, Kennedy, Travis, Logan, Gabe,

Jimbo, Hal, Ryan, and Emily)

Group shot on THE sign in Auburn
after rolling on the walk back to the tailgate site.

Because it was homecoming,
different groups made displays.
I guess we don't do floats anymore?
Anyone?

Ok, this one didn't flip correctly.
But here's Logan pointing out one of the ones
he liked!

Gabe with the Star Wars themed one!

We had a great time.
Want to send out a huge Thank you
to everyone that came, contributed,
or sent well wishes though
they couldn't be there in person.

This year's cottage shot.

(We did this same pose last year.

I was pregnant then, Helen now!)
Jason, Me, Helen, and Steve

(Jessyca, their daughter Ruby and son Jay

need to be in this shot to make it perfect)
But this is most of the cottage the next generation!