YIKES...what happened to November!?

Once again I am playing catch up! I just hate it when I do this, but here it goes...

My friend's from college got together in Chattanooga to celebrate two very special events, the engagement of Mary Brooke and Hannah Ruth's first "Ones" weekend. We shopped and ate all day Saturday (Hannah did WONDERFUL) and that night we had a special "candle passing" for Brooke. It was so much fun to be with everyone and celebrate happy times!

Sweet Hannah

Lauren and Carrie playing dress-up at TargetCousin Eddie...I mean, Andrea!

Getting ready for the candle passing

Who will blow out the candle?

The bride-to-be!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with my mom's family in Moulton, AL the weekend before Thanksgiving this year. We had a great time and most everyone was able to be there. Thanks to Kristi and Lance for hosting at your home!

Nana and TruittElla Tate roaming around outside
Ella Tate with her Great-Grandmother The Randolph familyThe "second cousins" have so much fun together! We spent Thanksgiving Day at GranGran and Poppa's with all of Linda's family. We had more delicious food and fun!

Ella Tate chillin' out before the crowd arrived! (Katie made this sweet little turkey dress for Ella Tate.)

Ella Tate and Hilary
The Turner cousins and spouses
Mary Elizabeth and Ella Tate

The day after Thanksgiving Hunter, Ella Tate and I went to Nana and Pop's house for even more food and fun! Ella Tate and I stayed that next week and had a great time!

Aunt Rachel and Ella Tate

Olivia and Anna

Thomas, Phillip, Aubrey and Truitt

Ella Tate helped me clean the house so we could get ready to put the Christmas decorations out! She thinks she is big stuff.

Ella Tate woke up from her nap and was so excited to see the pink Christmas tree in her room!

Playtime

We have 2 huge oak trees that haven't lost their leaves yet, but somehow our entire yard is FULL of leaves. Ella Tate loves to play in them and hear them crunch! Now this is how you spend a Sunday afternoon!

We went over to play with Turner and Mary Elizabeth one day last week. Ella Tate loves playing in their big playroom with all of their toys!

Playing on the patio is one of Ella Tate's most favorite ways to spend the afternoon!

Trick-or-Treat, give me something good to eat!

This year we made several stops at friend's and family's houses for Ella Tate to "trick-or-treat"! She got lots of goodies including, candy, a teddy bear, a Halloween balloon, books and even money! We started the festivities around 2 at GranGran and Poppa's and ended the evening at the Guthrie's about 9. Ella Tate was exhausted by the time we got home, but she had a great Halloween! Showing GranGran her costume Playing peek-a-boo with Poppa

Betty Ikeda's granddaughter, Olive, was visiting her, so Ella Tate and Olive got to play for a little while

with Mrs. Julia and Mr. Wavell and the cute little teddy bear they gave herTurner, Ella Tate and Mary ElizabethTurner showing Ella Tate his cars

Aunt Joyce gave Ella Tate some yummy mini Oreos that she LOVED!

Ella Tate had fun playing at Mr. Ted and Mrs. Jane's house

Ella Tate and Mommy posing on the front porch
starting to wind down...

playing with all of her goodies that Mrs. Bobbie and Miss Danitta gave her

Grady, Nolen and Ella Tate, a.k.k, Charlie Brown, Linus and Pink Poodle

We didn't get to see Uncle Stephen or Uncle Phillip Halloween night, so Ella Tate got dressed up for them to see how cute she looked!

Ella Tate rocking in Uncle Stephen's rocking chair

Playing the piano...one of her favorite pasttimes!

Reading with Uncle Phillip

We are thankful for our FRIENDS!

This week some of the mommies and kids that came to the New Mommies Brunch at Courtney's last year got together for brunch at Katie's house this year. It is was so neat (and a little sad) to see all the "babies" growing up and developing little personalities. We had a great time and missed Caroline and Tate and their mommies, but hope they can come next year!

This year (Grayson, Allie, Nolen, Ella Tate, Ford and Clay) Last year (Allie, Tate, Ella Tate, Grayson, Clay, Nolen, Caroline, Ford)

they all loved playing with Katie's dog, Izzy
Ella Tate can't focus on anything or anyone when Izzy is in the room
Nolen came over to spend a couple of hours with us while Courtney went to Grady's Halloween party at school. Courtney left her double stroller and I took Ella Tate and Nolen down the street to the playground. (I guess this is what it would be like to have twins!) It was a perfect day and they had a wonderful time playing and enjoyed a little snack at Ella Tate's table afterwards. Come back soon, Nolen!

We Have a Rat in the House...

and her name is Ella Tate! She eats her books, literally! I used to put them in bed with her because she would read before and after she woke up, but now it is only plastic and soft books for her. I am hoping she does it because of teething and not that she is deficient in some nutrient.

These are just a few...Any suggestions?

Trunk or Treat

Last Saturday night was Trunk or Treat at church. Ella Tate was a pink poddle and had a great time walking around the parking lot and checking out everyone's candy. She had her first Tootsie Roll Pop and LOVED it! Now everyday since then she gets a sucker out of the candy bowl here at home and puts it in her mouth, paper and all...I have started something that I think is going to be hard to break!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Last week we went to the Walden Pumpkin Farm with the Guthrie's, Watson's and Hannah (Grayson was at his grandparent's house, so Hannah tagged along as our photographer). It was perfect weather and Ella Tate had a great time! We're already looking forward to next year.