Santa Hunting {Or...Visiting Santa at Bass Pro Shop}

So ready to go see Santa!

Super excited and giggled the whole time!!

Excited and asked quite loudly for a Batman Robot

Not a fan, but tried to be brave because his brothers did it.

After seeing Santa, the boys had to try out the different things you do in a Southern Winter Wonderland - archery...er, bow hunting? Shooting rifles. And, riding bears. No? You should try it sometime. 

  

Apparently, Alex is in need of a bow? Um, no.

 

See? Super fun!

 

Always stop to catch a train!

 Tracing his letter to Santa...yes, he is asking for a Battle Plan. Haha! Best Christmas letter so far. No worries. Santa knows what he is talking about.

Tracing his letter to Santa. If you don't already know...Alex is quite the Batman fan. I'll share a story of their playing soon. Super funny!

"Hmm...what should I ask that red suit guy that has the fuzzy face to bring me...? Maybe more Cheerios. I'm running low here, Mama."

Good times at Bass Pro Shop means saying goodbye to the fish.

 Merry Christmas!!

The Slow Start to Fall Cleaning {#31days}

The day started off quiet and all, but that did not last at all. I'm not entirely sure what the deal was today. They were just...wow. There are no words for today, really. Luckily I have pictures to share from this morning. 

We mixed up a Halloween Pack and an Autumn pack today. I like the bat game. Basically, it is like the dice games we have been playing. Roll the dice and add it up. Only this time they had to fill up their sheets. Very cute. And, you can really see how Andrew's work differs from Alex's. Andrew starts kindergarten next year - GASP!! So, I am giving him the harder things. But he loves it. He is all about adding and subtracting. Love it!!

Afterwards, they watched some Blue's Clues (Alex's pick) and suddenly were asking for 2 boxes, a flashlight, and some "holders" - very specific. I can't find the episode to link it here. But it's the one with Steve and they make a train out of these things. So, my house turns into a couple of train stations and other stops, while Austin naps and I get some things done around here. Nice. Thanks, Steve and Blue! Of course, we did keep the train out for Austin to try out later.

A little bit later...

Well, we are slowly starting our fall cleaning around here. The boys and I even cleaned the outside toys, raked leaves into piles, and decided what to keep/donate/trash. While we took care of business, this guy told us what's what:

Clearly, he says, "This is my chair!" Love the faces he makes!

We all came in after sweating up a storm (it's October and 85...what in the world, people?!), Austin took a quick nap and the boys built stuff with legos so I could grab a shower. Once most of the house was back together (I try to keep it nice so Jason doesn't always come home to chaos...haha), I put in a Halloween classic for the boys. Ok, for me, too. I LOVE this movie!

And, yes, we do plan on going back to Bass Pro Shops again to go see The Great Pumpkin!! YAY!

Happy Fall, Y'all!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Santa Claus!

Jason had Thursday and Friday off this week and it was great! He went with us to take Andrew to school and pick him up. The whole time to school Andrew was a bit confused. He kept saying, "Daddy work?" We told him that it was a special day so he got to stay home with us. He seemed to be alright with that answer, but he was still unsure. 

When it was time to pick him up and we were in the car line (I always try to get 2nd or 3rd in line), I showed Jason which window was his classroom. Andrew was so excited to see that his Daddy was in the car!! Jason was laughing because Andrew was gone for a bit but came back to the window with some friends. LOL Too funny! I love that kid!

When Friday rolled around, it was a super special day - we were taking the boys to see Santa!

We started with breakfast at Cracker Barrel! YUM!! But, again, Andrew knew that it wasn't Saturday and Daddy is normally at work. So this is our convo while getting dressed:

Me: Good morning, monkeys!

Andrew & Alex: Crazy giggles and squeals (reasoning for calling them my monkeys and why they got monkey ornaments this year!)

Me: You guys want to go to Cracker Barrel for breakfast?

Andrew: Mmm-hmm!! (with a big smile)

Me: Daddy is coming, too!

Andrew: Daddy, Cack Barrel?

Me: Yep!

Andrew: No, mama. Daddy work. 

Me: No, Daddy is home again today. 

Andrew: (big smile) Oh! Daddy, mama, Alex, Andy, babies go Cack Barrell!

It goes on. It is too cute. The babies are our "stuffed animal children" AKA Tusker and Baby Bunny. I know...Baby Bunny? Yep! Alex has decided that Pat the Bunny is his baby. Andrew has a larger Pat the Bunny and Alex has a smaller one. Andrew handed it to him one day (both from mom!) and ever since Alex has it with him all the time. Anyway, the babies stayed in the car. I don't need to have a missing baby fiasco...   
After breakfast, Jason and I don't say anything about what is going to happen next. Andrew does ask, though. "Go?" every so often is the question down the highway. We get to Bass Pro Shop and there is a sign with Santa on it. We ask Andrew who that guy is and he says, "SANTA!" He was pretty excited!

This year he sat with him! Last year...I couldn't bring myself to post the pic... But, Andrew would only sit with Santa if I did... So me and my 22-week pregnant self AND a 15 month old sat on Santa's lap... Lindsay was crackin up. I was too, but OMG, REALLY? Anyway, I'm glad that Andrew and Alex sat with him. Alex was pretty happy about the whole thing!

Here is the rest of our fun at Bass Pro:

 Gotta love it! :D