Moss Rock Preserve

Bar none my favorite thing about Birmingham is the fact that it's a decently sized 'big city' but you can cut through most any part of town and, as misplaced as it seems, you can find solitude in nature. I keep finding these little places... parks, gardens, running trails... that are in the middle of everything... but when you get inside, it's like you've stepped into these little havens where the hustle and bustle stops and you're just in the middle of nowhere. I love it.

Jill has been telling me about a hiking trail that's very close to our house. I was thinking a trail through a neighborhood kind of trail. Not the case. Think appalachian mountains on a much smaller scale. It was easy enough that the kids could walk the majority of the trail we decided to travel, but long enough for it to be a whole morning outing. It wasn't easy, but I felt comfortable knowing that even holding London, we could do it! And... this is in the middle of suburban Hoover. Ross Bridge is this mountains neighbor. Houses on top of houses on top of houses... then.... this. {exhale here}

 okay... well ALL the kids aren't old enough to walk it just yet!

 After this weekend at my folks house, they can vouch.... London really likes to sing whatever song is in her heart.... LOUDLY. It's darling, but voluminous. Here she is mid-peaceful-tranquility-walk singing at the top of her lungs!

 And never one to leave London hanging, back up vocals by Knox Thomas. 

 My sweet people!

 Flowers from my best girl

 I love this city. I love the experiences. I love raising my child here.

Praise only to God for laying the road that brought me here.

Yes It's Ladies Night and the Feeling's Right!

Watch out, world!! I've been out for adult only company TWICE over the past few months!!! Crazy, I know!! I'm the first to stay home because I have so much fun with my little lady, but MAN. Will a night of being silly with girl friends do you good!

London went to Disney World with her Dad, G'parents, and Renny and it was our longest stint away from each other. I was a little worried {about how I'd hold up} so I booked every waking moment with stuff to do! Community= stress relief for me. Jill and I planned a date night then ended up double dating with another one of her friends! A few weeks later, Jill's sweet husband, Kurt, threw Jill a surprise birthday party. He let me know WELL in advance which was like cruel chinese torture for me. It's amazing that she didn't catch on because I stumbled over telling her so many times and tried to re-capture the early conversations with a non-panicy, 'Oh never mind... what were we just talking about?' Jill was so surprised though and we all had a blast celebrating her! She is just the sweetest thing and I am so incredibly blessed to call her my best friend!

We were having a 'best devil eyes' competion. I nailed it. 

London didn't miss me much since fun cous Charley Rhea was home babysitting and making christmas goodies with her!

Halloweiner Twenty Twelve

Note about me. I plan to never grow up when it comes to calling this holiday 'Halloween' instead of 'Halloweiner'. I am sticking with my immaturity in this area. Halloweiner is just too much fun to say, so please don't expect to find me using the formal term any time soon. Now that that's clear.... 

and as London said on halloweiner afternoon.....

'HOORAY FOR HALLOWEEN!!!!' 

Two guesses on who we spent the holiday with.... 

No, not the twins...

KNOX! (and mommy says with the same enthusiasm.. MRS JILL!!!)

What a darling, fun night we had! Sweet Jill.... I invited myself to this whole halloween get up that she was having with some of her friends. I know for a fact I would get annoyed with me if I were my own friend. Poor girl can't do ANYTHING on her own. She's always a super sport about it though.... so Ill keep crashing all her fun times! :)

I know that I gloat and crow about how cute Lu and Knox are together, but you honestly just have to see and hear them with your own two eyes and ears. Examples:

Mom: 'London, who are your friends at school?'

Lu: 'Knox.' 

Mom: I know Knox, baby but do you have any more friends?'

Lu:' Yes, maam. More Knox's.' 

Example 2: London and I play this silly game where I listen to her body parts and tell her what they are saying.  Tonight I listened to her heart and said, 'Oh baby! It says 'I love mommy!'' She replies, 'Noooooo mommy! It says Knox!' 

Darling, i tell you. 

School Fall Lunch. Doesn't this just scream, 'DUH, MOM.' I think I better get used to this face... {side note: (attention Booper:) Is it use to  or used to? I just googled it and am still unsure... I need a catchy grammar rhyme or something to help me remember so I don't sound like a hillbilly! Feel free to comment!}

 Sweetest thing alive. Oh this face. 

 Fast forward to trick-or-treating. Knox was Batman and had an awesome mask that went with his costume. However, it impaired his vision a tad so if he was going to walk sideways or step down, he made these REALLY DRAMATIC head turns so that he could see where he was going! I couldn't stop giggling over it! :) 

London started the night as spider girl.... but then we watched a Veggie Tales about pirates before we left... and she just got back from Disney World so she's really into princesses.... so she claimed she was 'Spider Pirate Princess Girl'. Fine by me. 

 LET'S DO THIS. 

 The shadows make me look creepy, i know, but look at sweet girls face! Umm. eat her up!

 Jill's friend's baby was a chicken! She just sat in the same spot all night molting! :)

 My favorite two shots....

 And just because I loved this so much! You all know Mrs. Hannah Bananas by now also... she went to work dressed as a banana, which was awesome, then she posted a picture of herself on the way home from work with her banana head flying out of her sunroof!! ahaha! I have the funniest friends ever!

Unrelated to anything in this post, if you have a Netflix or itunes account, search for 'Fireplace for Your Home' and play episode 2- crackling yule log. It's an hour and a half of a crackling, burning fire with instrumental christmas music playing in the background and it's FABULOUS. 

Georgia Aquarium Revisited

London and I spent the night with my dear friend Hannah last week and we had time to download her super awesome aquarium pictures that she took for us! So thankful to have these! I am framing a few of them asap to fill our home with these sweet memories! I loved this day, I love this little, sweet girl, and I love this friend who gives me life in every way! Such a sweet blessing to our lives!!

 I loved this one... she was dancing and hannah caught her in mid dance jump. It looks like she's doing an african tribal dance, right? So funny!

 This one too.... so committed! WORK IT, GIRL!!!

 Sweet Hannah and London. 

Talledega

Okay. Full transparency. I'm about to lose my cool with this blog. Seriously. I tore everything down, rebuilt it last night (which isn't hard... just a tad time consuming), tested videos, the whole nine yards. Ended the night with a smile on my face because everything worked just like I need it to. Tonight? Dad gum videos won't load again. I want to over react and break up with blogger right now, but I'm just gonna spend the night simmering down and think of all the precious memories I've put in ink here... Just like this one! 

Barry, G Daddy, Andaddy, and Caden took their annual guys trip to Talledega a month or so ago. As always, they had a great time and it ended up being an action packed race with a HUGE wreck at the very, very end. Barry said Caden's mouth was on the floor because there were literally cars on fire screeching sideways in front of them! That's some serious MAN stuff right there. 

{Insert darling, non-loadable, video of Caden on his hands and knees signing the starting line... UGH... however, were lucky Barry took a video AND a picture! Good thinking bro. 

Dad rocking the 'double hat' look!

I love this picture! What a little stud!

Isn't this one awesome? Oh I love this guy!!

Barry said Caden loved it. No surprise. He apparently giggled and danced the whole time... until he noticed the pretty young lady sitting close to them and he quickly made fast friends with her. Barry said
Caden is a huge flirt as long as the girl is pretty! The story is that Caden looked over his shoulder at her... then did a double take and then talked this poor girls ear off  the rest of the race! They all knew he was just giving her his best dose of Caden charm! :) What a guy!

G-Daddy is always the race coordinator and a big THANK YOU from all of us! I love watching this little guy get to do awesome manly stuff and I know it's fun for all the boys to spend the day together! Thanks for being a stellar grand dad, G!!