American Girl Trip & SNOW!!!

On Friday, Feb.12, two determined Moms (Donna & I) and three very excited little girls (Jill, Anna Beth & Katie) set out for the American Girl store in Atlanta. Now if you think back for a minute you will remember that on Friday, it was snowing like crazy here in Birmingham and the snow storm was headed toward Atlanta! But as I said we Mom's were determined not to disappoint our three excited daughters. We loaded up and headed to Atlanta about 1:30pm. Here are a few pictures out the window of the Suburban as Jill and I made our way to meet The Giles crew.

Once we picked up Donna, Anna Beth, and Katie the weather just continued to deteriorate. We had to drive very slowly and follow the tracks of the car in front of us so as to be sure we did not slide off the interstate, as did several cars ahead of us. My friend in Alpharetta called at about 4pm to inform us that they had 3-4 inches of snow on the ground already and that it was still coming down. She advised us to turn around and go back home, but we were DETERMINED - crazy some might say...so we slid on!

Now mind you, all this time we did not have reservations to eat at the American Girl Bistro. We had tried for 2 weeks to get reservations but they were completely booked. Knowing the weather might keep some travelers away we called and they told us they had one opening at 9:30am - woohoo, we took it! We made it to the hotel after about a 5 hour trip that should have taken about 3 - but we made it! We checked in, had dinner, and let the girls swim in the indoor heated pool. Then back to the room to get cleaned up and in bed to get our beauty sleep before our big day! Saturday morning arrived and Donna and I turned on the news to see how bad the roads were. The first thing we hear was, "The Georgia Department of Transportation is advising everyone to stay off the roads - they are a solid sheet of ice." Sorry Georgia DOT but we were DETERMINED to make it to brunch with our three little American Girls and ice or no ice we were going to be there!!! And we did just that. Fortunately our hotel was only about half a mile from the mall so we easily slid there. The walk across the mall parking lot was actually the hardest part but we made it inside with no falls! And guess what, we had the Bistro almost to ourselves! There were only two other families who were as determined as we were. Our American Girls with their dolls in front of the fountain at our hotel before leaving for brunch.
Finally at the Bistro!
Jill feeding Bailey a muffin for brunch.
Katie and Kit
Anna Beth and Riley Kate
Jill had to talk to her Dad and tell him all about the Bistro and the ham and cheese omelet she ordered.
The salon - waiting on their dolls to get all pampered. All three dolls got their ears pierced and hair styled.


On the playground in the Alpharetta mall.
Our friends Tiffany and Macy finally made it out of their driveway and neighborhood around lunch time and we were so excited to get to eat lunch with them and visit! Jill and I miss the Bennetts so much and are glad they are only a few hours away - well unless it is snowing and then they are about 5 hours away! Here are the girls enjoying some lunch in the food court.
Macy (Jill's "adopted cousin") and Jill
All our American Girls! Watch out Chicago and New York - we will be there soon to check out your American Girl stores!

Sneaky Little Luke

Sorry, no picutres for this post but I promise you will LAUGH!

Last week, Luke's new favorite hiding place became his bedroom closet. Not only would he close himself in the closet but he would first lock his bedroom and bathroom (he and Eli share a Jack & Jill bath) door. After noticing that Luke was "missing" I got the key and unlocked his room door and found him in his closet. He promptly jumped up and told me to "go" because the "bad guys" were coming! So being a good Mommy and wanting to foster his imagination, I locked his door back and closed the door behind me. I knew he wouldn't stay in there very long without needing company, after all my children can't go more than 20 minutes without NEEDING me!!! True to my prediction, after about 20 to 30 minutes, Luke would exit the closet and find his way back downstairs and under my feet. Well, this went on for a couple more days and then on the night of the third day, Jamie went into Luke's closet for something and when he came out he said, "Look at what I found in Luke's closet." He held up one of Luke's bapi's (pacifiers) that we had taken away from him about a week ago. That little stinker had found one and was hiding his contra ban in his closet. He would go in each day and get his bapi "fix" and would then leave it there until he returned!!! What a sneaky little one, and he is only 2! Boy are we in trouble when he is 15!!!!

Luke's Surgery...& A funny

On Tuesday, Jan. 19th, Luke had to have a little surgery. He was such a trooper and never shed a single tear...well, at least while we were at Children's Outpatient Surgery Center. While waiting to go back, he rode up and down the halls on all the different cars and watched a little TV. We were so thankful that Grammy was able to go with us since Daddy had a meeting he could not miss. (Mom forgot to check with him when she scheduled the surgery.)We also owe Poppa a big thank you. He took Eli to school and then he took Jill to breakfast at McDonalds and then to school. It was a treat for them to get that time with Poppa! The recovery has had its highs and lows. The day after the surgery, Luke felt great - running around the house being his usual wild self. Day THREE however was a completely different story! Luke woke us at about 5 am screaming and crying that he was hurting. We did not miss a dose of pain medication that day and he laid in Mommy and Daddy's bed all day watching TV. Day four was better and so far today has been good. He is napping now with only a dose of Motrin. Hopefully tonight will be a better night than last night and tomorrow a better day than today. He is definetly on the mend and we are all ready for him to be completely back to normal!

Riding in the car while waiting to go back to surgery.

Mommy's Little Man

Thank you, Grammy!

The sign on my door.

Just waiting...


Now, for a FUNNY. Thursday was PJ day at Jill's school. She wore her new fleece gown with some leggings. It just so happened to get up to about 65 on Thursday so by the time Jill got home she was HOT. She immediatly changed into cooler clothing and we got her situated with a snack and a short show. I went downstairs to check email and within a couple of minutes I hear her rummaging through my cabinets upstairs. I quickly finish my email and head up to find a very funny sight. Jill was sitting in her pottery barn chair in front of the TV soaking her feet...in a boiler of water. Apparently her feet were hot and the only way she could think of to cool them off was to soak them in cold water and the only thing she could think to soak them in, was a boiler (pot). I wish that I had thought to make a picture of her before I gave her a better basin to soak in. The boiler she had selected was one of the smallest pots we have. She couldn't even put her feet completely in it. She is creative!!!

National Champions - Roll, Tide, Roll!!!

We are so excited here in the Alexander house about Alabama's 13th National Championship! We watched the game from beginning to end, of course, and with about 40 seconds left in the game Jamie and Eli headed out to Academy to purchase our National Championship attire! The kiddos couldn't wait to put on their shirts this morning and Mom will no doubt have her's on soon too!

Don't know if you can tell but in the outside picture it is actually snowing - two days in a row with flurries here in Chelsea!

Our Super Star Student of the Month

Jill was selected as Super Star Student of the Month in her class. She was so excited and so were we! The Super Star Student has to make a poster about themselves to share with the class. Below you will find Jill's poster that she helped Mom make, complete with all her favorite things, Disney trip, Alabama football and cheerleading, grandparents, cousins, brothers, snow, swimming, the colors pink and purple, and lots of flowers!!!!

GNO - Fondu at The Melting Pot

Jill and I enjoyed a GNO at The Melting Pot with some of our sweet friends (Avery & Mrs. Lori)on New Year's eve's eve (Dec 30). We had such a good time and really enjoyed the fondu! Jill is a girl after Mom's own heart - she loves chocolate!


















This is definitely one of the perks to having a little girl. I love that Jill is now old enough that she and I can do stuff like this together! Now if I can just teach her to love shopping as much as I do - she likes it now but if I have my way, she will LOVE it before long!

Our Year in Review

What an amazing year 2009 has been in the Alexander home. Jamie and I are so blessed and thankful to our Lord and Savior from whom all blessings flow! As we looked back at our Christmas pictures from last year, we realized just how much our three children have grown and changed.





Christmas 2008














Christmas 2009












They bring such joy and laughter to our home and we must admit, sometimes a bit of temper and stong-will. But even for the latter, we are thankful - it just means they are normal children!

Eli turned 10 this year - the double digits. He is in the fifth grade and making all A's - even with very little help from the parents! He is our soccer champ and his U10 Chelsea Sting soccer team won the Division III Governor's Cup State Championship in November!























True to family tradition, he bleeds crimson & white! He can quote you the entire Bama starting line-up, offense, defense and special teams accompained by each players height and weight. I am sure it will not be long before he trades in his soccer cleats and shin gaurds for a football helment and pads. (Mom of course thinks he should be the kicker. At least then she will know that if her little man gets hit the other team will be penalized for it!)

Another major accomplishment for Eli came in November when he was awarded his black belt in Tae Kwon Do. It only took us four years to get there but Eli's hard work and determination finally paid off - he made it! We are so proud and feel safer with him around!




















What a blessing you are to our family! We are so proud of you!

Jill, our little princess, turned four in April this year and she is really growing up! She is in her third year of pre-school and loves going each day to see her friends! She is into all things "girl" - Barbies, baby dolls, nail polish and lip gloss, and of course Hannah Montana!!!

Halloween 2009







She also loves changing clothes at least six times a day just to make sure Mom doesn't run out of laundry to do! She started taking gymnastics earlier this year and looks forward to Friday of each week for her class! She especially likes the bars because they get to use the "chalk." Somehow she manages to get it all over her - she says this makes her look like a real gymnast!

Jill also played one season of soccer and enjoyed that as well, who knows, we may have another soccer player in the family!

But as for now, she informed me that she wants to try dance, but ultimately, she wants to be a Crimsonette. She loves to play with Mom's old baton and of course she must do that while wearing a two-piece swimsuit because that is as close as she can get to a Crimsonette uniform. One thing is for certain, with Jill, if she wants something, she WILL get it! This little girl has enough drive and determination in her little pinky to move mountains! What a blessing she is to our family! We are so proud of you!

Our "baby" Luke turned two in August and he is truly the laughter in our home. It amazes me how much personality such a little fellow can have! He has a smile that can light up any room!













Luke is the last little one at home with Mom now but come August 2010, watch out Little Lambs Mom's Day Out! He begs to go everyday with Jill but Mom just isn't ready for that step yet! We have made other big boy strides though. As I mentioned earlier, he turned 2 in August and by November he was fully potty trained. No more diapers in the Alexander home. I am sure Huggies feels the loss! Luke also moved out of the crib and into a "big boy" bed.

All three Alexander babies used that crib so it was a little sad taking it down for the last time but Mom has moved past that now and is happy to know that her little ones are growing into such precious independent children.














As for Mom and Dad, we are doing great as well. Mom has finally been able to pick up running again and Dad has been back on the bike too! Getting back into shape really is a great stress-reliever!

Jamie's work can be stressful at times but he really enjoys his job. God has blessed him in Southern Company and we are so proud of him. He works very hard to provide for our family and give Mom the opportunity to be just that...Mom, the best, most rewarding job on the planet!!! I am blessed by my amazing husband and wonderful children everyday!




















Bring on 2010 - the Alexanders are ready!