Holiday stroll, Thanksgiving and professional photos

Howdy!  Wow what a busy time of year this is.  It is so much fun to have activities outside of the normal routine.  It sure does exhaust me though, so that's why it's been a little while since I last wrote.  Anyhow, as you can see below, we had photos taken again.  Yes, we love photos.  Our babies are only small once and we just love to capture all of their different stages.  What beautiful baby boys! I am so lucky to have them - and I feel that way on a daily basis.

This photo is very descriptive in capturing the essence of Hunter.  He's a happy kid, he's probably in the middle of saying a word - probably something funny, and he looks like he is on the go.  I'm guessing this photo was snapped in the middle of him telling a funny story while about to run over to the lifeguard truck (because he was pretty obsessed with the lifeguard truck).  He's adorable and wonderful when he isn't being mischievious.  But even that is cute.

 This was one of the last shots of the day.  As you can see, the boys are toast, but at least everyone is looking at the camera in somewhat of a smiling manner.

 I just love this photo of Hunter looking out for his little brother.  Maybe "Wind Beneath my Wings" should be playing in the background.

 I think that a happy family is founded in a truly happy marriage.  When you have a family, it is so important to take time to nurse the marriage so that it grows and thrives.  I think Brian and I do a great job of this and I am still so in love with him and so lucky that he is my husband.  We are a great team and I think it lends strength to our family union.

 This is one of my favorite people in the whole world, Kim.  She loves meat.  Can you tell?

 We went on the Holiday stroll/pier lighting in Manhattan Beach.  It was dark and cold but the boys were troopers.  Especially Landon.  It was loud and he fell asleep for a little while because he was just SO tired.  Hunter was happy to see real reindeer, meet Santa and....

 try cotton candy for the first time.  You had better believe that I held this kid down to brush his teeth!  He had a LOT of sugar that night.  You can tell by the smile that he LOVED it.

 You can tell a lot about his personality by this photo.  He is a very calm baby who loves the water (LOVES the water).  He likes nothing more than to sit and splash and chew on all of the toys.  He never cries, even when I dump water over his head.  He is always smiling and happy.  My sister-in-law used the word "delightful" to describe him and it is just the perfect word.  I wish a baby like him on everyone who wants children.

 Hunter looks exactly like Brian in this photo.  Amazing, isn't it?  He hates having water dumped over his head, rarely sits in the tub, and enjoys putting bubbles on Landon's head, listening to Landon's heart with a "stethoscope" (suction cup) and being utterly adorable.

 Hunter says he wants to be a doctor, which makes baby a dentist.  I don't understand his logic but I am happy to know my kids will have good jobs.

 Meema and Hunter snuggling on the couch.

 I see Trouble.  We went to Laguna for the day and Hunter saw a park - he couldn't WAIT to go down the slide/on the swings/ through the tunnels - Oh My!

 PLaying together at a different park.

 And yet another park.  My handsome boy in a cute hat.

 And Landon in his cute hat.

 This was Thanksgiving day.  I just love my happy little man!

 Thanksgiving came out perfectly.  It was a small group this year, which was just fine.  We enjoyed everyone's company and all of the food was wonderful.  Brian made the turkey and i made the trimmings (with the exception of Bill's potatoes).  Hunter thought this as the most wonderful party ever.  He got to drink lots of "bubble juice" or sparkling cider.  He loved having his uncles, Meema and Peepaw over for dinner.  What a great time he had!

These days are busy and the weeks go fast.  I turn around and look at the boys and they've changed again.  It's amazing to watch them grow and learn, but sad to me at the same time.  Landon is 10 months and on the verge of walking.  He has 4 teeth and I just weaned him after an incident with his teeth :-)  He is pulling up on everything and insists on standing almost always.  He watches everything his big brother does and prefers hanging out in Hunter's room to anywhere else in the house.  He is cuddly and loving and when he spots me from across the room he gets a huge smile and crawls as fast as he can towards me.  I cannot say how wonderful this little man is and I just adore the pants off of him.

Hunter is equally wonderful and charming in completely different ways.  He is very much so in a Daddy phase and frequently tells me "Not you Mommy, only Daddy."  But he also tells me "I love you Mommy" and "I miss you Mommy".  He likes to relax in bed and watch movies, his favorite being the "Bug movie" (A bug's Life).  He has been letting us read books to him and seems to be relaxing a bit since starting physical therapy a few weeks ago.  Brian and I have both noticed some changes in him and we are happy with his progress.  He makes me laugh all the time and has mostly stopped pulling his brother's hair/hitting/throwing toys at him.  We are at a wonderful place right now with these two little angels.

I am working on my dissertation 2-3 afternoons a week, which feels like too many.  I need to get it done so I am trying to push myself.  With all of the meetings I have, I know that at some point I will be working 3-4 afternoons a week until I get it finished.  I do not want to, but there is a point where you just have to graduate!  I miss the boys and wish I didn't have to be away from them, but we have the most wonderful babysitter who has been with us since late April.  She adores the boys and I trust her with them.  Actually, Brian is taking me away to Pasadena for the night on Friday and she is staying overnight with them! I completely trust her and know she will be okay, but I'm nervous and I know I will miss them incredibly.  I will walk in May 2011 and graduate in August.  I can't believe I will be Patricia George, B.A, M.A., Ph.D., M.o.m.  And of course, that last "degree" is the most important one. I'm finishing the degree for my boys because I don't care to do much with it in the near future.  I'm finishing because I want the lesson to be there - don't ever quit! Don't ever give up on yourself! I hope they learn from it because I so much would prefer to be home with them then writing a dissertation.

Next week is my birthday and we are going out of town.  I am very excited to get away with my little boys and my big boy.  Then we come home and it will be almost Christmas time! I cannot wait for my wonderful sister-in-law to come visit us with her babies.  Before we know it, Landon will be one! How time flies....