Thanksgiving in Ft. Myers!

We had a wonderful time in Ft. Myers, Florida! We were there for the whole week before Thanksgiving. About 20 of us (including 5 kids under the age of 3!) stayed in a house on the bay, just a short walk from Ft. Myers Beach.

Britt, Maddox, and I flew down on Saturday, November 22 in the firm's plane.
We had a nice 3 hour flight. Maddox did very well, and I didn't throw up!


The two-year-olds: Kate, Maddox, and Jackson
The kids played very well together! We had very few squabbles over toys. Amazing!

The little ones really enjoyed playing with Bailey "the big girl"!
Grant is only 1, but was right there with them!

Maddox and Jackson are only 9 weeks apart in age, and are about the same size.

Grant, Jeff, and Kate

Dean-Dean and Grant

Grant "talking" to Brooks!

Grant and Mom

The beach bum!

The weather was a little cooler than normal, but we were able to get in a couple of good beach days. Maddox LOVES the beach! He wanted to spend every waking moment there!

Jeff, Britt, Dustin, and Cliff

Brooksey's first time at the beach!

That water was COOOOOLD! Jackson and Maddox didn't seem to mind!


A beautiful sunset

One night, the whole group went to a good restaurant called Mel's Diner. We had a blast! A ventriloquist was there performing. Maddox thought she was pretty neat and even gave "Belle" a hug and kiss. Unfortunately, my camera was too slow to catch it!

On Thanksgiving Day, the whole family went to Heritage Palms (where Mom and Ray live). We enjoyed a delicious buffet and some time swimming in their heated pool.

The little ones looked so cute in their matching turkey shirts!

Mom, Ray and Maddox (their first great-grandchild)

Britt, Maddox, Bailey, Dustin and I played mini-golf on our last night there.

Bailey got a "hole-in-one"!

We flew home on Friday, November 28. When we got home Maddox kept pointing at things in our house (the couch, the microwave, etc.) and saying "that's new"! The next day he stated that he wanted to go back to the "old house"! He still talks about going to the beach!

This was one of those trips where you just didn't want to come home. It was such a blessing to get everyone together. We had family members fly and drive down from 3 different states. I hope we can all do it again one day.

It's a GIRL!

We had an ultrasound yesterday and were so happy to see that little heart beating! (Our scanner is broken, so no pictures.) Then, we were excited to learn that Maddox is going to have a sister! I am about 16 weeks and the official due date is May 5 (even though she measured May 8 this time). Britt is thrilled that the due date is Cinco de Mayo, since he is studying Spanish right now! He is convinced that her name should be Juanita. Whatever! It will probably be a while before we decide on a first name, but I do want her to have my middle name-Delaine.
I can't wait to go shopping for pink stuff!!

First trip to Chuck E. Cheese!

Last Tuesday night, we decided to take Maddox to Chuck E. Cheese. No special occasion, we just thought it was time for him to experience it! All three of us had a great time!

maddox and the big mouse

his momma's favorite game-now toddler size!!

he LOVES driving a car!

driving a jet ski is pretty fun, too!

he let his daddy win. how sweet!

Little Drummer Boy

Here's Maddox playing the timpani at the Mobile Pops Veteran's Day Concert.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

We are so proud of Maddox. He can recognize the UA logo and the Alabama Fight Song and says "Roll Tide!" when he sees or hears anything Bama!! Sometimes he says "I see roll tide, Mommy!!" Yes, we are raising him up right!
We just watched the Bama/LSU game. What a game! Go Bama!

I don't know why these videos are sideways. Sorry!!

Our Little Firefighter!

We had a great time on Halloween! First, we trick-or-treated in Bae and Granddad's cul-de-sac. Then, we headed to Mimi and Pops.

Our new friends, The Fergusons met us there and we had fun trick-or-treating with their little ladybug.

Maddox had a blast. He was just amazed at all the candy, and I was surprised we made it through the night without a belly-ache! He loved looking at everybody's costumes and he kept saying "I scared"!

He couldn't keep us eyes off this kid with a scary mask on.!

One time a group of little fairies came to the door and he said "I not scared!". He is really starting to talk a lot these days. I don't even know where he learns all these words!

PUMPKIN PARTY!!

Sunday afternoon was our church's annual Pumpkin Party! We always have a great time, but Maddox was especially fun this year.
He played games


Rode a horse

Ate a hot dog and pumpkin pie, petted animals, got a balloon, let go of it then got another balloon, rode a train, and overcame his big fear of inflatables!
They had a huge, really cool inflatable with dinosaurs inside. We could tell that Maddox really, really wanted to go in there. But he was scared! He wanted Daddy to go in with him. But, no, Daddy was too big. Thankfully, his little friend Jackson came. Jackson is about 6 months older and braver than Maddox. I asked Jackson to hold his hand and help him in. That did it! Once he got in with Jackson, there was no turning back! The only way we even got him out of that thing was that the blower malfunctioned and the whole thing started deflating!

Everything was fun, but the absolute best part for Maddox was the huge 26 foot inflatable slide. After a few times sliding down with Daddy, Maddox was ready to try it by himself. He actually climbed up the thing (very slowly) and slid down by himself! Not once, not twice... oh only about 20 times in a row! Yes, he slept very well last night!