The Howell Family: 2012

Friday, October 19, 2012

My Buddy Parker

Here are some pictures I took of our sweet, silly, happy boy, Parker - he loves the camera...such a ham!

Kiss Kiss!

While we were camping, we went over to Babyland General Hospital to show the kids where Cabbage Patch babies are "born"...I wanted to buy Charlotte her 1st Cabbage Patch kid, but she really wanted nothing to do with them! Oh well, hopefully she shares my love of dolls one of these days...

The only way I can get her to look towards the camera is to tell her to "make a funny face"

Standing in front of "the patch"

Babies waiting to be born

Babyland was having a fall festival outside on the lawn, complete with a fair ride & bounce houses, here are the kids waiting to get on the swings

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Family Camping Trip 2012

The Howell Family borrowed Ace's parents pop-up camper and ventured up to Yonah Mountain, GA for some fun family-bonding a few weekends ago. Yes, this momma is brave! Charlotte's famous quote from the weekend was "Is this camping, Mommy?", which she asked at least every 30 minutes...we had talked so much about the camping trip, she just wanted to make sure that Yes, indeed, this was "camping". Charlotte did NOT sleep well the 1st night (I think she may have kept other campers awake!) but the 2nd night was much better. And as Parker says, "I'm a great camper, right Mommy?!" He was, he slept hard both nights. We did all the necessary camping stuff, cooked hot dogs over the fire, and of course, smores.

Our campsite

Parker & his beloved flashlight

Why are you crying, Char? Because I'm 2, that's why!

Smores!

Smores leftovers

Playing with my new camera settings

The leaves were just starting to change (and again, playing with my new camera)

Last Lake Day of Summer

My Dad got a new cabin cruiser boat for playing on the lake, towards the end of the summer...this was our 1st outing out on it, on our official 'last Lake Day of summer'. I wish I had gotten a picture of the boat at the dock, I didn't realize that you can't pull a big boat up onto the sand, we had to anchor it off the shore, and I didn't want to take my camera into the water to get a picture of it. We had the best time! We'll be back, Hoefers!

Helping Dad fish, or at least guarding the tackle box

A view of the shore - Lake Lanier, you look pretty today!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Avery's Birthday / Fun with the cousins

We went over to Birmingham in August for baby Avery's 1st Birthday - it's always so fun to get the cousins together, they always have a ball.

All the adults were told to stand (while cheering) in a line outside the garage so that AnnTatum could drive Avery out as the door opened - sort of "an announcement" of sorts for turning 1. Kids are just the cutest!

Charlotte & Bradford hanging out

All of the cousins

Charlotte loves her big cousin Knox!

The 4 Averys

Parker's 4th Birthday

Back to August, Parker turned 4! He had a "Boys Only" (except for his sister) birthday party at KangaZoom, the perfect, easyist place for a birthday party - parties at home are too much work! Happy Birthday my sweet boy!

Parker's 1st Fishing Pole - from Dad of course

Chocolate cake...

Year in Review

YES, I have been on quite a hiatus from blogging...life is unbelievably busy with a 2 & a 4 year old. I just haven't found the time. But so much has happened in the past year (as one would expect)! Well, over a year ago we moved into our new house, I don't think I ever even posted a picture of it. Even though I haven't been blogging myself, I have *somehow* found the time to scour other people's blogs on the Internet...mainly decorating blogs. I am obsessed. I love looking at other people's decor & getting ideas on cute DIY projects for my own home. Soooo I think I'll change up this blog a bit & add some of that in. I'm ALWAYS doing projects, weather it be making curtains, doing art projects, painting a room, changing up my decor, decorating & re-decorating Parker & Charlotte's rooms...the list goes on & on. So I'll include posts about that stuff when it comes up.

Our home est. 2011

We love our new neighborhood. We moved out to the Suburbs - as in Cumming - because we decided that's the life we wanted for our kiddos - a neighborhood with a pool & tennis courts - & tons of kids. It reminds me of Mayfair, the neighborhood I grew up in. I have the best memories of that neighborhood so that's what I wanted for Parker & Charlotte.

We took a chance in moving here because Ace was still working out of Atlanta & we were very concerned about his commute. But God had a plan for us & Ace left his company & started his own company in November of last year. I was terrified since he is in the construction industry & many companies have not made it through this tough economic time. I am happy to say that it was the best move he could have made, Headwaters Construction is alive & well & growing every month! And his office is in downtown Cumming. Perfect. Of course he's still all over North Georgia going to different jobs they are working on, but that's the nature of his work.

Parker & Charlotte - they are getting so big - TOO Big! Ahhh! Here are pictures of their 1st day of pre-school this year - Parker is in the 4's & goes 4 mornings a week & Char is in the 2's & goes 2 mornings a week. Parker is in a class with 10 boys & 2 girls - it's totally wild in there! His poor teacher! And Charlotte luvvvs school - and apparently sings all day long. Her teacher says she is the star singer at Parkway - ha!