Thanksgiving #2

Thanksgiving #2 was in Searcy at my parent's house.  After the first one with Michael's dad we drove up to Searcy for the week.  We got to hang out with Morgan, Jamie, J. David, Myles, Lindsay, my parents, and Harley for the week.  We had a blast.  We played lots of games and ate really well all week.  It rained most of the week and was really wet so we were indoors for most of the week.  The kids were very ready to get out of the house by the end of the week.  For as excited as J. David and Eden were to see each other and play, they got kind of short with each other all week.  It kind of surprised us but they are both very competitive and want to do everything first.  Talk about getting lots of lessons on patience and taking turns=)  They had a great time together too.  They played doctor and patient a lot.  They also sang and performed for us.  I will have to post video of that, it is adorable.  Here are some pictures from the week.

Myles all wrapped up after a bath.  He is the smiliest little boy EVER!!!!  He always has one on his face.   I love it....lights up a room!

 Eden pretending to play the violin and singing at the same time.

 A whole Trotter family picture.

 Anybody notice Eden's face????  Someone told everyone to make a silly face and then right before the picture yelled Smile and she didn't get the memo (or listen;) 

 My parent's with the grand kids.

 J.David and Myles.  Love their big grins. Precious.

 Eden and Harper.  Harper had had enough.  We couldn't get her to grin at all.

 Family picture.

 Morgan and family.  Love this.

 My little turkey's on Thanksgiving Day.  So very thankful for them, Michael, my family, and all my extended families.  I am so blessed!

 The first morning we were in Searcy my sister let them open a gift she had made for Eden and J. David. Lindsay made them each a blanket and they LOVED them.  Eden's was pretty much glued to her hip all week;)

 Eden's was a Tangled blanket and J. David's was a Cardinals one.

 Harper with Uncle Morgan.

While we were in Searcy, Harley turned two so we gave him a birthday party.  The kids LOVED this and helping with it. 

 Lindsay with Harley and J. David holding the bone shaped Rice Krispie treat.

 Harley pretending to blow out the candles on his ball of dog food that he seriously inhaled in one bite.

 The kids helping to open up Harley's wrapped toys.  

 Myles and Harper playing together.  If you look closely you can see Harper's huge smile.  She loved looking at Myles all week.  But then again who didn't?

 Finally, it was dry enough to put out the inflatable.  Eden and J. David had a blast on this and taking turns jumping.  This wore them out for a good nap that day.

 Two cuties.

 Myles got really good at climbing into these little folding chairs for the kids table.  He loved having his own seat and sitting with the older kids.

 My sister had seen these tents somewhere and my dad made them for the kids.  They LOVED them.  Eden and J. David each had their own.  They were super simple and easy to put together.  Thanks dad for the tents.  Now every time they are at my parents they can play with them or sleep in them. So fun!

We had such a great week with my family.  We actually did Christmas with everyone since some won't be back for Christmas. That will be another post.

Thanksgiving #1

 The Sunday night before Thanksgiving we went over to Michael's dad's house for a Thanksgiving/Birthday celebration.  Michael's dad turned 65 so we did a little celebrating. It's always nice to catch up and see them.  I don't know how I don't have a picture of Allen, I guess I was busy with Harper=)

Nancy and JoJo had never met Harper so they got to hold her and love on her. 

Of course, these two played and played together.  They are so cute and had the greatest time together just like usual.  LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!!  They couldn't be any more beautiful=)

Smiling =)

 Harper is SMILING!!!!  At around 5 to 5 1/2 weeks Harper started smiling purposefully.  It took me a day or two to get it on camera but now we have several.  The smiles light up her face when she gives them.  It is precious.  I can't wait to see them for the rest of my life.

Smiling big for the camera.

 Giving me a big one from her car seat, which is unusual because she is still not very fond of it.  

 A family picture of everyone sporting their Razorback gear.  Michael and I got to go to the Arkansas vs. Mississippi State game that was in Little Rock.  We had a wonderful time.  A big thank you to Granna for watching the girls for us.

 Harper smiling big while "playing" on her floor mat.  She loves the flashing musical star that is now out of batteries:(

 Harper got this beautiful dress and bonnet from one of my Granny's and mom's friend.  She made it and it is so cute on Harper.  This look reminds me of "The Little House on the Prairie".  

 Two weeks ago it was super windy so Michael and Eden got the kite out.  Eden loved flying her kite all by herself.  She did good holding on to it because it was super windy and I really thought she would let go of it on a few occasions.  

One last big smile.

I'm going to catch up for a second since this will ultimately be part of Harper's records.  I had to take Harper to the doctor on Nov. 3rd because she was always screaming out in pain with nothing consoling her and spitting up like crazy.  I had finally had enough and thought she should be seen. She weighed 10 lb. 12oz. at one month.  They thought she had reflux so we started adding a little rice to her bottles and giving her Zantac three times a day.  It worked IMMEDIATELY!!!  I feel like we were given another child.  It is crazy!  She is so much more content and relaxed and sleeps so much better.  I really can't believe it.  She will hopefully out grow it within the year.  She is growing like a weed.  I will be interested to see how big she will be next week at her two month check up.  

Eden has been doing great with Harper.  She is a big helper.  She is always asking to hold Harper and wanting to hug and kiss her all the time.  She can be a little rough at times and we have to remind her to be more gentle but over all she is being really great with her.  She told me today that she can't wait for Harper to play with her.  Melts my heart=)

Mini Photo Shoot

Monday afternoon Eden and I played around taking pictures of her and Harper.  I didn't get any of them together (that's coming) but it was such a pretty day and I felt like taking pictures of the girls.  Here are a few:

Harper passed out on the floor.  She let me mess with her which is pretty unusual so she much have been really out of it.

Eden just being silly and wearing one of Harper's Christmas headbands.

Thank you to my Uncle Jerry and Aunt Teri who got Harper this personalized pillow.  I LOVE IT!  It goes with her room perfectly.  

Eden playing in the backyard.  It was beautiful outside and she just let me take picture after picture of her.

This is my FAVORITE!!!!  Love her so much.

I will have to put some of the outtakes on her because I got some really hilarious expressions from Eden. Michael and I were both laughing out loud looking back at them.  She is too funny=)

Earthquake

I just wanted to remember my first earthquake.  I have always wanted to feel an earthquake, not a strong one but I was always curious as to what it could possibly feel like.  Well my first one happened on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2011 at 10:53 pm.  Michael and I were home with Harper watching all the football games (Eden was at my parents for the weekend) and we were sitting in separate chairs in our living room and we both felt our chairs swaying.  We looked at each other and asked if the other's chair was moving and we both said yes.  After a few seconds we realized it must have been an earthquake and then Facebook and the news confirmed it.  Michael was holding Harper in his arms when it happened.  The three of us all felt our first earthquake together.

The earthquake was centered in Sparks, Oklahoma and was a magnitude 5.6.  It truly was the weirdest feeling.  Michael felt another one on Sunday night but I was at Wal-Mart and didn't feel it.

Halloween Night

For Halloween night we went Trick or Treating with the Keim's, Vick's. and Bittle's.  We all met up at the Bittle's house because their neighborhood goes way out for Halloween.  All the houses have great Halloween decorations and tons of them give out candy.  It was so much fun.  There were people EVERYWHERE.  There were even parents pulling trailers of kids with their four wheelers around the neighborhood.  All ages were dressed up too, which was fun to see.  The kids had a blast going door to door.  I loved watching Eden say "Trick or Treat" and "Thank You" for everything she got.  Halloween has been so much fun this year.

Michael carved this Ariel pumpkin for Eden.  We could not find a Belle stencil anywhere so Eden chose this one.  She LOVED it.

Eden and Harper on Halloween Day.

Eden, Jackson, and Jack.  This was before the Keim's made it over.

The three super heroes.  So cute.  Jackson, Lincoln, and Jack.

Hannah, Eden, Lincoln, Jack, and Jackson standing.  Layton and Lucy sitting.  Molly and Harper had already gone back to the house.  Can you tell they had a blast?  They could have trick or treated all night long if we had let them.

Eden posing with her pumpkin.

One last picture before going to bed. The Halloween activities are finally over. I think they lasted for two weeks it seemed like.  Eden had so much fun and she loved being Belle.  She had said last year right after being a cowgirl for Halloween that she wanted to be Belle next year and she never changed her mind.  I couldn't believe it and I kept expecting her to change it but she never did.  She had her mind set and she made a beautiful Belle.  What a beautiful princess!

PVCC Kiddie Karnival

Our church does a Kiddie Karnival for Halloween instead of a Trunk or Treat and this was our first year to go.  Jeff, Sarah, Lydia, and Jack Henry met us there and the girls had a blast.  They have a bunch of little games or activities for the kids to do to get candy.  They also had face painting and a blow up slide for the kids.

Eden and Lydia before going in.  Are they not the cutest?

The girls trying to decide which candy to choose.  Decision, decision.

Two Disney princesses: Layne and Eden

  

Jack Henry as the Big Bad Wolf.  

Eden getting her face painted.  She wanted a butterfly.  It didn't last long though.  The poor girl who painted it didn't dry off the brush after rinsing it between colors so it ran off Eden's face.  It was a mess, but it was cute for the two seconds it lasted;)

After the Karnival we all went to eat at Jason's Deli.  We had a great night and the girls had so much fun together and loved showing off their costumes.