A Busy Weekend!

This was an unusually busy weekend.  We hosted our annual Sigma Chi Christmas party Friday night.  It was a good turn-out and a great time.  Saturday morning, Raelee had orientation for Cheerleading and then it was time to set up for her birthday party starting at 4:00.  The girls had a great time!  We did tattoos, nails, hair extensions, make-up played games and chowed down on pizza and cupcakes.  A total of seven girls attended, with two spending the night.  Here are some pics to highlight their great time!

Sunday morning, we took Estrella home and the three tired girls (including Morgan) headed to church.  Sunday evening, my great friend Megan, her kids and her boyfriend and his kids came over for soup and sandwiches.  It was a great time and the kids had a blast!  This weekend... our 11th anniversary!!!

Baby Claire

I started watching this cutie patutie today and will through the month of December, three days a week.  She is so good!

Jordyn took this pic while we were waiting in carpool line

Getting the TREE

It's a tradition every year in our house to go somewhere and pick out a live Christmas tree to put in the basement.  I've always wanted to head to a tree farm and cut one down like the Griswolds, but I'm usually shot down with that idea.  Due to the rain, and our busy week coming up (watching sweet baby Claire, keeping Mason again three days a week, Christmas Party at our house on Friday, Raelee's bday party on Saturday and hosting dinner for friends on Sunday,) we needed to get it done!
So, we went to Lowe's.  Regardless, the kids still seemed to have a good time.

Nutcracker in a Nutshell!

Mason spent the night with Mamaw and Papaw Friday night while the girls headed to church for their annual elementary Christmas Party.  Mommy and Daddy enjoyed supper with the Murphy's at Havanna Rumba and some coffee afterwards. Saturday afternoon, Mamaw brought back little man after a night of fun, and (with the girls) we headed to Spaghetti Factory for supper and then the kid-friendly (shorter) version of the Nutcracker, called "Nutcracker in a Nutshell" at the Palace Theater.  The girls really enjoyed it, but I think they liked the scene around 4th Street live even better.  Now, they want to go back and ice skate and do a carriage ride!

Mason, Elmo & Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving holiday is always jam-packed with LOTS of food and fun.  This year, I attempted to be part of the contribution by cooking baked beans for the Hawkins' side, spinach dip and bread for the Bewley side and banana bread for Thanksgiving morning. Mom, Ann and myself began our "black" Friday shopping on "gray" Thursday as I like to call it due to early specials that really cramped our style.  We began on Thursday evening around 8:00 as we waited in line for Target before their 9 p.m. sale.  Mom and I didn't get back to my house until 7 a.m. on Friday morning.  We were pooped!  But, we got a lot of shopping done! I'm done altogether.  WHEW!

Here is a shot of Mason feeding Elmo bites of the banana bread.  He participated by licking the bowl of course. :-)

Over the Weekend...

Our weekends are always busy, but this past one was an especially fun-filled weekend. It began with the kiddos spending the night with Mamaw and Papaw Friday night while Mommy went to her friend Tina's house for shopping, eating, drinking and Christmas movies. Right up my alley!  Saturday, we headed to Etown to pick up the kids and that evening Jordyn had a birthday party to go to (her friend Camryn; and our neighbor.)  On Sunday after church, we headed to Etown to watch Poppy speak at an event he worked very hard on; the dedication of a new Veteran's Memorial located in the Elizabethtown Nature Park.  Following the dedication, Uncle Josh took Jordyn to the UofL basketball game where she received her first foam finger!  She loves this stuff!  While they were screaming for the Cards, the rest of us headed to Grammy and Poppy's house for a surprise retirement party for Aunt Kaye.  Next week, the fun really begins... 'Tis the Season!

Today, I took my very last final exam!  I have dedicated my time over the past year to the MAT program at Spalding.  What a ride this has been. It's hard to believe student teaching begins in a matter of weeks. I'm ready!

Happy Halloween!

The years seem to get better and better when it comes to Halloween.  The kids really enjoyed dressing up as Toy Story characters.  Mason, of course, was Buzz Lightyear, Raelee was Jessie and Jordyn was Little Bo Peep barbie. They were adorable!  It was a cold night, but that didn't stop them!  We walked around for a bit, while pushing Mason and Kennedy in the wagon.  Alecea and I took the little ones back home while Daddy and Uncle Josh drove Jessie and Bo Peep around to a few more houses.  It was cold!  We have enough candy to last us for years to come.  It's out of control!

To infinity and beyond!

Kennedy as a sweet strawberry

Go Cards!

Jordyn has stayed a true UofL fan. She joined her Uncle Josh at the game this past Friday night. It was a cold and rainy game, but she didn't seem to mind. She stayed the night with Uncle Josh, Aunt Alecea and Kennedy after the game since it ended so late. She made it through the end of the 3rd quarter, before she finally pooped out.

Falling Into Cuteness

Saturday, Mom and I took the kids to Jefferson Memorial Forest in an attempt to gain some updated pictures of the kiddos.  It was a task, to say the least.  Between the hills, small cliffs, mud and running, we were pooped when we left!  Fortunately, we were able to get a few cute ones!
Following our time at the park, we enjoyed some hot veggie soup, sandwiches and homemade pie to celebrate Mamaw and Papaw's birthdays, with Annie, Ryan and baby Claire.

Mason, Mason, Mason...

It's never a dull moment in the Hawkin's house.  This weekend proved to be no different.  Over the summer (pre-mono) I agreed to watch my neighbor's 3 and 5-year old daughters for one night as she traveled to Indy for her first full marathon.  The girls were great.  We went to the fall festival  at the girl's school, ordered pizza, had Halloween cookies and ended the night watching Madagascar 3.  The kids had a great time.  I was starting to feel pretty proud of myself on Saturday morning as I was managing to get the oldest three kids ready first, so we could be out the door by 9:15 to head to Jordyn's final soccer game for the season. After waking the three-year old up and giving her breakfast, Mason decided to join her at our kitchen table.  I was standing at the sink, ready to poor milk in a cup, when I heard the loudest "boom" and scream I have ever heard.  I rushed over and Mason was lying on the floor beside the curio cabinet in our kitchen.  It appeared he had hit the wood part.  I picked him up and he looked like he had been knocked silly.  As I was holding him, I realized he was bleeding on the back of his head.  When I looked at it, I nearly fell down.  It was wide open.  Raelee instantly began to scream.  She was so scared, bless her heart.  I told Raelee and Jordyn to get Claire (the three-year old) dressed.  I ran across the street to my other neighbor's house. I woke them up and asked if they could watch the four girls; that I was going to need to take Mason to the ER.  I was afraid to put him in the car seat, afraid he'd fall asleep.  Marty was at an event, so I called him to come home right away.  We rushed to the ER.  In the meantime, Grammy rushed to Louisville to get Jordyn and Raelee to the soccer game on time while my neighbor watched the other two I had kept for the night.  I called their grandmother who lives in our neighborhood, to come and get the girls early since she was keeping them over night on Saturday.  We got right in at the ER.  They did a CT scan which came back fine, numbed his head with a topical ointment and shots, cleaned out the wound and put in three staples.  It's never easy having to hold your baby down when they are screaming "Mommy" at the top of their lungs.  Amazingly, as soon as I picked him up when it was all over, he was perfectly fine.  And... when we got home he was ready to eat and never missed a beat.  We're happy it's behind us.  He is scheduled to have the staples removed by his pediatrician on Friday at 1:20.  I don't look forward to that either!  Daddy and I had a date night planned to attend a wedding for a friend of mine. That didn't work out.  Because we didn't want to leave him with a sitter, Marty stayed home with Mason and Mommy and the girls went to the wedding. It was outside and beautiful! 

Great Mamaw

It's amazing to step back and watch life through a 7 and 5-year old's eyes.  Sometimes this only comes to light when a great loss is witnessed.  The girls have been full of questions, prayers and even a little happiness after their Great Mamaw went on to heaven to be with the Lord.  I have been inspired by the strength I have seen in my mom and my aunt as they lean on God doing their best to move forward following their mother's passing.  Great Mamaw (Mamaw to Ann and I) passed away on Sunday, October 14th.  Her 85 years was lived loving children and being a wonderful mother, sister, daughter, wife, grandmother and friend to many.  She is in paradise where she no longer feels pain; this gives us peace.  We love you.

Baby Claire is Here!

YAY Baby Claire is here!  Well... it wasn't easy getting her here.  After 16 hours of labor and sticking at 7 cm dilated to ultimately be delivered via c-section, she's here and she's big and beautiful!  We were all shocked when our predictions of 6 and 7 lbs went out the window when Ryan announced that Claire Elizabeth born around 10 p.m. last night, weighed 8 lbs, 4 oz. and is 20 1/2 inches long!  Hello!  The baby belly is already gone as we're still not sure where she was hiding in there!

Mommy Did It!

If someone told me a year ago I'd be running a half marathon, I would have definitely considered them crazy.  While running has become something I enjoy, I really wanted to show the girls that if you put your mind to something, and work hard at it, you can do what you may even consider "the impossible."
I finished my first 13.1 in 2:03.  It felt great!

Jordyn Turns 6!

This past week and a half has been a very busy one to say the least.  Jordyn turned 6 on the 23rd, but we celebrated at Club Tabby on Saturday, the 22nd following a 10 a.m. soccer game she played until half time.  The girls' friend, Morgan, spent the night on Friday evening and joined us for all the fun on Saturday.  Friday night, Grammy and Poppy came to celebrate and gave Jordyn her American Girl, Makenna. She was so excited!  And, Mamaw joined the all girl fun at Club Tabby on Saturday.  Here are a few pictures...

Saturday evening Kennedy celebrated her first birthday!  It's so hard to believe it's been a year already!  Time flies!

UofK... It was a Heartbreaker

Following the soccer game, lunch and a birthday party (yes, it was quite the Saturday,) Raelee headed to Lexington with Daddy to watch the UofK / WKU football game. Thanks to cousin, DJ and Aunt Faye, they were able to score tickets and a parking pass. While the ending didn't turn out so well for the cats, Raelee had a great time with her old man.

Jordyn's First Soccer Game of the Season!

This past Saturday morning, Jordyn and team FIRE had their first soccer game of the season.  It was perfect weather!  She scored one goal on offense and made two excellent down field plays on defense.  She is quite the little soccer player and her team won!  After the game, we met Josh, Alecea and Kennedy (the big birthday girl) at Chick Fil-A for some lunch.  Stay tuned for more pics these season and even more to come on Raelee's end when she begins cheerleading soon!

Marker Mania!

This is Mason... This is Mason after he has handled a marker and a chocolate chip cookie in the same sitting.  Needless to say, both were delicious.

After I picked the girls up from school, we headed to the library to complete our homework (this is a much easier task BEFORE we pick up little man.)  Because Daddy is working late, we then picked up Mason and met our neighbors at McAlister's for KIDS EAT FREE night.  To keep him entertained during supper, Rachel provided Mason with a marker and paper.  The marker went in the mouth, of course... later we enjoyed some yummy cookies. 

The Fair

The girls insisted on hitting up the Fairdale Fair this past Friday night.  We first headed over to a really great little secret place to eat nearby, called Shack in the Back BBQ.  They had live music (which was excellent by the way) and delicious BBQ.  Here are a couple pics of the kids at the fair. Mason LOVED the cars!