Merry Christmas Yall!

Here's a peak at the 2009 Halford family Christmas card...plus a look at our 1st real family photo since the kids were born! Happy Holidays!

Oh the holidays....

As you can tell the holidays really get in the way of blogging. I so admire my friends that are able to post something nearly everyday. Wow...either they have really dirty houses and laundry to the ceiling or they are much better multi-taskers than I am. (Probably the later) I will try to do my best to keep updated through the holidays so that I am not posting a whole photo album come January.

We have been busy with holidays parties, traveling and getting ready for Santa Claus to come. We are so excited to get to spend xmas with my family and my nieces this year who are moving back home!!! I am sure I will have plenty of pictures of them after our trip. Until then we have lots to finish up around here.

As a photographer the last thing you seem to do is have your own families pictures taken (with you in them!). I needed to get a family picture made this year for my grandmother for xmas so we decided to take some pictures and hopefully have a good one to put on the xmas cards. Thanks to my awesome neighbor Allison we accomplished our first good family picture since the kids were born! I will wait a few more days to reveal the ones that we used for our actual cards, so that family can get theirs in the mail, but wanted to post a few on here today.

LOVE this of my boys!!!

Fall Fun

Here are some quick pics from the kids playing in the leaves last Thursday. I think you will love Elliot's evolution of a frown...

Our buddy Jake!

When you try to get 3 three yr olds to smile for you...

Mine & Ry's new favorite!

Halloween...we made it (mostly)!

If your new to the blog you need to know that EVERY year something hits our family and threatens our trick-or-treating festivities. This year it was high fever and a virus. We ended up missing going to daddy's office and trick or treating which is always a highlight of Halloween day. But this year our fevers broke the morning of Halloween and by golly, we were NOT going to miss it. Our neighborhood really celebrates Halloween so we were not going to watch from the front door.

The kids ended up having a blast and so did the adults! After walking the neighborhood (where Keaton would just open people's doors and yell "trick or treat") we came back and had a fire in the firepit in our driveway. All the kids ended up in our house eating candy and watching the kids newest addiction...old school Pink Panther! LOVE IT! Next time I am home I am getting Elliot my pink pompom. (My high school's fight song was a sped up version of the theme from the Pink Panther)

Needless to say it ended up being a great Halloween and the kids actually went to bed decently even though they had dined on candy since about 3pm! Here are some pics (in reverse order) of our day. Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween as well!

Ready to go with the neighbors!

We went by Memaw & Carl's before heading out. Of course they ended up on the golf cart!

"Surprising" Nena and Papa.

Finally a cute family pic and the kids won't cooperate!

Our AWESOME teachers Ms. Martha & Ms. Loren

Our Ms. Bickie...she's the best!

*We had every intention of going as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell but I found $4 costumes so we ended up having a lion and ladybug. Stay tuned for coordinating outfits next year (unless I find a deal)!

3rd Birthday...where'd the time go???

So we have been swamped with birthday activities and celebrating our 10th anniversary. October is always a crazy time of year for us!

The kids turned 3 on October 19th and I just wonder where my little babies went. Everyone says time flies and when your in the midst of multiple night feedings you think they are crazy. Many times in those first few months you think the days drag out forever. But I can tell you, looking back, I am missing those days already. Not so much the breastfeeding two people at one time but the quite, calm, non-trashing-my-house-every-two-minutes moments. Two's have been a whole different ball game for us and we praise anyone who tries to get through them with triplets or more!

I will be updating their stats in another post as we are not going to get to go for our well checkup tomorrow because we aren't well. Fevers, coughs, runny noses...welcome fall!

So sit back and enjoy the birthday pics.

Miss Hannah (Elliot's school buddy)

E & Cameron (her idol!)

Going down the slides will mess up your pretty doggie ears!

Party at Jump Zone (highly recommend!)

We separated the kids in the party room so Elliot felt like she had her own party and Keaton felt like he got his boy party. E chose Hello Kitty for her theme and Bubby of course chose baseball!

Most of our friends at the party...

Grammy and Memaw sitting in the birthday thrones.

Love this one!

E's matching Hello Kitty bows!

My big kids...(sigh)

My precious family...I am so blessed!

The present opening chaos!

Nena & Memaw

We got the kids bikes for their birthday presents.

Elliot was so excited to finally have her princess bike!

All Keaton wanted was a motorcycle-bicycle.

Only problem was this bike seat does not adjust. Not quite sure what kid is smaller than mine and needing a bike???

Keaton trying to "fic" it.

So we made a run to Wal-Mart and he picked out a new Tonka bike...with adjustable seat!

Thanks for the awesome shirts Miss Amanda!

E first bike wreck. Yes she was fine...just a little drama queen.

K's first wreck...he was fine too!

Does this look like a tough kiddie gang or what? This pic cracks us up!

Birthday night dinner.

Nena and Papa

Finally, this is one of Elliot's bday presents (thanks Kaffie!). She had to put it on and wear it all evening. YES...she did her own hair!

*Just a quick note for all you NWA mommas...Jump Zone is a awesome place to have a birthday party. They literally take care of everything so all we had to do was enjoy the party. They also have open jump on Wednesday from 10-1pm for younger kids. Admission is only $5.

The Things to Never Forget...

As most of you know, I originally used this blog to journal the raising of my kids since I am a terrible at physically journaling and knew I would never get around to baby books. So occasionally I will be posting things the kids say or do that I just happened to over hear or see. Luckily for you all these are becoming all to numerous occurrences with Miss Elliot.

For example, this morning we were getting ready for school this morning and I was brushing Keaton's crazy hair. E tells me the following: "Momma, be careful brushing Teton's hair. He is grouchy and may try to fight you."

This afternoon I was upstairs picking up and the kids were down when I hear E tell K "Teton, you better put your underwear on before daddy gets home and spanks you with the hammer!"

Now, I will say we have never spanked our kids with an object more or less a hammer! Things that these kids say sometimes!

Welcome New Peekaboo Readers!

For those of you just checking our blog out for the first time, WELCOME! Thank you for taking the time to read the twin edition of Peekaboo magazine as well as jumping over to our blog. I hope you will continue to find stories about Keaton and Elliot that make you laugh...just hopefully no more poop stories!

I mentioned the Ultimate Crib Sheet in my story in Peekaboo. Here is a picture of what I am talking about. You can only get them at Babies-R-Us, in store or online. I promise this is the best investment any mother can make. It also makes a great gift! Check it out if you get a chance.

I can't wait to begin our journey into the 3s! Stay tuned...

IT'S HERE...

Well its finally here! Recognize these two?

For family & friends, I am getting copies so I will send you one as soon as I get it.

For my blog followers, I will be back in full swing! At the end of our story in their magazine, Peekaboo posted the address for this blog. So get ready to live life along side me and these crazy kiddos of mine. I've missed yall!

Big News!

Massive post of summers pics coming soon but 1st...

Guess who is going to be cover models for a local children's magazine???

Too bad we can't just use this pic. I snapped this quickly before we headed out to our 1st shoot. Our cover shoot will be Friday. I will be sure and post the final cover once it is ready. Yes family, I will get plenty of copies so you can have one!

Some funnies I don't want to forget...

The other day we were swimming and bubba started to sing his ABCs.  I got so excited because he has never spontaneously started singing them on his own, yet alone sing them all the way through.  When he was done and I was cheering with pride, Elliot grabs my arms, turns me towards her and proclaims "NO Momma, that's MY song!"

Just today....oh your gonna love this...I found the kids sitting on the toilet together with their feet in the water.  When I asked them what they were doing Elliot tells me that they are "playing hot tub"!

Yesterday Elliot had all her animals lined up and was playing zoo.  She decided to put a stage in front of them out of blankets so she could perform for them.  I hear her announce...."Ladies & Junglemen".  Not sure if this is confusion of vocabulary or if she is smarter then we know!

I've been meaning to write down all the things they are saying now because it is too funny sometimes but as you know I am a HORRIBLE journaler (and blogger lately).  So here are a few so I don't forget them...

Somescream=Sunscreen  (E)

Swimsoup=Swimsuit (E)

Tick, tick, tick, BOOM=??? (K)

Baeball-Baseball (K)

nocone=Snowcone (E&K)

Bunkie=Blankie (K)

Nemanade=Lemonade (K)

Wewie=Leslie (E&K)

Nina=Nana....looks like she is gonna be Nina instead! (E&K)

Kappy or Kafy=Kathy

Papertowl=toilet paper

Who talk?=Who are you talking to on the phone momma and not paying attention to us?

Of course I can't think of more when I actually sit down to write them out.  I will add more as I remember or hear them say it since we talk non-stop all the time now!

Here are some pics for you to catch up on...

Rockin' the new bangs...

Love this pic...

Loves her some sweets!

Love that they are mirroring each other here.

Nothing better than wet, grassy, summer feet

Playing in the sprinkler

She posed on her own for this!

Showing me her sad face.

I promise I did not stage these....all her!

1st slip-n-slide experience

Finally found something that matched!

I have this exact picture of me when I was little.

Best buds....usually

She loves the doggie ears.

Be back soon with pics from the 4th of July!

I'm Coming Back!

Wow....I didn't realize how badly I had neglected the 'ol blog.  I have so many stories to catch up on (moving to the hell that is toddler beds, easter with the cousins, school, swimming, potty training).  Maybe that is why I have felt like I have been losing my mind....because I haven't had my blog to vent to.  If you know me you know I always have good intentions of journaling for my kids but I slowly realized that I kept most of their memories on this blog.  Its also good to know that this blog holds me accountable to getting my camera out and using it!  

So for all of you that have wondered... I am still alive, the kids are great, Ryan is great and I promise I will be back on (hopefully) a more regular basis.  

For now, here are a few pictures to tide you over...

Prayers for my family

I ask for your prayers tonight for my family, especially my Aunt Barbara and cousins Kim, Kristi & Keri.  My uncle lost his battle with cancer and our hearts are breaking for their loss.  I can promise you this though, Heaven got a lot funnier tonight and I know that God is so excited to have him home!  

Thank you blog family!  

I know...I know...I know

Shocked to be hearing from me huh?  I promise I will update soon with lots of funny stories, the toddler bed saga that I have promised you, what all funny things the kids are saying these days and some self pity from the week of ice we are currently having.  

Ok...one quick Elliotism...

The other night we were watching the Golden Globes and she kept saying "Oh Momma...she 'necked'!".  We realized she was saying this anytime someone came on wearing a strapless dress.  Atleast at 2 she has some modesty in her!  (Let's just hope it stays that way when her and her daddy are fighting over what dress she wants to wear to prom!)

For a quick fix for my family, here are some pictures from the ice storm this week.  Enjoy and I'll be back soon!  

Daddy likes to bake when its cold out....E likes to help!

We LOVE to brush our teeth!

Getting ready to head out...just need shirts...

Not to sure what to do in gloves with no fingers...

Tasting the snow...

See the snow ball?  We gave him one and he immediately somehow knew to throw it at E!

View from our window...

We ended up with about 2 inches of ice topped of by 1/2 inch of snow.

Pool at the Nana & Papas....couldn't see the pool but the hot tub was nice!!!

Quick Hit/Merry Christmas!

know....I owe yall a story and trust me, I will update that soon. For now, just trying to get through the holidays in one piece and trying to figure out why when we just start to get well, someone breaks out a new fever. Have I mentioned....I HATE WINTER!!!

Wanted to post some cute pics of the kids from last night. We were invited out to Memaw's house for dinner and the kids got their gift from her and Carl. They got this adorable Crayola art easel and they just love it! I even found washable dry erase markers today but found Keaton eating the chalk like it was a candy cigarette. Oh well, can't win 'em all.

I promise to update soon and the hell that is transitioning to toddler beds and about my new camera! Yep, I upgraded and cannot wait to play more with my new toy. More on that, along with lots more pics to come!

Merry Christmas everyone! Take some time to remember and reflect on who we are celebrating this holiday season and the magic that was the birth of our Redeemer!

So 2007 but still funny!

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