Saturday, December 6, 2008

Tyler and Natalie

The kids have been doing a lot of funny things lately...I'm not sure what the deal is. Tyler is going through the "why?" stage and it is driving me absolutely CRAZY! Everything is why this and why that...from why is it dark to why is daddy going to work...sheesh! I don't remember Natalie ever going through that stage. I guess his curiosity is a good thing - I expect he is learning a lot.
Tyler also is SO HYPER!! It's been coming on slowly but he is all over the place all the time. I feel kinda bad because we don't go out and run around much because we don't have a yard and I'm really bad about taking them to the park. So I guess he has to wear off all his energy somehow. But he is such a sweet boy and I still love it when he comes in my room first thing in the morning to snuggle with me. He pokes my face and giggles at me. Some day he'll stop bugging me so much and I know I'll miss it. So I enjoy every minute of it now.

Natalie is becoming such a little adult. I just read a post that Karen Scott wrote about her little girl saying "actually" and its funny because Natalie has been doing the same thing. Some of the things that come out of her mouth are so funny! I can see how she is developing her own personality and how she is applying things she hears to her own situations. I love her so much and am so excited for her to start school next year. She is so smart and I know she will do so well. She is such a fast learner and is very good at following directions. Hopefully this won't change when she goes to school!

That's all - just wanted to gush about my kids a little.
Tyler taking a nap with Buddy

Natalie "painting her nails" while we were going for a ride

Thanksgiving At The Downer's

It is a Downer family tradition to have everyone over for Thanksgiving at my parents house. Most of us kids still live in Henderson/Vegas so it isn't too difficult to get everyone together. Diana and her three little ones were able to come to town (from NJ) so the only ones missing were Mike, Renee and their kids. Dennis and Steph were there; Will, Leigh Ann and their three Greg, Madily, and baby William; Diana and her three Cody, Katie, and Jessica; Tina with Zach and Bonnie; me and Andy with Natalie and Tyler; Tim and Ally; Daisy and Mike; Bonnie; Clara Anne (although she had to leave early because she worked that day...bummer); and Jimmy. We also had my grandpa there for a total of 17 adults and 10 kids. WOW! We set up two long tables in the formal dining room where the adults ate and all the kids sat by the regular dinner table. Talk about a full house! We had lots and lots of fun. It was great to be able to have just about everyone there - and I don't even think we had any fights this year! Also a few days after Thanksgiving my mom and some of my sisters and I got to go to lunch together before Diana went back home. It was so great to be able to get out - just us girls! Thanksgiving is BY FAR my most favorite holiday and I can't WAIT for next year!!
My mom, cooking...

Cody and the snack trays

The kiddie table

The adult tables

Watching Wall-E with full bellies