Lights at Life

Every year, Life University puts up a BEAUTIFUL display of holiday lights (http://www.life.edu/Press_Room/2007_lights_of_life.asp). The displays are amazing and they play holiday music and bells. We started taking Allie and Ryan to see the display last year. This year, we made our first trip of the season right after Thanksgiving. We drove through the displays and then walked around to see the petting zoo (4 random goats) and holiday windows. We toasted marshmallows over an open fire...but Allie wouldn't eat her marshmallows. I think Ryan ended up eating about 10!! Santa was there for pictures as well. Allie told us 'I don't like Santa. I'm not going to sit with him'. Ryan wanted to go...but only if Mommy joined him. We have a cute picture of me and Ryan sitting on Santa's lap. Santa asked Ryan what he wanted for Christmas and Ryan responded, 'SPIDERMAN!'...schocker. We will probably go back through the display at least 2 more times before the holidays are over!

We tried to explain to Allie that she needs to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas or he won't know what gifts to bring her. She goes back and forth between saying that she will or will not sit with him the next time we see him. I guess only time will tell! Good thing there is no Chanukah man that she needs to tell...we just told Nana and Papa!

Sea of trees

Marshmallows roasting on an open fire...

Look, mommy, no hands!

Blurry because it was raining

Is it Chanukah yet?

Allie woke up on Friday morning, climbed into bed with me and said 'Is Thanksgiving over? Is it Chanukah yet?'. The Gaudion children are definitely ready for the holidays! We took out all of our Chanukah and Christmas decorations on Friday. The tree is up and everyone helped to decorate it.

Allie and Ryan LOVE this wooden Chanukah set. It includes a menorah, candles, frying pan, spatula, latkes, and gelt. They have been playing with it non-stop!
Ryan is going to help Uncle Jared make the latkes this year!

Here is a video of Allie and Ryan performing 'Happy Chanukah'...an original song.

Visit with Nana and Papa

We had a FUN week with Nana and Papa! We went to East Cobb Park to celebrate Lola's 2nd birthday...and to Chuck E. Cheese to celebrate Aiden's (early) 5th birthday!

Swinging Allie

Nana and Ryan DMC
Word to your mommy
Almost another broken hip moment
On the hunt for (fake) bugs at Lola's party
Uh-oh, Ryan is driving!
Holding on for dear life
Lauren and Bob
No pictures of Aiden. He was too busy helping Jared and Papa to win 1400 tickets playing SKEE-BALL!
TOOTSIE ROLLS FOR EVERYONE!

Happy Thanksgiving! - added pictures

GOBBLE GOBBLE!! Happy Thanksgiving! We had a full house today with 10 adults and 6 children (the oldest of which was almost 5yo). The kids were great and the food was delicious (if I do say so myself!) Allie and Ryan had fun playing with Aiden, Lauren, Amelia, and Mia.

Time to slip into my post-turkey-food-coma.

Happy Birthday Tess Lydia Berman!

Well, turns out BermbinO#2 was a Bermbina! Congratulations to Liz, Eric, and BIG BROTHER COLE on the arrival of Tess Lydia.

11/20/2007
7lb 14oz

We are so happy for you and we cannot wait to meet Tess in person!!

(p.s. If you recall, Allie's prediction several months ago was that the baby would be 'pink'...maybe she has ESPN?!??!)

I am thankful for...

This questions was posed to both Allie and Ryan in their preschool classes. They brought home a little card with their answers.

Ryan: My toys

Allie: The Rainbow

Allie's class recently finished a unit on colors, thus her response. I asked her in the car if she was thankful for anything else. She replied 'Apples'. Random, but sweet!

Allie's Birthday Festivities

Allie had a wonderful birthday. Thank you for all of the cards, phone calls, emails, blog comments and presents! Here is a slideshow of her birthday week, including her party at The Little Gym. I still cannot believe that she is 4!!

Happy 4th Birthday Allie!

Allie Skye is 4 years old! I cannot believe it! It seems like just yesterday that I was enduring a 48-hour induction after being a week over-due. Oh wait, I'm not supposed to make her feel bad about that until she is older! We are having Allie's party at The Little Gym on Saturday. For her actual birthday, she has requested that we visit the Georgia Aquarium. We will see Coach Cortez for swim lessons after which we will go to Sapporo for dinner. WASABI!!!!

Here are Allie's pictures from the last 4 years!

11/13/2003 - Just 2 hours old

November 2004 - Where is her hair??
November 2005 - 2 and not so terrible!
November 2006 - Happy to be 3
November 2007 - 4 and adorable!

Happy 4th Birthday to my sweet baby girl!

Visit with Baby B and Back to the beach

Wow, long time no blog! We have been BUSY since the start of November!!

Tara and Baby Benton flew ALL the way from Salt Lake City to visit us from Nov 4-8. We had so much fun! I was in Salt Lake City when Benton was 6 weeks old...he is now 6 months. He is sitting up, eating solids, rocking on his hands and knees (and going backwards!) and making ONLY vowel sounds! (hee hee). Allie and Ryan loved Benton. If Tara walked out of the room, Allie would say 'You forgot the baby!'. Of course Ryan had his moment when he shouted 'Put that baby DOWN, Mommy'. Such a mama's boy! We miss them TONS already but we are looking forward to (hopefully) seeing them for Benton's first birthday in April in SLC!

Homeboy and Robin (aka Benton and Ryan) like the TV

Allie was very sweet to Baby B
CHEERS!
Pre-bath (and pre-meltdown)
From Fame and Field Hockey to....



We drove to Hilton Head this weekend for a quick visit to 'the beach house'. It was about 70 degrees and sunny on the beach. The water was cold but that did not stop Allie and Ryan from having fun!

Digging in his clam-diggers

Beach Girl
Searching for sea-life
They were SOAKED!
Snuggled up for a snack!
And here is a link to MANY more pictures!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/carri.gaudion/BabyBAndBackToTheBeach

We have another busy week. The Bermbino #2 is due ANY DAY and a certain toddler is turning 4 on Tuesday!!!

On the way to school

As we entered the Wood Acres Parking lot this morning, Allie and Ryan had this exchange:

Allie: Bye, Ryan. I hope you have a good day at school. I will miss you today.
Ryan: Miss you too, Allie. Miss you too, Mommy!
Allie: Oh, I will miss you too, Mommy!

I love that they have these cute conversations!!!