Thanksgiving

The Fitt's Family of 4 decided to have a Thanksgiving away from home this year...just the 4 of us. And it was wonderful!!! We (I) decided that after almost 10 years of hosting/cooking Thanksgiving dinner, we were going to let someone else have the honors. That would be Callaway Gardens!!!

We went over to Pine Mountain, Georgia Wednesday afternoon. Got there in time to get settled in our room at the Callaway Garden Inn (next time we will spend a little more money to have a little more room in the cabins), eat some dinner and then it was off to the Fantasy in Lights. It was drizzling a little bit but not too bad. The boys got to see Santa in the Christmas Village and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. We got a little Christmas shopping done before our tram left the station. At 8:00, we loaded onto our tram and drove through the lights in the park. It was about an hour long. Precious little Jack sang all of the Christmas carols that he knew. It was too cute! Most of the words were not correct, but I loved every bit of it!!

After the tram ride, we had hot cocoa on the beach and watched the nativity story in lights over the water. It was beautiful. We then headed back to our cozy little hotel room to get some sleep.

Thursday morning we woke up late and lazed around watching the Thanksgiving Day parade. On my bucket list is to see the parade in person. Maybe in the next few years while the kids are still young. We had lunch reservations at 12:30 at the Lodge and Spa. We had the most wonderful Thanksgiving feast you could have - and I didn't have to cook it!!! Precious Mason decided that we needed to go around the table and tell 2 things (only 2 things - he would cut you off if you went further than the 2) that we are thankful for. I wish I could remember what the boys said... Once we were all fat and happy, we walked around a bit and then hit the road to get back to Bham to pick up Dan's friend from the airport who had flown in to go to the Auburn Alabama game the next day.

In honor of Thanksgiving, let me leave you with my list of things I am thankful for:
My Health
My family
the health of my family
an adorable/funny/devilish 4 year old that puts spice in our lives
a sweet/caring/smart/sensitive 7 year old that makes us laugh nonstop
a husband that will go to plays like Fiddler on the Roof with me without complaining
Florida beaches
hot showers
Christmas music
a warm coat
a great church
great friends who love our kids almost as much as we do
Publix brownies
My washer and dryer (although I sure would like a front loader!!)
hugs
snuggle time at bedtime
giggles
Christmas movie classics
Movie and pizza night in the Fitts living room

***my 7 year old turns 8 on Thursday!!!

Running, hitting and sleeping

I took Friday off of work so that I could go and watch Mason's Boosterthon Fun Run. Dan always gets to go watch and I have not been able to swing it in the past, so I was really looking forward to it. They had the fun run at 8:00am Friday morning where the temps were in the 40s...COLD! It was also "Crazy Hair" day for Mason's class. He had me give him a mohawk and spray paint it blue and green.

Here, his class is running out onto the field.

Here are the Mom's freezing waiting to see the boys come out on the field. Carolyn (Thomas' Mom), me, Deborah (Connor's Mom), and Millie (Stewart's Mom)

And here is a picture of Mason's crazy hair!!



Now, onto the USS Alabama. We got up early Saturday morning to leave for Mobile, AL. The Cub Scouts were going to spend the night on the ship...how cool!!! They do not allow females on the ship after 8:00pm so, Jack and I stayed in the Battleship Inn while Mason and Dan stayed on the ship. I think I really got the better end of the stick!!

When we got there, we went straigt to the Berth's (bunks) to "stow" their gear. here are a few pictures of the berths.





Here Mason is shooting one of the big guns.



AND...Dan shooting the guns. I think he had as much fun as Jack and Mason. Such a boy thing!!



Mason and Dan woke up EARLY Sunday morning...at 6:00 am. They came to the hotel and got Jack and I up. We ate breakfast, did a little exploring in Mobile and then hit the road.

We got back to Birmingham just in time for Jack's last t-ball game. I finally got a picture of him in his uniform looking all cute.


Below is a good picture of Jack throwing the ball, a team picture, and a picture of him with his great coach!!





T-ball has been great for Jack this season! He has done really well and seemed to really enjoy it.

We are now starting Basketball for Mason with Upward. Jack wants to play basketball, but is still too young. Next year he will be able to play.

Mason's first away game!

Dan and Mason went last weekend to Knoxville, TN for the Alabama v Tennessee game. This was Mason's first away game. I have to admit I was a little nervous! Home teams are usually not very friendly to their visiting competition. But...they had a great time with very few displays of bad sports-man-ship. They drove up early Saturday morning, right after Mason dropped Dan's new iphone in the toilet. They went to the game and spent the night in Knoxville. Mason thought it was VERY cool that they did not go to bed until 1am!! So, Sunday they slept in a bit and started out to come back home. Jack was not very happy that he had been left out so we had some fun of our own. I took him to see a Thomas movie at the movie theater (or as Jack says it, movie-ater). It was at that point that I discovered that he has outgrown Thomas. Oh well... We followed the movie up with some ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery! Yum!

Here Mason is ready to leave the house for Knoxville.


Mason warming up to the competition!!


And here is Mason up in the stands. Thanks Charles for the tickets!!!!


Monday night we carved our pumpkins. We each picked out our own pumpkins at the Old Baker Farm...pictures to come...
I gave both boys a marker to draw a face on their pumpkins and then Dan and I would carve them out. Jack's was pretty funny to say the least. His looked like a Picasso!! Neither kid would clean out the pumpkins...so guess what Mom got to do?!?!?!?




Notice Jack ON the island?!?! I guess he felt he needed to get up close and personal!!

Halloween will be celebrated on Saturday night here in Helena. I am glad so that we don't have to worry about getting home early and getting to bed for school the next day. We are having Roy, Angela and their kids over to trick or treat. This will be the 7th Halloween that we have celebrated together. Started when Mason and Harrison were babies...it's a tradition that we love!

We will swing by a friends house for a little pre-trick or treating party with food and games and then the whole gang (6 families) will hit the streets in search of candy. Should be a lot of fun. We are supposed to have GREAT trick or treating weather. Clear and cool!!! I remember the first few years that we trick or treated with the kids, we would get home and strip them down to their diaper/underwear to keep them from having a heat stroke. Alabama weather is VERY unpredictable. It could be shorts weather or snow suit weather.

Hope everyone has a great (safe) Halloween and check back next week for Halloween pictures of my Mummy and Pirate!!

T-ball

Oh my! T-ball...what can I say except that it is wet-your-pants hilarious!!! Jack is really enjoying it which is great seeing as the last sport he played was a disaster. In t-ball, you see kids running the wrong direction, running straight to 2nd base, running to catch the ball they just hit, and just general cuteness!!!


Jack has been playing the pitchers mound which means he is the first line of defense! He has been told to do whatever he needs to do to stop the ball from going past him. He takes his job seriously!! (unless he is too busy playing in the dirt!). This boy and dirt are becoming an inseparable relationship which I don't like at all. The kid loves the dirt on the field and makes sure he takes as much home with him/on him that he possible can. My washing machine groans when it sees little man coming with his baseball uniform on. But who can resist this little cutie???


Jack has been keeping us laughing a lot lately. He has some great one-liners! The other day I was picking up Mason from school and there is a cemetery across the street from the school. They were digging a hole for a new member of the cemetery club and Jack asked what they were doing. I told him they were digging a hole for someone who must have died. His response was "who shoot her?". Apparently Jack thinks that the only way to die is if someone shoots you.

Mason just finished up flag football and is about to start basketball. I think this child would play all sports at the same time if we allowed him to. He loves sports...any sport! He is also busy with his cub scouts. We have been camping twice this year since school started. Both times were a lot of fun. Looks like there will be a lot of camping in our future. Cheap and fun. Who needs to sleep anyway???

In two weeks, on our anniversary, we will be down in Mobile with the cub scouts seeing the USS Alabama. The boys get to spend the night on the ship. Mason cannot wait. I think Dan CAN wait! Jack and I will be sleeping in a nice comfortable bed in a nice comfortable hotel just feet from the ship. I wonder if we will have a defector in the middle of the night...Dan.

Our lives are extreamly busy right now, but we would not change any of it...we are loving everything we are doing...except maybe work.

Halloween next weekend! We are going to have a mummy and a pirate hitting the streets. I will post pictures.

Everyone have a great weekend!!

Summer coming to an end.

Boo Hoo! That is what I have to say about Summer coming to an end! During summer, I get to sleep late because there is no morning traffic. I get to leave the house without having to get anyone ready but myself. I get to come home and not worry about getting kids to sports or helping kids finish homework. ALL of that coming to an end. Boo Hoo!

But...moving on...Mason will be starting 2nd grade. His last year in the Elementary School. Jack has one more year before he will start Kindergarten (Hope you are ready Ms. Hughey!) We are going to be playing flag football (Mason) and T-ball (Jack). I just hope that t-ball goes better than soccer did last year.

A preview of the summer. Mason went to boy scout camp at Oak Mountain for a week in June and had a great time. He learned to shoot bb guns and bow and arrows. He made lots of crafts, hiked, played games and sweat a LOT. It was H O T!
Then I flew with the boys to Indianapolis for a week to visit with my parent, Michelle and her family. We had fun! Dan went on a fishing trip while we were gone.

Here are a few pictures to show what has been going on the last few months.

Here is Jack playing at Dan's store. Using scissors...obviously I was not there... because as everyone knows, scissors are off limits to Jack!!!

Mason and his first grade teacher, Mrs. Brown. We LOVED Mrs. Brown!!!

4th of July, waiting for the fireworks in Old Town Helena.

We are headed to the Elementary School on Tuesday to meet Mason's new 2nd grade teacher, Ms Henderson. School starts back full time on Thursday.

We are excited to see what this next school year brings us...hopefully I will find time to keep you all posted.

Baseball, baseball and more baseball...

What have we been up to you ask? Baseball, scouts, school and work. Mason is about 1/2 way through his baseball season and is LOVING it. I am kind of sad about that...I wanted him to not like it very much because I liked watching him play soccer. I rather liked the idea of being a "Soccer Mom". However I am enjoying watching baseball this year. Jack is finally to a point where he can play for short periods so that I can watch Mason play. It is a nice change from him crying as soon as we get to the ball park that he wants to go home.

Mason is playing center field. He does pretty well as long as he can stay focused. It is sometimes hard to stay "in the game" when you are out in the field. I am happy to say that he has let very few balls past him and has a great throwing arm to get it into the bases to make a play. (are you impressed with all I know?...you should be). He is batting about 850, which I think is pretty good. AND, it does not hurt that he has a great team this year with a lot of nice parents that are fun to talk to during practice and the games. We have only had one injury this season when Mason got cut off at 2nd base and ran into the 2nd base man and then fell on his arm. He was good as new by morning...thank goodness.

Now, for a few pictures...

And onto Jack. Jack is now a 4 year old!!! I am holding back tears! My baby is no longer a baby and it is killing me. I love that he is becoming an independent self sufficient kid, but I miss having a baby around...yes I did say that! BUT...not enough to have another baby! Jack has been doing really well at school staying on Green. He has been doing great!

Jack had to go to the ENT recently because we have been noticing that he is not hearing all that we are saying and saying "what?" a lot. Well, the ENT has tested his hearing and where his "readings" should be 1.25, Jack's readings are .64 in one ear and .73 in the other ear. The child cannot hear! He has fluid in both ears that is preventing him from hearing. Apparently, the fluid has been there for some time but not causing ear infections....so we had no idea. We have one last ditch try to keep him from having ANOTHER set of tubes...nose spray. If the nose spray does not work, we will be going in to have his 3rd set of tubes put in. We are pros! The downside to the nose spray is that it is effecting his behavior. As I said above, he has been on Green for months. The day we started the nose spray, he was on red. Oh my! Do we tough out the behavior in hopes that the nose spray keeps him out from under the "knife"? We decided yes, we (and the daycare) are going to tough it out. Wish us luck!!!

Jack also had a birthday this past weekend. We took him to his MOST favorite place in Birmingham, Chuck E Cheese. It also happens to be my LEAST favorite place! But, Jack had a great time. We invited the Binkerds to come meet us and that was the extent of his birthday attendees. Here are some pics for your viewing pleasure.

The Beach...the good, the bad and the sad

We are at the beach this week!! (Pictures to follow...I promise).
We came down to Navarre Beach Saturday and are leaving tomorrow...boo hoo!

In one week at the beach, we have...
Eaten LOTS of good seafood
Spent several ALL DAY days on the beach
Attempted a week of no-naps for Jack (worked out surprisingly well)
ALL slept to at least 9:30 EVERY morning. I know, a REAL vacation!!
Spent an afternoon flying kites...and chasing kites that Jack let go of.
Played putt putt twice at the coolest putt putt place in Florida! (straight out of the 50s)
Watched a bunch of fish meet their maker as they were cut up after a fishing trip
Watched Jack go from not wanting to touch the sand to burying himself in sand
Meeting two very nice families who live within 5 minutes of us back home...small world.
Watched Mason learn how to effectively eat Crab legs...yummy
Eaten breakfast on our porch overlooking the Gulf of Mexico 6 times.
And lastly, we got some VERY sad news from back home.

Tuesday morning, I got a phone call from my Dad that my Grandmother had passed away. The Grandmother that used make me hot cocoa when I did not feel well. A grandmother that took me on a trip of a lifetime to China and Greece. A Grandmother that NEVER forgot my birthday, anniversary or any birthday of my husband and kids. A Grandmother that called just to say she loved us. A Grandmother that would clean my house from top to bottom when she visited just so that she would feel useful. The warmest, kindest, smartest Grandmother anyone could ever ask for. I am very sad that I will never see my Grandmother again, but happy for her that she is reunited with my Poppy, Auntie Jo, Dave, and all the others that I know she missed a bunch. As my Mason put it, "I am sad that Grandma is gone, but happy to know she is with Jesus now".

Now we go home to the "Real World". Not MTV's Real World, but the Fitts' Real World. The real world of baseball ALL THE TIME, school, homework, WORK, no beach out our back door...oh how are we ever going to make it!!

Mason and Dan have a scouts camp out next weekend that Jack and I WERE going to go on, but I think it is too soon for Jack and he would have to miss two birthday parties if he and I went along. So he and I are going to stay home for this one. Then the following weekend we are going to Pigeon Forge, TN to meet up with Michelle and her family and my parents for Easter weekend. I am excited for that...to see and be with everyone. Especially now after the passing of Grandma. I think it will be nice for us all to be together.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and I hope to get pictures on here by Sunday afternoon.
That is if I can stop watching New Moon long enough to get back on the computer. My copy is supposed to be on my door step tomorrow morning. Yeah!!

Snow???

Well, we (Mason, Jack and I) are at home today anxiously awaiting the "snow" that we are supposed to be getting, the "snow" that closed all the schools in the Birmingham area.

Can I just say, we better get some blasted snow!!! And we better get enough snow that we can go out and play in and spend some pent up energy!!! Otherwise, cocktail hour will come early in the Fitts house!!! :)

We (Birmingham) are in the 7th or 8th consecutive day of below freezing, so if "snow" does actually appear, it will be a big mess for us Southern folk! And can I just say Saturday morning when we are going to Mason's basketball game, the actually temp will be 8!!! Who knows what the wind chill we be!

And in other Fitts news...don't look for anyone to answer the phone tonight as Alabama fights for the National Championship. Let's all say it together now people...Roll Tide!! Boy do I wish I was in Pasadena, CA in the 70 degree weather.