Amicalola Falls

This Saturday we headed up to the North Georgia Mountains to see the leaves changing. We ended up at Amicalola Falls in Dawsonville. It was beautiful. It was a short hike to the base. The kids loved it.

Yes, that is a truck in the trees. Saw it on the hike to the base

The boys at the base of the falls

There is a staircase at the base that you can take to the top. Yes, 425 steps. We decided why not and started up. First, thought I was going to die. Second, coming back down I discovered works a whole different set of muscles than going up. 850 steps later, my legs are sore today. I think next time, we'll drive to the top :)

At least I didn't have to carry Nolan like Jason did. Yes, he carried him the whole 425 steps.
Nicholas was a trooper and was the first one to the top.

View from the base...isn't it amazing

The family - after walking 850 steps!

Pumpkin Patch

Jason left work a little early yesterday to go read to Nicholas's class. That meant both him and Nicholas were home by 2:30. We took the opportunity to go up to Burt's pumpkin patch for the afternoon. I love Burt's! The kids were so excited to be heading there.

Nicholas and I on the hayride.

Nolan didn't want to join the picture as you can see.

Nicholas

Nolan tried to pick up every pumpkin. It was so cute.

He would try and say "no, too big"

This one was really too big!

Jason doing the heavy lifting

Brothers...my mom made the shirts.

We have gotten so many compliments on them.

Thanks Mom!

Blog Book

I started turning the past years of my blog into a book last night. I started with 2008. 5 hours later I was done and ordered the book. Once it gets here I will let you know how it turns out. The best part of it all was getting to relive 2008. I loved reading the old posts and looking at the old pictures and videos. The boys enjoyed it too. There was a video of Nicholas making Nolan laugh when he was a baby. It was so cute. Nolan kept looking at it, then at me, and saying "That's baby Nolan". Looking back makes you realize how fast time goes by. This year I have felt like I am just going through the motions of each day. I'm not really taking the time to enjoy it. After my visit to the past last night, I am going to try to change that. I don't want to look back 20 years from now and realize my kids are grown and I just went through the motions of raising them.

Here's the website I am using to create my book...www.blurb.com

My Sweet Little Nolan

This is a little late, but better late than never right? My sweet little Nolan turned 3 on September 30th. I can't believe that 3 years have passed since he joined our family. I still remember the day I found out I was pregnant. I looked up and thanked God for the baby growing inside of me. He is such a joy. I now know why my Mom still refers to me, the youngest, as her baby. When Nolan is 90, he will still be my baby.

So, my dear Nolan, thank you for the happiness you bring to our house. I love how you tackle everything head first and live life to the fullness. You have such an active imagination. I love listening to you play with your cars and of course your Teddy. You love your big brother and are always asking where "icholas" is. I love your laugh. It is contagious. I can't help but join in when I hear it. You love sports and will actually sit and watch golf with your daddy. You have your father's sweet tooth. One cookie isn't good enough for you. You have two hands, so should get two cookies right? Makes sense to me. Having Teddy in your hand doesn't stop you from getting those two cookies. You just switch him to your mouth to free your hands! I look forward to seeing you grow through the years, laughing along with you and supplying you with cookies :)

Baby Nolan

2 Years Old

3 Years old

Last Weekend

The Alexander's Saturday in pictures

Jason and Nolan - the chain gang at Nicholas's football game

The boys relaxed on the couch :)

We watched a blacksmith at the Atlanta History Center

We played colonial era children's games at the the Atlanta History Center

Ended the day by playing trains and pretended to be fireman

PJ and Pancake Day

I spent the morning helping out in Nicholas's class. Today was Pajama and Pancake Day! All the kids looked so cute in their Pjs. They are such a sweet group.

Reading if you give a Pig a Pancake while the Mommy's cooked pancakes.
Took awhile to cook them since we kept blowing fuses!

Me and Nicholas. Yes, I was cooking the pancakes on the floor. Because of the fuses, we had to spread out around the room to different plugs and this is where I ended up!

Yummy!

All the sponge bobs!

The whole class and the teachers

Nolan's Piston Cup Birthday Party

For Nolan's 3rd Birthday, we threw a Piston Cup Party at our house. It was so much fun! The kids had a blast. Enjoy the pics below.

The invite

Every Kid got a license to race

Sarge's Surplus. The kids got to pick out there cars

Ramone's - the kids decorated their cars and got tattoos

Race Track Table

The cake

Racing

Lined up - ready to race

Happy Birthday Nolan!