Merry Christmas

We hosted Christmas this year at our house. Amber's parents drove down from Ohio. We were also blessed to have my brother, Aaron, his wife, Virginia, and their children with us as well. We rounded out our crowd with my sister, Jessica, from Nashville. It was a wonderful holiday. The weather was warm and beautiful. (Pictured: My mom, Virginia, My dad, me)

Ethan got a Columbus Bluejacket's Hockey Jersey with his name on it. He loves it! He also got a pair of rollerblades from his grandparents. He got a pitchback to practice catching his baseballs from mom and dad. I think his favorite was the first season of Wonder Woman on DVD.



Tyler got everything Thomas the Train. His papa also got him a punching bag with boxing gloves. (Thanks, Dad!) Chris got me a new Coach purse and I love it!

It was great to have Aunt Jessie here for the holidays. She had a great time playing with all of the kids. (Pictured: Ethan, Ireland, Riley, Tyler, Aiden, Aunt Jessie)

Horsing Around

We went to South Carolina to visit Chris' parents for Thanksgiving. The boys had a great weekend, spending time with their grandparents. Ethan got to ride the big horse. He seems to be a natural. He did a great job steering the horse and did not seem scared at all. Uncle Jamie came out and took Ethan and Cousin Dylan on the four wheeler.

Tyler got the ride the minature horse, Cupcake. He loved the horse and was feerless. While we were there, Papa bought a pony and a wagon for the kids to ride around in. They both seemed to love it. Chris is taking the boys back to visit next weekend and the boys are going to ride in a Christmas parade with the new pony and wagon.

I'm sorry the postings are a little sporadic. I went back to work at the beginning of November. I am teaching math at the local high school. Our schedule is very busy, but it is nice to be back at work. Tyler is attending a local preschool and he loves it! I am really looking forward to Christmas break!

Happy Thanksgiving

Things have been rather hectic around here. I went back to teaching two weeks ago. Cleveland High School offered me a temporary math position. I am filling in for a teacher on maternity leave. Tyler loves his new school. He attends La Petitie Academy. He talks all the time about "Tyler's school."

Ethan's school had a Thanksgiving day program and dinner for the families. Since I am working, I was unable to attend, but Chris went. Chris said that the kids sang a song and read a poem. Ethan was so excited that his father was there.

We are headed to South Carolina next weekend for the holidays. The boys are excited about seeing their grandparents. I hope the weather is nice so the boys can ride horses.

Happy Halloween

Ethan and Tyler were the Lone Ranger and Tonto for halloween this year. Ethan was so excited because he had guns with his costume. We took the kids to the YMCA on Friday night for their celebration. There were games and food. Ethan loved the big blow up toys that he could jump on. Tyler was the hit of the event with his wig.

On halloween night we went across to our neighbor's house to trick or treat. We then went to a big party at First Baptist church. The boys has such a good time. We definitly missed all of our family and friends.

Fall Break
I took the boys to Ohio for a quick weekend. Ethan had Friday off school for Fall break. I'm sorry to all of our friends we didn't get to see. It was too quick of a weekend. We went to Young's Dairy on Saturday with Aunt Virginia, Cousin Ireland, Riley and Aiden. Mama and Papa Douglass took us. We had a good time. Tyler loved the train ride. He rode it twice. Ethan visited the batting cages and got hit on the hand with the third pitch. After a few tears, he was fine. We celebrated Tyler's birthday and he got alot of Thomas the Train stuff. We also celebrated Papa Dick's birthday by going to Dave and Busters. Happy 58th Papa! We love you!

Tyler's 2!!!

Tyler had his second birthday on October 12th. He had an all Thomas the Train birthday. He is obsessed with trains. We just had a small party at home with our immediate family. The day after his birthday he climbed up on the kitchen counter and pulled the rest of his cake onto the floor. It landed frosted side down. I was not very happy. He didn't understand why we had to throw the cake away. He now walks around the house and says "Tyler two." He is talking so much; now if he would only grow.

Field Trip

Chris worked from home so I could go with Ethan's Kindergarten class to the Pumpkin farm. We had a great time. Ethan was so excited to ride the bus. We went on a hayride and got to choose a pumpkin out of the field. This took a long time because the little girl in my group did not like any of the pumpkins. I would suggest one and she would reply " no, I can find a better one." We were the last ones to get back on the hey wagon.

Ethan had an opportunity to feed a baby goat and pet a baby pig. He then led his class through a grass maze that had several tasks. We had to sing the alphabet and do jumping jacks, just to name a few. When we got to the end, we all took turns ringing the bell.

After we left the pumpkin farm, we went to a local park and ate lunch and watched the kids play. It was a good day, but very tiring.

A-maze-ing


We went to a corn maze on the Ocoee River last weekend. We spent about an hour in the maze and only completed half of it. It was a real adventure with the boys. Tyler decided it would be fun to stomp on a fire ant hill in the middle of the maze. Chris and I had to strip him down and shake his clothes out.



Tyler's favorite part of the day was riding the cow train. Ethan loved the soy bean maze that was in the shape of Tennessee. We walked through the soy bean maze and would stop at different cities to collect stickers of famous people from Tennessee.



Chris and I both enjoyed the hay ride. There was a very nice farmer who took the time to tell us all about the animals. He also let Tyler get an up close view of the tractor. We dressed for cool, fall weather, but it was in the eightys. I don't know if it will ever get cold here.

Cowboy Up

We went to South Carolina this weekend to visit Chris' family. Ethan spent the entire weekend at a Rodeo with his Grandfather. Ethan helped papa judge the rodeo. He got to sleep in the horse trailer with his cousins Dylan and Dallas. Tyler got to go shopping with Grandma for choo choo's.

Chris and I went to the University of South Carolina football game on Saturday night with his brother, Keith. We had a great time tailgating. We got to watch the Ohio State football game out of the back of a pick up truck. Go Bucks!!

The Little Rebels

We went to Chickamauga, Georgia over the weekend to see a Civil war battle site. There were tanks and the boys loved to see the men fire them. They were very loud. We went downtown and got to see some camp sites. There were soldiers from the North and the South. Our neighbor let Ethan borrow this civil war outfit. Chris told our neighbor that it is the wrong color. (Even though we moved to Tennessee, we still are northerners.)

Pictures of the Boys

Aunt Jessie

Now that we live in Cleveland, Tennessee, we are closer to Amber's sister. Aunt Jessica lives in Nashville. We have driven over to Nashville a few times and she has come over to Chattanooga to visit us. When she came to Chattanooga we took her to the Aquarium downtown. She was only here for a day, so it was a short visit. We love you Aunt Jessie!!

S'more Camping Fun


We went to Lake Cumberland for Labor Day to camp with Amber's family. We met Grandma and Grandpa Douglass there with Uncle Aaron and his children. Ethan loved riding bikes with Ireland and Riley. Cousin Aiden and Tyler were often mistaken for twins. The kids were really good. We sat around the camp fire at night and told scary stories and made s'mores. Riley tells the best stories!








It was too cold to swim, so we went to a train station nearby. We rode an open air train through the mountains of Kentucky and visited an old coal mining town. Tyler spent the entire time talking about the "Choo Choo's in 'Tucky." We had so much fun!

Aunt Kelly & Grandma Caldwell

Aunt Kelly and Grandma Caldwell came to visit us this weekend. Kelly had a training class in Knoxville so they came early to spend some time with us. We took them to the aquarium in downtown Chattanooga and then to the Tortilla Factory to eat. The boys had so much fun with them.

Aunt Kelly is in the military. We are very proud of her service to our country. She currently helps soldiers with their orders. Ethan is very impressed with the fact that we have an army person in our family. He had fun chasing and running from Aunt Kelly. He even woke her up with a pillow fight.





Grandma and Grandpa Caldwell got Ethan his first real baseball outfit. He started baseball practice this week. He loves the pants, socks, and new shoes that Grandma helped pick out. He can change the color of his shoes to match his team color. Look for upcoming picutures of his games.

BMX Rider

Ethan recently took up the sport of BMX racing. There is a free track a few minutes from our house. We visit the track about once a week. Ethan hasn't competed in a race yet. He is still getting comfortable with all of the hills and turns. The first time he visited the track, he fell at least four times. He didn't realize how hard you have to peddle to make it up some of the steep hills. After his first time around, he did great. We were fortunate that there was an experienced biker there who gave Ethan some tips and encouraged him.

Ethan's grandma and grandpa in Ohio bought him a new BMX bike for his birthday present this year. Ethan was so excited to try it on the track. The bike even has pegs on the front for tricks. I don't see Ethan doing and jumps or wheelies any time soon. Since baseball starts next week, Ethan probably won't race with his bike this year, but look out next summer. Tyler brought his tricycle to the track and showed off his moves. Chris helped Tyler down one of the smaller hills. Chris wants to get his own bike now so he can ride with Ethan. He often rides Ethan's bike around the track. Crazy!

Pardon Me Boys...


Today we went to the Chattanooga Choo Choo. Since we only live 20 minutes from Chattanooga, we felt obligated. It also happens that Tyler is obsessed with trains right now. The Choo Choo is now a Holiday Inn, but it is still fun to visit. There are several trains for the kids to climb on and we had the chance to ride a Trolley around the complex. Ethan was in charge of ringing the trolley bell when we reached the intersections. There is also a model train museum that the kids enjoyed.




After a few hours at the Choo Choo, we climbed aboard the downtown free shuttle and went to the waterfront to eat and visit the aquarium. Tyler and Ethan love going and seeing the sharks. We are discovering so much to do in Chattanooga. It really is a great city.

First Day of School

Ethan started school today. He was very excited. He is in Mrs. Gibson's Kindergarten class at Mayfiled Elementary. Chris went into work late so the entire family could take Ethan to school. It was a great morning. Mrs. Gibson showed Ethan where to hang his backpack and where to put his lunch box. He sat right down and began working on Tanagram puzzles. He must have a math teacher for a mom :) When he seemed settled, Chris and I left. Tyler yelled "brother" the entire way our of the school. On the ride home, he kept pointing at Ethan's seat asking where brother was. I can tell it is going to be a long day with Tyler.

Ethan's teacher had him give me the following note with a Hershey's kiss, tissue, and a mint:
Thanks for taking such good care of me. I wanted you to have these things on my first day of Kindergarten because I know you'll miss me.
1. A "kiss" for all the kisses you'll miss while I'm at school today.
2. A tissue for drying any tears you might shed.
3. A mint because you mean a "mint" to me.

I will see you when my first day of Kindergarten is over!
Love,
Ethan

Ethan's 5!


Ethan turned 5 years old on August 1st. He is starting kindergarten next week. He is such a big boy! For his fifth birthday, we went to Six Flags in Atlanta, Georgia. He got to meet the Justice League super heros. He was so excited. He said that Wonder Woman was his favorite. He was tall enough to ride one of the big roller coasters. He looked terrified the entire time.




Tyler's favorite part of the day was the water park. We spent most of the afternoon there because it was so hot. We had fun at Six Flags, but we definitly think that King's Island is much better for children.

Welcome to the Zoo

I decided to jump on the 'cool' bandwagon and start a blog. It also seems like a great way to keep our dearly missed friends in Ohio updated about our new life in Tennessee. Since moving to Cleveland, we have spent our weekends enjoying this beautiful area in Southeast Tennessee. We took Ethan and Tyler to the Ocoee River. This is where the 1996 Olympics were held for White Water Rafting. We spent the day swimming in the "Blue Hole" and hiking in the woods. Ethan was worried about the bears, but Tyler was fearless.

We went to see the Atlanta Braves play this summer. Ethan played baseball on the minifield they have in Tooner Field. The Braves lost that night, but we didn't care because we had to leave early because Tyler can't sit still for more than 5 innings. Chris is planning on returning next year without the kids.

Our favorite spot is the Downtown Riverfront in Chattanooga. There is a beautiful Riverwalk with swimming areas for the kids. There is a spray park and a mile long walking bridge that crosses the Tennessee River. Ethan loves to visit the Tennessee Aquarium and pet the sting rays. Tyler likes to stand and yell at the sharks.