Best Turkey Day Ever!

I'm so sad Turkey Day is over! It was the best long weekend! The house seems eerily quiet now that everyone is gone. I loved having the full house. We had lots of fun going to the lake, riding 4 wheelers, decorating gingerbread houses (my team won woohoo!), Riding the Santa Express, and of course eating lots of turkey!

It was so great to have my Mom, Ed, Michael, and Daniel here. We kept everyone very busy! Savannah loved seeing her uncles, she can be such a flirt. They were so good with her. She stayed very busy showing them all her toys and dances. I hope our next visit is very soon. Grandpa Ed and Nana had a great time spoiling Savannah as well. She sure loves and miss them a ton.

We really loved riding the Santa Express on the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway, it was a great way to get into the Christmas spirit. It started out with  someone telling us a story about Santa missing the train to the North Pole, and sure enough we saw Santa on the side of the tracks waving. Savannah waved hello and was really excited to see him, it was precious. Then they had us sing "Santa Clause is coming to town" which happens to be Savannahs favorite song, she clapped along. Then suddenly he appeared on our train car! We were in the perfect spot because Savannah was the first to get to see him! He gave out these magical sleigh bells and candy canes and of course lots of hugs. It was super cute. I admit I totally got teary eyed when Santa came on. I remember how much I loved Santa when I was a kid. Santa's buddies also made an appearance on the train, Savannah loved Rudolph's blinky nose. It was such a magical experience. We'll definitely do that every year!
Here is a video link of Savannah seeing Santa for the first time on the train.



I hosted Thanksgiving again and we had 18 people come over! It was SOOOO MUCH easier with Mom and Eds help along with Kevins amazing rotisserie Turkey on the grill. Savannah loved all the turkey sides, and she was quick to learn how to hijack things off the table...like tortilla chips. Ha! We were stuffed of course and quickly fell asleep on the couch watching football. Turkey has a way of doing that.

Enjoy our pics from a truly wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

Love,
The Palmers

Lights! Christmas! Action!

Another wonderful weekend here in Calhoun! We had a little more of a wintery/fall mix of weather but we weren't complaining. We got some Christmas shopping done, put lights up on the house,  and played in the leaves! I'm so happy this is a short week, I can't wait for all the fam to arrive!

Love,
The Palmers

Only in the Country...

We had a great weekend basking in the unexpected heat. We had highs of 75, IN NOVEMBER! It was so nice to spend time outside. I decorated the house for Christmas. I know I know it's early but we have Nana, Grandpa Ed, Michael, and Daniel here for Thanksgiving and I wanted everything to be festive! We had to get some new ornaments for the tree since our old ones are glass. I just knew the first thing Savannah would do would be to pick an ornament off the tree and throw it. Sure thing, that's what she did. These are plastic so it just bounced across the hard wood floors thankfully.
We went to Adam and JTs football game on Friday night, BRRRR was it cold. But we made into the 2nd Quarter this time! Savannah loves her #99 sweatshirt, GO ADAM! On Sunday we went to take the trash down to the road. Yes this is an actual event...so I took my camera. Random I know. It just so happened they were plowing the soy beans across the street from our house. The tractor kicked up dust that created the neatest glow in the sunset. I ended up getting some amazing pics of Savannah and her Daddy. Only in the country can you walk across the street to see a combine plowing soy beans...lol. I LOVE IT! Oh and in the last pic, yes that is a snake in Savannahs hand. It's dead, obviously run over a few times by our cars, but it still creeped me out.
Savannah just seems to be growing up so fast, talking ALL the time. She now uses 3 word combos. My favorite is "you sit down" when she wants you to sit next to her. She can clearly say all the dogs names, but still has a clear favorite in marley. Every morning she comes downstairs asking "where's maweee?" then she'll proceed to mimic things I must do each morning. Like saying "Lady you eat" and point to her bowl. She still loves Blue's Clues, and Choo Choo's. We've gotten her some Thomas movies because she loves them so much. She loves to eat, and is doing it all by herself. However, we're still trying to convince her that ketchup is a condiment and not an actual food. She slurps it up then asks for "mo". Lots of fun things going on here. Can't believe Thanksgiving is next week! So happy to have everyone here in Calhoun! Oh and its someones special day today!! Happy Birthday Mom!We love you!!!
Until next week!
Love,
The Palmers

18 Month well baby check up!

Savannah had her well baby check up yesterday! She did so great as always. We decided to wait outside this time, because last time I'm certain she caught strep throat from all the germies in the dr.office. Whatever happened to the well and sick entrances? She weighs 25.4 lbs (55th percentile) and is 34" tall (95th percentile). Her head is huge and in the 95th percentile too. I think I've decided thats why she bonks it on everything and has perma bruises. Ha ha! She's gorgeous as ever, and everyone in the office had to come say hello to her. I had a slight freak out  moment because the dr. kept pressuring me into getting her the flu shot (not H1N1), and I caved. But when the nurse came in to administer it and wanted me to sign a waiver (why do they have a long creepy waiver for that vaccine only???) I totally had one of those bad feelings in my stomach mommy moments. I told them nevermind I didnt want her to get it. I honestly can't tell you why, I never liked them and I never wanted her to get it. Just didn't feel right. When we got home I told Kevins dad who is a pharmicist and he said he didnt want her to get it either. So that made me feel better, being as he is a dr...
Then we had our second class of Kindermusik! She was so much more active in the class this time, it was great. When it was time for all the kids and mommies to free dance she got right in the middle and hopped, and wiggled. It was precious. She made the motions to the songs more this time (we've been praciticing in the car), like wiggling hands and feet. It was really cute to see her interact with all the other kiddos. We can't wait until next week!
We're going to go to the Calhoun football game to cheer on Adam and JT if it doesn't rain tonight. Darlene and Jimmy got her a personalized number 99 (Adams number) Yellow Jackets sweatshirt to wear. Its so cute! We'll see how long we make it tonight. She's been trick or treating at Calhoun Primary with Aunt Michelle today and they said she is worn out!

We'll be trick or treating tomorrow night downtown which should be fun! I'll post pics this weekend.

Hope you all had a wonderful week! Happy Early Halloween!

Love, The Palmers

Fall Festival with Nana and Grandpa!

We've had such an great weekend with Nana and Grandpa here! The weather has been winterish one day and summer the next. They get to see what all the seasons are like here! We went to the Fall Festival on Saturday and Savannah won 2nd in the Costume Contest! She was such a "ham" in her pig costume. They wanted all the kids to stand in a line so the judges could see them, but Savannah had other plans. She danced,  jumped, shook her butt, clapped, danced...she was having a ball. The audience and the judges thought she was hilarious! Sunday we went to the Pumpkin Patch Farm in Adairsville. There werent many pumpkins left, I guess thats what happens when you wait until the weekend before Halloween! But we did have fun playing with the wheelbarrow and all the fun props.It's been such a wonderful weekend, I hate for it to come to an end!

Good times!

We're home!!

Last weekend Savannah and I headed west for a great visit with the fam and some much needed girl time with my besties! We were celebrating my Bday and my lovely friend Kendalls! We went to Temecula to the Annual Ponte Family Winery Grape Stomp. It was so fun! I love my friends, eventhough we don't get together as often as we'd like. We make up for it in the trips we do take. From line dancing at Stampede, champagne poolside, lots of girl talk, and of course the grape stomp competition. Hill and Kyle pulled out the win for the entire festival!! I lost my voice from screaming for them. It was such a blast! Spending time with my dad and Michelle and all the family was wonderful too. Friday we had everyone over to celebrate my bday and I got to meet baby Lyla! She is so tiny, I barely remember Savannah being that small. Bennett, Hunter, and Savannah had so much fun playing together. Hunter is so good with the little ones, and he's growing up so fast. Stacy, Gabe, Grant and Zoe came over too, and it never ceases to amaze me at how big they are. Where does the time go? So wonderful to be able to see all my lovely fam for my birthday. Thank you everyone who came over, it meant the world! Meme and Baba kept Savannah while I went with my girlfriends and they totally bonded this trip. Savannah has their names down now, and she fell in love with them both. Im so glad they got to spend the one on one time with her.

Then when I came home I discovered fall had arrived here in North Georgia. We have had some brisk mornings and the humidity is diminishing. I LOVE fall in case I haven't said that before. Fall to me means hot tea, crockpot soups, sweaters (yay!), carving pumpkins, turkeys, pies, sitting by the fire, football!, falling leaves, and just an overall feeling of warmth. We had a gorgeous weekend hunting out yard sales (check out savannahs new piano!), making yummy breakfasts, watching football, cooking brunswick stew mmm, and just enjoying each others company. With all the travel lately it was sooo nice to be home. My puppies missed me for sure and I made sure to show them extra love this weekend as well. I'm so glad to be home and don't see any travel in the near future...yay!

What's new with Savannah...she talks NONstop. She has so many new words, and she talks so frequently its hard to remember them all. New ones recently are "meme" for michelle, "memaw" for darlene, marley (finally!), queso for cheese, book, diaper (when she poops she makes sure i know), and so many more. This girl is definelty independent. Wonder where she gets that from? Both of us for sure!

Love to all! Enjoy the pics from the past 2 weeks, I know there are a lot but I had a lot to catch up on.!!

The Palmer Fam

The Ladies in the vineyard

Hill and I frolicking in the vineyards..something I've always wanted to do!

Savannah on the jumpy jump!

Big kids, Grant, Hunter, and Zoe

Savannah taking a bath in the sink

Smile! Notice Koa's big head...

Baba and Savannah after her nap

Meme and Savannah

Kevin, Lyle, and Marissa. So precious!

Savannah and Mommy

I had to take a pic of this. There is something about a gorgeous fall day, being able to have the door open so the fresh air can flow in. Marley looks so peaceful in her bed. I just love it!

Cooking Brunswick stew with my love. Yes we have matching Aprons :) Thanks MaryAnn!
Savannah showing love to Marley
Can you find Savannah in this pic? Her new favorite hiding place
She loves the bench in the guest bath. She thinks its just for her!
Kiss the Bulldog!

Future musician with her garage sale purchase of the day!