The Steps to Choosing the Perfect Christmas Tree (according to the garolas :)

We by no means have the art of tree decorating down pat. In fact, I would say this is the first year we've actually pulled it off without a hitch! I had to post this because this day was very Leave it to Beaverish. Which is SO not usually us! I was so proud! It went something like this...


1. Select a local Christmas tree farm. We just found out about this one www.brewerschristmastreefarm.gacta.com and we will for sure go back!











2. Take a hayride around the farm and decide which type of tree would suit you best. We decided to branch out from the traditional pine and go with a Cypress tree this year!














3. Jump off the hay wagon for a bit and pet some rabbits and feed some hungry goats!












4. After the hayride grab a saw and head off to choose just the perfect tree. Be VERY picky and take a long time!



5. Once you've found THE TREE get two really strong guys to cut it down and carry it for you!














6. Shake the tree, get it bagged, and tie it to the top of your car.















7. Bring it home, add your decorations, and voila! You have the perfect Christmas tree!
See that gap of space to the ceiling? Next year, we're going BIGGER!

happy turkey day!

just wanted to leave you all with a picture by Cora this Thanksgiving!
so cute!
note the words... (i think the GA is the beginning of Garola, but she decided against it) then
Cora NDN. She said, "look mommy, i spelled indian all by myself! "
I'm thankful for my kids! and my family and friends!!!

Woof Woof Pant Pant

Today I lost Clara. Only for a few minutes and then I found her! Look where........



she's OBSESSED with this dog! should I be nervous that she can woof and pant but not talk?

Cora, The Philanthropist!

As her mother I am well aware that Cora wears many different hats. She has a wide variety of talents, personality traits, and you're never quite sure who you're going to get day to day. But until recently, I never recognized her as a "philanthropist!" But that's exactly the title she won last Thursday night. I got a call from a girl we know about two weeks ago letting me know that Cora was nominated for an award for philanthropy by The Savannah Association of Philanthropic Professionals. (who know that group even existed) Not only was she nominated, they voted, she was one of the two youth winners (the other being a 17 year old high school girl who does like 72 hours of community service per week), and she needed to be present at an awards dinner on Thursday night!!! I really had to laugh because yes, Cora has participated in MANY community events to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer. BUT come on...she's 4! Anyhow, we were very grateful for the nomination and award.

As we thought about it more, we were pretty sure Cade couldn't handle seeing his sister get one more ounce of attention from a crowd, so we didn't tell them. Rob stayed home with Cade and Clara Thursday night and I told Cora we were going to a "fancy girl's dinner." Of course Cade wanted no part of that. So I invited my friend, Laurie, to come with us. When we arrived to pick her up her little boy, Cora's boyfriend aka Marshall, was crying in the background begging his mommy not to leave without him. So she quickly redressed him and we made it a date! They had a ball together, Cora graciously received her award, Cade got daddy all to himself, and we got a free dinner out of it! You can't beat that!

Cora and Carson's photo shoot

Cora's friend Carson has been spending an afternoon a week with us the past month or so because her grandma/babysitter has been very sick. Carson is probably the one of Cora's friends who is almost as sassy as she is. I say almost because Carson is a Southern Belle (you would know this if you heard her talk, ya'll) and Southern Belle's don't come with a temper nearly as strong as a Georgia peach who has Italian blood. Carson's actually much more pleasant. Anyway, these two were dying for REAL make up yesterday. So we went above and beyond. We did make up, costumes, and a photoshoot. Please note that these expressions were their so called "model faces."




for the love!

dinner + bathtime!

Celebrating 7 at Camp Garola

For Cade's birthday this year I really wasn't sure I wanted to do anything at our house. His friends are super sweet, but super boyish and I was pretty sure any cute party I tried to do may turn into WWF. So I tried to con him into taking a few friends bowling, but he wouldn't bite! He really wanted an at home party. So I made him limit the number of boys to keep it small and we did a camping party. It was very cute and very fun! It didn't turn into WWF until the last 20 minutes and we kept that part away from the campfire! :)


Campfire cupcakes!

roasting hot dogs, we followed this with marshmallows and spooky campfire stories!

nature scavenger hunt

we tossed plastic picnic food through this bear's mouth! (btw, I'm not artist!)

cute friends

cade and cora trying out a gift (nerf dart tag!)

Cora's 2 year Cancerversary

Two years ago tonight we sat in a hospital room digesting the news that our 2 year old had cancer. Here we are 2 years later still with the same questions. How did this happen? Why did this happen? It just seems to defy the laws of childhood. But now we are "used" to it. We're accustomed to the terminology that once seemed so confusing, the list of medications that seemed so overwhelming, and the side effects that seemed so impossible to deal with. We are dealing with it daily. We are now well aware of the world that is childhood cancer. We still HATE it, but we're not as afraid of it. Leukemia and cancer are common everyday words at our house. It doesn't freak me out when I'm giving Cora a bath and I see her scar or feel her port under the surface of her skin. When I see bald kids with no eyebrows at clinic I think they're cute, not scary or unnatural. We've learned a lot, and in many ways, I think we're better off for it.

I will never know why, but that's OK with me. I do know that God never promises us an easy life. He never promises that there won't be bumps in our path. He does however promise us eternal life if we seek Him first. (Matthew 6:33) He promises that he will never leave us and never forsake us. (Hebrews 13: 5-6) So I don't understand cancer, it's much bigger and more complicated than me. But I have a God who is much bigger and more complicated than cancer! He loves me and my daughter. Knowing that helps me sleep at night :).

We've only got 3 more months of treatment and then Cora is officially a SURVIVOR! That is something to be thankful for!

happy birthday to the sweetest 7 year old boy I know!

i LOVE this guy!

Big Girl's "Indie" with Justin Bieber Video

OK Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you know, Cora is obsessed with "being a big girl" although she is only 4. This inspiration come primarily from my friend's two young teenage girl whom Cora idolizes. They were the inspiration for much of her dancing and at home daily she makes me call her either "addison" or "emma." She also knows, loves, and admires Addi and Em's cousins, Sunny and Evie. These 4 ultra creative girls made this video with no help. They did costumes, make up, filming, and editing. It's funny, but super creative. It proves to me that when it comes to technology I've got NOTHING on this younger generation....enjoy!

i love this!

Cade funny

The other day Cora mistakenly left her "Baytoo" aka favorite blanket ever in Pier One over night!
She woke up 3 times and cried for "favorite part."
She had school the next morning, but Cade did not.
Needless to say Cade, Clara, and I were outside Pier One by 9:45 am and it opened at 10.
I told Cade, "we're here early, so we've got to wait on the sidewalk for 15 minutes before the store opens."
Cade replies, "you mean we're just going to stand here and loiter, isn't that illegal or something?"

Cora funny!

Cora: mommy we learned about opposites today at school and I'm really good at those things. like black is the opposite of white!

Mommy: OK what is the opposite of yes?

Cora: no

Mommy: What is the opposite of big?

Cora: little

Mommy: What is the opposite of high?

Cora: (thinks for a minute) "good bye!"

Sweet Pea's NINE month update!!!

I cannot believe I am already 9 months old! And boy am I a girl who LOVES adventure. Mommy posted when I was a tiny baby that I act "like I drink bottles of mt. dew all day long" because I just can't be still...well, not a lot has changed! I'm so super sweet, but I am an active girl!!!! I can do so much now! I can't wait to tell you all about what I've learned this month!

My new skills...
- panting like a dog
- waving and saying "hi" and "bye bye"
- playing peek a boo with my blanket all by myself
- pulling up and holding on with only one hand!
- taking steps while I'm holding onto the coffee table
- doing calf raises up and down on my tippy toes while I'm standing
- DANCING!!! (yes, my sister is teaching me well!)
- hugging mommy on command (her command that is!)
- almost clapping
- crawling around like I'm a monkey, I'm on knees one minute, one food the next, and both feet and one arm the next.
- growing teeth! I've got two on bottom and two on top!

My new fears
- being alone in the dark
- this stuffed monkey of Cade's named Boing Boing who when sling shotted across the room screeches like he's in pain. (the near sight of that guy makes me shutter) and for some reason my brother takes great delight in showing him to me all the time!

My new LOVES
- music
- my pink fuzzy Clara blanket (actually this is an old love)
- REAL PEOPLE FOOD in tiny pieces...sure does beat that canned stuff
- other babies- I get to go to the gym with mommy when she exercised and unlike my big sister, I LOVE that place! There's a room full of little people just my size and I think it's the greatest thing ever. I love crawling all over them and pulling their clothes and hair (mama says we gotta work on "gentle."
- THE DOG!!! (this is an old love too!) I love that sweet doggie! Each time she comes in the room I squeal like I've never seen her before!

This month I also had some friends over and went to play at a friend's house for the first time. Mommy has some other mommies she trades babysitting with and I thought it was really fun to have a friend all to myself! There are some pictures of my play dates below!

Happy November! I can't wait to taste turkey! :)
Love,
Clara

I'm usually all smiles!!!!!

Me and my friend, Camden. Yep, I'm pretty sure she out dressed me that day!
Emily Grace and I and our pacis on a stroller ride! (her sweet mama kept me while mom subbed at Cora's school!)
Me and my boyfriend, Wyatt! Yes, I go for younger men!!!

Gaga Ooolala

I started out trying to film Clara dancing, but it quickly became about Cora. (pause the playlist music before watching)