Catching Up...

I am going to do my very best to catch all of you up on the last couple of months. The holidays were a lot of fun, but very hectic! I will let the pictures tell most of the story...

Charlotte and Gray made Christmas so much fun this year. Santa Claus brought Charlotte a red tricycle and Gray got a brand new train set! Now that things have settled down we are back to the reality of school and work! Here's to another year!

To Dallas and Back...

We made a trip down to Dallas this weekend, and had a blast! Chris's house is absolutely adorable...Charlotte and Gray had a great time going through all of his things. Thankfully nothing was broken (I don't think) when we left on Sunday afternoon, and Helen followed behind us and left the place perfectly clean and good as new! If only she lived here in Memphis and could follow behind the kids on a regular basis...

Sadly, we didn't take very many pictures over the course of the weekend. Correction: I didn't take many pictures. Charlotte took a ton of herself but it is hard to see anything but her nose in most of them. Here is the best of the bunch (although I'm pretty sure this one was taken in Memphis):

While we were there we also got to spend lots of time with Fairy God Momma (FGM) Tif, and we got to have a fun girls night out with Olivia and Taylor (we missed you D!). Tim, Chris, Grammy and Papa watched the Sooners win and got to see Brad and Tiffany. Overall, the weekend was a great success!

Below are a few photos that I just cannot resist posting:

And I almost forgot...this video is one of the funniest things EVER! At least I happen to think so...

Chickens and Cows...

Halloween in our household was a great success, although I think I can safely say that we are glad it is over! Charlotte mastered the chicken dance and Gray was an excellent cow. Both kids had parties at Lindenwood on Friday, and they got to participate in the Halloween Parade. Charlotte was awarded "Best Legs"...I'm not sure if we should be proud of that or not;)

We hit several Halloween parties on Saturday evening and Charlotte ate her weight in chocolate and sugar. A great Ravens win on Sunday topped off a GREAT weekend!

Fall is here!

On Sunday we went to the zoo to check out Teton Trek, the new Grizzly Bear exhibit. It is really, really cool! I am sure we will return many times. That afternoon we put Gray and Charlotte to work sweeping up leaves...apparently Charlotte thinks this is a super fun activity. We can't wait until they can actually do some yardwork!

These lions were a definite highlight!

Updates! Updates!

It's been a while...I am renewing my vow to be better about updating the blog...someone hold me to it! The past few months have been filled with lots of travelling and we have been very fortunate to see lots of family and friends! We headed down to Dallas for Labor Day weekend and got to spend time with great friends and Uncle Chris! Tim and Chris went to the OU season opener and had fun despite the loss.

Later in September I got to go on a fun girls trip to Las Vegas (yes, we were celebrating my gasp 30th birthday!). The weekend was so much fun and filled with lots of laughs...and a little bit of gambling. Early October brought the JDRF walk that Adah's Rhodesters did in honor of Laura Coultas, our beloved friend. In the end we raised over $9000!!!!

Just this past weekend we were up in Baltimore visiting Mimi and Grandpop and lots of other family and friends. We had a wonderful time and are just starting to get back into the groove of things here in Memphis. We are finished with the whirlwind of travel and guests, and are excited to spend some time relaxing and enjoying the fall weather here!

Gray turned 1!

It is definitely hard to believe...Thomas Gray Stakem has already hit the 1 year mark!! We celebrated with lots of friends and family in Memphis on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Gray was especially pleased with his double chocolate cake, and Charlotte managed to subsist on sugar products alone for the entire day. On Sunday we all went to the zoo where Charlotte showed Grammy, Papa, Mimi, Grandpop, and Uncle Chris how brave she was when she held the birdies all by herself! Impressive. We missed Uncle John, who was busy packing for his semester abroad in Chile...maybe the whole clan will plan a suprise visit to the Southern hemisphere...brace yourself John.

Papa brought some beautiful window boxes that he made for our house and Grammy painted them for us! Mimi took the kids for lots of walks and Grandpop taught Charlotte to say "WTF". Nice.

Overall, it was a wonderful and busy weekend!

Looking back...Moving forward

I was going through pictures from this summer today (yes, I know I should haven been working) and I couldn't beleive that I hadn't posted these two that were taken in Hartford of Charlotte with Nana. I think the one of both of them sporting their shades is especially fantastic.

The last few weeks have been a little bit hectic, but overall I'd say we can't complain. Charlotte and Gray started in their new classrooms this week. Charlotte is a proud new member of the Tiger Den and Gray is now chillin' in the Dolphin Room. Their new teachers seem to be wonderful!

This weekend we will be headed to Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs...SO excited! Lots of pictures and a fun update to come!