{ AJM }

Moving Day

The blog is moving today!! My new site is officially working. And while there are still a few minor changes to be made, I simply can't wait any longer. Without further ado, 

www.amandamankin.com/blog

Thanks for coming to visit the new space :)

 

Hello January

I'm excited to say that, soon, my blog is getting a MAJOR facelift as well as a new address. I'll be back shortly with details on the big reveal.

In the meantime: a snowy self portrait

 Happy January!!

Merry Christmas

ho ho ho

I hope your Christmas preparations are well underway and that you have time to enjoy some peppermint hot chocolate along the way.

Thanksgiving

Our Thanksgiving included traveling to Oklahoma to spend several days with the Mankin side of the family. We spent several hours in the car traversing interstate 40 from Nashville to Oklahoma. We watched lots of movies and sang songs, and finally we arrived.

Fun and family and food. The very essance of Thanksgiving. 

Lots of festivities and more frivolity on Friday.

Thank you Lord for family and for loving us beyond measure and for giving your one and only son for me. For us. For humanity.

follow the yellow brick road...

Mallory recently experienced The Wizard of Oz for the first time. As soon as it was over, she told me, "Mommy, I want to be Dorthy for Halloween" Well, alrighty then!! And since, Mark didn't really have a vote he got to be the scarecrow!!

The children did well. Mallory seems to have conquored most of her mask fears. We still discuss how masks don't change the friend underneath but no tears this year. Mark got into the spirit quickly. He was ALL about the candy. Once he had lollypops in both hands, he was all about showing his bounty to every new friend on the street.

Happy Candy Day!!

twins

Amazing Adorable Awesome family. Thanks for having me over!

new banner

It's time for a bit of fresh on the blog, just like the fresh in the air. Happy autumn!

School!!!! fall 2011

It seems as though we waited FOREVER for school to start. We are settling into the routine and are grateful for good schools and super teachers. Mallory is in pre-school 4 days a week, Monday through Thursday. Mark is going 2 days Monday and Wednesday. He was much more excited about the playground than staying in a classroom but after a few "sad" days, he is doing GREAT. He is hilarious with his backpack and nap mat. He LOVES them.

We attended open house at Mallory's new school last night and were treated to lots of already completed projects.

I couldn't be more impressed with Mallory's frog:

Earlier in the day, I had the opportunity to attend "an Elegant Event" her class invited parents to:

A sweet celebration of the letter 'e" including, an elephant parade, a lesson in table manners, and of course, elegant attire.

We are impressed with Mallory's new school. She loves not napping :) I'm happiest with their dedication to preparing the "smarties" for the rigors of kindergarten.

Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Our first hours in Amsterdam: we wandered around the museum district and toured the Rijkes Museum (pictured behind us.) In the afternoon, we split up for a bit. Ben and I walked toward the Central Station following a RIck Steve's walking tour.

The canals are beautiful and bicycles-the sheer number breathtaking. Tall skinny buildings facing the canals. Blooming flowers spilling out of window boxes-geraniums are VERY popular. The flower district didn't disappoint. Tulip bulbs, amaryllis and hyacinth bulbs astonishing in quantity and variety.

The four of us met up again for a canal tour via boat. A duck's eye view of the city. Amazing and so cool. A great way to get an overview of the city!

5 years old

She's five! Our baby girl....we've come a long way and I'm excited for her to have reached this amazing milestone. She's inquisitive and curious. She's sunshine and happiness. She's perseverance and stubborness. She's thoughtful and kind. She is our first born and our last to stop talking.

Mallory’s Birthday has been a whole season this year. September 18th fell on a Sunday and scheduling a party was a challenge. Ultimately the celebrations began in Texas while we were in Europe with a Nonnie-Pape party. We had a family of four celebration the morning of her birthday and cupcakes with our small group from church that Sunday evening.

Then the school celebrating began. Treats for both classes of preschool on Monday and Tuesday.

Birthday mail from Ben’s mom yielded more birthday fun.

Thank you Mimi D for the Snow White outfit!

Last but not least, her “actual” party was Friday the 30th.

Over 11 days of birthday bliss, I'm still not recoverd from the sugar high.