Take a Closer Look

Take a look at this commercial.....see anyone you know?

We didn't the first time it was on T.V. All of the sudden, Chloe yells, "Hey, I am on T.V.!" I looked at Chris and we both said something like, well, maybe someone who looks like you. She got us to rewind the commercial and look who it is! Jon Dodd, Ashton, Chloe, half of Jackson's head and part of Baylor's! My little super star can't stop squeeling, "I am on T.V.! I am on T.V.!" We are so proud :)

And his name shall be.....

Koda Carpenter

I feel that I need to claim his name because we still have people trying to give us other names to use instead. It is weird because I never had the response with the girls' names as I have his.

We were looking for a K name because the girls share the C with Chris, so it is only fair that Mommy get to share the K with her son.

Months ago, the whole family was looking at baby names on the internet. When Chris read Koda, I didn't really like it, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. I thought it was different, and loved that the site said that Koda is Native American for Black Bear. If you know me well, you know I am only a teensy bit Cherokee, but I've always been proud of it (have I showed you my card?).

It is also cool to me that it means Black Bear because Chris is a hunter. He has never actually hunted a bear, but it is outdoorsie.

But, I never thought Chris would like it, so I stayed quiet. Then I asked him what name out of what we had talked about stood out to him and it was Koda.

We both agreed that Koda Carpenter was an awesome player name, "dribbling down the court is Koda Carpenter" or "tackled by Koda Carpenter". But, I wasn't sure about it being a baby's name. Then when Cami took both hands and held my belly, give it a kiss and then said, "I love you baby Koda." It worked.

Now, many musicians out there are saying, you mean Coda? Defined: "Coda (Italian for "tail", plural code) is a term used in music in a number of different senses, primarily to designate a passage which brings a piece (or one movement thereof) to a conclusion."

If so, he could have his own symbolHe would be like Prince....the baby formerly known as Koda.

But, no, we like Koda. After a Dad of another Coda told a friend of mine the name wasn't Native American for black bear, I did some research to make sure I had the right info on the name and here is what I found:

Koda -boy -black bear

Origin and Meaning of the Name Koda
Gender:Boy
Origin:Native American
Meaning:The allies
Origin:American English
Pronunciation: (co duh)
Form of: Dakota

I thought this defination was cool:

Koda -Last Born, Mother's Pet -African

The name Ta-Koda means "Friend to All" or "Friend to everyone" in several different Native American languages, including the Sioux, Dakota and Inuit Indian tribes.

Koda (pronounced koh-da) means 'friend' in Dakota Sioux.

So, whether Koda means, black bear, last born, mother's pet, friend, friend to everyone or the allies, they all pretty much work for us!

Christmas 2009

Here are some pictures of our Christmas this year!
This year we had three Christmas celebrations.
The first was in Arkansas with Alan, Deanna, Emma, Izzie, Darlin', Papa and us! Since Alan's work schedule doesn't allow him to take off to come celebrate in Tennessee, we came to them!

Here are the girls diving into gifts...

I was REALLY proud of my two as they WATCHED their cousins without opening their gifts from Darlin' and Papa (theirs would come later)Here are Darlin' and Papa with their Mr. and Miss cups from us...arn't they cute?

And Alan got stylin with Chloe's new hat!

And then we were all blessed with lots and lots of Karakoe singing!!!!!



The next week we celebrated at Darlin' and Papa's...and I cannot believe I did not take pictures!!!! We were spoiled! The girls got endless bags of stylin' clothes, a Karakoe machine and much more! Mom and Dad were also spoiled with clothes, goodies and a NEW T.V.!!!!!!

Thanks so much Darlin and Papa!

Cute Uncle Scott and Mindy and Phil were there and they spoiled us, as well! Though it wasn't on Christmas day, it was a wonderful time! I even made cavatini (my BFF Sarah's recipe) while Scott brought salad and bread and Mindy and Phil brought....a birthday cake!!!! thanks guys.

After lunch we headed for Arkansas and then Oklahoma....
On Christmas Eve the girls were ready for Santa with cookies and milk....

Is he up there?

I only got a few pics of the magical morning,

but here was a precious hug from Devin to his Mommy

Dad engrossed in his new map

and the most exciting gift of the year......

Of course the next day we got to get Chloe's ears pierced!

Oh, I forgot to mention on Christmas Eve it snowed!!!! Here is Chloe's angel......

We had a blast making our snowman,

but Daddy needs to learn how to snowball fight with GIRLS!!!!

After they started crying cause daddy pelted them in the face, they got a free target....




Now it is back to the real world......boo hooo.

Christmas Performances

This year Mommy got to watch both of her girls sing and dance to celebrate Christmas. On Tuesday, Chloe's first grade had a Christmas "in-formance". (Meaning in school they sang what they had been learning in music class.) I was so proud of her! Watch her groove!

On Wednesday, Cami's class sang in the KOTK Christmas program.

She did the best choreography!!!! What a proud Momma.

Too bad the mic was in the way!I told Betty I would take lots of pictures of Nico too,

but OF COURSE he was on the other side of the stage!

Thank you for letting me brag on my divas!

Merry Christmas

All She Wants for Christmas........

It's HER turn!!!

Please know that you were NOT left off the Christmas card list...... we didn't do them this year. Look for one next year, I am sure we will need to show off the family of 5!

So here are some Christmas pictures for you to enjoy!

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!May the love of the season....not freak you out!

Just had to show you 3 Christmas' ago.

Violence in the School System

Just looking at the scrape on her cheek and the missing front tooth, one could only imagine what happens to our little ones when we trust them in the hands of the education system.
Here we have Chloe's jourenal entry of the drama that occured to my sweet little girl in her own words.... "In the hallway Jade hit me with her backpack. And my tooth fell out. I had to go to Nurse Molly."

Here is the illustration of the occurance....look at the fear in the children's faces! I have to say it was pretty scarey to see her all bloody and crying because the tooth that WASN'T loose got hit out by one of her closest friends who was "trying to hit me in the stomach."

Then as her mother, another educator in the same school system, was scrapping off the residue off her door, Chloe decided to help. She then proceeded to scrape her face with the scrapper.

Okay, so the incident of violence wasn't that bad or caused by anything to write the papers about....but poor little Chloe has had a tough week! Now she is on the couch groaning with a 24 hour stomach virus! I am sure she got it from school as well!

Maybe I should home school...or send her to Heather or Tonya's!

Happy Halloween- 2 weeks late

Here are some fun pictures of our Halloween!

Chloe was Mitchie from Camp Rock (third year in a row beinga singer!) and Cami was "a purple princess"

This year our Sunday School class had a block party. We ate, trick or treated, sang and hung around the fire. It was a blast.

Look at this crew!

Dave, Cory, Nicole and Tony

Posing with the Apple Girls

The beautiful Betty and Batman

Sister Roza and the skipping Father J.D.

Allison adding to Chloe's stash

Mother Hubbert and her cat baby

A perfect ending to a perfect night!