On Friday night we went to Diane’s house for a going away party for her sister, Heather. Heather moved back to Maryland on Saturday so a few of us got together to say goodbye, eat delicious snacks, and the plan was to play games. Once we got there we all realized that game playing was probably not going to happen since there were 5 kids there 4 and under I think the game playing commenced after bedtime! Will had a great time with his friends Javen, Liam, Aubrey and Brody running around like crazy kids.

On Saturday afternoon we went to Ellie Kate’s 1st birthday party. It was a joint birthday with her dad, Josh for his 30th. The theme was Dr. Seuss’ Thing 1 and Thing 2 and it was SO cute! Complete with green eggs and ham

We finished the weekend with a Freshman/Senior Swim Party. It was fun to see my new Sunday school girls outside of class and I think they had a really good time. Will certainly had a good time – he even jumped off the diving board!

While we were at Ellie Kate’s birthday party on Saturday, Bill stayed home and worked on the playroom. He made a lot of progress – it actually looks like a real room now. He only had a little more framing to do then it’s on to sheetrock! Will and I are getting so excited. We haven’t decided what kind of floor to put down yet. I think it would be really neat to have cork flooring but it’s a little pricey so that might not be an option.

Right side of the room.

Will loves “helping.” Here Bill is showing him how to hammer a nail.

Will is a fast learner.

Then Will learned how to pry the nail out.

I told Will he could probably get a summer job at Fine Homes, Inc. And I think he liked that idea!

Will is so fun and funny these days! He is constantly entertaining us. He really likes to “sing” and do motions to songs. We have tried repeatedly to get him on video but he starts acting like a monkey anytime the video camera comes out. His favorite songs are The Wheels on the Bus, This Little Light of Mine, and If You’re Happy and You Know It. And he is especially fond of Carrie Underwood’s “Undo It” he sings the na-na-na-na part of the song!

Will is also really into cars, trains, planes – anything that goes these days. He will literally play with his Little Tikes garage for hours. He gathers all of his toys with wheels, pushes them all down the red ramp, then he pushes them all across the top, and finally all down the blue ramp. I think that maybe his second favorite thing to do is play on our bed. He loves to get up there and act plain crazy. He jumps, he screams, he flings himself down face first and of course Bill throws him around a little. When Bill gets home from work Will meets him at the door and then immediately wants him to go and play with him on the bed.

Last night we had a Farewell/Baby Party for a sweet couple in our Sunday School class who are moving to Alabama. We are all going to miss them, for sure! I think Will thought the party was for him, though. Well, at least he provided a little entertainment. He ate – a lot (as did I, I love party food!) He fist pumped everyone at the party at least 10 times. He played outside with Samuel, Richard and the dog. He stared, enamored with Molly Cate (she’s 11 weeks old). And followed Christian and Zephan Murphy around and thought he was playing with the big kids. At one p0int, one of the Murphy boys was in time out and had to sit on the steps. Well, Will was fascinated with him and was standing there staring at him until I noticed and made him move. Later on, I didn’t see Will anywhere and I found him sitting on the same exact step! I guess he thought time out looked fun

Today we are headed to get the car registered (finally), finish the laundry (yuck) and straighten the house (double yuck)!

Will is ready to get this vacation started!

The condo we stayed at was really nice and had a great pool.

Swimming with PawPaw.

The condo even had a lazy river!

On Saturday we went to Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. It was a lot of fun and Will really enjoyed looking at all the fish.

PawPaw, Will, Nonny and the diver. Can you see the diver in the water?

Will touched a horseshoe crab. He’s such a boy – not grossed out by anything!

Mommy, Will & Daddy in front of the shark jaw.

On Saturday we went to DollyWood’s Splash Country. We all loved it!

Will LOVED the water slides and went down them about 100 times.

We all had to take turns taking him down all day long.

More water slide fun.

The condo had a huge jacuzzi tub and Will enjoyed swimming in it too.

The view from our condo. Thank you for a great time PawPaw and Nonny!

This is my favorite picture of Bill & Will. Look at what a proud Daddy he is! And I am so proud of him.

Baby Dixon 2 Estimated Arrival: January 29, 2011

Overall, a very fun anniversary

Just a few more beach pictures. This is one of Will’s favorite things to do – swing between us while we’re walking. We count to 3 and then swing but sometimes Will picks his legs up too early – it’s funny.

Bill flying the eagle kite on the beach. This was when he first started – it got much higher

On our last day we stayed at the beach all day! Will even took 2 naps in his stroller, under the tent. Look at those crossed legs – precious!

When Will wasn’t chilling in his stroller he was relaxing in his beach chair.

One night after dinner we went to a park near downtown St. Augustine. There was a carousel and a pretty cool playground. Will and Honey were going to ride the carousel 5 times but…….

Will decided he was a scaredy cat so they only rode once.

But he wasn’t afraid of the slide – he rode it over and over

We were really bad picture takers on vacation. We didn’t get the camera out until the last 2 days – therefore there is no evidence that my Dad, Dana and Jonathan were there. You’ll just have to take my word for it!

Family picture in front of the sand dunes. St. Augustine was beautiful – we really enjoyed it there. Not only a great (uncrowded) beach but a great historic downtown area to explore. Did you know it was founded in 1565?

This was the walkway to the beach.

Will really enjoyed the sand! I even caught him eating it a couple of times

He wasn’t too sure of the pool or ocean the first few days but was jumping in and splashing by the end of the week.

Will and Honey picking up seashells.

Most of the time you could find the two of us in the shade.

Will was hard at work in the sand. Every time we would build a castle he would knock it down.

Remember my little man at the beach last year?

It’s amazing how much he has changed in a year!

On Monday, for my Mom’s birthday,  we rented bicycles to ride on the beach. It was a lot of fun! We rode on the road from the condo to the beach access (against the wind) and then rode from beach access to beach access on the beach (with the wind.) And amazingly we weren’t sore the next day. Of course we didn’t take a picture – but just imagine the three of us on one of these

We have been relaxing in St. Augustine, Florida this week!

When we got home Will and I both took a short nap before I started dinner. Our friends Matt & Andrea came over for a yummy (if I do say so myself) dinner of enchiladas, rice and beans. It was the perfect ending to my birthday – sitting with friends, watching Will play, eating brownies and talking.

A great birthday!