Santa Truck & Christmas Day

We always start off our Christmas week with the "Santa Truck". Our fire chief, Wayne, first started this tradition years ago, and it has become a yearly tradition throughout the area. I always enjoy doing the Santa truck, because there are some children in our area who don't even get a tree for Christmas (let alone toys). We don't have enough money in our funds to get hundreds of kids toys for Christmas, but the one thing we can give is parade. Depending on how may people show up, we take our 2 or 3 fire trucks with the Santa sleigh. The sleigh is decorated in lights, Santa waves (while saying his ho-ho-ho's), and his helpers give out treat bags to the kiddo's. We do this 3 nights in a row, to make sure everyone gets some candy and a chance to see Santa. The third night is, by far, the most embellished night of all. As we go across the causeway, the people that live on Burnside Island meet us. They drive their cars, 4-wheelers, golf carts, or whatever else they can find (of course they are COVERED in lights). The video below doesn't do much justice, but it is an amazing sight to see. We enjoy it every year, and are glad to give the children in our area some happiness, even if for just a few moments.

Santa Truck from Sara Cotter on Vimeo.

As for Christmas morning, I thought Christopher would be more excited to open his presents. He let me down!! "Tear the paper", I say. "Open the presents". Nope, all he cared about was the snazzy new tricycle that Mimi got for him. I have learned my lesson. Next year Mimi's gifts are hidden, until he opens Mommy's. Hehehe!! Once he opened his gifts, and realized how TOTAL GREAT they were, he got in the swing of it.The video below is of his train set. It takes up a good portion of the living room, and we didn't even use all of the pieces. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, and has a great New Year.
-The Cotters

Christopher's Train from Sara Cotter on Vimeo.

Tis The Season....

...for holiday photos. I love this time of year, especially when the Christmas lights are out. Jeff and I made a last minute decision to get our family Christmas pictures taken today. Off we went to Portrait Innovations. Their photos ALWAYS turn out so great, and Christopher usually has a good time. Below is the finished product of today's event.

Chestnuts on an Open Fire....

.....well, not so much. I love decorating for the Holidays, Christmas just happens to be my favorite. Not because of toys, food, or shopping. Mostly because, I remember being little and having every one of my family members in one house, usually Grandmas.

It was always nutty (hence the chestnuts), but there was NEVER a dull moment. On any given Christmas get together there would be 23, or more, people together in one place. I remember playing games with my cousins, watching Grandma cook (like a pro) for a small army, and Grandpa sleeping away in the recliner. We never heard a peep from Grandpa, unless one of us did something that was beyond Grandma's stern words. All of my aunts would be chatting around the house, and my uncles watching football. I can hear the laughter emanating from all over the house, and smell; what was always the best food I had ever tasted.

I miss those Holidays. I miss my large family, and the wonderful sounds. We don't make it up home very often, and when we are there it's always a rush. Trying to make sure we get everyone squeezed in to such a small amount of time.

This year we won't be going home. We have decorated, and plan to spend our Christmas here. Jeff is having surgery next week, and this doesn't allow for any traveling. I'm glad that we won't have to rush this year, and Christopher can spend Christmas in bed. He will have his Grandma, and Pawpaw (who just got home from Afghanistan) to play and start their own memories. Meanwhile, I will be remembering my own.

Happy Thanksgiving

Fish!

Christopher is obsessed with them. I first noticed his liking of them a few months ago, and it has since become his 2nd favorite thing (next to cleaning). This has only been made worse by the winning of Fin and Gil at the fair 2 weekends ago.

Christopher now wakes up every morning, intent on seeing these fish (who were originally named Friend and Gin). It is almost like he has become so intrigued that any deviation from the routine absolutely RUINS his day. That brings in a whole new issue of the two year old tantrums. He is in full blown toddler terror most of the time.

Anyhow, returning to the fish. Jeff is on midnights this month, so during the day he sleeps. This is normally not a problem with Christopher being at daycare, and me at work. On the weekends, however we have to find something to do outside of the house. Normally this includes going to my mom's and waiting for Jeff to wake up. Today was different! I wanted to do something fun with Christopher, that he has not yet been able to do. Earlier this week I thought of taking him back to the zoo, but with his ears being infected, that was OUT. Friday, I stumbled across the aquarium in Charleston, SC. I thought to my self, "Fish, he loves fish". Proceeding with buying the tickets, I was consumed with happiness as I thought about how much Christopher would enjoy this.

Saturday night comes, and Jeff is getting ready for work. I brought up the website to show Jeff what was at the aquarium for Christopher to do. Looking at Jeff's face, I could tell he was upset we would be going without him. We decided that if he got home, and was not dead tired, he would tag along. At 7:00am Jeff was home, and wide awake. He would join Christopher and I on this date planned to LET.HIM.SLEEP...

To make a long blog, that seems to be growing by the minute, short; We enjoyed the aquarium immensely. Christopher couldn't decide where to go first, and was fast asleep within a few minutes on the ride home (and so was daddy!). These are some of the photos from the trip today..

A Halloween Adventure

It has been a hectic week. We started in our new building with patients on Monday, and by Wednesday we had booked a couple surgeries, and were getting into the swing of things.

This past weekend, while taking supplies to the new office, we stopped off at a pumpkin patch to get Christopher a well... pumpkin. He tried out several (reminded me of goldilocks trying out beds) before he found the one he wanted. The man was very nice, even after Christopher dropped a pumpkin and broke the stem. The pumpkin didn't get carved until last night, but it looked great.

Tonight was trick-or-treating on post, and Christopher was a pro this year. He walked up to every door with a smile and said, "Tic Treat". His costume this year was his favorite BARNEY, and he was quite popular for it. Every little kid he passed wanted to hug him or sing to him. Savannah was Jessie from Toy Story, and Jacob was Batman.
They all had a great time, and made it home with Bags full of candy.

It has been a few weeks since my last post, and in that time Mike and Kim had a beautiful baby boy. Nolan James Cotter has now joined our family of boys. I wish I could go visit, but until spring, photos will have to do. Congrats Mike and Kim!

2 Years Down

Christopher turned 2 yesterday, and Mommy is relieved it's over. There was a lot of running around involved, but the day was very special. I would like to think Christopher is secretly applauding Daddy, Maw-maw, and I for all the hard work.

The day started out with Mimi and I running here there and everywhere getting last minute items for Christopher and the parties. We met Mom at JcPenny and went to Target in search of Christopher's now favorite toy (the sweeper). Once we had everything we needed, we were off to the daycare for Christopher's party there.

Daddy couldn't make it, and Pawpaw Don wouldn't have enjoyed it much, so Mimi and I went alone. The kids had just gotten up from their naps, and were ready for some sugar. Christopher wanted no part of the party hat (neither did most of the kids)! The cupcakes we made were a big hit, and all of the little ones LOVED Mimi. When we tried to leave, she had 5 of them attached to her (see the photos below), tee hee hee. Christopher went back to the house with Mimi while I headed to Mom's to decorate for his family party.

Christopher's party theme was Elmo. He is obsessed with Barney right now, but I was unsuccessful at finding any purple dinosaurs. Christopher had a great time, and was even happy to let Savannah and Mikail open presents with him. Although when it came down to playing with the toys, all of them were not too happy with sharing.

A great day, and my little guy is not so little anymore.

It's October!!!

This year has gone by so fast. Christopher turns two in a few weeks and I am in NO WAY prepared. It has been a busy month! I started working with a new doctor, Jeff switched shifts, and Christopher has been making big strides in Toddler-Ville.

In May our director of operations told me that a new doctor was starting with our practice, and asked if I would be interested in being his M.A. He didn't start working until last month, but we have already gotten a good patient base in Bluffton. Our new office is almost built, and I can’t wait to move in.

Jeff finally switched shifts!!! He is home every evening, and we couldn't be more thrilled. Christopher likes spending time with Jeff, and I like seeing my baby happy (and spending time with Jeff!).

Christopher will be two soon, and he is showing it. His tantrums are getting funnier every day. Just recently he started showing interest in the potty, and has become very good at telling me when he needs to go. There are times when he is having to much fun, and forgets. He loves his uncle Jacob too! Christopher follows Jacob around like a puppy on a string.