News Flash!!

Grace:: Left her blankie at Grandma Vickie's. The soonest it can be here is maybe tomorrow... So far, so good...

Audrey:: Decided she wanted to wear her big girl panties this morning. Only one accident so far...

Christmas Celebrations

We had a wonderful Christmas this year, celebrating with Jamie's families. We started out on Christmas Eve day at RahRah & Poppa Hollywood's. For the first time in forever, all of their children were there. We missed Brylie & Gabby (Willie's daughters) but it was a fun day. We opened presents and then had a wonderful lunch of Polenta, steak, and these chicken-procuitto-cheese-onion wrapped things. It was very yummy. Aunt Lacy helped the girls make a gingerbread house, Uncle Patrick helped Luke take a nap (Luke ran fevers the whole time were gone - teething?!? Who knows!), and Mom & Dad enjoyed hanging with family!

Later on Christmas Eve, we traveled to Grandma Vickie & Poppa Frank's for Santa to find us there. It was a nice night chatting with them, while we hoped to sneak a peek of Santa - girls were thankfully asleep! Christmas morning began at 6:30am, with stockings being opened. Uncle Tony & Aunt Julie joined us at 7am for the rest of the presents. The morning was spent playing with the Princess dolls GV&PF gave - with Luke's favorite present being the Tinker Bell dress T&J gave to Grace. He loved to hold on to it!

Then we headed to Grandma & Grandpa Great's house for Christmas dinner. RahRah, Poppa Hollywood & Uncle Patrick were there as well as Uncle Tony & Aunt Julie, as well as RahRah's sister, brother & wife and their 2 kids. It was a nice day. Uncle Tony had spent the better part of 3 days trying to get AUdrey in trouble, by egging her on to hit, pull the hair of, or wrestle with Grace. He had to work 2nd shift on Christmas Day, so he missed the WWF that happened after presents were all opened. A little later, Grandma Great joined in the fun with the girls - what was your Great-Grandmother doing at the family party? :-)

I'm so grateful for families. I'm grateful to have so many - although most of you have heard my rants of trying to coordinate and please everyone. But I love being with everyone, regardless of holidays or everydays. It has been my best blessing in life - to be surrounded by people that love me. Thank you!!

6 mo. Well-Child Check Up ?!?!

Stats:

Opps! Mom forgot to schedule my 6 month check-up

with our doctor... We'll be seeing her in January instead.

Lucky for us, though, I've been sick with my first ear infection in December and several colds, so we know that I'm still sitting in the 13 lb. range (after 4 visits to the doc in 2 months). More food Momma!

(Disclaimer - Luke has been on baby food for 2 months now. He loves Bananas and tolerates Pears, peaches, oatmeal and Sweet Potatoes.)

Snow Days

Before Christmas Break, we had a few "snow days". With Grace's preschool only being part of the day, if school is delayed, she doesn't have school. So we've had some fun December mornings just hanging out at home. The picture of her in the snow is from the last day of "school" before 2009 - turned out to be a snow day!!

Front yard trails

After church

Check out that hair!!

Just Another Sibling...

Wednesday morning I was washing dishes, listening to Luke talking while he swang and Audrey playing with her toys. Suddenly she said, "Luke, be quiet! You're too loud!"

His first moment of no longer being the treasured baby but a little brother...

Twist & Shout

Okay, no shouting but we are pretty excited to notice this twisting going on in Bubba's world.

Let it Snow!

We were most excited on Sunday morning to discover that there was snow! (Thanks for the phone call Charity!) And not only had it snowed, but it was sticky snow - perfect for packing and rolling.

After Michael got home from shoveling the church, we all put on our snow gear and headed outside. Luke was nice in warm inside my coat and the girls loved to their new snow boots. They helped Daddy shovel the front walks & driveway before we all went out back. The girls made the first snow angels of winter and then we all made a snowman.

Many, many thanks to A&T for the Snowman gear. The girls loved it!!

November Days

November was just a pretty relaxing month. The girls got their hair cut into very cute bobs! (Audrey won't stay still for a picture.) Luke was bathed regularly - we're still working on a more boy-ish towel - probably for Christmas. Mom had an inspired craft idea (watch out Nik- I might take over your spot!) and we created handprint Turkeys with the tp rolls I had been saving for something. We did them with Jay, Kate, & Christian and the kids loved it. Luke learned to blow bubbles and has begun really teething. More often than not, his B backwards or sideways in his mouth while he gums on different parts. And Audrey put a walnut up her nose. (Now that was exciting!)