Well here we are waiting for the New Year. The kids are ALL in the bed and we are watching the Clemson Auburn bowl game, using the computers and drinking champagne. Yes I know you're supposed to wait till midnight to open the champagne but if we waited till then we wouldn't get to enjoy it because I'm going to bed shortly after!!!
We lead such exciting lives!!!!
We are living vicariously through "Bee ul" and Debra. They are in NYC. They are actually staying in a hotel that over looks Times Square. So we are enjoying the craziness through them!!!! I can't wait to hear all about it when they get back!!!
Anyway, as we look back on this year it was GREAT!!! We were just so blessed by God over the past year!!! It was definitely a year filled with surprises. We are anxiously waiting to see what all God has in store for us in the coming year!!!!
We love all of you. Be safe and have fun.
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!!!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Introducing.....
We finally got to see some friends and family that we have not seen in a LONG time.
This is me and Landon and a long time friend, Ms. Mary. She has been my mom's friend for forever. This was the first time we had seen her in almost 3 years. It was great to see her and Mr. Lynn even if it was a quick visit. We are hoping that we can get them to come for a visit soon.
Here is Angela and Trevor. It was wonderful to see Angela. Doesn't she look great for having just had a baby!!! (3 weeks ago) Trevor is just the cutest little guy--right after Landon of course. You can't tell it here but there is only 1 inch difference in their lengths!!!! Trevor is 23 3/4 and Landon is 24 3/4!!! Landon has him on the weight by 5 pounds.
The boys slept most of the day on Saturday. Well Trevor slept more but he is a very alert little guy. He will stay up for 3 hours at a stretch. That's longer than Landon at times. I can't wait to get the picture Angela took of them side by side. Hey KP can you send it to me? We took it Sunday!!
Here are Kristen (4) Shelby (8) and Kayla (6) playing this weekend. Don't you just love their outfits!!! Kayla and Kristen had on glitter outfits and I am still finding glitter on things!!! I bet Mimi and KP will be finding it for weeks!!!!
On Sunday we got to have a "family" dinner. All of the Aunts and Uncles (and some of their kids) came down to Granny and Granddaddy's to have dinner. It was a wild bunch. Mason said it looked like and orphanage!!! The kids love Mason. He plays with them all the time!! I don't call him Mason very much, usually I call him Johnny. He started calling Drew Johnny a long time ago and it made Shelby so mad that she told him she was going to call him Johnny too. Well, it stuck and he has named all of my kids "J" names. Drew=Johnny, Shelby=Jennie, Casey=Julie and Landon=Jessie.
On the way home, we stopped by Uncle Jack and Aunt Jammie's for a few minutes. Uncle Jack made Drew's year. He loaned Drew a gamecube game that he had gotten for Christmas but it was broken and we couldn't find another copy but Uncle Jack had one!!! He also let Drew play another game on his big screen tv. Drew was beside himself with excitement and he could hardly wait for today to get to play!!!
Thanks Uncle Jack!!!!
This is me and Landon and a long time friend, Ms. Mary. She has been my mom's friend for forever. This was the first time we had seen her in almost 3 years. It was great to see her and Mr. Lynn even if it was a quick visit. We are hoping that we can get them to come for a visit soon.
Here is Angela and Trevor. It was wonderful to see Angela. Doesn't she look great for having just had a baby!!! (3 weeks ago) Trevor is just the cutest little guy--right after Landon of course. You can't tell it here but there is only 1 inch difference in their lengths!!!! Trevor is 23 3/4 and Landon is 24 3/4!!! Landon has him on the weight by 5 pounds.
The boys slept most of the day on Saturday. Well Trevor slept more but he is a very alert little guy. He will stay up for 3 hours at a stretch. That's longer than Landon at times. I can't wait to get the picture Angela took of them side by side. Hey KP can you send it to me? We took it Sunday!!
Here are Kristen (4) Shelby (8) and Kayla (6) playing this weekend. Don't you just love their outfits!!! Kayla and Kristen had on glitter outfits and I am still finding glitter on things!!! I bet Mimi and KP will be finding it for weeks!!!!On Sunday we got to have a "family" dinner. All of the Aunts and Uncles (and some of their kids) came down to Granny and Granddaddy's to have dinner. It was a wild bunch. Mason said it looked like and orphanage!!! The kids love Mason. He plays with them all the time!! I don't call him Mason very much, usually I call him Johnny. He started calling Drew Johnny a long time ago and it made Shelby so mad that she told him she was going to call him Johnny too. Well, it stuck and he has named all of my kids "J" names. Drew=Johnny, Shelby=Jennie, Casey=Julie and Landon=Jessie.
On the way home, we stopped by Uncle Jack and Aunt Jammie's for a few minutes. Uncle Jack made Drew's year. He loaned Drew a gamecube game that he had gotten for Christmas but it was broken and we couldn't find another copy but Uncle Jack had one!!! He also let Drew play another game on his big screen tv. Drew was beside himself with excitement and he could hardly wait for today to get to play!!!
Thanks Uncle Jack!!!!
Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa
Since Grandma was sick before Christmas, we didn't get to go up for a pre Christmas visit like we usually do. Since Grandma felt better after Christmas, we went up on the 28th and enjoyed spending the day with Grandma and Grandpa.
The kids had a blast getting to open presents AGAIN!!! Casey was so excited to get a Thomas the Train book with 100 stickers. Can you tell?!!! She was wearing 1/2 of the stickers about 30 minutes later.
Shelby was very pleased to get a new robe. Her last one got used for a rag during a very bad middle of the night nose bleed. This new robe is SOOOOO soft.
Drew got another snow globe to add to his collection. His collection is really growing. I think he has about 30 now.
Landon liked looking at all the excitement going on in the room!!! There was paper flying everywhere!!!
The kids had a blast getting to open presents AGAIN!!! Casey was so excited to get a Thomas the Train book with 100 stickers. Can you tell?!!! She was wearing 1/2 of the stickers about 30 minutes later.
Shelby was very pleased to get a new robe. Her last one got used for a rag during a very bad middle of the night nose bleed. This new robe is SOOOOO soft.
Drew got another snow globe to add to his collection. His collection is really growing. I think he has about 30 now.
Landon liked looking at all the excitement going on in the room!!! There was paper flying everywhere!!!Build 2 Bears and A Turtle
All of the big kids got either a bear or a turtle for Christmas and so on December 26th we braved the madness and took them to the mall to stuff their animals. This was not our first time at Build A Bear but is was Casey's first time to get to make a bear.
Here they are waiting in line for the stuffing.
Casey loved playing with the sound machine.
Shelby making a wish for her bear.
Casey didn't have much use for the stuffing process!!!
Here they are waiting in line for the stuffing.
Casey loved playing with the sound machine.
Shelby making a wish for her bear.
Casey didn't have much use for the stuffing process!!!
Here's Drew making a wish for his turtle!!Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Just for Jennifer....
Okay, Jennifer asked to see one of these pictures but I forgot to post it sooo now everyone gets 2!!!
Hey look it's Kokotana and Shelby!!!
And now for one other rock star.....
I know that you all of you are jealous that I'm married to this handsome rock star!!! Don't worry though I can get you his autograph!!!Merry Christmas!!!!
Merry Christmas to each one of you!!! We hope that you are having a wonderful day!! We are having a great day!!! Here are a few pictures from our day.
Shelby as Hannah Montana--super pop star!!
Yep, that's Landon wearing his stocking!!!
Drew with his parrot--it talks ALL the time!!!
Casey got a "roller coaster" and boy does she love it!!! Drew and Shelby want to get on it soooo bad but alas, they weigh to much!!!
Steve holding his new toy--before the first flight. Good news--it still looks like this after several flights. I think he liked it. His dad had a plane just like this when Steve was a little guy.
Shelby as Hannah Montana--super pop star!!
Yep, that's Landon wearing his stocking!!!
Drew with his parrot--it talks ALL the time!!!
Casey got a "roller coaster" and boy does she love it!!! Drew and Shelby want to get on it soooo bad but alas, they weigh to much!!!
Steve holding his new toy--before the first flight. Good news--it still looks like this after several flights. I think he liked it. His dad had a plane just like this when Steve was a little guy.Merry Christmas
Love
Steve, Tracie, Drew, Shelby, Casey, Landon, Max and Dribble Jr.
Christmas "Adam"
Christmas "Adam"---yep that's what Kokopat taught the kids to call December 23rd. You know Adam came before Eve!! This year, we spent the day with Uncle Jack, Aunt Jammie, Ms. Gladys (Aunt Jammie's mom), Mimi and Kokopat. We had a very nice day. Drew and Shelby almost had a fit when they saw all of the gifts that Aunt Jammie and Uncle Jack brought!!! I'm sure that lunch took forever to finish--in their eyes at least!!! That is until dessert!!! My little brother is an amazing cook!!!
See, the chocolate covered Oreos were so good that Shelby just covered herself in the chocolate. After lunch we had a great time opening gifts and laughing. Jack and Jammie really spoiled us!!! They always do!!! After gifts it was time for the annual family picture. That is always exciting--trying to get everyone to look at the right spot at the right time!!!
So what do you think? We did pretty good huh?
Landon could only make it for so long.
See, the chocolate covered Oreos were so good that Shelby just covered herself in the chocolate. After lunch we had a great time opening gifts and laughing. Jack and Jammie really spoiled us!!! They always do!!! After gifts it was time for the annual family picture. That is always exciting--trying to get everyone to look at the right spot at the right time!!!
So what do you think? We did pretty good huh?
Landon could only make it for so long. Christmas cookie fun
This is one of the kids favorite things--making Christmas cookies. This year, Casey got in on the action---last year she just got to play with the cookie cutters while sitting in her highchair.
Casey cutting out her cookies---hers were easy to spot--they had multiple "cuts" on each!!
Okay I cheated--I purchased sheets of dough!!! All the fun for the kids and not near the work for mom!!!
After Casey finished "cutting" out her cookies, she decided the best thing to do with the left over dough was to eat it. Yep, she's Steve's kid alright!!
Shelby was very thoughtful in her cookie decorating. She is placing red and green white chocolate chips on one of her candy canes. It was so cute!!
We also made egg nog cookies. I don't know why--I don't even like egg nog. They were okay--according to who you asked. I don't think we'll save the recipe for next year!!!
Casey cutting out her cookies---hers were easy to spot--they had multiple "cuts" on each!!
Okay I cheated--I purchased sheets of dough!!! All the fun for the kids and not near the work for mom!!!
After Casey finished "cutting" out her cookies, she decided the best thing to do with the left over dough was to eat it. Yep, she's Steve's kid alright!!
Shelby was very thoughtful in her cookie decorating. She is placing red and green white chocolate chips on one of her candy canes. It was so cute!!We also made egg nog cookies. I don't know why--I don't even like egg nog. They were okay--according to who you asked. I don't think we'll save the recipe for next year!!!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Sleep Over Fun
Well here are the two happiest girls in the neighborhood--tonight anyway. Meet Macy, Shelby's friend here in Fort Mill. These two girls love being together. It reminds me of Shelby and Sarah. I have been praying for a friend for God to send Shelby a special friend and I feel like He has done that in Macy. Macy's family came to dinner tonight and the girls couldn't wait for them to go home so that they could "start" having fun!!!
So what have they been up to tonight? Well dressing up and dancing and watching High School Musical. And of course being silly!!! Isn't that what girls do best sometime?
Here are the dancing divas now.
I just have to say that I made it to WAY COOL MOM status tonight. Not only did I let the girls have this sleep over but.......I painted their nails. The cool part was that I had what they thought was cool colors to choose from and I painted each nail 2 colors and used a 3rd to make dot on top of the other 2. Then I did their toes. The colors are pretty close so they don't show up very well in this picture but that's okay because the girls like them!!!!Guess this means it's time to go to bed before I loose my WCM status!!!! I guess I could feed them candy for breakfast and really soar up there but.....Krista might not let Macy come back then and I'm not sure I could take Shelby on a candy high all day!!! So I guess that I will just have to fix pancakes or cereal--and it will probably be cereal.
A visit with Santa...
Today we took the kids to see Santa. What a treat!!! We had tried to take them last night but here you get a pager and they beep you when it's your turn to get in line!!!! What!!!! Anyway, last night at 6, the pagers were not going to be going off until 8!! That was just a little to much for us so we decided to come back this morning. It was better this morning but we still waited about 40 minutes.
While we were waiting, Casey kept asking for Ho Ho. She seemed ready. We talked about it non stop!! Well all was fine and dandy until we crossed into the "door way" to Santa's house. At that point she put her head down. Santa told us we had a big crew and after looking at Landon and Casey, he figured that he would hold Landon and Shelby and that Casey and Drew could just sit next to him. Well even that didn't work to Casey's satisfaction!!! She was still not happy. She did how ever cooperate by letting Drew hold her, which in the past she would have made it difficult for him to do even that. So here are our pictures with Santa....
Landon really didn't mind Santa at all.
Shelby says only 5 shopping days left!!!
Merry Christmas!!!!
While we were waiting, Casey kept asking for Ho Ho. She seemed ready. We talked about it non stop!! Well all was fine and dandy until we crossed into the "door way" to Santa's house. At that point she put her head down. Santa told us we had a big crew and after looking at Landon and Casey, he figured that he would hold Landon and Shelby and that Casey and Drew could just sit next to him. Well even that didn't work to Casey's satisfaction!!! She was still not happy. She did how ever cooperate by letting Drew hold her, which in the past she would have made it difficult for him to do even that. So here are our pictures with Santa....
Landon really didn't mind Santa at all.
Shelby says only 5 shopping days left!!!Merry Christmas!!!!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
I just love this...
This is my morning entertainment.....Casey and Shelby wearing their pjs and blankets, I mean skirts. They spent a good hour dancing in the living room. I love having them all home and times like this make some of the other better!!
If you spin long enough you will fall down!!! Don't you just love Casey's cell phone. What ever will we do with her when she gets older?!
This is what Casey looks like right before she takes the ornaments off the tree!!! "I'm just looking" (before I start touching!!)
Girls in action!!! I've got to get one of these...
I need one of these bouncy rocking chairs. Maybe we need 4 more!!! Casey and Landon both seem to enjoy them!!
Landon is trying to follow in his Casey's footsteps and learn to suck his thumb. I think he likes his pacci better!! Just a few more days......
Well the excitement here is beginning!!! Okay it's been brewing for quite a while but now oh boy!!!! Drew and Shelby are looking forward to the weekend. Over the weekend, we will have Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Jack and Aunt Jammie and Ms. Gladys and also some friends. Casey has no idea what is in store but knows that something is going on!!
We haven't really seen Santa yet but that's on the list for this week. We have done a couple of "drive by" visits in hopes that Casey will go with out crying---yea yea wishful thinking!!!! I'm not sure how we will handle this years photo but I'm pretty sure that somebody will be crying!!!!
Today is a pretty full day for us. We are going to make cookies and other goodies and finish cleaning up the downstairs. Then tomorrow we will try and finish upstairs. We are having some of our friends from church come over Thursday night for dinner and their daughter, Macy, is supposed to spend the night. Shelby is so excited. She and Macy really seem to have hit it off--if only we could get them to homeschool!!!!
I got a cool treat yesterday. I got to talk with one of my friends, Tammy, from Spartanburg. She and I sorta lost touch over the last year. After getting our Christmas card, she sent emails to all the address she had for me and 2 of them worked!!! Later in the day she called and said something about their being more kids in the picture than she knew about!! Well it turns out that they had a surprising year also!!! 3 weeks ago, they welcomed a new son into their family also!! Pretty cool they also have boys on the ends and girls in the middle!!! It was great to get to catch up on at least part of the past year with her!!!! Hopefully she will send some pictures!!!!
Well onto the Christmas list of things to finish!!!
1. Santa visit
2. House cleaning (can I just get a huge dump truck and put everything in it?)
3. Finish shopping!!!! I can't believe I'm not done. Usually only Steve has shopping to do this late in the game!!!
4. Cookies
5. Get stuff to make cookies!!!!! I know slack!!!!
6. Laundry--Landon has decided to make it nearly impossible for me to keep up with his laundry and mine--the two of us have changed clothes several times a day for the last few days!!!
7. Figure out how to make Casey sleep all night and do it in her bed!!!!! We've tried the baby "cocktails" but they are not working and she can SCREAM for over an hour at which point she starts waking other little people up!!!! I'm thinking I'll sleep in the crib and she can sleep in the bed with Steve!!!
8. Wrap gifts!! The few we have wrapped are in a box because we know they would not stay wrapped very long under the tree!! I also think that some big kids would be showing Casey which ones to open!!! Casey may flip out on Christmas morning!!! Drew did the year he was 18 months!!!
We love all of you and can't wait to see everyone.
Merry Christmas!!!!
We haven't really seen Santa yet but that's on the list for this week. We have done a couple of "drive by" visits in hopes that Casey will go with out crying---yea yea wishful thinking!!!! I'm not sure how we will handle this years photo but I'm pretty sure that somebody will be crying!!!!
Today is a pretty full day for us. We are going to make cookies and other goodies and finish cleaning up the downstairs. Then tomorrow we will try and finish upstairs. We are having some of our friends from church come over Thursday night for dinner and their daughter, Macy, is supposed to spend the night. Shelby is so excited. She and Macy really seem to have hit it off--if only we could get them to homeschool!!!!
I got a cool treat yesterday. I got to talk with one of my friends, Tammy, from Spartanburg. She and I sorta lost touch over the last year. After getting our Christmas card, she sent emails to all the address she had for me and 2 of them worked!!! Later in the day she called and said something about their being more kids in the picture than she knew about!! Well it turns out that they had a surprising year also!!! 3 weeks ago, they welcomed a new son into their family also!! Pretty cool they also have boys on the ends and girls in the middle!!! It was great to get to catch up on at least part of the past year with her!!!! Hopefully she will send some pictures!!!!
Well onto the Christmas list of things to finish!!!
1. Santa visit
2. House cleaning (can I just get a huge dump truck and put everything in it?)
3. Finish shopping!!!! I can't believe I'm not done. Usually only Steve has shopping to do this late in the game!!!
4. Cookies
5. Get stuff to make cookies!!!!! I know slack!!!!
6. Laundry--Landon has decided to make it nearly impossible for me to keep up with his laundry and mine--the two of us have changed clothes several times a day for the last few days!!!
7. Figure out how to make Casey sleep all night and do it in her bed!!!!! We've tried the baby "cocktails" but they are not working and she can SCREAM for over an hour at which point she starts waking other little people up!!!! I'm thinking I'll sleep in the crib and she can sleep in the bed with Steve!!!
8. Wrap gifts!! The few we have wrapped are in a box because we know they would not stay wrapped very long under the tree!! I also think that some big kids would be showing Casey which ones to open!!! Casey may flip out on Christmas morning!!! Drew did the year he was 18 months!!!
We love all of you and can't wait to see everyone.
Merry Christmas!!!!
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Happy Birthday Uncle Jack!!!!
Uncle Jack and Aunt Jammie with Landon
There I did it--I didn't call him by his nickname.
You guessed it today's my big little brother's birthday. I started calling him that when I realized he is taller than I am!!!
When I was little I could hardly wait for Jack's birthday to come!!! What a great sister I am right? Yes!!!! But I must admit that there was a reason for looking forward to Jack's (does he know how difficult it is for me to remember to call him Jack and not Buddy!!) birthday because that meant we could decorate for Christmas. Mom was always good about making sure we celebrated his birthday apart from Christmas!!!
Anyway....
Happy Birthday Uncle Jack!!!! We love you!!!
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