Guess Who

Got a hair cut today.....

We know how exciting our daily life is.....

and we didn't want you to miss out on any of the excitement!!!

The rest

Okay here is the last post of the day, I think!!!

Casey and Landon have enjoyed using the paints that Grandma gave them for Christmas. No one has told them that less is more and if we did, they didn't listen!! Every inch of paper was covered in paint.

Casey used so much water between colors that her paper was so wet I was scared it would rip when I picked it up. Landon is definitely

2.

He picked up his water cup (that we use for rinsing out his brush between colors) and drank out of it.

Where was I? Across the kitchen taking dinner out of the oven!!! So glad it's non toxic!!! Shelby joined the fun and also painted some beautiful pictures--with just the right amount of paint and

water!!

What has made Landon feel better these days?Nebulizer treatments. He used to fight this thing like you were killing him but I guess he's felt just bad enough to not care. So here he is taking his medicine and watching Toy Story.

I didn't even have to sit with him the last 2 times. The funny thing is that after he's done, he runs up to you roaring like a dinosaur. I guess wearing a dinosaur mask while you take a breathing treatment turns you into a temporary dinosaur. He's just so cute!!!

And now for a cute little girl!!! She was supposed to get this outfit for her birthday--but her mom forgot!!

It's got really cute with brown leggings. Yes her hair was straight and even earlier in the day. She is a girl after my heart and loves Sonic Happy Hour.

I just love her hair in pigtails!!

Birthday Pictures

Casey had a great birthday. She got lots of nice things and had fun with her cake.

One treat for Casey was a special delivery.

Grandma sent her some flowers and a balloon!! She loved them. I loved the red vase that the flowers came it. Very different (and my favorite color)!!!

Casey picked out her cake last week and has been waiting for a chance to play with the toys on top!! Mimi and Kokopat offered to stop by the store and pick up the cake but there was no way that was going to fly with Casey.

She wanted to be the one to go and pick it up.

She picked out a cute cake didn't she? It tasted as good as it looked.

We had a pretty quite birthday. If you can say that our house ever gets quiet. Casey had party crowns

for 4 so the ladies of the family got a crown and the guys well they did without--all except for Daddy!!

Ella Rose, Mr Jeff and baby Ava

came over for cake and ice cream. Mrs. Rebecca missed the fun because she had a meeting to attend. We were happy to have the rest of the family come though.

Casey loved having us sing to her and it only took 2

tries to blow out the candles on her cake.

She got lots of gifts.

A bead set for Ella Rose and Ava, a Leap pad, books and a carry case from Shelby and Drew, Landon got here some stickers and a Polly Pocket doll, Daddy got a remote control car, Mommy gave her a princess lamp, Mimi and Kokopat gave her a music set complete with a DRUM and a phone!! She hit the jackpot!!

Back Log!!

Okay, I know I said I would post pictures from the Grove Park Inn but then guess what Landon got pneumonia and that changed how my days were going. So I will try to catch everyone up. I was going to cover everything in one post but I think I will break it up. So check back later today for another post. I know you will all be on pins and needles waiting on the next post.

What ever will we cover? Well these are the Grove Park pictures (a few we liked, some done by kids a few that were winners and some that were just funny).

Okay as part of the gingerbread house contest, EVEYRTHING must be eatible!!

Let me just tell you that some of the things looked real and not like food. The picture does not do them justice. Check out t he rocks. Mine would look more like one that belongs in the kids catagory. Here is a train that Landon loved--probably because it was in the children's displayand it was being displayed on a huge train. What he really wanted to do was climb on the train. We someone in our family really enjoyed seeing this oneand all of a sudden became hungry. Can you guess who it was that enjoyed this one? Look at Santa rescuing Repunzle. Do you see Jack climbing the bean stalk. I'm telling you some of these people have tallent. I think the person that did the Grinch did a good job. Again, I am blown away by all the things people made.

We also took the kids pictures in the sled inside the hotel. We have a great picture of Drew and Shelby from the last time we went to the Grove Park but when you add 2 more to the mix (both of whom turned out to be sick) it makes it more difficult. As you can see, Shelby and Drew did great again and Casey was willing to make the effort but not Landon!! He ran the 2 year old program with full force all weekend.

Okay these next two are the last ones I'm going to share. I didn't get a great shot because I was looking over someone's shoulder (because with 2 little people who were feeling terrible, I was not getting in the line that went out of the room and no telling how far down the hall)!!(the roof) Do you see it? And now.... (the sign). I just liked the humor of it. Drew pointed it out but I'm not sure if he or Shelby ever got the humor in it. Enjoy it!! Just let me say if you haven't been to see these before, then next year take the drive. It's free to go in and see them. I would say go before Christmas because it wasn't as crowed and watch the competition on HGTV.

Happy 4th Birthday Casey!!!

Happy 4th birthday Casey girl!! We love you so much. You are such a sweet little girl. I love hearing you sing and you do a great job learning your verses for Cubbies. You are so smart!! Not many little girls can spell their full name by the time they are 4!!!

Here are some of my favorite pictures of you......

The night you were born....

You were so tiny. I am still in awe of how great our God!!

You don't look to happy in this picture but I never even heard you really cry!!

Daddy holding you for the first time (at 2 days old)

Look at how tiny you are compared to Daddy's hand.

4 months old.....

Standing under the easel in Daddy's shed.

Tired out and holding your baby at the Rooney's house!!

Checking out the ocean!!!

watering Grandma's flowers this summer...

Christmas morning this year. Girl you hair!! I love you and I love your hair!!

Christmas

Okay, here we go....a kinda week in review for everyone.

We finally made it to see Santa at the mall.

Thankfully our friend let me know that at lunch he changes which he is seeing kids at. That man is fast let me tell you because he beat us to the other mall. We watched him walk in while we looked for a parking place!!! The visit was great. Landon really didn't want to sit with Santa but he was willing to let Drew hold him--well away from Santa!!!

He changed his tune just a bit when Santa hugged the girls and then gave them some candy...hum......

We also made sugar cut out cookies.

This is something the kids loved. I know I loved it as a kid but man not as much as an adult. These do not seem to turn out very cute at our house!!! You can't even tell what the ones that didn't burn are supposed to be!!!

Landon enjoyed putting the sugar sprinkles on them ( I gave him a small cap at a time).

Casey wanted to make sure that she got one of each cookie cut out. I think Shelby enjoyed it all!

On Christmas Eve we had a nice lunch with Uncle Jack, Aunt Jammie, Ms. Gladys (Aunt Jammie's mom), Mimi and Koko. We then went back to Uncle Jack's house for pictures and gifts and great dessert!!! They have a beautiful house!!

We had one moment of excitement for the high kind when Drew asked them if the flame on the candle on the matle was supposed to be THAT big!! Well it wasn't!! One of their candles had burned very fast and acutally set the greenery around it on fire!!!! So happy it wasn't because Steve and Drew were playing "throw paper balls at each other"!!!

That night, we got a huge surprise!!!

Santa acutally came to our house before the kids went to bed!!! We was doing a preliminary naughty/nice check on some of the kids in the neighborhood.

Somehow, we made that list!!! Landon forgot all about the candy from the day before and would really have nothing to do with Santa!!! Casey was very excited and even got her camera out to document the event.

Christmas morning was pretty laid back, which was nice since my sweet 10 year old had me up no less than 4 times during the middle of the night!!!! I think she may have been excited!!

Santa was very good to us--guess the kids did okay during that preliminary check!!! However, Casey is still asking why Santa brought her a bounce ball instead of the drum that she asked for!!! Landon loved that Santa left him milk (aka sippy cups) with cars and trucks on them and a set of golf clubs!! Shelby loved her guitar that Santa brought her and a very real looking/sounding baby (which is now visiting Sarah in Asheville--we are sure she will enjoy her time and be on her way home soon)!! Drew was very happy that Santa brought him a code book for a game--since mom said there was no way she was spending that kind of money on a book of cheat codes!! Uncle Jack, he may let you borrow the book since you finished your work today!!

On Saturday we had a very busy day. We went to Grandma's house to have Christmas with her.

We were headed to Asheville after that and I must say that it was fun trying to figure out how all the wonderful gifts we got from Grandma were going to make it in the van with all of our luggage and stuff!! I did think ahead and didn't pack any toys for Casey and Landon (since Grandma had shared what she was giving ahead of time) to play with over the weekend. Grandma definately had them covered!!!

We also stopped by Vonda and Chris' house. They were going to surprise us and come to Columbia for the evening on Saturday. I'm so glad that they called and didn't just come for a true surprise visit!!!

We would have both been surprised then!!

We got to go to Biltmore Baptist on Sunday. It was great to "go home". But you know what, it really is true that you can't go home!!! It's never the same. For 3 years now Steve and I have been heartsick for our church family. We experienced something very special while we lived there but guess what--it's not the same. Lots has changed. Don't get me wrong it was still good but God is great in that He let us get to a point where we could go there and "see" that it's not what we thought it would be. I don't think that even 6 months ago both of would have been able to accept the fact that things are different but now we can and it's okay. We loved living in Asheville and would probably go back if things were right but we know it would be different. Things there are different and so are we!!! After church, we went to dinner with the Franz family and had a very nice visit. After that we spent some time trying to catch up with a few friends but didn't get to see as many as we would have liked.

After all of that we went back to the hotel to take a nap but it didn't really happen. After a while we got up and headed out.

Remember all the snow that they got last weekend up there? They still had plenty of snow to play in but we didn't take our sleds so we had to find something else to do.....so we went up to a beautiful overlook called Jump Off Rock. It was beautiful. The snow was great for playing in.

The big kids (Steve included ) enjoyed a snowball fight.

Casey is still a bit put out with Shelby for hitting her with a snowball and

Landon did not care for being sprayed by snow when the snowballs hit those around him!!!

Today was Shelby's favorite, I'm sure!! Why? We got to see SARAH!!! Could you hear the screams today when the girls saw each other!!!??? They have both missed each other so very much!!! Being the bad mom I am, I forgot to take their picture. Sarah hasn't changed one bit

except that she is taller!!!

After seeing Sarah and her family, we went to the Grove Park Inn to see the gingerbread houses. I think that they chose the wrong winner but for some reason, no one asked me!!! The kids seemed to enjoy looking at the houses but I know everyone went because mommy want to go. Thanks STEVE!!!! The last time we went, I waddled!!! So it was neat to go and see it again but Casey was a lot harder to carry this time!!! Landon really didn't care to get in Santa's sled (being pulled by reindeer of course) but he did cooperate with out really crying which was nice because he's been really running that 2 year old program all weekend. Pictures of those are coming tomorrow.

So what have you been up to this past week?