Our busy Week!

We have had a very crazy busy week and a half. Ma came up to stay with us since Wayne went duck hunting on the coast (Outerbanks, NC). The trip was very eventful in the fact that his boat sank and he had to swim to shore in the freezing cold weather, thankfully his life was saved but he lost his new shotgun, new cell phone and camera is waterlogged and so much more. We are very thankful he was safe and no one was hurt.

While Dad was away...I guess the kids can play!!!

Walker can be so silly sometimes. He pulled his pants up as high as he could get them then danced around the house. Makes me laugh!!

Also this week Reese has learned to use the potty. She has done a great job with very few accidents. Not only has she learned to use the potty but she can do it while balancing a spoon on her nose! She is so talented!!

And Ivy has been one sick girl. It has been two weeks of nasty nasty stuff. She has been so fussy. Yesterday the Doctor did an RSV test and it was positive and she also had an ear infection. Our house is ready for spring and no more colds.

Snow 2011

The kids have had a great time playing in the snow. Walker woke up first thing in the morning wanting to go outside. He said it was still Christmas (since it snowed) and that we should have not put up our Christmas tree. Snow storm 2011 has been fun but I think I am ready to get back to our normal routine.

Ivy's second snow!

10 Months

Ivy is now 10 months old. She is 17 pounds and still spoiled as ever. She is trying so hard to crawl but for some reason can't get it together. She will push off with her toes on her belly but doesn't get to far, so she just starts rolling...it works better.

Ivy loves to get in the bath tub now with her sister.

This is Ivy getting up on all fours...it lasts a few seconds then she is back down.

PT for Ivy

Ivy started her Physical therapy for her neck. She did a really good job. She smiled at everyone and did what she was suppose to do. Hopefully just a couple more weeks and she will be all straitened out.

Christmas at Granny's

Our last stop at Christmas was at granny's house. It had been 5 stops and 5 Christmases. At granny's we had her famous chicken n dressing. It is a family favorite. Our family from South Carolina came into town and we had a great time together.

Ivy can't crawl yet but I think aunt Patty wanted her to walk!!

Granny had a white tree this year which is one of my new favorite things.

Christmas at Aunt Diane's

Another stop for Christmas was on Sunday when we went to Aunt Nan's House (papa's sister). Of Course we had more yummy food and great presents to open.

Aunt Nan with Walker! She is always so sweet to the kids!

Reese was making sure Baby Jesus was ok in the snow. She loves Baby Jesus!

Snow

The day after Christmas the Snow was about 2 inches on the ground so of course the kids had to go out and check it out!

Cousins: Walker and Nate
Nate getting a snowball ready!

Reese went out to for a minute. Yes, she did put on the princess dress again the next day to wear.

Christmas at the Meadows

Christmas Night we had Christmas with Wayne's family which is always a lot fun. We start the night off with the tradition of Irish Stew for dinner (yum yum) and then we dive into the presents.

Walker was so tired by the end of the day, you can see it in his eyes but nothing was going to keep him from opening those gifts!

Reese in her princess dress that she kept on all day. She got a baby doll that went potty!!

Every year the boys get their matching Georgia attire from Ma!

And there is always a little bit of humor in opening gifts!

Ivy's First Snow

Ivy got her first snow on Christmas Day. We were so excited to see it snow on Christmas. It started around lunch and did not stop till late that night. The trees and the yard were covered. BEAUTIFUL!! Ivy just got to enjoy it for 5 seconds as we took a picture!

Christmas at the McFarland's

Christmas morning we woke up at my parents house with 7 grand kids eager to open presents. And boy did they have more than they needed. We drew names this year but somehow ended up with more than enough gifts. Last year we started letting all the kids open there gifts first and then they go and play with there toys while the Adults open theirs. Works Great, we got to enjoy each other and our fun gifts!

As you can tell there was nowhere to sit due to all the presents!
Walker and Nathaniel were READY. It is so hard to keep a 5 year old from tearing into gifts!

Dad got mom a Kimono from Japan went he went!

I got a cute apron!

Christmas with The Cochrans

We had many places to go when we got back to Georgia. Our first stop was Christmas at Uncle Bobby's (Ma's Brother). We always have a good time over there playing cards and rolling dice for greedy gifts.

Reese with Papa!

Cousin Nate and Caleb

Ivy with uncle Bryan. All the kids are a little scared of him. (just kidding Bryan)

Walker and sweet Abby!

Christmas Morning

We had a great Christmas morning. We had our family Christmas a few days early since we were going home to Georgia. The kids woke up very excited to see all there gifts waiting on them. We opened presents for awhile then Wayne used our manger scene to tell the Christmas story. After a couple hours of playing we packed our bags and headed west!

Wayne asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told him a new scarf. Well, he didn't know what else to get me so he just bought me six scarfs. It was funny to keep opening presents and see...a new scarf (six times)!
Reese got some princess shoes!

Walker got a DS.

This is what it looked like before they opened. And as you can tell, Ivy only got one present. but she does get to share the House with her big Sister!

Seeing Santa

Well, we are back from Georgia and have a lot of blogging to do. Before we left we got to go see Santa at our town's McDonald's. And let me tell you...it is the best way to do it. Yes it might be redneck but there was no line and you could take your own picture!

We don't teach our children that there is a "Real" Santa, but we do pretend on Christmas morning. We like to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas and not that they obey b/c Santa is watching but that God told us to obey. Walker does know who St. Nicolas really was and that he was a very good man that did wonderful things. We pray that Christmas will mean more to them than it being about themselves and getting presents.