Happy 60th Birthday Pa, 6th Birthday Laken, and 76th Birthday Mammy Tine

Today we had a surprise birthday party for Pa's 60th birthday. It is also Laken's 6th birthday and Mammy Tine's 76th birthday. We had a great party with Uncle Will, Uncle Ronnie, Ken, Debbie, Laken, Clay, Nana, Aunt Shirley, Uncle Mike, Aunt Lydia, Dylan, Mammy and our family. The boys grilled hamburgers and we ate until we were stuffed. Ayden you and Clay shot a tiny little blue bird in the woods today and you were so proud. You carried him around in your coat pocket all day. Ally Brynn, you played with Ava, Laken and Shelby andhad so much fun. What a wonderful day with our family! We love you Pa, Laken and Mammy!

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Day 3 and 4 Snow Skiing

On day 3 of the trip, the conditions worsened. We were under a wintery weather advisory and advised not to go on the roads. The temps got up to 5 throughout the day and the snow fell heavily. We decided to keep you guys inside and only made one trip out to sled. We still had a good time and you guys played and played with your friends.
On Wednesday morning we awoke to blue skies and slight flurries that diminished not long after the sun came out. I decided to use my new telephoto lens and get a few photos. We were sick having to leave with such perfect skiing conditions but decided to ride up to the top of the mountain before heading home. We had such a great trip and know it is the first of many more to come. Ayden you are already asking when we will go back. Here are the pics.

Snow Skiing Day 2

On Monday, the second day of the trip, Ayden, Zack, Bailey and Grace all went to ski school to learn to ski. They all did so good and rode the chair lift up to the top to be able to ski back to the house. Ayden you didn't even fall on the way down and did so good getting off of the lift! We were so proud of you and had so much fun skiing with you. It snowed all day! You were extremely tired from all the skiing but were ready to do more skiing later. At one point during the trip, you asked me why they didn't grow grass around their :-) You are sooo funny! You and Ally Brynn also shared a bed during the trip which suited both of you perfectly. Daddy and I are a little worried that you both won't want to sleep in your own beds anymore. Every night you two cuddled up and held hands to go to sleep. It amazed daddy and I how close you two are and how much you love each other. We love you both so much and it brings us so much joy to see you happy!

Ski Trip Day 1

WOW! What a great week we have had on your first snow skiing trip. On Sunday morning we left the house at about 8:15am with I think half of the house in Mommy's car. After 6 hours of riding (because of GPS and the caravan of kids we had :)) and 6 stops later, we arrived in Boone to find a light dusting of snow. As we ascended up the mountain, more and more snow began to fall. We arrived at about 2:00 and everyone was so excited. We unpacked and headed out to play in the snow. There is a great little hill beside the ski house (TM5) that was perfect for sledding, practicing skiing and snow angels. We played all afternoon until we were so cold we had to unthaw. I took probably 500 pics and had to only pull a few to post due to the amount. Here are some from the first day. It snowed the whole trip until the morning we left. The temps we 12 and lower throughout the week and we overall received 13" of snow.

Play Time

I know that I haven't been posting as frequently lately but it is because we have been laying low. We have all had a cold over the past few weeks and Ayden you are still struggling to get over yours. We are taking you both to the mountains on Sunday for your first trip skiing and are SOOOO excited. Ayden we have signed you, Zackary Gray, Bailey Syl Williams and Skylar Stillinger up for ski school on Monday 1-19-08 for the day. You insisted on wearing your ski coat to school today and have been on your best behavior all week! We are going to ski beech and are staying on the slopes in TM5 our FAVORITE ski house. There is a sledding hill behind the house that Ally Brynn and Kylee will enjoy and it looks like there will be LOTS of snow. THe mountain has gotten 8" this week and more is expected. However, there is an artic freeze moving through the southeast and the temps are expected to be close to zero at night. They are predicting warmer temps when we arrive (I guess if you call 30 warm). I will post TONS of pics next week. I am really loving photogrpahy more and more and have been playing around on the computer some. Here are 2 of the shots I have been playing with. I love the close up of Ally B. I will slowly get better and maybe start a photography blog...who knows.

Happy Birthday Chi - Mi Amigo!

Happy Happy Birthday Chi!
Last night we went to the Mexican resturant with Chi, Bert Carley, Chuck, Parrish, Kylee, Richie, Sunny, Mamaw, Big Daddy and Ya Ya to celebrate Chi's birthday today! We had alot of fun and enjoyed spending good times with our friends. Ayden we couldn't keep you out from under the table and Ally Brynn you loved playing with Sunny and Kylee. These memories of times together are so special and will be cherished for a lifetime. I am so thankful for our friends and know that "The road won't be lonely if we can say in the end, we walked the way together hand in hand with a friend."

On the Sunday before school started back, Daddy and I decided to take you guys to Edventure Children's Museum in Columbia. We wanted to do something fun before the daily grind began again. We took Ayden when he was about 2 and he just loved it, as did I. We knew that Ally Brynn would too. The day started out a little chaotic. Ally Brynn you have been potty training. You came to visit me while I was dressing and told me you had to poo poo. Well the next thing you do is go to daddy's closet to hide. I knew what you were doing and let you take care of business since you don't like to do THAT on the potty. While you were in their, I told you that you should Poo Poo on your potty instead of your diaper. Well you finished up and headed into the den. The next thing I know daddy is screaming AAAMMMMYYY! I ran to see what had happened and you had walked into the den with no clothes from the waist down and poo poo all over your behind and feet. I was so tickled. We went on a hunt to see where you ditched the diaper and we found it on top of your little potty. Their was a trail of poo out of your bathroom. YUCK! As if this wasn't bad enough to start the day, there is more! As I am scrubbing the poo off of your bathroom floor, your daddy scream again "OH NO..... AYDEN" I ran once again to find out what was wrong and Ayden you threw up all across the living room floor. What a mess! I don't know what had gotten into you but after you threw up, you felt great and never got sick again. It must have been something you ate. So I finished cleaning the bathroom, we all got washed and cleaned up and we decided to attempt Columbia. The rest of the day was a blast and we all had so much fun at Edventure. Here are the pics... There was a photographer there from the State paper and he took some pics of Ayden in some of the exhibits... I will attach the link. The picture shows Ayden as part of a painting www.thestate.com/local/story/639935.html

Christmas with the Smith's

The Sunday after Christmas, we were invited to Darren and Celeste's beautiful new home for Christmas with the Smith family. We had a delicious lunch and had a blast visiting with family. Ayden, you, Connor, Reece and Kayla spent the day riding the golf cart and shooting the BB Gun. You guys always play so good together and it is so much fun watching how close you all are. The adults all played Chinese Christmas. This is a game in which each person brings a gift. Everyone draws a number and the person with number 1 goes first. They choose a gift and the next person (person 2) gets the option to steal it. This goes on until the gift becomes 'dead' - it has been stolen 2 times or the last person draws. The person with number 1 gets to choose whatever 'alive' gift they want. It was soo much fun and we shared alot of good laughs. We had a fabulous day but were worn out. This Christmas has been filled with lasting memories and good times but very exhausting. I look forward to spending the rest of my time off unwinding with you guys and sleeping late.

Christmas Night and The Day After Christmas

Christmas Night, Aunt Camie, Uncle Greg and Mimi came over to see the kids for Christmas. We had a great time just hanging out and watching you guys play. Aunt Camie and Uncle Greg exchanged presents with us and Mimi brought a few gifts for you guys as well. Ally Brynn, you were so excited to get some more makeup. You wanted to share it with everyone and everyone to put it on you. You are such a girly girl and love everything girly. Aunt Camie and uncle Greg gave you a little puppy in its own carrier and you don't know quite what to think about it. I have a feeling it won't take long and you will look like these celebrities walking around with their dogs in their handbags. Soo Paris Hilton. This has been a wonderful Christmas and we are so thankful to have such blessings!

The day after Christmas, we had a delicious lunch with Mimi and exchanged gifts. Ayden, you and Ally Brynn spent the day dancing and showing Mimi all of your cool dance moves...the worm, the backwards puppy (I don't know what this is...Ayden made it up) and lots of others. We luaghed at you two so much and really enjoyed the time together. Ally Brynn you looked so cute in your red velvet dress that Mimi gave you. You were our little Santa Baby. Here are a few pics from the day and the cute dance moves. I hope the video will play.

Christmas Day with the Davis'

After opening our gifts Christmas morning, we headed to Nana and Pa's to do Christmas with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Ken, Nana, Pa, Laken and Clay. Everyone was waiting for us at 10:30 when we arrived and you guys were so excited to show off your presents. Ayden, you and Clay both got scooters, camo overall's, camo boots and guns and were in heaven shooting around Nana and Pa's house. Ally Brynn, you and Laken both got baby dolls and lipstick and had such a blast playing dress up. After opening presents, we got lunch ready for all of our family to arrive. Once Mammy Tine and all of the Aunts, Uncle Mike and cousins arrived, we had lunch and opened more gifts. It is always so much fun spending time with our family and just talking. This Christmas, everyone wasn't able to come which is expected since everyone is married (or will be this coming year) and has children. Speaking of marriage...Matthew surprised Jessica with a diamond this Christmas and we will now be having 2 weddings (Jess and Matthew and Chris and Nikki) in our family this year! SO EXCITING! We are looking forward to many more memories this Christmas.

Christmas Eve 2008

Every Christmas Eve we spend the evening with Daddy's family. We attend the Christmas Eve service at First Baptist Church (my favorite Christmas tradition) and then head to Papa's for supper, gifts and time with family and friends. This year, you and Ally Brynn did so good in the church service. You both LOVE music and spent the entire service listening and Ayden you even joined in the singing of Away in a Manger. Ally Brynn, you sat on Aunt Camie's lap thru the whole service and did sooo good. Aunt Camie loved every minute with you. Ayden, you really enjoyed the lighting of the candle during Silent Night and looked so big standing there holding your candle. I can remember the first year we took you to the service. You were so tiny and you slept thru most of the evening. Not this year... you were both so full of energy as usual and kept everyone at Papa's entertained. Manning Westbury, Mama Jackie, John David, Mrs. Connie, Mr. Billy and Katie Varn, Melissa Neeley, Elizabeth Neeley Mitchum, Papa, Annie, Aunt Camie and Uncle Greg all got tons of hugs and kisses from you both. Opening presents was so much fun for you guys and we had just as much fun watching your expressions as you opened your gifts. What a great Christmas Eve. We are so blessed to have such a big, loving family. Ayden, since turning 5, you have turned over a new leaf with Papa and Annies puppy dogs, Cocoa and Chloe. You were so excited to show everyone how you can get them to do tricks. You even requested they be in our family picture. We are so happy that you are over your fear of puppies. We are looking forward to tomorrow morning and hope that Santa brings you both everything you want.

Happy 1st Birthday Ansley Riley

Today we went to celebrate Ansley Riley's first birthday. She is such a cutie with those big blue eyes. Ayden had a blast riding the gator with Jake and Ally Brynn loved playing with the kids. The playground with slide was one of her favorites though. It was a cool day but we got some great photos and loved spending time with our friends. Happy Birthday Ansley!