... the number of pictures I took on our vacation this past week!
There are many posts ahead... so get ready! For the sake of my blog book (Blurb) they are not exactly in order so scroll down if you want to read in order. I am blogging and cleaning my house at the same time. We had a great trip (until the end) and we are ready for Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Nightmare Of Driving Home
Right after we left the family party it was like my children instantly became SO sick! Runny noses like crazy. I spent the whole drive from Birmingham to Atlanta backwards wiping noses. We stopped for gas and I got some benadryl for Karoline but that only made her CRAZY! I mean CRAZY! But she had to have it or she was miserable! We got to my best friend Kim's house around bedtime. It was so fun visiting with Kim and Andy in peace :) Our plan was to let the kids play all morning then all go to lunch, then leave from lunch...
With two sick kids our plans changed. We ate breakfast, quickly visited with Stacey and Ava (who were so sweet to come over despite us being sick), took two pictures, and left. I was SO sad we didn't get to stay longer! But I am thankful for even the little time we had together.
Ava, Kylie, and my two sick kids...
The drive home was HORRIBLE! Karoline was driving me crazy. She was totally not herself and I know it was because of the Benadryl. It makes her hyper, not sleepy! I was miserable because they were miserable and again I basically wiped noses every two minutes. My children also don't fall asleep well in cars so that was another major challenge. They were SO over tied!
I was rejoicing when we got home and put the kids to bed. They slept well last night and I am so thankful. My parents come today for Christmas! I am so excited. I just hope we don't get them sick too!
With two sick kids our plans changed. We ate breakfast, quickly visited with Stacey and Ava (who were so sweet to come over despite us being sick), took two pictures, and left. I was SO sad we didn't get to stay longer! But I am thankful for even the little time we had together.
Ava, Kylie, and my two sick kids...
The drive home was HORRIBLE! Karoline was driving me crazy. She was totally not herself and I know it was because of the Benadryl. It makes her hyper, not sleepy! I was miserable because they were miserable and again I basically wiped noses every two minutes. My children also don't fall asleep well in cars so that was another major challenge. They were SO over tied!
I was rejoicing when we got home and put the kids to bed. They slept well last night and I am so thankful. My parents come today for Christmas! I am so excited. I just hope we don't get them sick too!
Family Christmas Party
We went to Aunt Loretta's house for the big family Christmas party. It was so wonderful getting to see so many people we have not seen in a really long time. It think TJ and I have not been in 4 years at least so many of them had never met Karoline and Anderson. Aunt Loretta always makes the best food and her home is so inviting. It was so fun visiting with everyone!
Aunt Loretta, Barna (GiGi), and Nanny
Aunt Loretta, Barna (GiGi), and Nanny
Time With Family At The Lake
The main purpose of our trip was to spend time with TJ's family! We were so excited because we have not all been together since the summer and we were going to get to go to the BIG family Christmas party in Birmingham.
First we spent the night at Sarah and Jared's house in Montgomery then on Thursday we headed to Jared's bosses lake house. We had a WONDERFUL time. The lake house was so nice. They had a game room, lots of space for the kids to run around, and beautiful views! They had this big room they have not decorated yet and the kids LOVED playing in there... they would just run around in circles and laugh. It was so cute to watch them play. Another highlight was that Ella and Karoline got precious dress up outfits for Christmas and they were a HUGE hit. Karoline wanted to put it on every morning.
We made many memories and it was just a special time to relax and rest, watch movies, eat, play, and talk! Then we headed to Birmingham on Sunday for the Christmas party...
Please note TJ took the beauitul pictures of the lake... not me.
Callaway Gardens Fantasy In Lights
On our way to Montgomery we stopped at Callaway Gardens... one of my favorite places on earth. I grew up going there for vacation every summer and in the winter we would to see their Fantasy in Lights show. They have a huge tent all decorated for Christmas with things you can buy and see... We got to see Santa, (a real Santa which went VERY well), Karoline got to paint an ornament, we tried face painting again but no luck, ate wonderful food, watched the story of baby Jesus in lights on the lake, and drive through the beautiful Christmas lights. It was SO much fun for me to be there with my Children. It was so much fun and I will treasure our short visit to Callaway!
Atlanta- A Quick Christmas Visit
After lunch in Augusta we went to Atlanta and stayed one night to visit with my brother and his family. My mom was also in town visiting them so it was fun to see her too. Tuesday night we had dinner at Brent and Leigh's house and the kids opened their Christmas presents. Karoline and Aunt Leigh also "made" cookies and it was just fun to relax.
The next morning Jackson and Pressley were in their schools play The Nutcracker. It was SO fun to see them perform. E. Rivers is their school and every child in the school is part of the play. It is really fun. This was Jackson's last year since he will be in middle school next year!! Yes, I said MIDDLE SCHOOL! I cannot believe how old he is now! We were so thrilled that we got be there. Karoline delivered flowers to Pressley in her class room and Pressley was so cute showing off her little cousin.
Even though we had a quick visit it was wonderful to be around my family during the holidays!
My mom is doing a split... Pressley was showing off her split and Mom attempted one too :)
I don't know what I think about my brother's facial hair!
The Nutcracker
The next morning Jackson and Pressley were in their schools play The Nutcracker. It was SO fun to see them perform. E. Rivers is their school and every child in the school is part of the play. It is really fun. This was Jackson's last year since he will be in middle school next year!! Yes, I said MIDDLE SCHOOL! I cannot believe how old he is now! We were so thrilled that we got be there. Karoline delivered flowers to Pressley in her class room and Pressley was so cute showing off her little cousin.
Even though we had a quick visit it was wonderful to be around my family during the holidays!
My mom is doing a split... Pressley was showing off her split and Mom attempted one too :)
I don't know what I think about my brother's facial hair!
The Nutcracker
Monday, December 22, 2008
Our Stop In Augusta
On our way to Atlanta we stopped in Augusta, GA to see one of my favorite people in the world, Elizabeth Mumpower Hume, and meet her precious children! Elizabeth was such a role model for me growing up through high school and college and she still continues to encourage me spiritually! She is an amazing woman of God and I feel so blessed to know her. I have not seen Elizabeth in 5 years!!! We have kept in touch but have not seen each other. She has had three babies and I have had two so it was about time to meet each other's children! It was so refreshing to spend even an hour with her. She made a GREAT lunch and the kids got to stretch their legs and play in the back yard. Now I am ready to go back...
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Neighborhood Christmas Parade
Today our neighborhood had a Christmas parade and BBQ and it was a lot of fun. We almost missed part of the parade but we arrived just in time. It was really cute and the kids loved it. We hope to have a Wellspring float in it next year!
After DRHorton (the builder of our neighborhood) had a free BBQ/ block party for all the homeowners. They had tons of decorations, a DJ, jumpers (Karoline's favorite), face painting, cotton candy machines, and Santa...
So we went to find Santa and Karoline froze... she would not even get out of her stroller. She has a tendency to be timid. Anderson didn't like him either... I think because he was not a "real" Santa... he had a fake beard and was pretty skinny :) But oh well! Here are some pictures and a slide show of some of the parade.
Our neighbors... Paul and his wife. They are SO sweet and this is their vacation home so they are gone often but we really look forward to getting to know them. They have beautiful bikes!
After DRHorton (the builder of our neighborhood) had a free BBQ/ block party for all the homeowners. They had tons of decorations, a DJ, jumpers (Karoline's favorite), face painting, cotton candy machines, and Santa...
So we went to find Santa and Karoline froze... she would not even get out of her stroller. She has a tendency to be timid. Anderson didn't like him either... I think because he was not a "real" Santa... he had a fake beard and was pretty skinny :) But oh well! Here are some pictures and a slide show of some of the parade.
Our neighbors... Paul and his wife. They are SO sweet and this is their vacation home so they are gone often but we really look forward to getting to know them. They have beautiful bikes!
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