Our 2008...

We knew 2008 was going to bring change to our lives but we could have never imagined how much!  Just thinking back I can't believe it all happened in one year!  

Starting with Violet's birth in Feb...a real blessing!  She is exactly what our family was missing! I know I go on about her smile but she just always has one.  

March brought the opportunity of change in a relocations...something we didn't see!  We have prayed for years for God to guide us in His service.  (didn't know He would take us to Charlotte)  So we spent April looking for a home in Charlotte.  In May we celebrated Violet's Baptism.  It was important to share that befored we moved.  So many people had prayed for her and we were able to share this day with them as well as our families.  June...we moved to Charlotte!  Lots of unpacking and fun!  July and August trips to Six Flags and Carowinds and unpacking!  Jason and I also celebrated our 10th anniversary!  Sept...Lu started preschool and dance.  Oct...started getting to know neighbors and church.  Nov...Lu turned 3!  Dec...a wonderful Christmas and successful potty training! 

 I just can't believe how fast Lu and Vi are growing up before my eyes.  They are wonderful gifts and I don't feel worthy to have at times.  I can't say enough about Jason.  I am so lucky to have him for a husband, another blessing in my life.  God has really provided to all our needs and we trust He will continue.  We have lots of fun things planned for 2009 starting with Jason's parents coming up in a week to celebrate Christmas and then celebrating my parents 40th anniversary in Jan.  We have a few weddings...Martha's and my cousin MaryBeth this summer.  We are excited to have friends expecting babies in July.  Looks like it's going to be lots of fun so far!  Hopefully, not too much change for us!  

So Happy New Year to you from Charlotte!  

We love you!

Christmas 2008

We had a wonderful Christmas this year!  It was nice to stay here in Charlotte and enjoy our girls. It started out a little crazy...one of Santa's helpers started putting together Lu's tricycle and realized we were missing two parts.  But thankfully Target had a similar one to replace.  Jason made a delicious meal Christmas Eve and we had a nice big breakfast while enjoying Santa's gifts.  Lu was able to enjoy her "bike"  with a ride around the block.  (felt better working off some of the food!) We baked Jesus a cake and celebrated His birthday...always fun!   Christmas night brought in Gan and Pod, always a favorite!  The girls enjoyed their time with my parents and we also enjoyed spending lots of time with them. My birthday falls on Christmas eve and my mom made me a buttermilk chocolate cake, yummy!  Lots of good news...Our friends the Kirks welcomed in a baby boy, Jesse on Dec 27 and one of my best friends Mark shared they will be expecting a baby in July.  It was really a Merry Christmas for us.  

Accomplishment!!!

Just have to share our excitement!  Last week we worked on Lu's potty training.  She has been wonderful...we are so proud of her and she is excited to be a big girl.  Nochio was a big help...thank you!  Now Jason thought it wasn't necessary to leave the note since Lu can't read but her response to it was "look mamma Nochio can use tape!"  

baby it's cold inside!

Brrrr.  Oh my gosh y'all...our heat went out today and it stayed at 57 all day but seemed so much colder.   My wonderful husband came home to meet with two different men to fix our heat and thankfully we now will be able to sleep in a warm house.  My girls were troopers though...we all stayed in PJ's, thank goodness for fleece!  If the fashion police would have stopped in...we all would have been taken in!  All day Lu would say look mama the penguins are all different! Thankfully, she didn't notice it was cold nor completely crazy to stay in PJ's all day!   Rasta is no dummy, he cuddled right up with Lu to stay warm.  We are grateful for the warm home God has provided us and ready to celebrate Christmas?  Just another funny thing to remember....

Kid art

I love kid art and this time of year there is always so much to do for the holidays. 

 I usually use tiles or paper.  

After talking to a friend this morning I took some pics of my favorites.  (we always share our ideas) Also, if you know of any new ideas please pass them along.  I cherish the footprint and hand prints of my niece and girls. I've got to get Violet and Lucinda's for this year.

 It is a fun way to remember the year!  

So Christy this is for mainly for you and hope everyone else will enjoy!

And the stockings were hung...well almost!

It's been crazy around here to say the least!  But I am excited that I can hang both girls stockings up.  I have only a few more stitches on completing Miss Vi's...I do not know what I was thinking when I bought her kit!  As you can tell Lu's was simple and I finished hers in no time(granted I was pregnant with her so I didn't have the extra help)  When I found Violet's I just thought it was perfect...it reminded me of Mammy, her namesake who loved to quilt, of course Rasta our cat and then Santa sleeping back to Mammy.  I honestly can say I have never spent so much time on a project.  I will no doubt have great memories each year we put them up...road trips to Marietta and Georgia, Lu and Rasta both helping with the thread and now filling it with her ornament each year.  I posted a picture of both girls...both made by my hands!  And worth every minute~

Christmas decor...

Well, I finally remembered to do this.  Here are just a few pics of our home and tree.  Also, Lu decorated her first ginger bread house....no one tells you it is harder than it looks.  It was all her idea and she enjoyed it!  Lu and Vi also enjoyed wrapping presents with me and as you can see Lu even wrapped herself.

Doctor update

Lu visited the ENT today.  I could tell she was more than a little overwhelmed but she did well.  For now, we are going to wait this out since this is our first "time", even though it has lasted more than 6 weeks.  The doctor felt with her age we have a little time to see how this may go.  Meaning this could be a while.  He took her off all meds and we will hopefully get through this without surgery.  Let's pray!  

Make LEMONADE...

Well, it has been a day around here!  Our sweet Lu has been dealing with enormous tonsils for about 6 weeks.  I took her this morning for a recheck...still HUGE!  So we have an appt with an ENT Thursday.  I don't even know what to ask for in prayers...

Meanwhile, my angel Vi woke up with a yucky nose in combination with some yucky bug.  So she too saw the doctor.  (this is all before 9:30)

Keep in mind, Jason made his first trip away leaving us in Charlotte this morning...alone!   

Strange thing is through all this, I have felt calm and knew that God had this in HIS hands.  I began looking at the good things that came from this morning.  We have a wonderful retired couple that live behind us that our girls know and love and sweet Mr. Clarence helped with the girls to the doctor, I couldn't ask for a better doctor...Dr. Williams is truly a gift, I was able to get an appt with the ENT in two days(I hear that usually takes a few weeks), it was sunny when I thought it was going to rain all day and Jason will be back in the morning.  For now I have my two precious girls sleeping and hopeful they will feel better in the morning.  In these crazy moments I realize we are here in Charlotte for a reason and He will give us what we need. 

I do ask that you pray for our girls health,  especially Lu.  We need to know what questions to ask and the doctor to be knowledgeable in how to help her feel better.  

So needless to say I've got lots of lemonade from all my lemons!  Lots of love!

Fun picutes of the girls!

Here are just some fun pics made in the past few weeks!

Violet turn 10 months!

I say this every month...but I can't believe how fast time flies with Violet!  She turned 10 mos yesterday.  This morning her first tooth FINALLY cut through!  and I can tell there are more on the way.  She is so precious and I just love watching her learn and try new things.  She is cruisin' around the furniture and is learning how to fight for her toys.  Mastering more and more how to eat and realizing that her food is different and wants ours!  It's funny putting her down for her nap now.  I have had to move her bed away from the wall because she started decorating in her own style.  

can you..

Lu:  Mommy, can you get me a Popsicle?

Katy: yes Lu, just a minute please. 

Lu:  But mommy I NEED a Popsicle.

Katy:  I said yes Lu, just give me a minute

Lu:  Mommy I need a Popsicle, my throat hurts

Katy:  I'm sorry your throat hurts let's go get it

Lu:  I can't even smile my throat hurts.  What am I going to do?  Oh no!

Katy:  What color do you want?

Lu:  Let's get a chocolate.  It will make me feel better.  Thank you mamma

by the way, I don't think her throat was ever a factor!  but it did bring a smile back!

Singing bears...

Yesterday I took the girls to the Bank of America building to watch the Bearstein Bears.  Our neighbors Holly and Dana joined us.  We had a lot of fun watching these animated bears perform Christmas songs.  Lu, Dana and even Violet danced.  The performance was fun!  Lu was a little unsure at first but had a great time and by the end wanted to play with them.  We also were able to see some of the decorations around Charlotte.  Hope you enjoy!

Our tree is up!!!

We went to Hunter Farm and not only picked out our tree but got to see Santa and feed some animals.  Lu had a blast and Violet didn't cry but also couldn't keep her eyes off Santa.  It took us a while but we finally got our tree and decorated.  Lu had a great time helping and was so sweet to listen to my stories.  I know who, where and why for every ornament on our tree.  I love the stories behind and it is a great way to remember people in my life (and now our lives). My parents started buying my sister and I an ornament at Christmas.  As the years have come we still get them and now they get one for each grand daughter.  I started buying them for Lu and now Violet and will continue.  It's a fun tradition to have.  We also always buy one for every trip we go on.  I just love the memories!  

Sweet story to share...Mammy gave me boxes of ornaments before Jason and I got married, she had a hard time putting a tree together as she and Pod got older.  So needless to say, I have old ones.  One in particular is a fairy and Lu just fell in love with it.  I know it would make her day to talk with her about it.  

The rest of our home is coming together, I'll have to get back with pictures! and yes I realize there isn't a picture of our tree!  

Merry Christmas!

count down to Christmas...

We are excited about Christmas in Charlotte.  Lu put our first ornament on Monday.  Our self dropped by on Monday... this is the first year we have had a visit.  His name is "Nochio".  Lu is a little sad that Santa will take him back but I am sure she will forget come Christmas am.  Lu wants a Christmas tree and a candy cane.  I love she has a simple view.  She is thrilled when she sees baby Jesus.  Makes me think we should keep one out all year.... She knows it's all about Him.  Violet has no clue for now but we put up the tree in a few days so I am sure she will be excited.   More Christmas to come!  Lots of love!  

Wii fun

I'm sure Bob and Sarah are going to kill me with this...but I got to do it!  Saturday night we played Wii with the Wilders...they are good!  Sarah talks a lot of trash too!  It was fun spending some time with them and just having fun!  I couldn't get as many pics as I'd like but here is a few...