Welcome 2009!

After a crazy year, we were ready to usher in 2009!

Luckily, the year started off great with a little family pre-party at the Thomas'. We headed over around 7... Mc had been previously instructed to wear ballet attire by LC, our 4 year old host!

We had a good time with friends, eating laughing and just hanging out. We'll celebrated New Year's on eastern time, and I was not at all suprised, Mc made it until 11. We headed out right after, and I was hopeful she'd fall asleep in the car. I was wrong... she actually got to usher in New Year's twice... that's right, she didn't fall asleep until around 12:30am on Jan 1, 2009. What a little party animal! She was having trouble winding down from the party, so we let her get in bed with us and snuggle a while to calm down. While she was there, the ball dropped for a second time and we got to celebrate all over again.

Hope you all had as great of a start to the new year as we did!

Christmas 2008

Whew! We had a whirlwind Christmas!!!! I can't even begin to tell you all about it, nor do I have time thanks to our impending move, just a few weeks away! So just enjoy the pics... they kind of speak for themselves!

Christmas at Grandma and Grandad's

Every Year we get together with Daren's mom's family at his Grandparent's house for a little Christmas Celebration.

There are now, 9 great granchildren under the age of 5. It is so crazy, but so fun! I always look so forward to it. They all just crack me up.

Mc is the oldest girl, but she spends most of her time rough housing with the boys... I know you all find that had to believe. This year though, she did find a pretty good friend in cousin Harbie and they followed each other around like little puppies all night!

It was fun as always, and you can see how much they've all changed here!

ICE!

Last Monday, Mc and I, my Nan, mom, aunt, and cousin had a girl's day and went to see ICE at Opryland. It was freezing the day we went and Mc was pretty foul. Once we got inside however, she forgot all about her bad mood and had a blast!

It was even colder inside than out, but it was worth it. The things they can do with ice... it's amazing! Mc's favorite thing, by far, was the ice slide. She had everyone there take her down it! By the time we were through, she was ready to go, but she didn't get away without a treat in the girft shop, courtsey of Nan, and lunch at the Rainforest Cafe.

It was really fun.. in fact, we might have to make our "girls' day" and yearly tradition!

Breakfast with Santa

Every year, a group of us go to Breakfast with Santa. It's all of our old friends from before marriage days... we all have kids now, and they love being together as well! The breakfast is fabulous. It is the calmest b-fast in the city. Super laid back, serve yourself, let your kids run wild, easy pleasy!

This year, they even had little crafts setup for the kids to do while they waited to see Santa. It is always a fun time and we all love getting together one last time before Christmas.

We can't wait until next year!!!!