2011 in Pictures

Our Year in Pictures

January 2011

Saying her blessing before dinner

 February 2011

Our first trip to Edventure

 March 2011

Hunter's first birthday

 April 2011

Big month for us 

March of Dimes Walk

Our trip to Disney

Owens and Trenholm's wedding

 May 2011

Frog catching with Daddy

 June 2011

Summer fun with best friends like Annie Parker

July 2011

Our annual beach trip

 August 2011

First day back at Roddey's after the summer

Meet the teacher at Union - MK starts preschool

 September 2011

First haircut

 October 2011

Happy Halloween - Love, The Flinstones

 November 2011

Being at the hospital the night Abigail and Addison were born

Spending Thanksgiving with Reid

 December 2011

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Highlights

We had a terrific Christmas, which is no surprise because I can't ever remember having a not terrific one. Christmas truly is the most wonderful time of year for me. It's a holiday I treasure and love and I try my best to savor every single second.

This Christmas I was especially thankful for my mom's health. Only days before Christmas she had to be hospitalized for severe chest pains and extremely high blood pressure. After a night in the hospital and different medications she is now at home and doing better. It was a scary time for all of us and I'm just so, so thankful she is okay. She is my world and I need for her to be OKAY. 

I was also super thankful that my dad was off for the holidays. He works a crazy shift and a crazy amount of hours. He was scheduled to work the holidays, but found out just a few days before Christmas that he was off. Awesome!

I was also thankful to spend some time with this cute little fellow. He is an absolute doll.

I'll be honest, I wasn't excited AT. ALL. that for the first time in my entire life, Owens wasn't going to be spending Christmas Eve with me at my parent's house. Talk about a heartbreaker. Don't get me wrong - I'm over the moon excited about him being a newlywed and I absolutely adore Trenholm, but I'm not good with change, especially change that involves him. And my little mind and heart just couldn't process Christmas Eve or Christmas morning without him. 

We didn't have the stomach bug this year - thank goodness! Therefore, we were able to enjoy all of the festivities. Christmas Eve dinner at Mammie's was absolutely perfect and for the first time in a long time, everyone was there. 

Travis and I have both been off for the holidays and it has been SO NICE. I love being at home with my little family of three. I love lazy mornings and late nights. I love lounging in our PJs and taking rides around town just to ride. I am not ready for the reality that is next week.

Watching my baby girl this Christmas was priceless. She gets it this year. She gets Jesus' birthday and Santa and lights and decorations. And she gets family and time together. I love it.

I love seeing and being with family. It just makes me feel whole and complete. 

I also adore that even in her eighties, Mammie, still hosts and cooks Christmas Eve dinner for over 25 of us. I hope that I am like that one day. Being in her house on Christmas Eve with all of my family in one place is just indescribable. 

Seeing the expression and contentment and happiness on her face just melts my heart.

Typically this little nook, minus the princess table and chairs, is where Leigh Anne and I have eaten Christmas Eve dinner for practically our entire lives. I know I said I don't like change, and I don't, but this was one change I didn't mind at all. We gave up our nook, for the new generation to have their little nook.

I also enjoyed starting our own new traditions, like our elf, Socks. 

Santa was super nice and let Socks stay an extra day to watch Morgan Kate open all of her gifts. Santa even gave Socks enough magic so that MK could hold him and touch him and play with him on Christmas Day. She was in heaven!

Morgan Kate got a special gift from her daddy. A pink ballerina necklace. It is so dainty and beautiful and so special. 

We all had a BIG Christmas and I am already counting down the days until next year!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2011

Monday mid-morning, after Morgan Kate's recheck with Dr. G (which went really well), we headed to Bryson City, NC. 

After a stop in Asheville for lunch, which proved to be rather frightening, we were on our way to ride the Polar Express!

I'm not sure who was more excited - me, Trav or Morgan Kate. The ride was beautiful and just being able to talk with my hubby was enough for me. Morgan Kate loved seeing all of the mountains and never quite really grasped that we were in fact on a mountain ourselves.

Before our ride began at 8:00 (perfect time) we walked around the little town of Bryson City and had dinner at this really good pizza place. It might not have been much on the eyes, but it was good for the tummy. 

After dinner, Morgan Kate and I put on our PJs, and the three of us waited to board the train. We were all just giddy with excitement. MK has read the book and seen the movie, but the real thing just doesn't compare.

Once aboard each table had a basket of "goodies". Morgan Kate immediately began chomping away at the gingerbread man.

She could not sit still and kept getting up and giving Trav and I both the biggest hugs and saying, "Thank you, mommy and daddy, thank you!" Melt my heart.

After snacking on a few goodies, and once the train began rolling, she and I got up and danced to a few songs. No fear, there were others dancing as well. Trav opted just to photograph the madness.

Before we knew it, it was time for hot chocolate. Oh. My. Goodness. So yummy! I love hot chocolate, but MK wasn't so sure. I don't think she liked that it was hot. She was definitely more interested in the whipped cream on top.

A cup of pure heaven.

I finished my cup, had a few sips of hers and I think I even asked Trav for some of his. 

The entire ride was so magical and just so much fun. It was definitely a night to remember!

We sang carols, danced to songs and followed along as the Polar Express book was read aloud. Our final destination was the North Pole and it was beautiful at night. Each house, big and small, was decorated and lit up with colorful lights. We saw Old St. Nick's house, Frosty's house and many more.

Much to our surprise, Santa jumped on board and greeted people, young and old.

Not only did he join us on board for a while, but he gave each child a bell and he signed our copy of the Polar Express. 

We had the best time and recommend this trip to anyone. Seeing the excitement in her eyes and feeling the excitement in our hearts is absolutely priceless!