Christmas in Georgia - now that it's April!

Abigail was awfully happy to see Granddaddy when we arrived Christmas Eve!
And Hannah enjoyed Uncle Stephen, his keys, and her cousins.
Great Grandmother G and Patrick
Christmas morning: All the kids helped Grandmama make breakfast!
Sisters in front of the tree - Hannah's first Christmas!
Gavin, Lane, Patrick, and Laoise - Nathan's sister Talitha's four
Christmas afternoon we drove across the border to Grandmother L's for dinner with that side of the family. (Great) Grandmother and Hannah have always been close - we spent the second week of Hannah's life in Grandmother's home waiting interstate clearance to come home. Grandmother and her daughters - Mona, Kelly, and Donna
Talitha, Stephen and children
Trying to get a sisters Christmas picture!
Nobody was still, but there was lots of laughing. Merry Christmas!

Visiting Lydia and family

On the road again December 24th! On our way to Nathan's family in Georgia, we stopped by Tom and Lydia's for a quick Christmas Eve visit. Little girl cousins enjoyed playing together (ours didn't want to leave!).

Aunt Julia and Lydee
Tom's game with Bella
Hannah thought her cousins' zebra was amazing
Cozy Christmas Eve morning

Finally south - at Grandma's (12/20-21)

God granted us safe travel down to Grandma's and we arrived in time for supper Sunday evening. So glad to see her, though our visit would be short due to snow delays.
Uncle Tom, Aunt Janet and Landry squeezed in a quick visit after their church service that night
Abigail loves her Great Uncle Tom like I always did - he hasn't changed!
Grandma welcomed Lai (no strangers ever, least of all our good friend!) and had to show Lai her treasured picture albums. Lai was an interested audience, but sweet Havilah couldn't wait any longer to sleep!
Aunt Lucinda came by before work the next morning and brought gifts for the girls - to their great delight.
After many phone calls, Nathan was able to get a confirmed seat out for Lai and Havilah - back to the rest of their family. Though the plans were not ours, it was great for Grandma and Lai (and Havilah) to become friends.
Before we left for the airport and home, Lai and I managed to get a picture together - normally at least one of us is behind the camera. =)
What a trip - so many pictures and so many memories!

Heading north - family in Virginia

December 17th we packed up and set off for a long weekend "northern" road trip including family visits in Virginia and the wedding of dear friend in Pennsylvania. That evening, Aunt Faye prepared a delicious meal and we enjoyed dinner with her and Uncle Chuck and Aunt Beverley Ann, Uncle David, and Emmalee too! The girls enjoyed lots of spoiling and gifts. What a special Christmas visit with my Dad's family! That night we stayed with Aunt B.A. and the next morning she surprised me with candles in a pecan ring - a fun start to a memorable 30th birthday!

Aunt Faye, Emmy & Aunt B.A. serving up pumpkin dump cake!
Abigail and Emmy
Hannah was captivated by those Christmas light earrings!
Getting reacquainted with "Unka Chuk"
Present from Aunt B.A.
In case you noticed the butterfly bandage and are wondering. . . A couple of nights before we left, Nathan and I heard a bang from Abigail's room just before midnight. She'd fallen out of bed (onto our lovely "new" hardwood floors) and split her chin. Ouch!

Abigail's fourth birthday!

This birthday was much anticipated and much enjoyed! GramMee came on Abigail's birthday and took her out for lunch at Chick-Fil-A (Mommy was babysitting and so stayed home with the two littler girls). Can lunch get yummier than chocolate milk, french fries and chicken nuggets. . . oh, and chocolate milk?!?
GramMee also got her eldest granddaughter a fun pink ICE CREAM cake!
For the last year or so, Abigail has loved "dressing up," using anything she could find. Most of the time, she was a princess (surprise, surprise) or a bride (result of watching her grandparents' wedding video so many times!). So we decided to give her some "real" dress up clothes. Her wardrobe now includes a (generic) princess dress, a fireman's coat and hat (variety, please!), pink nurses scrubs and GramMee made a size four "wedding" dress. Daddy was the bride-doctor's first patient.
Ever seen a firefighter with ringlets?
Favorite picture of the evening. . . photography lessons with Uncle Caleb!
Hannah played peek-a-boo with Uncle Caleb. We love how she "covers" her eyes!
Babies at the party - love those cousins!
Abigail had long wanted her own umbrella and Aunt Lydia and Uncle Tom gave her a fun one! Think she looks pleased?

Happy birthday, our sweet, exuberant Abigail! How we thank God for blessing us with you four years ago! May you grow to love Him more and more!

Thanksgiving & Hannah's first tub bath

A few days after the move, we packed up and left the mess to spend Thanksgiving in Tennessee with the Mees. The three days we enjoyed together were lots of fun - most of our combined family was there and we did the annual photo shoot. One highlight for Hannah (other than all the attention of grandparents and aunts and uncles!) was taking her first "big tub" bath. She squealed and splashed and splashed and shrieked. Every now and then she paused to consider the water running down her face, but soon returned to splashing.

Life with four

Our few days with Laoise and Gavin ended all too quickly. We loved having them with us at church Sunday. Monday morning Mommy Julia managed grocery shopping with four (we'd been gone a week so it necessary) and that evening we all made an ice cream run. In between and Tuesday we were home (did I mention mountains of laundry?) and I found out that we own way too many toys. They were ALL out.
Cousins on Sunday

 

We all scream for ice cream!

 

Our house - Yikes!

 

Cousins and Carowinds

On the way home from Grandmother Lane's, we met Stephen and picked up Laoise and Gavin for a few days (Lane and Patrick had a turn last year). The next morning, we headed out for the next adventure. The airport hosted a "family fun day" at Carowinds, all expense paid - an opportunity not to miss! Why not make it more exciting and take along some extra children so we could have two five year olds, a three year old and a baby? Craziness. But we survived - and had fun (though Nathan didn't get to ride any coasters. . . we stuck with the little kid rides, bathroom breaks and free drinks).
Carowinds here we come!

 

Flying jets is serious business

 

Lemonade break

 

Our crew

 

Hot and happy

 

Don't forget cheery Baby!

 

Abigail's first driving lesson

 

One tired Hannah