12.31.2011

looking back on 2011

January.

In January, we became a family of four!  John Carter entered our world and totally rocked it!



February.

In February, I was able to be a stay at home momma and I LOVED it!  I was just enjoying spending time with my family in our home.




March.

I had reached the end of my maternity leave and it was time to go back to school, but only for a week!  Spring Break!!!  And, I was back at home playing with my kids again!


April.

We spent too much time in our closet keeping safe from tornados!  Grace also taught about the importance in wearing seat belts and the true meaning of happiness!



May.

During the month of May, I did a lot of thinking about what it means to be a mom.  I had a wonderful Mother's Day and we dedicated Carter.  I also did this awesome challenge and it may be time to do it again!



June.

I celebrated my 7th anniversary with my wonderful husband...and there were fireworks!!!


July.

July was hot and we went to the beach!




August.

August means back to school!  This year, John and I weren't the only ones going to school, Grace started preschool!


September.

Carter had a couple of firsts...he went tubing and he started crawling!



October.

October was packed full of fall fun fun fun!  There was also the failed attempt of getting a picture of a concerina and a football player.


November.

Grace has been learning a new Bible verse every other week at school and sometimes it takes some practice!


December.

In December, we had fun!  We celebrated Jesus' birthday together as a (almost) year old family of four!




Happy New Year!
I hope 2012 is just as FUN as 2011!
I am truly blessed!

12.30.2011

Christmas Day


After some fun time at home, we went to Grandma Great's house, ate breakfast, and had our third Christmas!


Tripp was sweet enough to stop and play with Carter (who was in a HORRIBLE mood) for a second!


He was out before he got buckled in his seat!  And we are on to Christmas #4!


Mimi and Poppa's!

Grace, Tripp, and Lily were "stuck like glue"  ALL day!



After eating, AGAIN, it was time to open presents.  Carter got this super awesome truck!


And Pawpaw was so proud of his gifts for the kids...Mawmaw was NOT!


Grace got a real Jessie!


Carter got this puppy that he LOVES dancing with!


There are so many people...and we take turns opening gifts...and it takes a while...and Grace may have gotten a little bored waiting on her turn.  So, she built a tower!  Notice that massively tall doll?  Pawpaw's gift to the girls.  Now, you see why Mawmaw wasn't too excited.  Daniel has already experienced an unpleasant encounter with Jenna's doll in the middle of the night!  That's what horror movies are made of.  SCARY, people. Scary! (But, I do love that Pawpaw picked out gifts for the kids!)


Mimi and Poppa got Grace and Carter a swing set for our backyard! 



The kids sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and ate the cake that Grace made.  It's so sweet hearing those little voices singing to Jesus!



Then we just hung out and ate some more and played!



When we got home, the kids had to check out their new swing set that was already waiting for them in our backyard!


We had a fun Christmas!  I'm so thankful for the time we were able to spend together and with our families celebrating our Savior's birth!  Jesus is the most precious gift of all!

12.29.2011

You Gotta Get Up...

...it's Christmas Morning!!!


Santa brought Grace a Bullseye...


...and a dollhouse!


And, he ate all the cookies!


Grace and Bullseye checking out her stocking!


Carter woke up and was so excited that Santa brought him a...


...basketball!


And John was so excited that it came with a goal!


My turn!


Carter found a sucker in his stocking!


Grace and Carter giving a gift to Daddy!


Grace had fun giving out gifts!


She picked this hat out for John.  So, he can wear it when they play in the snow.


Thanks, Carter Man!


LOVE this!!!


Grace got Aladdin and Jasmine princess dolls!


She had her new dollhouse dolls playing with Baby Jesus in the "ti-vy"


Carter figuring out how to unwrap his gift.


"What should I do with this stuff?"


Carter got this poppity ball dino...fun, fun, fun!


Then, it was time to get dressed and head out to our next two Christmases!