Snow Day 1/30/10

WOW! I have never seen so much snow fall in the Southeast! I would guess we got 4-6 inches but who knows how they actually measure.

The snow was too dry to sled with our Target clearance sleds and wouldn't stay together for snow balls or a snowman. Oh, well! It's beautiful and blinding! Caleb cried again and didn't like being out in it. Molli Beth spent the night last night so they all had fun playing in it together.

It finally stopped snowing this morning after snowing for over 12 hours straight. Last night Danny and 2 friends went to a movie. CRAZY! But they made it home ok!

Caleb's 2nd Birthday Party

Caleb with his BFF Kooper

We finally had Caleb's party even though his birthday was in December! There's just too much going on at that time of year!

We decided on a Cookie Monster themed party before we realized there aren't any Cookie Monster party supplies to be had! We used blue plates, etc. which turned out fine. Kenya made his cake which was to die for! It had a layer of chocolate chip cookie in the middle of 2 layers of white cake! We also had hot dogs, cheese puffs (a favorite of the birthday boy), cake and ice cream.

Caleb had a lot of friends come to his party and he was so excited to see them all. I think his favorite gift (and everyone else's!) was the train and car table Grandpa & Grammy sent him. It's been huge hit at our house with everyone (Mommy & Daddy & sisters included!)!

Caleb's recent antics

One morning recently I went in to get Caleb up and found this:

Yesterday I found Caleb like this:

He'd gotten into the diaper rash cream and his toothbrush. I lost track of how many times I had to wash his hair, and it's still not all out!

Christmas 2009

Caleb with his beloved fire truck

In their Christmas pjs

Carah lighting the Christ candle at the Christmas Eve service

Reading my childhood copy of The Night Before Christmas

Cookies & milk for Santa and reindeer food for Rudolph

Caleb & Cate playing with toys

Caleb opening his dump truck

Cate with her new book-it's too cool!

Caleb's Santa gifts

Carah's Santa gifts

Cate's Santa gifts

We had a really nice Christmas this year. Caleb had fun opening presents, though he got tired of it after awhile. The girls were so excited about Santa coming, they got up at 7:15 Christmas morning! After we opened presents we headed to the lake house to have Christmas with Danny's family. Crazy, I know. My parents were out of town and Danny's family had wanted to rent a cabin in Gatlinburg for Christmas. So we compromised and went to the log cabin at the lake! We had a really good, relaxed time. We ate too much and watched too much football!

Cate's Birthday Party

This year Cate wanted to have a slumber party for her birthday. We were brave and invited several of her little girlfriends to spend the night! I had wanted to make a princess castle cake so the plan was in place! Danny and I decorated her cake Friday afternoon before her party. It was very challenging!

We ate pizza for dinner and then had cake and ice cream. Later she opened her presents and then they all played bingo. Then we pulled out what I thought would be a really fun game...TWISTER! How hilarious would it be for a bunch of little girls to play Twister? Well, they thought it was too hard because their legs and arms were too short to reach! Oh, well! After that, they did what girls do best...FASHION SHOW!

I still can hardly believe she's 6. The years are flying by now!

Cate Turns 6!

When we moved to TN, Cate was a tiny baby at only 2 1/2 months old. Today she turned 6! She is growing up too fast! She was awoken in our traditional way, with us singing her Happy Birthday (well, Danny sang. I just took pictures...I still don't have a voice!). Then she had her requested birthday breakfast, Toaster Struedel. She opened her cards at breakfast. She got a funny birthday message from Grandpa & Grammy and she was off to school.

Since her class eats lunch at 10:30, I brought her Munchkins. We had already done her birthday snack in November since December is often so hectic at school! During her regular snack at school she got to wear a birthday crown.

Tonight she took us to eat at Olive Garden with our friends Andrew, Kenya, & Kooper. Her favorite food is pasta so Olive Garden was perfect. She also got a birthday serenade from the waite staff and a little cake. She opened her gifts from us and Grandpa & Grammy. She got a scrapbook kit and an MP3 player. Carah got her a gift using her AR points at school. I guess she really does love her sister!

All in all she had an excellent birthday! Her party will be this weekend and is a sleep-over. We need all the prayers we can get!! Stay tuned for pictures!

Christmas Outfit Picture

We finally made time to take a picture of the children in front of our tree. Whew! Thank you for their cute outfits, Grandpa & Grammy! We love them!

Caleb Praying

Every night at bedtime we say a prayer with the children. Here is Caleb in his attitude of prayer! So sweet!

It's Lookin' Like Christmas Around Here!

Charlie Brown Christmas tree in bonus room

Hummel Nativity

Dining room tree

Our Big Tree

Home Sweet Home

Cool Nativity from Mexico

Thanksgiving 2009

Caleb with Natalee

Carah with Natalee

Holiday in the Hood: Christmas Spectacular!

On the way to Danny's parents' house we got to eat dinner with friends from Auburn! We spent most of Thanksgiving at Danny's parents house. We got to see a lot of family and eat a lot of good food! Instead of getting up at the crack of dawn to go shopping, we headed home to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for my parents. Now on to Christmas decorating!

Carah's Thanksgiving Program

Carah and her friend Kelly (they have been in 1st and 2nd grades together!)

At Carah's school the 3rd grade did a little Thanksgiving program this week. They sang songs to remind us to be thankful for all we have. It was really cute. Carah dressed as a little Pilgrim girl and had a line in the program. She said, "He taught them to plant corn and other crops." referring to Squanto. It was a very entertaining and educational program.

Cate's Birthday Celebration (Early)

Today we celebrated Cate's birthday. I know, it's not in November. But when you have a December birthday you have to be flexible! She requested cookies with C's on them and orange and grape drinks. At the last minute she also requested (ok, demanded!) a birthday crown. A little friend at school had her birthday celebration last week and she had one.

Cate was thrilled to be able to hand out the cookies and Capri-S*ns. For some reason that was her favorite part of today! Her class sang Happy Birthday to her as well.

The picture below is of the girls watching a movie this afternoon. So sweet!