Thanksgiving 2011

We spent Thanksgiving in Nashville this year and as usual had a amazing time with family. It is incredible how the drive to Nashville is always sooo pretty to me. When we get there, we see rolling hills, winding roads through beautiful forests, wild turkeys, horses, big red barns, and so much more. Definitely reminds me to thank God for His beautiful world he created for us to live in.

Well, I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked. Too busy having fun, I guess! But here are a few.

Right when we got there, we knew we just had to get a picture of Papa Blair and Reese!

Our family picture!

Thank you, Lord, for blessing me with such a wonderful family with beautiful hearts to be married into!

(I'm not gonna say how many "takes" it took to get a great picture with this large crew!...more than 10 though!)

Nonie and Reese watch our gift exchange with the kids.

James opened his gift bag and probably was saying, "Oh Man!"

Because that's what he says when he's excited! ha

First he got a kid's catechism CD from his Fish cousins (we LOVE it!).

Then he pulled out a tractor just like Uncle Tim's!

Sweet little Payne is showing James his gift that he got.

Before we know it, these two will be best buds!

James found a football helmet to try on. He thought he was pretty funny :)

Aunt Rachel had the greatest idea of taking our two oldest nieces out early early for a Black Friday super great experience! We started our journey at 5am so we could get to Target when the crowd was there to show the girls how crazy it could get. When we got there, we didn't see more than few people in the store! Maybe Black Friday shopping in Leiper's Fork is a little different than other places! Ha!

Crazy picture!

We had a great time! Love you all and can't wait to see yall again!

Papa's Birthday

My dad's birthday rolled around on November 7th, and we got to celebrate! Everyone just got together at Meme and Papa's house and had a good time hanging out.

James helps Meme bring Papa his ice cream cake.

"Happy Birthday to YOU!"

Papa let James help blow out his candles...

... and lick the icing off the candles!

Yum :)

Reese did a great job sitting in the walker.

Getting attention from her aunt and uncle ;)

Yay! Papa got a Keurig coffee maker for his birthday!

Big hug with Uncle Josh and Aunt Michelle :)

Sweet picture

Dad, thanks for being an incredible father and an unbelievable Papa! We love you so much. Happy Birthday!

October 31st

For Halloween, James and Reese were skeletons! I tried to get some pictures of Reese by herself, but James saw me with the camera and decided to jump on in before he got dressed up.

What a sweet big brother

Did I mention James was sweet?

Here is a Reese picture by herself :)

Both kiddos dressed up

This is James' happy face

and his sad face

I love the way he looks at her sometimes ;)

My two little skeletons, ready to get some candy!

What a great pose (which he came up with on his own!)

Cutest skeleton I ever did see!

Pumpkins!

This October, James fell in love with PUMPKINS! He would see one and say, "Look Mommy Daddy, BIG pumpkin!" We thought this year, instead of going to Kroger, we would let James pick out his very own pumpkin at a "pumpkin patch". He had such a fun time looking around.

So excited to be near all these pumpkins!

He had to touch MOST of them.

We found a cute little spot for a great picture.

James carried his pumpkin on his lap the whole way home ;)

(sorry about his yucky sores around his mouth... he wouldn't leave them alone, and they just kept getting worse!)

Back at the house, Josh and Michelle came to carve the pumpkins with us!

I can just hear James now, "What you doing Umple Josh?"

"Here ya go, Ampachelle"

James watched Justin's every move.

Justin let James use the real pumpkin carving knife to make slices in the pumpkin top.

He loved it.

Here I am attempting that too, but with much more fear!

Baby Girl just hung out with us and watched :)

Our finished product!

Michelle made the cat, Josh made the face with the awesome background, Justin made both pumpkins on the right.

Great Job Everyone!

Melanie and The Boys Visit (part 4)

Before Melanie and the boys had to head back to Texas, we got a few more pictures.

Grandad visited one more time!

This is our photo shoot in the backyard with all the grandkids.

We were laughing pretty hard at the kids. They were acting really funny!

But we got some pretty good pictures anyway!

Mel, can't wait to see you all again!

Melanie and The Boys Visit (part 3)

The bonfire that the boys and Josh and Papa created was so great! The kids loved it. We sang songs, made s'mores, ate marshmallows, and just enjoyed each other's company. And it was so easy because we were just in Meme and Papa's backyard!

Mel and all the boys

Singing!

This kid LOVES his marshmallows!

Yep, this one too!

This one didn't eat the marshmallows, but he dove into the chocolate!

(hmmmm...must take after his mommy!)

What good memories :)

We left the marshmallow toasting up to Uncle Josh. He was the only one who could handle the heat! We couldn't get close to the fire at all!

My sweet sis and now running buddy :)

James calls her, "Abachelle" for Aunt Michelle. ha!

"Umple" Josh (Uncle Josh) taught James how to warm his hands :)

Reese enjoyed the fire (and her fingers) too!

Can't get any cuter!

Do those cheeks have marshmallows in them?

James is becoming more of a cuddle bug, hugger, kisser, lap sitter! Yay!

I love it!