Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland!

We have travelled to and from Georgia for Christmas again! Our 2010 Christmas was a BLAST! We couldn't have made it any better if we tried. Eden enjoyed everything and actually helped to open some of her gifts. Having all kinds of new toys made us realize that "Christmas excitement" isn't just for older people who understand Christmas, because Eden didn't sleep much on Christmas day and she stayed up late that day too.

In preparation for Christmas day we had lots of fun activities to partake in. One of the first was cookie decorating party at Pat and Paul's (Aunt Nana and Uncle Papa) house. Pat started the tradition when Parker and I were kids and it's still going strong with Pat and Paul's grandchildren now. We had lots of fun with cousins and second cousins and aunts and uncles while we prepared the cookies, the icing, and while we decorated the cookies.

After decorating cooked at Aunt Nana's house we spent the rest of the week meeting up with friends and family and just kind of laying low. Lane's childhood friend, Mark, came over to see Eden and came bearing gifts. Lane, Parker, Sara, and Mark went to a shooting range later that day and thoroughly enjoyed themselves! While they did that Eden and I stayed at home with Mimi and Pop and didn't do much of anything. On Christmas Eve Eve we went and spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's house. That was lots of fun and Lane and I were able to stay up with Grandma and Grandpa and play Phase 10. It wasn't the same because Lane's siblings and Tommie weren't there, but we still had a good time!

One night during the week Parker, Sara, Lane and I went to the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds to see a new light show that they have. It was set to music and you drove through it at your own pace. It was lots of fun, and it was beautiful. After seeing the lights you're able to go to Santa's Village and roast marshmallows and just hang around and see everything - which wasn't that much. We were able to make the most of the village and we got lots of laughs.

On Christmas Eve we did the traditional dinner at Pat and Paul's house with all of the extended family. As always the food was AWESOME and this year Eden out-ate everyone. Lane and I took the requested banana pudding, pumpkin roll, and deviled eggs. While we were there Eden played with cousins while they ran the train around the tree. Eden made sure that the cars were all in place around the village around the tree, but only after she tasted each one of them!

On Christmas morning Eden woke up and had breakfast before we went in to see what Santa brought her. She was good this year, so Santa brought her a walking toy, some stack 'n surprise blocks, books, a stuffed dog, and even some new sippy and snack cups. There was no shortage of gifts from Santa this year! After opening gifts from Santa, Aunt Nana, Uncle Papa, Grandma, and Grandpa came over to Mimi and Pop's house for Christmas brunch. Brunch, as always, was fabulous and filling.  

Of course one big meal over the holidays isn't enough, so Lane, Eden and I went to Grandma and Grandpa's house that afternoon and had another meal! Grandma did a traditional Christmas dinner and it was just a fabulous and just as filling as brunch was. The Christmas ham was accompanied by some SNOW! You heard me, SNOW...in Georgia! Rumor has it that Georgia hasn't had a White Christmas since the late 1800s, and we had one this year - on Eden's first Christmas. We will forever be able to tell her that her first Christmas made history!

When Eden woke up from her nap the snow had accumulated and she was able to reach out and pick it up. Of course when she picked it up, she put it right in her mouth. Eden eats everything, so it was no surprise to us that she wanted to eat the snow. After she did it once, she went back for more, and more, and more! She loved the idea of snow and having wet, cold hands didn't bother her one bit!

Family Time

As we enter this season of joy, I am once again reminded of the importance of family. Many people know that in 1983, my parents lost a son due to a freak accident. Alan and a friend were cutting down a tree in the back yard and as it fell, they each ran different directions. Alan unknowingly ran in the same direction as the tree and was unable to out-run the tree. As a result of this accident, Alan was on life support, and my parents had to make the decision that NO parent should EVER have to make. In January of 1983, my parents lost a child, and will forever have a small amount of heartbreak over this loss.

Mom at the cemetery January 15, 2010 with Alan's new flowers

With all that being said, the other day I got an email from my mom that had the happiest tone to it, and I just had to share it with everyone:
"I wanted to share with you the early Christmas present I received during the night. It was a very simple but awesome gift. It was 2 words... Hey, Mama!
It was distinctively Alan's voice. I know it was him because he is the only one who called me that.
I don't dream of him as often as I would like or even used to. I woke up smiling.
I tell you all this to remind us that the best gifts in our lives don't always come as pretty packages. Rather, they are most likely with us all the time but sometimes appear unexpectedly.
Love to you all"
 
As my mom learned that all of the recipients (she sent this to me, my dad, my aunt, my sister, and my brother) of the email cried while reading it, she told me that her intent was not to make others cry, but to make them smile and make them happy! I quickly told her that through the tears that we all had, we were smiling even bigger! The tears that we had were tears of joy. The thought that my mom was able to hear her first born child again, was both peaceful and joyful.
 
Though I have never lost a child, I now know the love a mother (or a father for that matter) has for a child and I cannot imagine that child being taken away from me. By being able to hear his voice again for my mom was the perfect gift. Dreams are the only place that she can be with him again, and she was able to receive that gift this week. I know Alan looks down on us as an Angel of God, and I know that one day I, too, will meet my brother, but until then I pray for peace in my parents' hearts and hope for those sweet dreams for them.
 
As this Christmas season is upon us, enjoy the time that you have with your families and remember the Reason for the Season together. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary in order for you and I to be able to have eternity with those that we love. Keep Jesus as the center of your celebrations with your families and don't lose sight of Him.
 
Merry Christmas!

'Tis The Season

Christmas is quite possibly my favorite time of the year! I love the lights and all of the decorations. Even though Lane thinks it's silly that I take pictures of my decorations, I did it anyways! Christmas decorations make me happy and hopefully the pictures can bring a smile to your face.

Eden moved our Bear for the Beary Merry Christmas calendar that Angela got for us last year! Lane was bitter about it because it's a HUGE competition within his family - they had one growing up.

Rednecks Everywhere!

This past weekend Parker and his girlfriend Sara came down for the annual Chumuckla Redneck Christmas Parade in Chumuckla, Florida. Lane and I went last year with some friends, and quickly realized that we needed to go again this year. Our group grew from 5 last year to about 20 - give or take a few - this year. It was a blast, and we made sure to be in costume so we would fit in with the other people at the parade. After the Parade on Saturday we went to a White Trash Party to end the night.

After going to the parade and party we just kind of hung low for a few more days while Parker and Sara were here. We took them over to the base that Lane flys out of and let them get in the static plane and watch planes take off and land. We also made gingerbread houses one night. We tried to wait for a night that Lane might be able to help us with them, but he wasn't able to because of early morning flights.

~*MUAH!*~

This morning Eden and I were having a blast playing her her little playing area that we've set up in the office. She was full of smiles and talking up a storm! She was loving every minute of it and, therefore, so was I. In the middle of playing I laid on the floor to play with her and she started attacking me with her awesome kisses!

I think she's now entering a new phase - giving KISSES! Haha, there is a VERY small part of me that wishes they were not as slimy as they are, but mostly, I think they're perfect! She comes at me with an open-mouth-smile and then, ~*MUAH!*~ she plants one right where she wants to, elbow, chin, mouth, eye, or nose! They are so much fun and she and I just laughed and giggled for the rest of the morning as we gave each other kisses.

9 Month Well Baby

Today Eden had her 9 month well baby appointment. Everything looked good and she performed well for the doctor. When she was first weighed she was only 14.14lbs and the doctor wasn't thrilled with that number, so we had her re-weighed. When they did it again, she was 15 lbs. Even though this isn't that much different, he was a little happier with this number. She does have to go back in a month to get weighed again and he said he wants to make sure she's gained a couple ounces. It shouldn't be a problem, because we've yet to find a food that she doesn't like and she eats ALL the time! She was 26.5 inches long and looking healthy other than the lower weight.

The doctor was very pleased with her progress and with the milestones that she's met. She stood on the table - while holding my hands - for him, smiled at him, rolled around for him, and even sat still - kind of - for him to look in her eyes, ears, and nose. All in all he liked what he saw and said that if he hadn't seen the number from the scale and had only seen her, he wouldn't have wanted her to come back for a re-weigh because she's doing so well.  When we go back in a month, she will have the second part of her flu shot too, so it all works out in the end.

SOLO!

TODAY WAS THE DAY! (Well, Last Friday was the day!)

Lane flew his solo today! We are beyond excited!!!!! It is one of the "milestones" of flight school, so I couldn't be happier for him. When he called to say he was on his way home from flying I could hear in his voice that he was relieved to have this behind him.

Since his solo, Lane has started his aerobatic flights and is loving them. He's actually waiting on standby now to see if he can get one of his solos in for this section. I know he'll be smiling ear to ear if he gets this solo today because these are fun flights. He's getting to do loops, barrel rolls, flying upside down (with an instructor) and other fun things!