New ride

Daddy put in Claire's new carseat on Saturday. As you can see someone thinks she is big stuff, she loves sitting up more and being able to see the world go by out the window!

Playing away

Tis the Season!

We have been busy getting into the holiday spirit and are looking forward to celebrating the best Christmas yet with Claire! We got our tree up, decorations out, Christmas cards mailed and are baking cookies & goodies tomorrow morning.

Chris and I got to enjoy a day together on Saturday (while Claire stayed with her Gammie) working the assembly line at Operation Christmas Child with our Sunday School class. It was an amazing experience and really puts the focus on the true meaning of Christmas. Operation Christmas Child-The Power of a Simple Gift-we worked to inspect, tape, label and pack the shoe boxes to be shipped to children all over the world. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been delivered across the globe. Here is a picture of our group (minus 3 couples)

Then on Sunday, Chris & I went to the Kindermourn Holiday Service to light a candle of love, of hope, and of remembrance for Grace. It is a powerful and moving ritual that mixes tears and laughter, darkness and light, pain and joy. It is a great way to start the holiday season in a calmer, more peaceful and less anxious way. To see all the candles illuminated at the front of the church is a very moving and powerful message of hope, of peace and of love.

For anyone who feels called to donate to a wonderful organization, this is definitely one we would recommend. The opportunities of giving can come in any form and goes to help children, parents and families. There is also a holiday ornament that is for sale with the proceeds going to help Kindermourn's many services. You can view and purchase the "Bridge of Hope" 30th anniversary holiday ornament at the link below:

www.kindermourn.org

I was able to get a little girl time last night and enjoyed a holiday party with my bible study group. We went comfy in our pj's, took some yummy goodies and exchanged homemade gifts. We had a great time and enjoyed the "no kids" evening!

Chris is looking forward to 2 weeks of vacation off with his girls and we plan to spend next week with a visit uptown to see the decorations, make a visit with Santa, start some new family traditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and then head to Roanoke to see family for a few days. Then back to Charlotte for New Years and some relaxing days just the 3 of us.

We are really anxious to enjoy Claire's first Christmas and see her overwhelmed face when she spots all her new toys! I'm sure we'll have fun installing batteries and then taking them out for a moment of silence and quiet :) She is crawling ALL over the place and can't be left alone for a second! So with the tree, wrapping paper, new toys and Gabby, we'll have our hands full making sure she "behaves."

We hope everyone enjoys their holiday, stays safe and has a very Merry Christmas!!

What a week!!

Well it has been one of those weeks that you just want to put away and hope that next week is much better! It started off with Claire falling off our bed on Monday morning. She is fine other than a scratch on her head, but mom and dad were a bit scared!

Then after enjoying some great spring like weather (we got to get out and take walks and play in the yard a little bit) she got sick Tuesday afternoon. She has a terrible cold, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, runny eyes and an ear infection.

Chris and I were able to spend the day Wednesday together (which was great and very much needed) finishing up some Christmas shopping while Claire stayed with grandma and grandpa. But she wasn't feeling any better so I took her to the doctor yesterday. We are just trying to fight off this nasty stuff and keep her as comfortable as possible. Sleeping is quite difficult since she can't breath and her eyes and nose are running constantly.

We spent the day in yesterday and plan to do the same today trying to get her better. I'm going to wrap some presents while I'm sure my little helper will try to unwrap! Here are some pictures from us playing outside on Tuesday morning with Gabby.

Gingerbread Lane at the Ballantyne Resort

We took a stroll through Gingerbread lane yesterday and also enjoyed walking around to see the beautiful trees they had set up all through the resort. Claire enjoyed "feeling" all the ornaments on the trees, but we had a time keeping her hands off the gingerbread houses!

Finding the perfect Tree

Cody

So as most of you know we had to say good bye to our big red dog last month. It has been a very sad time in our house and things seem very quiet and empty most days. We are trying to busy ourselves with remembering the good times, talking about the memories and enjoying our pictures. We got his ashes back yesterday and although we shared some tears, things feel a little more "right" in our home. He is back with us and will forever live inside our hearts. Here are a few of our favorite memories! We love you and miss you Cody bear!
Cody: August 24, 2000-November 15, 2008

Our family of 5, November 1, 2008
Posing with Gabby, or better yet, I just took her ball

Ok, I guess we can keep her, December 2005

Waiting patiently for a treat with Gabby & Buddy

Always Daddy's Personal Assistant

Halloween 2004

Christmas 2005, getting his Jolly Ball

The big snow of March 2004

Being silly with my family, November 14, 2008