The Last of Christmas

Terri and the kids came down the week after Christmas. This gave Dad some time to recoup and worked out well for everyone. We missed Billy and Hunter while they had to stay home to work. I know you both hated missing, as Will calls it, Mema's world famous lasagna. Good thing we had some left over for to-go boxes.

Dad got a new hat and jacket for when he gets back out on the golf course.

Lucy and Skeebo were the only dogs allowed in while we all opened presents. Winny and Piper stayed outside until later.

Sydney got some horse themed stuff including lots of books from Hunter and me. Mom and Dad gave her a horse figurine that played music and a small duffel bag. She also got some new clothes and other goodies.

Hunter and I gave Will and Sydney Gamecock Snuggies.

We also brought them back some souvenirs from when we went to New York in July. Here they are both being the Statue of Liberty. Will got a Sidney Rice Viking's jersey from us.

And he got a Dolphin's jersey from Mom and Dad.

Here is Sydney in all the mess we made opening presents.

Mom found Terri's old baton and gave it to Sydney. Here, Sydney is wearing Mom's majorette outfit that my grandma made for Mom when she was about Sydney's age. I also wore it when I was little for Halloween. It fit Syd perfectly and was so fun seeing her in it.

Here are some pictures of me and the kids. They turned out great!

Here is Terri's family picture. I thought it was great and wanted to post it.

So Christmas was great and I enjoyed all the family time we had with everyone! I ate too much good food and now it time to get ready for 2010.

Christmas at the Grandparents

For Christmas day lunch, we went to Hunter's grandparents for their traditional Low Country Boil.

Here are all the grandkids. We had a wonderful afternoon spending time with the family.

On Christmas morning, Lucy and Winny enjoyed their Christmas treats while we opened presents. This picture just cracked me up. I will never be able to capture a picture like this twice. Lucy's bully stick was almost a big as her.

Christmas with Mom and Dad

On Christmas Day night, we headed to Mom and Dad's to exchange gifts with them. The only pictures I have are of the dogs!

Here is Lucy in her cheerleader outfit Mom found her in the bargain bin. I don't blame her, it was adorable (even if it was a tad small)! Here she is sniffing out her presents.

Here is Skeebo taking in all the action. He was just glad to have his Pop back home!

Mom also found this vest for Winny!
Mom and her favorite granddoger. Everyone loves Lucy.

Here is where we found our little cheerleader after a long day of festivities (my bed).

More Christmas

We headed home Christmas Eve night (after I got home from work) and stopped first to see Mom and Dad. Dad came home from the hospital on Tuesday, and we were all glad to have him home for Christmas!

This year, we spent Christmas Eve with Hunter's family. We had a great dinner with Mr. Phil's shrimp alfredo. And we woke up to their traditional Christmas breakfast of egg and sausage burritos and St. Paul's rice. It was very tasty and fun to see what his traditions he grew up with. I don't have any pictures of Christmas morning, but we were all busy unwrapping presents.

The only pictures I have are of what Hope gave Lucy for Christmas:

Lucy got a Rubber Ducky bath robe. She love things that keep her warm. Maybe she will like baths more now!

Christmas 2009

As many of you know, Dad had emergency open heart surgery the Saturday before Christmas. So needless to say, everything was a little crazy this year.

Hunter and I decorated our gingerbread house. This has started to be a little tradition we do each year and here is how it turned out.

Hunter gave me a new camera and this coat that he found in Park City. I love them both!!
Hunter got a coffee maker and a new drill. He was pretty happy about them also.
The coffee maker is the coolest thing ever. I've also been enjoying my mocha's!

We did get our tree up, but if it hadn't come with lights on it, they probably wouldn't be there. There were 4 little ornaments on the tree and they were ones that we gave each other in our stockings!

We had a great Christmas Eve Eve together and I love being able to have our own little Christmas together before heading home to be with our families.

Thanksgiving

Mottel Turkey Fest 2009

The whole family was there except one cousin.

Here are all the children:
Steve, Andy, Marsha, Grandma Carole, Billy, Mary, Phil, Grandpa Bill, and David
Joe (Hope's boyfriend), Hope, Haley, Mike (Haley's boyfriend), Me, and Hunter

Back from UT

When we got back from UT, one of my bags didn't make it. It seemed to be stuck in Atlanta. Luckily, by the time we got back from church Sunday, it was sitting on the porch. It must have sat out in the rain in Atlanta because everything inside was wet. It was mostly my sweaters and toiletries so after letting it all air out for a few days, it was as good as new.

Also, I was very proud of myself for taking my coupons with me on vacation. I knew we would have to shop for our food for the week and we saved a little along the way.

While we were gone, Winny was spayed and had her stomach tacked to her body wall so it can never flip (like what happened in Marley and Me). Her breed, like most large dogs, are at risk and our vet is an expert. He studied service dogs in Iraq and performed the same surgery there.

Poor Bug had to wear a lamp shade collar for 14 long day. Lucy liked it because they got to stay inside all day while we were at work.

Here is Winny playing with her ball. It took her a couple tries to figure it out how to pick it up, but once she did, she was a happy girl!