After Christmas Party at The Garners

Every year the weekend after Christmas, our good friends Betsy and Joel have a "After Christmas get together". (about 40 people or more)
These are pics of the kids opening their gifts to one another. This year I was going to get more pics than this but we were all so busy eating and having such a good time I never got to it. We always see dear friends and distant cousins we haven't seen in a while and Betsy always pulls off such an awesome party with a spread of appetizers, snacks and desserts. This year was barb-que and every thing else you can think of. She is the best hostess, and we are so grateful for our friends! We enjoyed our time together and look forward to doing it again next year!Here is Eric, We call him "little Joel". He is looking more and more like him everyday!
Here is Andrew opening his gifts from Eric.
What a nice surprise, Transformers!
Transformer Pj's to go along with them.
Of course Morgan had tinkerbell paper, another tinkerbell doll and....
Tinkerbell Pj's!

My favorite gift Betsy, Joel and Eric gave the kids were the "Little People" nativity scene. It was the first time I had ever seen one. They love it, and I plan on keeping it out year round.
Morgan loves her "baby Jesus". In her tinkerbell pj's from the garners..
We love our friend Eric and hope to see him again soon.

House Update

Well, we are getting closer everyday......
We have grass!(around the house that is), the rest is and will be kept natural! This pic was taken after we have had so much rain. Hopefully getting some more gravel soon too.
Backyard for the kids to run,jump, play ball, etc........
Mark still is working on the garage downstairs. "The Man Cave" him and Andrew call it. Andrew just asked him the other day when they were going to work on his "blue hotrod", and he told him one thing at a time. So hopefully before he goes to college!
Future playground, kids are excited about that. "A real one"? Andrew asked? Mark was not to happy about one of his tree's being cut down during landscaping, it needed to come down too, but it was his future "hammock" tree. After all his hard work I will be sure he gets a Hammock and I think I will be able to find a tree for him.
I was so excited to see that the creek had water! Running water! It had rained so much!! I can see it now this summer, 2 muddy kids coming from the creek, or mud bogging on the four wheelers! They are going to have a blast in the woods!


Our breakfast area lamp we bought at Progressive lighting. Awesome deals!
Now we are on the hunt for mirrors now. Having a time finding some.
Our vanity finally arrived, well me and the kids picked it up a couple of weeks ago. That was a deal too!
Need a mirror there too!
My very special light over my tub. (progressive lighting again)
There is a reason why this light is so special. The kids were with us when we were light shopping and Andrew actually picked it out for me! Me and Andrew went looking for bathroom lights and Mark and Morgan went for other lights, and he found this. He said, "Mommy, you would love this one, it is perfect, just for you" Looked at it, and I was sold. Thanks Andrew, good job, it is perfect!
Morgan in her new"Tinkerbell room".(playing babies and watching a dvd.) She was camped out for the morning while I dusted and did things around the house. We go try to get things done on my off days while Andrew is in school. It is feeling more like home every time we are there! We will be slowly moving things next weekend after we hopefully pass our inspection and get our C.O. YEA!! It will be worth the wait! God is always on time!!! Hopefully next House Update will be Moving Day!!

Snow Mountain

Well Snow Mountain finally happened. Stone Mountain Park opened "Snow Mountain" New Years Eve day. The huge lawn in front of the carving of the mountain is now covered in snow! It is about 3-4 football fields long, straight down. It is open until Andrew's Birthday, March 1st.It is open for tubing, and down below past the tubing area is a snow play area. You can build snowmen, snowball fight, and enjoy the freshly blown snow from the Stn. Mtn , Lake. They have all kinds of other winter related activities too. We can not wait to actually take part in it in a few weeks. We were spectators this day because they were sold out the first weekend it opened. The kids, and yes Me and Mark are ready too!!

Now open until March 1st. Friday-Sunday
You start at the top of the lawn.....
and take the plunge to the bottom.....and hope to stay on your tube!
Morgan will be able to use a "Snow Disc" at the play area. She is excited.




Abbe(their friend), Morgan and Andrew. Abbe will be joining us when we go back to tube and have a snow play day her Birthday weekend.
Kids in front of the snow play area.



It was hard for them to understand we were just "looking" and couldn't actually do anything. It was a little unfair, but they were able to see everything and it is something to look forward to soon.



Well, there you have it, Snow Mountain. Hopefully when we go back to actually take part there will be some real snow added to it. The way the weather has been this past fall and now, It wouldn't take us by surprise if it did. Andrew has been praying for snow since October. We LOVE winter. The colder the better....Lord, Please bring the snow!!!!!

Morgan Moments

My future gymnast, READY
SET
SPLIT
"Ta Da" Her new phrase. She was proud of herself for setting up the new "Little People" Nativity set she was given from Mrs. Betsy, Joel-Joel and Eric.
She is such a ham!
Her new pose?
Mommy's big helper

She actually put all the utensils in the right spot!
She loves the camera!

She would color and paint all day if I let her!
Helping me out again. She loves her cleaning set she got from Mee Mee

Ta Da! She said! This was her 1st day of being dry the entire day in big girl Dora panties. Now just 364 more days to go ! Whew!
Every day is something new with Morgan. She keeps it interesting. Just thought I would share some precious Morgan moments. What a hoot! She is such a blessing!!