Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year was another interesting event for our family. I am coming to terms with how "holidays" are changing for our family since we moved to Clemson. Last year, we spent Thanksgiving in Disney world...not too bad, but a juicy burger and fries replaced a turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes. This year, Andy had 2 practices on Thanksgiving...whaaat??! So, we entered another "make-do-with-what-you've-got" holiday. We are fortunate enough to have some really great friends around us here at Clemson and we were able to collaborate with one of the families and have a fun Thanksgiving feast! Of course, nothing seemed to go right since Andy was gone for the day! All the dishes that I usually make for our family feast, turned out horrible...oh well! Three of Andy's GA's couldn't go home for TG, so we invited them to join us. It ended up being a great day (minus my dry biscuits, burnt bacon and undercooked green bean casserole...ugh!!!) at least my pumpkin pound cake was AWESOME;)

we started the day off right with the Macy's TG Day parade...the girls practicing to be the next Rockettes

not quite in sync, but with a little practices....um, nope!

Alley and Leah excited about spending TG together

being silly 

time for some TG crafts/coloring...we had to occupy them somehow so we could have some adult convo over a cup of coffee;)

the girls (me, Angie - best bud, Stephanie, Julia and Stephanie)

Kendall working hard

Alley enjoying her crafts

MC couldn't sit still...surprise, surprise...checking out baby Jesus and making sure he's being taken care of...

sweet, wild MC...oh my are you a hand full:)

We had a great time celebrating with friends this year! We had a few bumps in the road this year, but I am looking forward to how we get to celebrate next year!! Rumor has it, we get to go to St. Martins right before TG next year!! WOO-HOOO...I am ready for my Margarita!;)

Charleston

We had the opportunity to travel with the basketball team to Charleston the week before Thanksgiving for a basketball tournament. It was a great time to just get away and be together as a family in a very beautiful and historic town. We all needed a little change of scenery and I needed a break from the norm! We had some warmer temperatures most of the days we were there, so we were very thankful for the break from the cold weather. We spent most of the mornings doing school and playing in the room. Once school was completed, we ventured out to check out our surroundings. There was some great shopping a street behind us, a wide open park a couple blocks down from us and, the aquarium was just down the street. We were in the best location!

One morning we decided to venture down to see the water. The sky was dark, but the weather was warm. Minus the whining from a certain little girl who "doesn't.think.she.can.take.a.nother.step.or.she.will.die.", we all faired well on the walk;)  

The going to check out the water

taking a break from "all that walking" (really it was only a few blocks away...maybe a mile at most!). We sat and watched big boats glide through and enjoyed seeing all the sights and sounds of a waterway.

of course, it wouldn't be a basketball trip if someone didn't get sick. True to her nature, Alley got sick Thursday night and we spent all of Friday in the hotel room. She was feeling better on Friday, but I wasn't ready to risk heading out on an adventure when we hardly slept the night before. Thank goodness for legos and PBS!! ;)

we did go outside the hotel to get a little fresh air. Alley decided everyone needed dance lessons. I mean, you never know when you will be invited to a ball! ;)

Thank goodness Saturday seem to be a good day for the girls, but poor Andy ended up with a horrible migraine. Whomp-whomp! So the girls and I tried to make ourselves scarce on saturday. We headed over to Mount Pleasant to see what was over there. Lucky for us, we found a Barnes & Noble that was just about to start story time!

the girls all excited about story time

they did a project with glitter and glue...obviously the person who planned this activity does NOT have any children...We walked away with very glittery dresses, hands and hair...plus 2 out of the 3 had glued parts of their dresses together...(sigh)

after a quick (and quiet) lunch and nap at the hotel, we headed to the aquarium. The girls have been talking about going to the aquarium since October when I told them we would go. Note to self, never tell them anything until the day it happens. 

Very excited to see the fish tanks...MC is more concerned with snack time...

in the outdoor section of the aquarium...MC was very concerned with the fish that kept coming up to the edge of the water and "wooking at me". 

Kendall patiently waiting until it was her turn to feed "my new friends"

MC overly excited about the huge fish and sharks in the tank. She was so incredibly excited!

going for a safari ride

Alley holding a starfish

MC grabbing the starfish...we all thought she was about to run away with it!

just chillin with the frog outside:) MC was still trying to make her escape

the view from the aquarium

the last morning we were in Charleston, we met up with one of Andy's former co-workers who had moved to Charleston. His daughter was born 2 weeks before MC, so it was fun seeing how they had grown. We enjoyed the donuts and catching up!

This was the best I could do! Neither girl was too excited about getting their picture taken:)

We had a great time in Charleston and are so blessed to be able to travel with Andy on his long trips. I just hope that we can break this curse of Alley always getting sick during basketball trips! Our next one is in March....here's hoping!!

Alley is 6!!

Happy Birthday to our sweet, loving, caring, curious, helpful little momma. I can't believe she is 6 already! Partly because that means I am getting older too (shhh!) and partly because I still remember her/think of her as that small little bundle who constantly wanted to be held and looked at. She was definitely a child who want to be in someones arms and I don't think that has changed much in the past 6 years. She loves to come in to our room in the morning, snuggle with her daddy and say her morning prayers. She loves to hold hands, give and receive kisses, snuggle on the sofa and just get as close as possible to you. It is so sweet and I am trying to remember to slow down and enjoy those moments, because they will be gone all too soon!

Since Alley's birthday coincides with the beginning of basketball, we try to cram all our birthday activities into the wee morning hours before Andy has to go to work. 

After waking everyone up (it would have been much sooner if Andy and I hadn't made her wait!), she couldn't wait to dig into the pile of presents at her seat!

our big birthday girl!

MC trying to steal the spotlight;) I have no clue what she was doing except making noise and getting up on the countertop...

Alley's favorite thing...a home-made card from Carlee Scott.
What a precious thing CS did for Alley!

After all the presents were opened and all the questions about "when can I play with _____?" had been answered, we headed out for our Birthday breakfast at Dunkin Donuts! I am not sure who was more excited?! ;) Of course everyone got donuts with sprinkles and got a complete sugar high....poor teachers;) After dropping the little girls off at their schools, we went up to Andy's office to bring him his donuts. Alley loves going to Andy's work. After lunch everyday, she asks if she can go back to work with him. I think she's hoping that one day he will say yes;) Alley ended the day with cake and a birthday song at our small group. She loved being surrounded by her church family. She told me that it was the best birthday ever. What a sweet sweet girl!!

Alley had her birthday party the following Saturday. One of her and Kendall's good friend has a birthday in November as well, and we thought it would be fun (and easier) to have a joint party. The theme was Pancakes and Pajamas. Everyone came over in their PJ's and we had pancakes, donuts, fruit and a variety of milk. The girls LOVED being able to stay in their pj's all morning. Of course, Kendall preferred to play dress-up since the birthday girls both got princess pj's...oh Kendall;)

MC and her best bud, Sydney (the other b-day girls sister)...they fight like crazy but still call each other "bes fwen"...they refused to stand next to each other for the picture...they are hilarious:)

here's the food table...yum yum!

All the guests:) 

Alley blowing out her candle

The kids eating breakfast and getting ready to watch Tangled

activity #1: decorating pillowcases

activity #2: making cereal necklaces

Kendall and Leah (the other birthday girl)...best buds:)

Alley and her best friend, Charlie. He was SUCH a great sport! They have so much fun together.

MC spent the whole party trying to make everyone laugh (and look at her). 

MC: 1 

B-day girls: 0

finally, a picture of the two little ones...except, they got in a fight over who was going to put their arm around the other first...oh me oh my;)

All in all, it was a great party and birthday!
We love you Alley and are so blessed to have you in our lives!!!