2009 through Pictures

A friend of mine does a recap of the year through pictures on her blog and I thought like that was a great idea:) What a great way to look back through the year and see how much we have been blessed. I have really enjoyed going through all our pictures (and man are there lots!!!) and re-living each memory. So, here it goes:)

January: Alley starts doing somersaults frequently...crazy child!

We spent lots of time outside and sick:(

February: The family comes to visit from Georgia and Richmond

March: We get our first big snow storm of the year

I take a trip to visit my sister-in-law in Texas while my brother is in Iraq

April: We go to Arkansas to see Andy's family for Easter

Visiting with the cousins and G'ma over Easter

May: Participate in The Race for A Cure in support of my mom

Enjoy a Mother's Day with four generations of women:)

Take a trip to Williamsburg with our friends

June: Find out we're pregnant with baby #2!!!!!

Andy and his assistant, Isaac, play in a raquetball tourny and WIN! We visited a park as well:)

Go to San Antonio, TX for Andy's NATA conference and get to visit with my brother's family while he was home on mid-tour leave!!!

Andy's family came down to Texas for the conference to see us:)

July: Our annual trip to Kiawah

We visit with close friends (one of whom is also a FABULOUS photographer) in North Carolina

August: Make a trip to Richmond to visit my little brother

Play the piano over and over and over again!

September: Football season officially starts!

Alley gets her first haircut (so cute!)

October: Go to A LOT of football games

Attended our first Halloween event in Richmond at my parent's church (we will definitely do that again!!)

November: Celebrated Alley's 2nd Birthday with an Animal theme!

Hosted our first Thanksgiving dinner for the family

December: G'ma came to visit

Had a major snowstorm right before Christmas

and finally.....
Enjoyed another Christmas with our family!

What a fun and exciting year we had...and this next year, 2010, is only going to be better!!!

Christmas Day

We had a wonderful Christmas in Richmond this year. We still had snow on the ground, there was a fire in the fireplace, lots of family gathered, and yummy food to enjoy. The day passed by way too quickly but we did enjoy each moment knowing that next year it will be a little more hectic (we'll have to go to man-to-man defense!!). We started the morning out with the McPherson's in charge of making breakfast (we decided to give mom a break from breakfast duty since she had Christmas dinner to think about!). I tried some new recipes out and they seemed to be good...we didn't have any leftovers:) Then we relaxed and went through stockings and our gifts slowly. Alley was a little more into opening things this year...she helped EVERYONE open their stockings and gifts. She oooed and ahhhed over everyone's gifts as well. About mid-morning, the Texas Alley's came over to finish Christmas with us and it was hilarious watching the three cousins open presents...everything was "mine", even if it wasn't:) So funny! They played with each others gifts the moment the other would leave them alone and couldn't figure out why the other was trying to take the toys away...classic two year olds! After lunch all the kids went down for naps, and the adults tried to rest...tried is the key word...we weren't too successful. Later that evening another family came over to celebrate Christmas dinner with us. All the kids were in bed, so us parents got to enjoy some "adult" conversation and time...much needed! The night ended well, with delicious food, good conversation and a fire in the fireplace (can you tell I love fires in our fireplace?!!). What a great day full of memories! Here are some of those memories captured...

A few attempts at a family photo...we seem to struggle with getting one where all three are looking at the camera and smiling:)

The grab the hand technique...still struggled!

Mimi and Alley doing what they love most...reading!

Christmas morning, helping daddy go through his stocking...her favorite part of each stocking? The ORANGE!!!!

Playing with her sticker book...another love, stickers...

Cousin Carlee Scott graciously sharing her doll house with Alley, a bull in a china shop!

Cousin Owen and Alley eating "paw-corn"...they were SUPER excited about it

Sharing hugs, or as Alley calls them... "uggs" (Owen seems to think you hug with your head...silly boy!)

Alley playing with the new animal addition papa made for her Noah's Ark...she loves it!

Christmas Week

I'm a little late in posting the happenings from this week! We have been having a blast here in Richmond with Mimi and Papa. On Monday, my brother and his kids came into town, so we've been able to spend some great time with Carlee Scott and Owen...which Alley loves! Whenever someone comes to the door, she gets so excited and says "Owen?!" - she can't get enough of them:) Here are some pictures from the past few days:

The kids playing the piano - they thought it was the coolest thing!

Alley sporting Papa's santa hat (she wont go near a santa, but she'll wear the hat!)
Alley and Owen laughing at the cat who is hanging out in the baby doll's cradle (there is cap-nip in the cradle that Cagnie is rolling in!)

We went to my parent's church (St. Matthew's) greening of the church on Monday evening and Alley and Owen were inseparable!

A little arts and craft with mommy:) She did surprisingly well putting the beads on the string!

Later that night the kids enjoying a little story time with Mimi

Then some Christmas Claymation - they seem enthralled

The next day we decided to try Alley in the snow again, without the sled. We got her some snow/cold weather clothes, so she was excited (she is inlove with her boots and every time we say we're going outside she starts yelling boots boots!) Here she is with daddy...

Charging through the snow

Painting cookies with the kids

Alley really loved painting the cookies, but she was not happy she couldn't eat them immediately! A slight meltdown, but she got over it fast:)

Coloring with Grandma Alley - another Alley favorite past-time

Reading on her own - "momma self"...

Christmas eve pictures to come...:) I hope everyone has a very merry and God-filled Christmas Eve!!!

A Snowy Day...

I am so glad we decided to come to Richmond early! We knew that everyone would get snow, but we had no idea how much snow we'd get. We packed up the car and headed to my parents house on Thursday afternoon since there was nothing else to do that week, except my normal routine of sitting, sitting and more sitting (too much fun!!). Andy and I then enjoyed a nice dinner out at PF Changs to celebrate my (cough, cough) 29th birthday...which was very nice :) Friday evening the snow began...and it didn't stop until a few minutes ago! Here are some pictures from this morning when I woke up.

We had over 6 inches this morning when Andy and Dad went out to shovel the walkways and cars, and it was still snowing!!

Poor Cookie...she was muscling her way through the snow - it was funny because it looked like she was chest bumping the snow!

So...we thought Alley would enjoy the snow since she had been obsessed with it all day...but, we being unprepared, had nothing for the poor child to wear. We threw on multiple layers (turtleneck, sweater, leggings, jeans, socks, jacket, shoes and someone's hat) and headed out...forgot gloves...BIG, HUGE mistake! Her first slip in the snow and she was done! Here she is after the tumble riding with daddy on the sled...she was so over it!

So, what do you do to calm a screaming, cold child down??!! Get out the piano and start singing!

Here's a video of her singing...



And another funny one...

31 weeks...and counting

Since we have no clue when this little one will be making her entrance into the world, we've decided to take a picture of my growing size each week. She truly is acting like a girl...what a tease! Acting like she is going to come and then at the last minute deciding not to. I'm not sure how much more I can take of that! Anyway, we are all doing well and just taking it one day at a time.

Here is a picture of me, taken at 31 weeks.

Dinner...

I think someone really likes spaghetti!! A friend brought over dinner the other day and it just so happened to be a LARGE pan of spaghetti. We have been eating it for a few days (on and off), but Alley is desperate to eat it each night. She keeps asking for "spetti" and just goes crazy when we get it out for her. Here she is THOROUGHLY enjoying her "spetti".