Baby Shower

Two of my friends threw me a baby shower for this second little one. It was so sweet of them to think of me and to celebrate the life of this new little one! It was something they really didn't have to do, but was much appreciated! We kept it small and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. The funny thing was that over half of the people there were pregnant!! How crazy is that! All of them were having boys (except 1 who just found out she was 6 weeks along). They decided to have the shower over at my house, which was great because we were able to distract Alley better (even though she was slightly grumpy this morning due to an early early rise). While we were setting things up, I told Alley to go play in her playroom...This is how we found Alley right before the baby shower. "Nigh-nigh time"Here is our pastor's wife helping out with Alley while we waited for the other guests and continued to set up

Here was our small group. What a great time we had...those missing from the pictures were my mother and grandmother

Here is my big present helper...she was a fast gift opener!!

Here is one of the gifts my friend made - I love it!!!

What a wonderful time we had! Kendall and I got some really great items and I feel as though we are getting ready for her coming...it could be any day;) My excitement (and impatience) has increased!!

Weekend Fun

Isn't there a deal that if it's going to be freezing cold and extremely windy, that it's suppose to snow too??!! For some reason we got the two miserable parts of weather without the enjoyable part! Saturday was just down right cold...brr! Alley and I had traveled to Richmond for the weekend, since Andy was out of town, intent on doing some after Christmas shopping (better late than never!). We definitely did not last long shopping!! We did enjoy ourselves inside keeping warm by the fire Papa made though:) Alley even found some of my brother's old trucks and had a ball playing with them. There's always something new and interesting to discover at Mimi and Papa's house. (I need to remember to keep Alley and Kendall's old toys to bring out for our grandchildren!!!)

Alley is setting up an audience of stuffed animals to watch her play...who knew playing cars was a spectator sport!

doing ballet moves while digging into the truck bucket...gotta keep it girly! To top it off, she was singing jingle bells while doing all this!!

We did venture outside for a walk, just to change things up a bit...okay, let me clarify...Alley, Mimi and Papa ventured outside while I made sure the fire stayed in the fireplace...such a sacrifice;)

Papa and Alley all bundled up to brave the cold

Alley wearing Momma's scarf (so she could look like Mimi!)Mimi and Alley stopping to warm up togetherWe had an enjoyable weekend despite the cold...but we're definitely looking forward to warmer weather!!!

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!