Christmas Photos

Back to the Everyday Occurances

Monday evening we returned from Florida. Tuesday I spent most of the day trying to get things unpacked and sorted. I also headed to the grocery store during Matt's lunch hour, Matt and the kids had pizza while I shopped, so that I could get the things I needed before he headed out of town. Matt left yesterday for Clovis, New Mexico and will return Thursday night. Gabriel starts football practice today and is very excited about it. Abby is chomping at the bit for me to sign her up for ballet and gymnastics. So I have added those things to my to do list. I also have back to school shopping to start and need to figure out a get well gift for Abby for after her hand surgery. Both of her hands will be bandaged for a week and I don't know how easily she will be able to use her thumbs since that is what they are correcting. She also won't be able to get her hands wet during that time either. And next week I am hosting our MOPS Bunco group here and need to get the house under control as well as the back yard. I really wish I had a truck right now because I need to pick up gas and don't want the fumes in the car with the kids. Maybe that can be Matt's next vehicle. Anyway, things are returning to the everyday and activities and school are starting again. I really can't believe that school is starting back in two weeks and that Gabriel is old enough for football already.

Off to Atlanta

Tomorrow I am headed to Atlanta for 4 days. I will be attending the Atlanta Buyers Market with my mom and sister. They will be purchasing gift items for the Nursery while I am along for moral support and the fun of it. Matt's mom, and our nieces Sarah and Amy will be coming to help watch the kids so Matt can keep his vacation days intact. I am looking forward to this trip. It will be really nice to get away without the kids for a while. When I get back it will be time to start getting ready for our family trip to Florida. Which should prove to be lots of fun.

Travel Games

We will be taking our summer vacation trip to Florida in a couple of weeks. In prepration for this trip I am trying to come up with some car games and activities. Since we are going to be in the car for over 8 hours on the first leg and then an additional 5-6 hours for the second I don't think just the T.V. will keep them happy. We are packing breakfast and lunch for the road and then will eat dinner when we stop for the night in Prattville, AL. If anyone has any suggestions of car games or activities to do in the car I would really appreciate them. The kids are really good travellers but it would be nice to be prepared.

Easter In Chattanooga

Gabriel and Abby loved looking and finding their Easter baskets and the goodies inside. They both got books to read, Moon Sand, bubbles, and assorted candies and gum.

Below my parent's house is a creek. I have many fond memories of playing at the creek. I had climbed out on this fallen tree and Gabriel and Abby decided to join me. This is the same part of the creek that Abby fell into one winter, I think 2 years ago. Matt was extremely nervous once again because I was doing something he thought was crazy with his kids.

This is a group picture of all the cousins, grandparents and sons and daughter in laws, it's funny that none of us kids made it into that picture. I guess we will have to try again next time we are all together. This was taken right before we headed to the creek on an egg hunt. Even Chance the dog found and picked up an egg on this trip.

Elizabeth is enjoying all the goodies in her Easter basket from my parents.

This is all the cousins playing on the swing set together. It is really a lot of fun to watch the dynamics of whom will be playing with whom from hour to hour. The older two are really pretty good about watching out for Elizabeth when she joins them on the swing set.

Our Little Vacation Into the Smokies

During our visit to Tennessee we decided to take a impromptu vacation to the Smokies. We drove up one morning got a hotel and then drove to Chattanooga late the next morning. We both commented that we needed to visit the Smokies more often. We had a great time on the walking trails, visit the Sugarlands visitor center, and driving up to Newfound Gap and the picnic area below the Chimneys.

This was our view coming into the park. We took the road that by-passed Gatlinburg. We were going to be staying in Gatlinburg and didn't see the need to drive through it.

Gabriel and Abby posing as airplanes. They had a wonderful time just running and playing on this easy, paved hike. It was a perfect path for us to enjoy. We were able to use the stroller when needed.

Gabriel and Abby love to have their pictures taken. They are often very silly during their pictures. I loved the posing in these pictures. They have so much fun together too. I am glad we have these pictures so they can remember that.

Elizabeth stopping for a pose. Not to be left out Elizabeth insisted on getting out of the stroller so that she could explore too. She enjoyed crawling over rocks. All three kids wanted to play in the water. We will really have to try anothertrip during the summer just so they can do that.

You can't tell from the picture but there is a drop-off behind and to the left of us. Matt thought I was crazy getting the kids to sit on this tree with me. I thought the tree was cool and the kids needed some adventure.

Matt and the kids posing on a lookout just inside the park. The kids really enjoyed looking a Gatlinburg below them. They kept asking where our hotel was down there. The clouds were so thick once we got up to Newfound Gap that we couldn't see anything. We should have realized it especailly with this picture.

This picture of Matt and the kids is one of my favorites from the whole set. This was taken by the creek just off the path we were walking. I hope the kids enjoyed this trip as much as Matt and I did.

MexiMatt and Post Pune

Two weeks ago Matt went to Pune, India on a business trip. This morning he left the house at 3 am to catch a flight to Mexico for business.

He hated the trip to India and hopes to never go back. Though he said it wasn't nearly as bad as he had been told, it was still bad. The poverty was horrible and eye opening. It helped us to see how much we have and how much suffering there is in the world.

Matt enjoys his trip to Mexico. He has been to this particular plant on several occasions. He loves the fact that he doesn't suffer from allergies while there. He also really enjoys the food.

I hope he has a great flight and returns safely to us, which I'm sure he will. See you Friday, Matt.