Simon mesmerized by a very cool guitar train track at the Gaylord hotel in Grapevine.
Simon and I walked around the hotel and took turns taking pictures.
Simon's friend Noah was there.
My mom in the first of many charity photo-ops.
We teased her that it was like a celebrity visiting refugees the way she would grab a kid and pose for a pictures.
Wonder how I got such a good smile from Simon?
He was stuck on this high box and I wouldn't help him down until he gave me a good smile.
Taylor and Evie.
Oh, another photo op!
A very tall toy soldier on stilts.
My mom drove with the kids and I to the Southeast. Then, on Christmas Eve, my dad and Matt had an early flight from DFW to ATL where they picked up a rental car and met us in Pendleton/Toccoa.
At a Chick-fil-A we stopped at on the way to Georgia, Simon had a very funny conversation with a little blond, blue-eyed girl about age 8.
Guarding the door to the playplace he said, "You can't go outside until you eat, Sweetie." Then he was so excited, "Hey! I know you! You're on my Praise Baby DVD. But you're all growed up now."
In the hotel we stayed at on our road trip - Simon said, "This is the BEST DAY EVER!" Mom asked why. He said, "Because it was a road trip."
I guess my mom's enthusiasm wore off on him.
She really enjoys road trips.
My parents had their van serviced and let us use it on the trip since ours is much more endowed with miles and sometimes has issues in cold weather. Plus, we would have had to buy new tires for ours ... not a fun purchase in such a tight month as December!
Plus, they were able to get Matt a ticket using one of their free-tickets they earn with their credit card so that was all a huge help in the Christmas traveling.
Simon took this picture and the following two pictures.
I am very impressed with Simon's pictures.
courtesy of Simon
our talented child when it comes to photography, art, and drumming
Some hand puppets Simon and I made.
We had our family 'Christmas' one weekend morning.
Matt told the Christmas story and Simon helped 'act' it out with our wooden nativity.
Our fluffy little bunny.
She loves this thing!
I didn't take many pictures that day.
Simon received some art supplies, books on drawing, and some phonics manipulatives.
We have fun making crazy sentences with them.
Gigi and TWO rescued children.
good pic!
My dad and Matt discussing the Cowboys.
Scott and Tania - still newlyweds at only 5 months or so!
Simon liked the entertainment of the hibachi meal!
My sister's late 18-th century home in Toccoa Falls, Georgia.
They just put up this picket fence that I think will be painted white ... ?
Not a real snake on her foyer floor...
Gigi and the natives who are literally pulling their own hair out.
This is currently ALL of the counter space and cabinets my sister has.
That is the cost of living in a very beautiful old home.
The closets and storage spaces are small because they didn't accumulate as much stuff as we do!
Kelly and Corey are in the process of combining a huge bedroom and living room to make a big kitchen. Well, Kelly is pregnant so really Corey is doing it all.... ;)
It will have exposed brick and possibly the original fire place can stay.
The deck area they added last year.
Matt taking his turn with the natives.
Evie and Blaize are only 5 months apart, with Evie in the lead.
Love it!
Sitting in the living room that will one day be part of the kitchen.
The four cousins in matching sweaters by family!
And the brunette is the odd-ball.
Funny.
Kelly's festive fare.
My grandmother's house in Pendleton, SC.
Only an hour's drive from my sister's place in Toccoa Falls, Georgia.
Early on Christmas morning, Simon was helping Granny set the table. His job was to put a chocolate santa at each place-setting.
We don't 'do' Santa so Christmas provided many ops for me to get nervous that Simon would frantically and insistently tell a child that Santa was not real.
This did not happen.
Whew.
Matt and I took a walk Christmas afternoon.
This pic is looking back at my grandparent's place and you can see my Uncle Wayne walking in the distance. We passed them and he was of course wearing hunting gear and going for a walk - with his gun - just in case. Because, as he said, if you don't have a gun, that's when you'll see the most beautiful deer.
Kellie's Wedding Day - New Year's Day.
Doesn't she look beautiful?
I'm going to find some more wedding pic from somewhere - probably facebook and post them.
I was too busy to remember to take many pictures!
Thanks for making me smile, Kellie.
Kellie was getting her hair done here.
You know you love us.
The 'kid' table at the rehearsal dinner the night before.
It was like a college reunion with all of the people there!
Matt making breakfast quesadillas one morning at his parent's home in Ringgold, Georgia.
Ringgold is about an hour south from Dayton, TN where the wedding was, and where we went to college.
This is one zombie I love.
Evie cleaning up at my Grandmother's home in Cartersville, GA.
Cartersville is about an hour south of Ringgold.
Nice how God arranged all of this for us when he put Matt and I together.
Matt bonding with my cousin Mason.
Apparently they like the same games.
They will probably play on xbox live sometime together, now that they have exchanged usernames.
Annah - my cousin Eric's little girl.
My crazy guy.
Matt's mom admiring the picture that Matt's dad painted.
Simon and Matt's brother Ollie.
Ollie is really good about spending lots of time just playing with Simon.
Outside Matt's parents home after church on Sunday.
I am going to get cute pictures of my children in these matching sweaters!
Ollie's dog Maggie wearing the spunky outfit we gave her.
