Thanksgiving, Christmas, January and the in-between....

Please forgive me for being so late. I've been REALLY busy!

We went to VA for Thanksgiving. Drove up EARLY on Wednesday morning, arriving in Wytheville around 9:30 I suppose. I can't remember that far back! Thursday was spent with my family - lunch at my sister's house. After that, we stopped by to see Flint's mom for a little while, and then back to Jettie's for the evening.

Friday we ventured to Blacksburg to go to the Hokie store and get some gear for Christmas presents. We also stopped in Christiansburg to see Larry & Linda (Flint's former boss and his wife). They are like another set of parents to Flint (and me a little bit). They are just awesome - Linda is the artist that is responsible for the art of Edin and of Davis. Linda is such an amazing artist - check out her work here: http://www.lindasartstudio.com/ If I could get my act together, I'm planning to send her another photo of Davis' newborn photo shoot for a charcoal or pencil drawing of him to match Edin's.

Saturday I went over to Granny's house with Dad & Jeannie to go through some of her things. We got quite a bit done for the few hours that we were there, but there is still a long ways to go. I still miss her. She was one-of-a-kind like nobody even knows, but she was my granny, and I loved her very much. Sometimes it still hasn't set in.

After watching the Hokies kick some UVA butt that afternoon, we packed up the car and headed home right at bedtime. That worked out so perfectly - no screaming in the car at all! I think we'll do that from now on!

Sunday night, after the kids went to bed, we put up the Christmas tree. Edin was SO excited on Monday morning, and so far, the barricade we have made is working. We'll see if it sticks. Just got to keep Edin out of the ornaments!

One of Edin's Christmas presents (joint present from Granny & Pappy) was to go see Toy Story 3 on ice. She loved it!






We watched the CMA awards, and have had to keep it on the DVR. Edin loves to dance to it - especially Sugarland (check out the butt shaking!):



My dad came down the weekend before Christmas - the initial reason he came was so that he could babysit for us while we went to the awesome company holiday party (Casino night - I planned the event!). At Thanksgiving, he decided that he could use that time to help us learn how to tile, and tile our half bath! I love the way it came out!!!



Edin was all too happy to get a few Christmas presents early from Papa.





After about 3 weeks of fighting her about the ornaments, and about 5 broken ones, we took the ornaments off the tree. She was sad the next morning, but it was so much better. I think we'll do that next year. No ornaments. Also didn't put the presents under the tree until the night before Christmas Eve. That really worked out well!

We were so excited to have Flint's grandparents (Mop & Pop) come down to celebrate with us! It was the first time Pop had been down here, so we were very glad he came (since we've been in this house for almost 3 years now!).


Santa left her an easel, desk, chair and art set!


Davis wasn't quite as thrilled with his socks from Santa. Loved his look in this picture.


Pop holding Davis. Too cute.

We took the tree down the day after Christmas. We were just really tired of fighting with Edin to stay out of it. The day after Christmas, it started to snow. I wish the snow had been a little earlier to have a white Christmas. Reesie wasn't too fond of it, but Edin loved it!




Edin built this snowman all by herself!


Daddy built her an igloo!


He even put a window in the back!

On a surprising note, I kind of stayed up to ring in the new year, for the first time in like.... 5 years? Actually... I made it to 11:25 or so, then headed to bed. Davis cried at 11:45, and after I put him back down, I just decided to stay up and actually see the ball drop. Then my head dropped back on the pillow.

After having so much vacation time around Christmas, it was really hard to get back in the swing of things and go back to work. After some nice wintry weather, things finally calmed down, and Edin went back to preschool.

We went back to VA to visit over the MLK holiday weekend. A rather short trip, but it was fun - there was still some snow on the ground, so Flint took Edin to ride her sled for a while. If we can catch a good snow happening over a weekend, we'll try to come back another weekend so she can sled more. She loved it.

After that, mayhem basically swallowed my downstairs. It was time to dismantle the kitchen floor in preparation for the new tile floor. After getting a good grasp on the tile from the 1/2 bath, we were ready to get rid of the hideous kitchen floor that I've despised for over 2 years.

Here's the before and after photos - they speak for themselves!


Quite possibly the ugliest floor ever. Not sure what the people that picked it out were smoking.


Just with the vinyl ripped up. Looks 10 times better already!


We spent like 4 hours figuring out exactly where our lines would be and making sure they were right. It paid off in the long run!


My beautiful floor!!! Love, love love it!

What happened next, but my lovely 30th birthday. Yep - no longer a 20-something. It was not bad though - I've had a great 30 years with a lot to show for myself. I took the day off work and spent some time on myself. I went to the mall, then had a 3 hour spa visit (pedicure, facial, massage), then went to see a movie by myself. Watching a movie by myself in the theater is soooo relaxing - I think I'll make that a monthly treat for myself!


I have the best husband on the planet. He made this cake for me, and decorated it - Edin told him what to draw on it, and he did it! Love him!

Now? We are planning to go to Charlotte for a little birthday weekend getaway this coming weekend. Flint asked what I wanted for my birthday. I said I wanted to go to IKEA. I'm easy to please, right? Now that I'm caught up - I'll REALLY try to stay caught up. Most of my reason for getting behind is taking the time to get the pictures off the camera, etc. Well, for by birthday, Flint got me the coolest gadget. It's a wireless SD card - so I'll be able to access the photos without having to locate the camera and take the card out, put it in my computer, etc, etc, etc. I've just now got to get it out of the packaging and start using it!!!

And just for fun... here's what happens when Davis finds Edin's markers. Awesome, right?