Christmas Memories 2010

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It's hard to believe another Christmas has come and gone. As we put up the decorations I can't help but get a little sad. Dawson was very upset when Mr. Jingles (our elf on the shelf) had to head back to the North Pole. I tried to console him and help him understand that he will be back next year. As I did that it was like I was trying to help myself even understand. I know the holidays always fly by and it bums me out too. Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Can I say that again..it's my FAVORITE time of the year!!! :(

At least we got snow this year, which is a first ever at Christmas here (which is what I heard.) Pretty soon, we will be back to reality with our everyday lives and jobs. I am truly blessed and each day is a new blessing from our Savior! I am so thankful for all my family because they are truly my best gifts!

All Aboard!!

What a great trip we had once again to Bryson City and on "THE POLAR EXPRESS." I was expecting it be much colder Friday evening but it wasn't bad at all. The kids were very anxious to board the train and see Santa. We rode by Santa's house, saw where his reindeer live, and even where the Elve's make all the toys. I was so thankful that Mady didn't cry this time when Santa spoke to her. (She usually doesn't like men with beards). The hot chocolate and rice krispy treats were delicious. Troy and I always have just as much fun as the kids do. :) After the train ride we visited the train museum. Dawson loves to do this each time. We always have to walk through the whole thing, and push all the buttons to turn on all the displays. By now we were all pretty tired so we headed back to the cottage to watch the Polar Express movie while eating some popcorn. It was the perfect end to a perfect day. We had to cut our time short in the mountains to head back home to see our Gamecocks compete in the SEC championship game. When we went to leave though it had gotten so much colder over night. It was now 33 degrees and sleeting outside!! All we could say was BRRRRR and glad we went the night before because today in the mountains was going to be pretty cold and nasty. As we drove away, we all waved good-bye and said we will definitely be back next year.

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Kindergarten Thanksgiving Parade

My sweet little man all dressed up and making his way around the school. :)

Christmas Decorations

Okay so I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but we just couldn't wait to begin this holiday season. So, we decided last night to put up our Christmas tree and decorations. We have a very busy Thanksgiving week scheduled, and we wanted to be able to enjoy it and not have to rush with any of our other plans so it just made sense. The kids had a blast playing with the our new Polar Express train, and we only had one broken tree ornament. LOL!!! I just love Christmas and celebrating it!

Happy Halloween!

Seeing how we live out in the country and won't get any trick-or-treaters, we decided to take the kids to Red Bank Baptist's annual "Trunk-or-treat." Before we headed there, we made sure to stop by Mimi and Papa's for pictures. Once at church, it didn't take us long to go through all the cars, and it was so funny watching Madalynn's expressions with everyone! We loved going on the hayride but we were ready to head back to our house to play with Tucker and Riley.

Dawson and Tucker were a hit as Mario and Luigi! Madalynn and Riley were cute as can be too as a ladybug and Rapunzel. :)

Boo At the Zoo

Friday night was a blast at Boo at the Zoo! We met up with Aunt Anita and her family to check it out this year. We haven't been since Dawson was a baby, but it has changed so much! It's alot nicer now and they offer so much more. It was so sweet watching the kids walk up saying, "Trick-or-treat" at all the candy stations!

Scarecrow Parade at School

Dawson made such a cute little scarecrow last Friday at school. I was so worried that by the time it came down to walking in the parade, his whole outfit would be ruined, but he did such a great job keeping it all on and not touching his face paint!!

It's Jack-o-Lanturn Time!

Finally, we were able to carve our pumpking tonight! It's been such a busy week for us and it seemed like something came up every night where we couldn't have time as a family to make our jack-o-lanturn. Well, tonight was the night! We had a blast and Troy was his hilarious self! He never fails to crack me up! :) I still crack up everytime I look at him trying to put the pumpkin guts on Dawson. I don't know how Dawson will ever clean a fish or gut a deer because he can't stand to get his hands dirty and touch slimy stuff like that! LOL!! Madalynn had a ball just rearranging the seeds on the table. In the end it turned out to be our best one yet! :)
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Mile High Campground 2010

We left out Thursday afternoon and headed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway to the Great Smokey Mountains. When we arrived, it was dark so it was pretty tough putting up the tent using some headlights from the car. Fortunately, Troy had practiced putting up the tent, so we didn't have to wait too long to get set up. :) Our cousins (Jason, Anne Marie and their kids) arrived soon after, but we would have to wait to enjoy each other's company until the next day....kids way too exhausted and ready for bed by then.

We went to downtown Cherokee to a local arcade and let the kids play some games. We walked around Cherokee for a while before heading back to the campground. The kids loved roasting marshmellows and making smores. Just being outdoors in the nature was entertaining enough for our kids. They LOVE being outside!!!

The first night wasn't too bad with the cold weather...BUT the second night got very cold and the temperature got in the 20's with strong winds. So, we decided to come home a night early. Before leaving though, we checked out the Apple Festival in Waynesville, and some beautiful waterfalls nearby. I wish we could have stayed longer, but we started to feel under the weather and of course now I have a head cold. :( Overall, the trip was really fun and we can't wait to go back again... but, when the weather is much warmer...LOL! :) Here's a slideshow of all our pics!

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Autumn has finally arrived!

What a beautiful fall weekend we had, and we decided to get out of the house and enjoy it. We had Tucker and Riley over, and we played outdoors for hours! The kids took turns riding on the tractor with Uncle Troy, and we ended the weekend with getting our camping gear ready. We are planning to go camping two weeks from now, and Daddy wanted to make sure the tent looked okay. Dawson and Mady ran after Katie who was running around with a rock in her mouth. That is Katie's favorite thing to do while outside playing. We are very excited about our upcoming trip and can't wait to see the mountains. ;)

Grandparents Breakfast

Dawson enjoyed having his Mimi, Gamma, and Gandaddy come to school yesterday and eat breakfast with him. We missed having Papa who is still recovering from knee replacement surgery. Dawson said, "It's okay...I will see Papa tomorrow when we watch our Gamecocks together!" Even Madybelle joined in on the fun. After breakfast, Dawson showed everyone his classroom. We got to see his chair, nametag, cubby, and all his hard work. It was a real treat for us all! ;)

Labor Day = Play Day

We were excited to have the day off and needed some quality family time together. We got plenty of it today, and even had our cousins over to enjoy it with us! We played in the pool and on the swingset, grilled out, and rode on the golfcart (the kid's favorite).

1st Day as a Kindergartener!

Dawson is officially a Kindergartener now! I am so impressed at how well he did today and how he didn't even cry. I am so thankful we chose to put him into preschool because I really think that helped him prepare for this day. He has a wonderful teacher named Mrs. Morrow who has been so amazing already and the year has only just begun!! I am truly touched by all the special and unique treats she makes and sends home to show how much she loves these children.

Daddy's New Toy

We have been enjoying our new golfcart everyday! It has been very nice riding around in the evenings on all the trails in our woods. The kids absolutely love it and Madalynn learned the word "golfcart" immediately! ;)

This is our last weekend before school starts for me and Dawson, so we are trying to enjoy every minute! We went and saw Toy Story 3 today and of course it was a tear jerker like everyone has told me. I did pretty well considering all of my emotions lately. It definitely made me think about all the toys I used to play with, and how life flys by too quickly. I just had to keep blocking out the thoughts of Dawson going away to college (like Andy in the movie). Had I not done that, then I would have lost it and been a blubbering mess!

Back to School!

These days it seems like there aren't enough hours in the day for me to get everything done, but I am used to that. Getting back into the groove is always hard but once I meet my students and start, I will be fine. That part I am not worried about......it's the other part of now being a school mom! Can I just say YIKES!!!!!!!!!! I have had the hardest time and been so emotional at the thought of my little boy starting his very first year of school. I mean I have been watching old home movies and looking at baby pictures, and the tears just keep coming...I really need to stop because really I am just torturing myself. No, but seriously, I know Dawson has to grow up and I am very proud of him. He will be such a great student, and he has an amazing teacher. Daddy and I have decided to make tomorrow a "Dawson Day", and we are going to eat at his favorite restaurant (those of you who know him know it's the "OG"). Then it's off to see Toy Story 3. I have already packed the tissue in my purse because I hear it is a tear jerker. I know I know!! That's the exact opposite of what I need right now, but that's what little man wants to see. I do ask for your prayers and hope that I won't be a complete mess the first day for Dawson and for my new 3rd grade students. Pray I can be strong and contain the tears. :(

Isle of Palms - missing you already!