It may be Easter before I finish sharing Christmas pictures!

This was our First Christmas Eve since we have been married, where Chad didn’t have to work the Christmas Eve Service.  We took advantage of some leftover vacation days and extended our stay in Tifton.

For the first time in 24 years, Chad was able to spend Christmas with his extended family.  It is a long story, but it ends in Reconcilliation and a Huge Blessing from Above.

 

Chad’s First Cousin Neilie and her mama (Papa’s TWIN) and her adorable Cullen!  I just love him.  My MIL says he looks just like Chad did his first Christmas.  Don’t you just love genetics???

 

Meeting and Greeting

Charlie just made himself at home and became BFF with EVERYONE!  Hysterical – he has never met a stranger!!

Our family of FOUR! 

Charlie loves Uncle Corey and Hot Rikki!  What is not to love??? 

The Grab Game

This is one of Chad’s favorite memories from growing up.  It started with his Papa, who saved his change all year and would toss it out Christmas Eve for all the kiddos to dive for.  Now, all the “kids” brought change for the kiddos to dive for.  They divided the kids into 3 age groups.  Charlie (and MK, for that matter) was in the youngest group.  Here are a few shots:

Here is Uncle Tommy giving a tutorial–

Between the 2 rounds, Charlie got close to 20.00!  That will buy you a LOT at the Dollar Store!

AND THE GUEST of HONOR

Santa

Here is Santa getting ready to hand out presents.  (This was too cute.  Each parent/grandparent brings a wrapped gift for their children and put them in an outside closet and then Santa picks the bag up on his way in!)

Charlie really took to Chad’s Aunt! He just snuggled up like they were big buddies.  Warmed all our hearts!

Molly Kate loved SANTA!  My only concern was that she was going to pull his beard off.  She had a tight hold!!!  It might have been our FIRST and LAST invite!

Oh, how I love my Firstborn!!!

My inLaws who ROCK!!!  They are the best and I know this because my friends all tell me this ALL the time!  Can you tell how tired MK is??

Molly Kate and Uncle Corey

The 2 Charlie Cottles!  Seriously, how funny is that??  Sorry Dusty and Michelle!!!

We were planning on being on the road by 8 so we could be at my parents by 11, but it was after 9.  We made great time and made it a little after Midnight!

Here is a picture of my babies (and this is how they ride EVERYDAY!!)

Just a holding HANDS!  even in their sleep!!!

 

I know I say this every month, but TIME MUST SLOW DOWN!!!

Molly Kate is just as precious and stinkin’ cute as ever!

At 7 months,   Molly Kate:

• Still wears 1-2 Diapers
• Wears 6-9 month clothing for the length
• Takes GREAT naps during the day!
• Is still not sleeping great at night, but we are working on it! 
• Has had a HARD time with solid food.  She LOVES it, but it doesn’t love HER!!!  Her poor tummy is so sensitive!  So far she can only eat  pears and carrots.  They both give her terrible gas, but at least she isn’t in Pain!
• Still won’t take a bottle!!!
• Still has the most gorgeous GRAY eyes!
• Went to the movies today to celebrate her Special Day.  She loved Alvin and the Chipmunks!
• Experienced her first snow!
• Is called “Sister” or “Sissy” by her brother.
• Can’t quite sit up by herself – yet!
• Rolls occassionally
• Just gave up sleeping on the wedge!
• Loves to hug her blankie at bedtime!

 

Molly Kate and her BFF Lilly Grace

MK and I are watching Jeopardy and the boys are playing in Charlie’s room — thought I would upload a couple of recent Sunday pictures!

This is one of my favorites!!!

She almost has the hang of sitting up!

Such a handsome boy!!

Thursday evening Chad and I decided to come to Dville to shop and go see a movie.  We were planning on heading out Friday morning, but got a wild hair and set out about 8 pm Thursday night.  The kids were snug in their pjs and so was I.  I did throw my slippers on, of course.

The snow started picking up about the time we got off the interstate.  The roads were getting white and the temp was below freezing when we were about 5 miles from home.  Since the “Great Flood” in Dville, our trip is about an extra 15 minutes now.  Thanks to that delay we got STUCK!!!   Multiple Times

First on Annewake.  We think there was a wreck.  Chad turned us around (I was WAY PROUD) and we set out for 92 and then on to I20.  Everything was great until we got to Reynolds Road – We could have made the hill, but there was a car stuck in the middle of both lanes. 

So, we turned around again.  We went up Stewarts Mill to Chapel Hill Road and made it right past Fowler Field and that is when things got SCARY!  An ambulance met us and stopped.  We look to our right and in the ditch is an overturned car.  Oh my, I started panicking!   The road is super narrow there, so I told Chad we were not turning around.  We would just wait it out and worse case scenario – we were less than a mile away from my parents.  We could get there the old fashioned way!

Traffic started moving and we figured we were good to go!  We were using our common sense and unfortunately, others weren’t! Next thing I know the Police Officer has closed down the hill.

Thankfully, there is a paved driveway/pull off right where we were at!  We parked our car there.  My dad met us there within seconds.  He had driven his car to the top of a hole on the golf course, where we were parked at the bottom – across the street! 

We get the kids bundled up and I grab them each a set of dry pjs and clothes and MK’s drugs.  I put MK in the Baby Bjorn and wrap her in blankets, plus she had on a hat and mittens.   I remember I just have on slippers and so I put my boots on from my suitcase.  Dad thinks this is a great idea.  I put my coat on around priss and I. 

Dad wakes up Charlie who has no clue where we are and is quite disoriented.  He does his usual – PUKES everywhere!  He mans up pretty quickly though.  Chad carries Charlie and the little bit of stuff we packed.  I have Priss and Dad has Chad’s laptop and MK’s carseat for when we get to his car. 

Dad realizes as we are climbing the slick hill, that when I said, boots – we were talking 2 totally different things.  I would have been better off in just regular stillhetos!  I had NO traction.  The boys got on each side of me and helped me to balance ( I wasn’t worried about myself, just my passenger).

We made it to Dad’s car with no trouble and even took time for a snowball throw or too!!  Dad’s car zipped through the neighborhood and we were safely home.  We figured mom would have been ready for us at the door with hot cocoa, but she must have been praying!!! 

I captured these 2 pics on our trek –

Christmas Dinner

Wednesday Night

Charlie saying the Blessing !

We had ham, turkey, dressing, brocolli casserole, sweet potato casserole, rolls, spiced peaches, 3Bean Salad, and lots of yummy desserts!

Then it was PRESENT TIME –

Can you tell how excited Papa is???  hehe

Charlie was so excited about each gift!  I was really proud of him!

Papa helping MK open her gifts!

And she was OVER it!

Until Uncle Corey rescued her and stood her up!!!  That girl loves to stand!

My kiddos love their grandparents!  Here is Charlie helping Grammy open her presents!

The handsome hubby!  Can you tell he loves UGA??

We love Miss Rikki! Actually, Charlie calls her Hot Rikki!  We think we are going to keep her, regardless of Uncle Corey’s decisions!!! hehe

It was a great Christmas with the Cottle Immediate Family!  My in-laws way over did themselves in every little way!  What a blessing!!!

I still can’t believe that Christmas is over. 

I wonder how long I’ll write ‘09 on my checks!

What will I call this year:  Twenty -Ten or Ten or O-Ten?

Will I look back with joy at ‘10, like I will ‘09?

Such a time of new beginnings . . .

I have officially given up New Years Resolutions because I don’t stick with them.  I have the same ones every year and they never seem to happen:   Spend more time in Prayer and Bible Study, EXERCISE, and drink less COKE! 

So this year, I still want the same things!  Minus the Coke for now!!  So, I am setting up some guidelines for myself – No Blogging unless I have had my quiet time and exercised! 

Having 2 kids has been a lot busier than I ever imagined (in the BESTEST kind of way) and it has been a real struggle for me to carve out time for prayer and Bible Study.  Seems like at least one gets left out each day and to be honest some days – both!   When I just had Charlie, I got up early some mornings for my Quiet Time, but I always had his nap time if I needed it!  Well – surprise Charlie gave up his nap about the time MK was born.  He still takes Quiet Time in his room to instill stillness in him and give him some reflective time (plus – some days he’ll nap!!!), but it is rare that MK stays down long enough while he is in his room for me to grab some time.  Plus I feel so much pressure to use that time to get stuff done!!!  I know I am not alone in this struggle!!!

So, a little late, but here is a quick review of ‘09:

• Our family received a giant blessing when my mama’s surgery and recovery went so well!!!  What a blessing the Team at Vanderbilt are!!! 
• Charlie turned 3 surrounded with lots of Pirate Friends and Family.
• Charlie potty trained and overcame SEVERE Anxiety issues!!! 
• Molly Kathryn joined our family June 12th and has blessed us with her beauty, rare smiles, and snuggles since then.  We have almost finished paying the Lil’ Princess off! (I sure miss having GOOD insurance!)
• Chad got a “new job”.  
• We celebrated our 5 year anniversary.  Chad surprised me with a new ring!  We are looking forward to taking a trip to celebrate once I am done nursing!  We are almost all saved up   yeah!
• We got a MiniVan!  Retired Chad’s Trooper that he picked me up for our first date in!
• Learned a LOT about Reflux and COLIC — the hard way!
• Spent a LOT of money and time trying to figure out Chad’s Breathing Problems and we still have no ANSWERS!
• Saw reconcilliation in Chad’s family!  A true blessing and gift!

Just a few biggies from this year!  God has been at work in 2009 and the one certainty we have is that His hand will be there in 2010.  Our prayer is that He alone will be our guiding force this year!

Oh, and for the first time that I can remember – I was asleep before Midnight on NYE!  (MK has been sick and up most of the night with a yucky cough, so I have to grab sleep when I can)

Charlie got several things from Santa this year!  This has been the biggest hit so far –

The Marble Race

Santa purchased this goodie from Toys R Us and it has been so fun for our little guy and us too!  We have already spent hours building tracks and racing our marbles.  My brother and I grew up with our own set of Marble Works by Discovery Toys that I remember playing with quite a bit!  My mom took it to school and the darlings in her Kindergarten class finished it off!!! 

The set comes with directions to build certain tracks, which I quickly threw away!  Doesn’t that defeat the point of IMAGINATION???  The set is not near as sturdy as the origninal (which I would recommend if you aren’t like Santa and forgot to order in advance!), but this one has lots of pieces and provides lots of entertainment at our house!

I just checked out Amazon and there is a great selection of marble race toys – if you are interested!

I am so behind on blogging all of the fun we have had over the past week. Lets hope I can catch up on all of our adventures!!!

Last Sunday after church we loaded up the minivan for a week of fun!  Boy, was I glad to have all that room!  We were loaded down with clothes, goodies, baby stuff galore, and Presents galore!

We spent Sunday through Thursday night late with the Cottles in Tifton!  What an awesome extended visit!

Can you tell Charlie is excited to spend time with Grammy and Papa???

Pajamas under the TREE

Me and the BESTEST Christmas Present this year!  Remember we found out Christmas Eve last year that Molly Kate was coming, and not Henry or Hudson!!!

Seeing the Lights in Tifton!  What a great tradition!!

Feeding the Horses with Uncle Tommy!  Charlie’s new BFF!!!

More to come soon!!!!

 

 

December 25

Scripture: Luke 2: 6-21

Reading: Our waiting is over! Jesus is born! The star is shining, the angels are singing, the shepherds are worshiping. Our savior is here!

Mary was happy to have her beautiful baby, but she knew that not every day would be as special as his birth day. She knew that raising God’s son was going to be a challenge. But for the moment she tried to enjoy all the amazing things that had happened.

When sin first came into the world, God made a promise. Even when the people forgot about God and the promise, God didn’t forget about the people. God guided the people, protected the people, and loved the people, even when they were sinful. God was faithful, and today the promise is fulfilled.

Talk About: What is your favorite part of the Christmas story?

Prayer: Thank you, God of the universe, for the most wonderful gift of your son, Jesus.

Written by Christina Van Eyl. Illustrations by Helen Phillips except for the lion which was drawn by Jeff Brown.

http://www.rca.org/Page.aspx?&pid=1628&srcid=1602

Ornaments done by our group: