Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

This afternoon we went to our trusty local Christmas Tree farm to get our Christmas tree. We had a good time picking our tree and bringing it home to decorate. Selecting and decorating the tree was always one of my favorite memories growing up and I love making those same memories with our kids.

Carson & Bryn looking at the Christmas trees

Carson enjoying some hot chocolate while they were getting our Christmas tree ready to go

Ready to take it home

In the house

Lights on and ready to decorate

It's always fun to see our ornaments every year and reflect on the years gone by.

That was hard work, time for a break!

Stockings are hung and enjoying some hot chocolate

Mission Accomplished!

Thanksgiving Week

This is a big blog post because we've had a full week of family time and traveling. Our original plan was to go to my parents lake cottage on Tuesday and meet my family there but my grandmother (Raggie) was in the hospital and was not able to travel to lake like we had planned. So we all had to be flexible and head to mom and dad's house in Yorktown instead. So we left home on Tuesday afternoon and stayed the night with Jeremy's parents in Durham to see them and break up the trip to Virginia. Here is a picture of Jeremy's parents (Papa & Nana) with our kiddos. We enjoyed getting time with them on Tuesday night.

Wednesday morning we left Durham and hit the road for Yorktown, VA to spend Thanksgiving with my family. The trip there was pretty smooth. We had a good time being with family at Mom and Dad's house.

Ainsley & I at GG & Raggie's house

Raggie with Ainsley & Bryn. Raggie was so excited to see Ainsley and Bryn together for the first time.

Random picture, I know, but this was a definite highlight....Bryn went #2 in the potty! She may be ready for potty training before we are! Amazing how different it is with the second child. Such a big girl:)

Owen & Lydia

My mom (Grammy) was our superb chef for Thanksgiving....it was delicious!

This was Jeremy's first time meeting Ainsley in person. They totally bonded!

I told my sister that I would carry Ainsley on my hip any day...and she can have Bryn on her hip!

Grampa & Grammy took the kids table for Thanksgiving dinner

Enjoying our Thanksgiving meal.

Grampa with Bryn & Lydia

We were all so thankful that GG & Raggie were able to join us for Thanksgiving after having a difficult week with their health.

Lydia with her Aunt Andi

Jeremy doing dish duty after Thanksgiving...good man!

Ainsley loves to sit on her momma's lap and play with her food with a fork. We are all waiting for her to realize how good that food is to EAT!

We all packed up our things at mom and dad's house and headed to the lake cottage on Friday morning. Here is Carson playing "rock, paper, scissors" with Uncle Bryan

Grampa & Grammy wanted a Christmas picture with their grandchildren (which I won't put here so I don't ruin their Christmas card). Here are my 3 in their Christmas duds.

Bryn in her cute Christmas dress from Grammy

Grampa fishing with Owen & Carson on the dock

Andrea & I took Bryn & Ainsley on a walk

We had special time with family this week and we are so thankful for them. Thank you Jesus that you have blessed us so richly! Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday Reese

Yesterday was Reese's 5th birthday and this morning we joined her family and other friends to celebrate her birthday. It is hard to believe she is 5 already! All the kids came in their pajamas and Reese had doughnuts instead of a cake. The kids had a great time! We love you Reese!

Claire (Reese's cousin) & Reese

Will & Carson

The kids table

Reese had lots of help opening her gifts

Reese's grandpa made Reese this doll house

Sweet 5 year girl

Summer LINK reunion weekend

This weekend was our Summer LINK reunion with the students and other staff we spent the summer with in Hilton Head, SC. It was fun being with everyone again and reflecting on the things the Lord did in and through our lives this past summer and also to catch up on things that are happening now. Friday night everyone came to our house for dinner and fellowship. We love having people over to our house and seeing people have a good time in our home.

We did the ham, rolls & drinks and other people signed up to bring sides and desserts...we had a feast! Great food!

Gray & Brandy Gainor, along with their sweet kids, joined us for the weekend to be a part of the reunion. They will be moving to Clemson as soon as they find a place to live to serve with us at Crosspoint before heading to South Asia as missionaries. We enjoyed our time with them this weekend! Brandy and I are friends from college and Gray, Brandy, Jeremy and I were on STINT together in Slovakia...the Lord has been so good to allow our paths to keep crossing. We love them!

A couch full....and Lydia being well loved:)

Carson loves this group

Saturday was Homecoming (Clemson vs. Duke) so we tailgated at the BCM and went to look at all the floats on Bowmen field. Jackson, Sarala & Carson under one of the floats.

Saturday night we all went to Just More BBQ for dinner and then the group went bowling. I was pretty wiped out by then so I (along with the Gainors) brought the kids home for baths and bedtime!

They have fun live must at Just More and the kids loved dancing and playing right in front of the band.

2 Parties in 1 Night

Last night our church had the annual "Party with a Purpose" (ministry of Samaritan's Purse) where we pack shoe boxes with toys for children around the world who won't get anything for Christmas. I love that our church is involved in this very practical and powerful ministry. Our church makes this service into a fun night of fellowship for women as we listen to Christmas music, eat Christmas goodies, and wrap and fill our boxes. Bryn joined me and I'd have to say her highlight was the yummy food:) Shocking, I know.

She had a hard time understanding why these toys weren't for her. Maybe next year this will register a little deeper. Carson helped me do the shopping for the little girl we were buying toys for.

Fat & Happy

After the "Party with a Purpose" we joined some friends to celebrate Ashley Bodine's birthday. Ashley is one of the Generation Link interns at our church and has been such a blessing to our church family and our immediate family. She is great with the little ones and a joy to be around!

Corrie (Matt & Sarah's little girl) and I (Reese is the photographer from this point on)

Cayce & Bryn

Lovely Amy:)

Ashley (the birthday girl) & Tara

It was a special night with my little girl. She was delirious and on a sugar high by the end of the night!