SeaLife Aquarium

The weather the past two days has been cold, rainy, and just all out dreary.  After a day at home (and a few errands) yesterday I told the kids we had to do something fun today!  So we headed to Concord to visit the new aquarium.

It only took us about 40 minutes to go through it all, but it was a fun adventure none-the-less.  Here's hoping the weather is better tomorrow . . .

Merry, Merry Christmas 2014!!

This year our tree was upstairs on the landing due to our floor situation downstairs . . so it was a bit different with not being able to gather around the tree for a family picture.  Anyway, everyone rolled with it and it was truly a Christmas to remember!

Kids first coming out of their rooms

Opening gifts from mommy and daddy

After all of the gifts under the tree were opened, we went downstairs to see what Santa left.  Full stockings, a basketball goal for Preston, and an iPad mini for Savannah!!

Someone was a bit excited . . 

Preston and Dave sporting their new Clemson hats

 And our "family" picture of stocking feet!  You can even see our Christmas jammies. :)

After a yummy breakfast and quick showers we packed up the car and headed to Burlington for Christmas with my family.

Cousins, missing Taylor

It was pretty much chaos, as usual, but super fun to celebrate Christmas all together.  I'm so blessed to have all of our family within driving distance making it easy to see everyone at the holidays.

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends!!  I pray your day was filled with as much laughter, fun, love, and memories as ours was . . . for the record this gathering Taylor knocked over the plant stand and poinsettia. :)

Our New Kitchen!!

I was beginning to think it would never be done, but thankfully as of today we are officially back in our house!  Woo hoo!!!  We still have to be really careful with the newly stained floors, it looks like a bomb exploded in our living room with everything still in boxes and our new furniture still hasn't arrived, but at least we are back in the house with full access. :)

These pictures do not do our amazing kitchen justice at all. It is truly my dream kitchen!!!

A Hotel in Charlotte, What an Odd feeling!

Once we arrived home from Christmas in SC, we still had to be out of our house for 2 more nights.  We decided to stay in a local hotel to make it easier on everyone . . . but boy was it an odd feeling!  Thankfully we were able to schedule a small Christmas outing to see the gingerbread creations at the Ballantyne Resort with our friends the Marions.

Aren't the big girls ALWAYS wondering what their little brothers are doing?

Sweet Friends!

 It was a fun morning followed by a trip to the library.  Then Kristin invited my kiddos over for an afternoon play date.  Honestly I'm not sure who was more excited, me or them!  I was able to use a board to get over the wet wood floors downstairs to work on a weeks worth of laundry and to finish up the wrapping upstairs.  Whew!  After I picked the kids up, it was back to the hotel for one more night.

Christmas In Simpsonville!

Due to our home renovations we celebrated Christmas with Dave's side of the family at Susan's house in Simpsonville this year.  When we arrived Alyssa wasn't feeling well and ended up at the doctor on Saturday morning with strep. :(  Thankfully the antibiotic kicked in quickly and she was almost back to normal by Sunday morning!  

Our annual family picture after all of the gift opening . . and boy was there some gift opening.  We were very blessed with not only all of the loot and delicious meal, but also for being able to celebrate together as a family.

Cousins with their new beach cup holders, thanks Susan!

Grammy & Papa with the grandkids

  And once the meal was over and the gifts were opened, this is how the kids spent the rest of the afternoon . . . big kids on the mini ipad

  . . and little kids playing in the doll house!

 Once things were cleaned up, we all went to the Greenville Santa Run.  It was quite chilly, but we made it!  Grammy kept the little kiddos while everyone else did the night run.  It was not marked very well and was quite a bit over a 5k, but hey, at least we got light up Santa hats. :)

After the race we headed to a local house to see the amazing light display.  I was soaking wet from the race so I opted to stay in the car, but the rest of the crew loved seeing the lights and having hot cocoa and popcorn that the homeowners were handing out.  Then it was back to Susan's for dessert!

What a fun weekend.  A huge thank you goes out to Susan for letting us stay at her house two nights while our floors were being finished . . . and for putting up with the mess of having so many people in your house at Christmas!

Preston's First Basketball Game

Today was the start of Preston's first basketball season.  Although he didn't score any baskets, he did get some time handling the ball.  I have to say the game went much better than I expected and all of the kids had a blast!  Here's to a fun season at Champ Sports!

Girls on the Run 5K

On Saturday Dave and Savannah braved the weather and headed to Huntersville for the Girls on the Run 5K.  I prayed all morning that it wouldn't rain and the weather actually held out!  They had a great time and enjoyed running together despite all of the "walkers" in their way. :)