Gary and the Wedding Crashers

Ethan loved licking the frosting off all of his cookies!
The kids helped decorate the Christmas tree Friday afternoon.
The next Tiger Woods?
We crashed a wedding to look at this beautiful Christmas

lights display at a local park.

We enjoyed decorating cookies with Grandma and Great Grandma

Rosie on Thanksgiving morning.

Kenzie's pet snake, Gary

It's still November, so I'm not too late posting my Thanksgiving trip pictures! This week has been a crazy one filled with nothing much. Getting unpacked from one trip to turn around and get packed for another one hasn't been a barrel of fun, but we are packing for DISNEY WORLD! Yay!! So I won't complain anymore. tee hee We had a lovely time in Tallahassee with Matt's family. The kids had a blast playing outside. They were outside from sun up to sun down. Mackenzie found a temporary pet snake that she affectionately named Gary, and Ethan ran around in circles trying to catch butterflies. Friday night we went to a local city park where they have a beautiful Christmas lights display every year. There was a wedding reception in progress, but we went in anyway. We really weren't conspicuous with two loud children screaming at the lights and a 90 year, wheelchair-bound grandma followed by 4 adults. No, I don't think anyone noticed us. Just so you know, we did let Gary go back home. *No animals were harmed in the filming of this project.*

The turkeys are waiting for takeoff.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We thought we were leaving tonight, but Matt is not home from work yet... so we will leave before the buttcrack of dawn. At least there's a 24 hour Starbucks around the corner here.
On a different note, Olivia is home!!! She went home today, and Mommy and Daddy are very nervous first time parents. She is doing well, and we are all very thankful that she is home. Hopefully we will get a chance to see her on our way home on Saturday. Have a great holiday and eat lots of turkey!

So cute!!!

I am smitten! I met my new baby niece today, and she is precious. She is in the NICU, but she is doing so well. She loves to take her milk from the bottle, and she's up to taking 20 cc's. She was under the bili lights today having a little tanning session, but other than that, she doesn't have any issues! Praise the Lord!!! She literally looks like one of Mackenzie's baby dolls. She is so perfectly formed and looks just like her daddy. She has lots of black hair, and she makes lots of funny faces. Just like Mackenzie was, she does not like to be messed with. She gets very upset and turns red. She was awake for awhile when we were there. Mackenzie was so excited to see her. My sister and Mike were really anxious to see Mackenzie's face when she saw Livi for the first time. They were not disappointed because Mackenzie's face lit up. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to go into the NICU but I got lots of window time. My grandma came with us on the road trip and she did get to hold her. Ay dios mio, que linda! We made it back ok and I can't wait to see her again. Please pray that she will be able to come home this week. My sister is really upset tonight because she has to leave O behind tomorrow. As I was printing a picture of her tonight, I thought of Psalm 139:13-14. Olivia was wonderfully made! p.s.-Matt is definitely in trouble!!

Whataday

In Tallahassee there is a little burger joint called Whataburger-well yesterday I had whataday. And so did my sister! Never did she think on Sunday that this week would hold her daughter's birthday. Olivia was born at 2:38 a.m. in Melbourne Regional Hospital. The neonatologist told her that she would stay in the hospital for a week to ten days. I haven't heard anymore about her-weight, length, condition. I am anxious to know but I know that everyone is still sleeping up there. For me, yesterday was just one of those days where nothing seems to go right. But today is another day, and I pray it is a better one. If not, I will probably end up gaining 10 pounds from all the "nervous eating". Mackenzie and I are planning on driving up to see mommy and baby tomorrow, so I will post some pictures of Olivia this weekend.

Thankful

M & E crack me up. We got some hand-me-downs for Mackenzie, and she had fun going through them and trying stuff on. (Like someone told me recently, God's economy is awesome.) When she got her hands on the black chunky heeled Hello Kitty boots she was in little girl heaven! Ethan, of course, wanted to wear the fuzzy pink Barbie boots. Much to Matt's chagrin, I gave in and let him. As I stood in the kitchen making dinner and heard the continuous clunk clunk clunking of the boots and saw how excited she was, I felt so thankful for these vibrant children! I also got a little teary eyed seeing her run around in the sweet little hanky dress that I've seen her best friend wear on numerous occasions, but that's another subject for another post. We are so thankful for our family and friends! We love you.

New looks

You like the new look? I was inspired to change my blog because it seems I am surrounded by impending new looks. Not really. But one that is really big right now. It is now 10 minutes into the FSU vs. Wake Forest game, and my dear husband decided to make a bet with a coworker over the outcome of the game. As many of you college football fans and Nole lovers/haters know, we stink! So, what did dearest Matt bet? Let's just say, you may need to wear your sunglasses when you're near him outside because the glare will be intense..... I am so hoping that I don't have to post of picture of this on this beautiful updated blog, but on the other hand, I could have lots of fun with it too!

Getting Ready for Olivia Norton John

Auntie's bump

Emily, Auntie, Kenzie and me

My family and I got together to throw Kristen and her li'l Olive a shower. It was a small group of us, but we had a nice time. Olivia Rachel is due New Year's Eve. We are so excited to see her! I am especially anxious to hold her. Maybe that will cure my baby fever...

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