An Early Christmas

Matt baby and Daba as Abbie calls them

Abbie and Sophie with Paw-paw

Abbie wants to help put her new Tinkerbell scooter together.

This past Saturday, we celebrated an early Christmas with Aunt Martha and Uncle Matt as well as Nana and Paw-paw.  Martha & Matt were in town for several days but they will be spending Christmas in South Carolina.  Aunt Martha just started a teaching job in Kentucky but they haven't officially moved back to the area yet.  Nana hosted a wonderful brunch at her house and invited members from both Nana and Paw-paw's sides of the family.  All of the food was delicious and the girls enjoyed seeing their Burton and Waggoner cousins!  After most of the family left, our immediate family stayed and exchanged gifts.  As soon as Abbie woke up that morning she said, I  want to see Daba (her name for Martha).  Abbie and Sophie were so excited to open all of the gifts.  It's fun to watch them! 

Abbie was really excited to receive her own scooter from Nana and Paw-paw.  Sophie and Abbie received Toy Story 3 which was on their wish list.  Abbie also received a book of Farmyard Tales, a mermaid barbie and some clothes.  Sophie was very excited to receive a large Strawberry Shortcake set that she had on her wish list.  The girls were so excited to see Matt & Martha again.  Abbie sometimes calls Uncle Matt, Matt baby because he used to say she was a baby.  Then, she'd reply, "no, you a baby!"  =)  This was our 2nd early Christmas because we celebrated with Uncle Phil right after Thanksgiving since he was leaving on his mission trip.  It's been kind of nice to spread Christmas out this year but we will miss Uncle Phil and Aunt Martha/ Uncle Matt being around at Christmas.

Easter Sunday

Sophie likes her new Gigi book and Abbie's checking out her basket

Mimi, Paw-paw Tom and Aunt Leia with the girls

Nana & Paw-paw with our crew

Sophie hunts for eggs in Nana & Paw-paw's yard

Just before Easter, we were able to get together with the Grisso's and the Walker's for a playdate at the playground. The kids enjoyed playing outside even though it got pretty warm that day. We also had a picnic lunch. The kids had a great time being silly together. I was glad that we could get together because our schedules don't usually match!

Over Easter weekend, Matt's parents and his sister, Leia, were able to come in and visit us. His mom is off for Spring Break this week. On Sunday after church, we went over to Nana & Paw-paw's house for an egg hunt, then a little treasure hunt to find their Easter surprises (from Nana & Paw-paw), and then we had a wonderful lunch. Thanks to Nana for an awesome lunch! Abbie was so funny hunting eggs because as she found each one, she stopped to eat the candy before going on. Sophie really enjoyed the treasure hunt where Nana had drawn pictures telling her where to go next.

Sophie was still in school this week but Matt was able to pick her up before naptime on Monday so that he, Paw-paw Tom, and Aunt Leia could go and visit the zoo with Sophie. We also did a few little projects around the yard while they were in town. Sophie got a new bike with training wheels and she is so proud that she's learning to ride it. I'll try to include a picture soon! We went back to one of our favorite places, Chuy's, for dinner on Monday night. We're trying to make sure that everyone in the family tries it (really we just like having an excuse to go back). I love the creamy jalapeno dip among other things there. =)

Easter weekend

Paula's dad's siblings-Uncle Mike with Sophie, Paw-paw, Uncle Bobby,
Aunt Patti (front), Aunt Mary Tom, Uncle JoWie at Mary Tom's party

Sophie with her Easter goodies

Paula & Sophie-Easter Sunday

Sophie with Uncle Phil and Aunt Martha

There was a lot going on over Easter weekend this year. My great aunt, Mary Tom, turned 100 on April 7. Almost all of my 1st cousins (Paula's) and their families were able to come and celebrate her birthday and we had a big party for Mary Tom. Many of her old friends, relatives, neighbors, etc were able to come and celebrate with Mary Tom. She was well remembered because her church also held a large party in her honor and the assisted living facility where she lives honored her. We were glad that we could be with her to celebrate! I wish that one of us had taken more pictures of us cousins together but maybe someone got some pictures.

Sophie enjoyed spending time with her cousins. On Sunday, many of them had to head for home but we stayed in Nashville and went to church with Paula's family. On Saturday, even though it was very cold we had an Easter egg hunt for all of the kids. We had lunch together, we all went to the party for Mary Tom that afternoon and then that night we got together. Needless to say, by Sunday after church, Sophie was exhausted and took a 3 hour nap.

Sophie and the guys

Here's Sophie at the top of one of the tunnel slides at our local park. Paw-paw Waggoner and Uncle Phil came in to visit last week. One day, they offered to babysit Sophie while Paula ran some errands. They took Sophie to the park and had a lot of fun. That night, we all went to a restaurant called "The Queen Anne's Revenge" that had a pirate theme. It was about 45 minutes away but it was really good.

Matt, Paula & Sophie at "The Queen Anne's Revenge" with replica of a ship.

O-R-E-O

Well, Paw Paw Waggoner and Uncle Phil came in yesterday (2/19) after Mimi and Paw Paw Tom left Charleston and headed back to Virginia. Among other things, Sophie has been introduced to Double Stuf Oreos. It doesn't get much better than that! She promptly finished her "required" lunch food to eat a Double Stuf Oreos. Like most of us, she couldn't stop after one cookie either. =) Paw Paw Waggoner showed her how the cookies could also been dunked in milk but Sophie drew the line at that. Anyway, we've had a good time hanging out with Uncle Phil and Paw Paw Waggoner!

Memorial Day weekend in Nashville

We went to Nashville to visit family over Memorial Day weekend. Sophie got to become reacquainted with a couple of her second cousins from VA and some other family. She also spent time with her great great aunt Mary Tom. She is nearly a century older than Sophie, and she is still clipping along at a pretty fast pace. Later, Sophie pulled out her maracas and hat for a little fiesta with the family. On her last morning with the grandparents, Sophie made everyone laugh by trying to stuff a biscuit in her mouth at breakfast. When we went through airport security on our way back to Nashville, the whole family was selected for thorough screening. Sophie received her first "pat down" by law enforcement agents. We always thought she looked suspicious. We made it back safely.