HAPPY NEW YEAR - 2009

For new years eve we went to my girlfriend Jennifer's house for an 80's party!!! As you can see...we looked HOT! Well as good as anyone can in the styles from the 80's! We had a really good time! Sullivan did too....he brought the new year in with concentrated kool-aide in a champagne flute! (I did not realize you were supposed to add more water to the Kool-aide. :/) I am so excite about 2009! I do not really know why but I am. Maybe there are a lot of great things going to happen this year!!! Happy New Year to you all!

May it be filled with love, laughter, prosperity and peace! CHEERS!

(Virginia, Jennifer, Angie, Melissa and Me)

We got to see Aunt Sassy!

The day after Christmas Mike and I met Ashley and her boyfriend Brian in Columbia for lunch. They were in route to Summerville, so we though we would at least meet up and spend lunch together and exchange gifts! We left Sullivan at home with G.G. and Pop so that we could actually have conversation. It was so nice. Plus he got to go to chuck-e-cheese with G.G. and Pop so he was happy! Ash got us the neatest present. It is letter photography and it spells CURTI! I love it and can not wait to put it up. I have not found that perfect spot for it yet. It was so nice to get to see them even if only for a couple of hours!

Christmas Day in Charleston with Noni and family

On Christmas Day we went to brunch at Zeke and Brett's house and then headed to Charleston to spend the day with Noni, John Paul and the girls. It is the first Christmas with out Kurt so Noni decided to do something different this year to keep her spirits up. She took her new camper to Mt Pleasant and set up camp (AKA a large dog kennel) and spent most of her time in between camp and John Paul's house. We got to John Paul's house about 3 pm and Dorcas came with Maya and Ella shortly after. We all hung out, opened gifts and ate a delicious dinner. The kids played so well together. John Paul did not want a regular Christmas tree because it would take up too much room so being his artsy self, he made his own. It is so neat and right up his alley. The kids loved it!!!
After dinner we put the kiddos in jammies and headed to the James Island Festival of Lights. As always it was top notch. By far the best lights I have ever seen. We had a really good time. There is nothing like hearing the kids so excited! When we got back to John Paul's house the kids were all sacked out and it was time to head back to Sumter. It was such a nice Christmas Day and I am really glad we all got to be together.

Christmas with G.G. and Pop

G.G. and Pop got the boys jeeps and fishing rods! It was a beautiful day to be outside giving it all a try. Sullivan drove his jeep so well! I think once the weather gets better he will be able to get a little practice and ride everywhere. He loved fishing and the canoe ride uncle Zeke took he and Elliott on. We had a wonderful Christmas dinner, opened lots and lots of gifts and just enjoyed being together as a family. Thank you Mom and Dad and Zeke and Brett for everything, especially for making our kids feel loved and special. That is the best gift ever. It was a wonderful celebration!!!

(Brett actually was here with us but she was inside nursing Laurel most of the time. The wonderful perils of mommyhood :) )

SANTA CAME!!!

Santa came and made the kids happy! He did not bring Anna anything from her list though... We thought she would be a bit disappointed so we let her open one from us early. We got her an iPod and a gift certificate to iTunes to get some songs. She was so excited! Mike spent some time with her teaching her how to put music on it. It was cute and she really enjoyed having some time with her daddy. They did not get very much so I know this was good for both of them. We had to take Anna back to Belton the next morning(Christmas Eve) so Zeke, Brett and the kids came over and we all did Christmas with Anna that evening. She sure felt special.
The boys got to open a few early ones too!!!

Santa comming early this year???

When we realized Anna would not be with us Christmas Eve night we were worried about what Santa would do. Would he even come to G.G. and Pops house? Would he take all her toys to Belton this year? Although we know he had a plan, we did not know what it was. Last year he called Zeke's house at the end of our Bateman/Lynam Christmas party and told Anna to go to bed soon because he was coming that night! She was so excited! He must have forgotten to tell us this year. We decided it was best to be ready just in case he came early....glad we did.

So G.G. baked cookies with the kids and we put cookies and milk out for Santa and carrots out for the reindeer. Anna even added a Swiss cake roll for Santa. I guess she though he would be really hungry. Santa was lucky he got any milk because Sullivan drank most of it before we even put it out. It was so cute to see them doing this together.

Sullivan really thought the cup was neat because when you turn it up to drink out of it it says, "Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas!" We had to bribe him to leave it for Santa!

The kids in front of Pop's new TV he got for Christmas!

Mike came in from Virginia that night and Santa had not come when he got there at 3:00 am. But...when the kids woke up at 8:30 am, he had come!!! So, we very sleepily woke up to two very excited kiddos!!! There is nothing better!!

Christmas at McDonalds

Yep, that is what it was! Since we were all limited for time we decided to meet the Georgers, our Sicily family, in Columbia to spend some time and let the kids exchange gifts. Allison(Georger) met Noni and got Anna on the way down to save us the trip which was so nice. Mom and I were a little nervous about taking Sullivan since he had not been feeling well, but he was in good spirits and seemed to be feeling better so we loaded up the car and headed out. We met them in the parking lot of Ritz Camera and let the kids run around a bit. Weird huh? Yes it was but...it was so nice to see the kids play and fight again. Nothing quite like 2 year olds. Being in the military you know that you will eventually be apart from your friends but the bond you make with friends overseas is huge and it is so hard to be so far apart from that special family. Because that is what they come afterall. Not just friends but family. After playing in the parking lot a bit we headed to McDonald's to get the kiddo's some ice cream and let them open presents. It was a good time! They gave Sullivan a super cute pottery barn captains chair with SULLY embroidered on it and a cute little tote full of cars ! He was thrilled and loves his chair! Anna got an adorable bag with an A on it and some Hannah Montana jewelry! She was tickled! The kiddos played while we chatted and then it was time to say goodbye! Well, not until after a little shopping! It was so good to see our Sicily family, our dear friends and that precious baby Colin! He was such a ham and has just gotten so full of himself! He is still as handsome as ever. They are growing up so so fast! We missed seeing Brian this time but I was happy to at least get a little time with Allison and Colin! Can't wait until next time!!!