New Year's Eve

The family and I have decided to stay in pj's all day and watch movies...which the kids are loving!  Jay went to Blockbuster last night and got several of the kid's favorites.  We started off today with ET and are now on to Princess Diaries 1...then 2 I am sure.  Now that we are all healthy again, we are certainly enjoying each other's company.  Tonight we plan to bring in the New Year over at some friend's house praying and spending some quality time together.  But until then, alot of coffee, pallets, movies and of course popcorn.  To the New Year....

2009 we will add to our family...OH MY!

Visit with Jay's sister

Jay's 4th sister lives in North Carolina and is a Junior in high school so it was great to get to see her while we were in town.  She is such a sweet girl and we loved getting to spend time with her and her family...it just wasn't long enough!

Jay with his sister Valerie with Julie, John and Grandmother Kearney "Grammy"

Jay with sister Valerie

Us with Valerie

Me and Jay

It was great to see you Valerie!  We miss you already!

Happy 85th Birthday Grandmother Sheehy

We had a celebration for Jay's grandmother who turns 85 soon and it was quite the party.  It was held at Duke Gardens where she works and we had a great turnout!

Jay's mom and stepdad Kevin

Two of Jay's sisters with his stepdad Kevin (Nicole lives in NC and Jessica in Corinth, MS)

Jay's sister Nicole with son Scout

Jay's mom with the birthday girl

Jay and his grandmother

Me and my handsome man

Nicole with her husband Craig

Nonnie leading the "Happy Birthday" song

One of Jay's other sister lives in Hawaii and wasn't able to come so she sent a video that we played for Grandmother...

The speeches..

A gift to grandmother...wasn't she a hottie back in the day???

Happy Birthday Grandmother!  Jay and I are glad we got to celebrate with you!

Duke University....Go Blue Devils!

The day after Christmas, Lolli kept the kids and Jay and I flew with his family to Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina to celebrate with his grandmother for her 85th birthday party.  Jay grew up in North Carolina and his dad used to work at Duke and his sister Nicole still does.  And those of you that know him, you know that HE LOVES DUKE BASKETBALL!  They took us on a tour of the campus and below are some pics.  Jay seemed to believe there were angels over the entire campus, but I don't know.

Jay and I in the Duke Gardens

Below is tent city.  There was already a couple camping out on the 27th just to get the first tent for tickets for the 31st game.  It was crazy!  

Go Blue Devils!

Christmas Day

After opening gifts with Lolli and Pop, we went to see the movie Marley and Me which was good but had some language in it not appropriate for kids.  Then we made some Christmas cookies for Jesus to celebrate his birthday.  Nonnie also came over later in the afternoon and we got to enjoy Christmas with her as well. We ended the day driving around a couple of neighborhoods looking at some Christmas lights!  What a wonderful Christmas celebrating Christ's birth and being with family.  The only problem..it goes too fast!

Kids about to sprinkle Jesus' birthday cookies

Nonnie gave Karis this  bed for her American Girl doll.  How cute!

Brayden got this Big Wheel and he loves this thing...just his size!

Daddy helping Brayden open the magnet set from Nonnie

Nonnie and Karis

Christmas Morning with Lolli and Pop

We spent Christmas morning with Lolli and Pop and they were thrilled that it was Jesus' birthday AND that they got to open some more presents of course...they are 4 and 2! 

Brayden got some type of gun that he loved

Karis got a horse that goes with her American Doll Julie

Brayden with a new portable DVD player...he looks like he is pain but I promise he isn't.

An American Girl Doll tea set

Brayden got a new movie Happy Feet

Enjoying our "coffee party" with her new set

We did fix real coffee (with milk and sugar) and both of my kids love it...they are Lemonds for sure.  Brayden guzzled each cup and wanted more.  I think he had more than 10 cups of it!

Karis stirring her coffee

Coffee party with Lolli and Pop

Karis also got a new dresser for all her American Girl doll stuff

What a fun morning...and this was just the beginning.  More to come in the next post.

Christmas Eve Night with Matt and Tiffany

We went to my mom's house on Christmas Eve night to be with Matt and Tiffany before they left town.  It was great getting to hang out with them as a newly married couple.  The kids LOVE Matt and Tiffany!

Matt got a suit coat from my parents

Matt and Tiff gave Karis a Dance Revolution game...we all had a blast playing this!

Mom gave Tiffany a Kitchen Aid mixer she had been wanting...she was so excited!

Brayden opening his gift

The kids with Matt and Tiffany

Who needs gifts?  Just give them the box!

Playing the dancing game...

Lolli and Pop gave the kids one of their Christmas surprises...this trampoline.  Of course, they couldn't get enough...