Fireman Thomas

Yesterday, the kids and I road-tripped to Greenville to my nephew Thomas' 3rd birthday party. It was so cute--a tour of the fire station followed by lunch and cake at Firehouse Subs. All the precious kids had a blast crawling all in the trucks and learning about firemen and their duties. Happy Birthday, Thomas!

Cookies anyone???

It is official!!! Girl Scout Cookies are for sale--delivery around Valentine's Day! Kinsey's ready to sell them to you!

Trip to Antarctica

Well, not really, but you would think with the CRAZY temperatures (single digits with SUB zero windchill) and major amounts of snow and ice. On New Years Day, Jack and I packed our ski gear, the kids and Granny (all of which filled an entire pick up truck) back to NC with the hopes of getting a nice ski trip in with Kinsey. We had no idea what kind of weather we were headed for, but following Kinsey's strict orders, we geared up and hit the slopes anyway. She did a great job and more importantly, we all stayed warm and had a great time. We even got to see some cousins while we were up there.

Christmas WHIRLWIND!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

It's a new year and I am just now blogging about Christmas--oh my! In my defense, though, we have hardly been home a day since then. The holiday was wonderful and our family traditions started early morning on Christmas Day. After checking out Santa's haul (Max's expression after seeing his Lionel train is one of my all-time favorites), we headed over the the Patrick Christmas breakfast. YUM-MY is what I have to say about that. Some of the very best breakfast you can imagine. Next, hit the road for SC for the Putman side of the family. Other than lazying around and playing on the floor until we could play no more, my personal favorite was the beautiful waterfall hike and our hot tub time. Home for two days, then hit the mountains for some snow...

Christmas Eve

Here are a few shots from our Christmas Eve gift exchange with Nan and Granddaddy and the annual reading of Polar Express and Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Jingle Jog

Here's a pic from our Christmas Eve run this AM, complete with fun outfits (with Ruldolph red "noses") and hot chocolate and sweet treats post run. Fun, fun!

Bethlehem and Slumber Party

I (I mean my children) have been waiting 4 years to have our best little boy buds over for a sleepover. For Christmas Eve Eve, we traveled to he little town of Bethlehem (Georgia) for the annual live nativity there and then had a super fun sleepover with the fabulous four.

Photo Shoot

While trying to get a cute pic of the kids this AM, Kinsey decided she wanted to take a shot at photography. Not a bad one of me and my naughty elf. If only I'd fixed my hair and put on any make up.

Stone Mountain Christmas

Max and Kinsey waiting on the train ride

Mary Claire, Kinsey and Whit waiting for the train

Riding the train

After seeing Santa

Max and his favorite train!



If there was a way to choreograph the perfect Christmas night for Max, this certainly would have been it. We enjoyed riding the Polar Express in NC last year, but decided this year to try a train a little closer to home. It was awesome. The night started with thousands of beautiful lights, a Santa parade (complete with snow), a caroling train ride, Max's favorite movie (Polar Express) in 4D (you could smell the hot chocolate and feel the rumble of the train), and a fireworks show with a flying snow angel who brought snow. Max (and everone else) had the best time and we will look forard to another trip next year.

Now, off to finish the last-minute shopping. Wish me luck!

Hidden Talents

The kids were lucky enough to get to spend some individual time at their Nan and Granddaddy's this past week and each got to explore some of their hobbies. Music Man Max had a ball with Nan's snowglobe collection (listening to the "munix" that each one played) while Kinsey tapped into her Julia Childs by baking cookies. This was especially sweet since Nan bought her first apron and rolling pin at an ambitious 6 months old! Sweet!

Gingerbread Houses 2009

I HEART Zaxby's

Last year, on a night out while Jack was away, the kids and I happened upon a winter wonderland right in our own backyard. The Zaxby's headquarters, a few miles from our house was having a Christmas festival and we decided we'd found a new tradition. So we were thrilled this year to hear about the event again, but this time even more elaborate and creative. In addition to the caroling hayride, visit with Santa, and hot chocolate stations, 2009 brought a new snow village, with several small houses, each with a different craft or activity. Smooshy marshmallow snowmen, glitter pine cone ornaments, face painting, and cookie decorating. The most amazing part is that it is all donation driven and the money goes to the local preschools and elementary schools. What a sweet treasure we have found! Go Zax!

Holiday Hustle

Pancake Breakfast with Santa

Kinsey marching in her first parade (with her Girl Scout Troop)

"Tailgating" at Lake Lanier Magical Nights of Lights

Roasting Marshmallows with Hillary at Santa's Workshop at Lake Lanier

Max and his dream job (at Lanier)

'Tis the Season...

...for parades, parties and especially paparazzi!!!

The BEAST of a tree is trimmed and the stocking are hung, now lets get to celebrating! Christmas is my very favorite time of year and we are going into it full steam ahead.


Last night was the Athens Christmas parade, a fun family tradition, that we got to share with the Loftin crew this year. The kids had a blask catching "candy falling from the sky" and waiting for Santa's float.




Tomorrow, Kinsey will make her parade debut as a marching Girl Scout. I'm really hoping ALL the weather folks are wrong and we will end up with a nice morning. Regardless, the weather WON'T be able to spoil our pancake breakfast with Santa Claus or our movie date for The Christmas Carol and will hopefully be long gone by time for our annual Griner truck ride through Lanier Lights tomorrow night. I just LOVE the hustle and bustle of the season.

Another fun "tradition" this time of year is something funny the kids do. I guess they have really more been TRAINED to do. Anyway, if they are ever wearing a precious Christmas-y outfit or something extra-special or matching, in other words, when they thing they look really cute, they will RUN in front of the tree and beg to have their picture taken. Here are the first few "Tree shots" of this Christmas.




More pics to come (of course!!!)