Sledding!

The first snow of 2011 was a good one! Daddy came home early and Uncle D came up to take the girls sledding--a big perk of having your sister and brother-in-law live right down the street. Uncle D had gone over to Mimmy and Pops' house to get the plastic sled so we were ready to roll. After the first couple of times down the hill in our neighbors' side yard and into our back yard, the girls wanted to go by themselves. They loved it!

Madison and Daddy before their first ride

Madison and Jeff

Macey and D for the first time...we could not keep that girl's mittens on

Macey and D

D about to give Madison a push on her first solo trip

Macey telling D she's ready for her first solo trip push

Gatlinburg

We went to Gatlinburg over the New Year's weekend with Jeff's family. We had planned to go to Dollywood, but it was closed on our day we had good weather so we went to the aquarium and we had tickets to Dixie Stampede that night which was very good. New Year's Day it rained all day so we didn't ever make it to Dollywood, but we had a very relaxing weekend in the cabin and the kids had fun just playing and being together. Thanks Bebe and Papa for a great weekend!

The entrance to the aquarium

Macey, Frances, Libby, Madison

Jeff touching a hermit crab...we tried to get the girls to but it was a no-go

Madison getting up close with the fish

They had a craft room where the girls made penguin masks

Daddy working hard on the masks

Macey's finished product

Madison's finished product

They had a penguin exhibit which was neat...they are very social creatures and would play with you when you looked in their tank.

Maddie Leigh getting a good look

Madison, Frances, Macey, Libby

Jeff touching the stingrays

Playing "Cootie Bug" back in the cabin

Kobe's

Every year my family goes to Kobe's steakhouse sometime over the Christmas holiday. We began going when I was a kid and we've been every year since, and then we all go to Grandma's to chat and play. It started out around 18-20ish people, and now if about everyone comes it's up around 40ish. It's getting harder and harder since all the cousins are married, engaged and most have kids of our own and we live all across the country, literally. We had the most people there this year than we've had probably since all of us began getting married. Daddy and Madison trying to figure out what to order

Macey and Brady trying to eat Mimmy's food

Pops taking Sammy for a stroll

Madison telling Sam it's not nightime, it's playtime!

Kiki, Austin, Meghan, Grandma, Bit Bit

Pops, Laura, David, Kay Kay, Adam, Kristen, Sue Sue

Sweet Tate

All the great-grandchildren (minus just a few)

Caden, Tate, Emery, Sam, Tori, Brady, Madison, Macey

Grandma with Baby Sam