Snow!

  We got snow the day after Christmas.  It was the 1st December snow in the area since 1887!  This part of South Carolina is a lot like Texas in the sense that it rarely snows, and if it does, it's not until February or so when it does.  The kids has fun in it.  Allison threw a big fit when she had to go inside.

Busy but Fun Christmas

Payton came for 1st week of his Christmas vacation, and we had a lot of fun.  We gave him some of his Christmas presents early b/c he went back on the 26th.  We wanted to make sure he got to enjoy them.  Some of our adventures of the week included Payton learning how to ride a bike, going to the Columbia zoo to see Christmas lights, and just a lot of playing.

  For some reason I could not rotate this last picture.  The zoo had a fire pit where you could roast marshmellows.  It was the kids' favorite part of the zoo.

Santa!

 We went and saw Santa tonight.  Allison liked him!  The pictures are awful.  I need a faster camera.  She was so excited that Santa really had to hold on to her.  She was screaming with excitement.

This picture is just plain cute.  She was so excited about her new hat and gloves.  FYI, the hat and gloves are sized 3T.  We have a big girl!

I'm Getting So Big

  Our baby is growing up so fast.  She is walking really well these days.  She's still faster at crawling, so if she's in a hurry, she gets down on all fours.  Allison has also become quite the climber.  Her favorite thing to do is climb on the kitchen chairs.  I'm trying to teach her that she has to sit at the table, but she finds it more a game than anything. 
  Allison has also become the advance eater.  She can now eat a whole apple with the skin.  I just have to give a few starter bites, which works out well since she usually steals my apple and eats it.  She can also eat raw carrots, steak, whole grapes, and just about anything else she can put in her mouth. 
  Here are a few pictures of her recent achievements:

Cleaning Day!

 Today, I told Allison that we were going to clean house.  I think she misunderstood me and decided that I said that we were cleaning out b/c this is how she was my little helper.  Doesn't she look proud of herself?

First Thanksgiving Together

  We had a good Thanksgiving with just the 3 of us.  I spent the morning hanging pictures and other things on our walls.  We then had a simple lunch and a long nap.  Allison finally napped for the 1st this week, so Brandon and I took advantage of it. 
  After naptime, we talked to family and played a lot.  I then finished up cooking dinner, my 1st time cooking Thanksgiving dinner.  We had turkey breast, stuffing, sweet potatoes, crescent rolls, and cranberry sauce.  It was Allison's 1st time to have traditional Thanksgiving food.  She loved it!  She ate it all.  Her favorite was cranberry sauce. 
  I didn't take any pictures today, mainly because we were dressed like bums.  Out of the 5 years of being together, this was only Brandon's and my 2nd Thanksgiving together between deployments and me working at the hospital.  We are looking forward to the next 3 years to where we can spend every Thanksgiving and other holidays together.

It's a Girl

  We are happy to announce that we are having another little girl.  Brandon and I high-fived each other when we found out b/c that's what we wanted.  We are excited that Allison will have a sister so close in age.  This will also be granddaughter number 5 for my parents within 3 years!  LOTS of pink everywhere!  This should be a lot of fun when we get all the kids together.  We are clueless on what to name this little one, so any suggestions would be appreciated.