Grove Park Inn

Today Clay and I celebrated our 9th Wedding Anniversary!

My sweet husband planned a romantic overnight getaway for us at the Grove Park Inn. Thank you so much to Nana and Pop for watching the girls for us. This was the first time that I had ever left Madison overnight. (The picture is a replica of the Grove Park Inn made out of gingerbread.)

The Grove Park Inn upgraded our room as a thank you for Clay's military service. Our suite was AMAZING!

Yes...we had a Christmas tree in our room!

The view from our balcony.

The annual Gingerbread House Competition was on display. This was the second place winner. We love Noah's Ark!

The 1st Place Gingerbread Winner!

As part of our Military Appreciation Package we got Spa Day Passes. Clay and I enjoyed getting to relax at The Spa. We had a great time just enjoying each others company and ordering room service in our amazing suite. I can't think of a better way to celebrate 9 years of marriage.

Almost a White Christmas

The day after Christmas we woke up to a Winter Wonderland!

It was almost our first White Christmas!

Silly Jocelyn decided to wear Mommy's hat and scarf to go outside and play in the snow. ;)

Watch out....Jocelyn has a BIG snowball!

Daddy made his own sled using Nana and Pop's outdoor rocking chair. Wheeeee!

Madison's turn for a ride down the hill.

Time to make some Snow Angels. We are so happy that Madison is feeling better today.

We had a snowball fight with the neighbor kids next door and then enjoyed watching them make their snowman.

Unfortunately the next morning we woke up to Jocelyn throwing up. The Christmas BUG was spreading. Even Mommy and Daddy started feeling a little nauseous. :(

Christmas Day

Our Christmas began with Madison throwing up. She was so upset that she was sick on Christmas. She opened up her stocking and then went back to bed.

Jocelyn was so sweet and wanted to wait to open her gifts from Mommy and Daddy until her Sissy felt better. We told her that she could go ahead and open some of them so that she could play with them quietly while Sissy slept.

Jocelyn got a Noah's Ark!

She also got some new Bible DVDs!

She can't wait to play Frisbee Horseshoes!

She LOVES her Ladybug Girl!

After a very long rest, Madison finally had enough energy to open her gifts from Mommy and Daddy. (The throw up bowl was close by just in case.)

The girls can't wait to watch their Ladybugs and Butterflies grow!

Madison LOVED her Scooby-Doo Mansion!

Christmas Eve

At 5:00 am on Christmas Eve we began the drive to Nana and Pop's house in North Carolina. Unfortunately, Madison threw up in the car around 6:00 am. After a quick stop to clean up we were back on the road and arrived at Nana and Pop's house around 11:00 am.

The girls were so happy to be at Nana and Pop's house for Christmas!

Clay was thrilled to spend this Christmas with his family unlike his last Christmas in Afghanistan.

Mimi even made the trip up from Florida to spend Christmas with everyone.

Aunt Wendy and Uncle Donn came all the way from Texas for Christmas this year.

The Christmas Cousins!

The girls were surrounded by Christmas gifts and couldn't wait to start opening them.

Madison loved the Scooby-Doo DS game that Nana and Pop got her.

The Twinkle Toes were a big hit too.

Mia liked the pretty bag that I made for her and all of the jewelry that Uncle Clay picked out for her. She also liked the new pajamas that we got for her and her American Girl doll.

Blayke enjoyed playing with his new Hex Bugs from us.

He also loved all of the new camouflage that we got him.

The best gift was the Mexican Wrestling Cape that Uncle Clay got him and the cool Wrestling Belt I found for him.

Christmas Eve Eve

We let the girls open their gift from each other on Christmas Eve Eve.

Madison was so happy to see that her sister got her...

an Ariel doll with LEGS!

Jocelyn knew just what her sister wanted.

Madison got Jocelyn a Housecleaning Set. ;)

We were packing up the van to head to Nana and Pop's house on Christmas Eve, but Daddy's big gift wouldn't fit, so he got to open it early. Daddy was pumped to get a new George Foreman grill with removable plates.

Unfortunately shortly after we opened gifts, Madison threw up three times. We thought it was food poisoning because she felt fine afterwards and she had drank some old orange juice earlier in the day.

Christmas Cookies!

This afternoon we baked and decorated some Christmas cookies.

Jocelyn's tray of Christmas cookies!

We couldn't wait to eat them.

Madison's tray of Christmas cookies!

Daddy helped them decorate the BIG Christmas Tree Cookie!

Fun in the Snow with Daddy!

The girls couldn't wait for Daddy to get home and play in the snow with them. He missed getting to play in the snow with them last year because he was deployed.

Jocelyn made a snowball and was looking for her first victim.

WATCH OUT! She means business!

Madison was ALL smiles and giggles during our snowball fight!

Daddy made the BIGGEST snowball!

We decided to turn the jumbo snowballs into a snow"girl"!

Our Snow"girl"!

The girls made her a leaf dress to wear. ;)

We are so happy that we get to play in the snow with Daddy this year. Please keep our family in your prayers though because we just found out this week that Clay's next deployment band begins this June. That is sooner than we expected.