Our Break

Last Friday morning William and I left bright and early to drive to Charleston to board the Carnival Fantasy for a cruise to the Bahamas! It was just what we needed. The first day, which was a day at sea it rained. We slept until 9:30-went and got breakfast. Napped from 10:30-1. Ate lunch. Then napped again from 2-4:30. I had NO idea I could sleep that much in 1 day. I guess thats what 3 years of not getting enough sleep will do to you! It was much needed though. Our first stop was in Freeport, Bahamas. Not impressed. I wouldn't recommend going there. It's just a port and you have to take a taxi into town which is 30 minutes away. We didn't do this, we just got off the ship, walked around for a bit at the tiny market and got back on board. We didn't care though, we just wanted to relax! Nassau was much better. We have been twice before. Once on a cruise, and again when William took me to Atlantis for my birthday when we were dating. The place is amazing but sooo out of our budget these days. Would love to take Chey and Hailey when they're older but we'll have to start saving now! Ha! The last day at sea was WONDERFUL. The weather wasn't what we expected this trip. It was chilly! the high was only around 70. I didn't think about it when we were packing but the Bahamas isn't much furthur south than Florida..and it is winter time. I could be in my bathing suit but the wind on deck made it a tad chilly. I was still able to lay in the sun and read, sleep, relax, eat lunch and have a drink. The last day was my favorite by far. We stayed on deck dozing, reading and just enjoying each other's (and other peoples) company. We had a great trip reconnecting with each other and I can't wait to do it again in another 3 years! We missed the girls like crazy. We talked about them all day every day. It was so hard being away from them but we really needed it. I especially, but we both were just burnt out. Anyway, here's a few pics from our trip. We didn't take a bunch-I was too busy sleeping, eating and relaxing!

Christmas Dresses!

Here's the girls all dressed up for church! William and I will leave for our trip on Friday and I don't know if Katie will be taking the girls to church so I wanted them to wear their Christmas dresses today. They may look familiar. Nothing the girls are wearing his brand new! Hailey's dress is Chey's from last year. It's a little big, but I didn't see the point in buying a new one to wear one time. Chey's dress is a hand-me-down from cousins Kate and Caroline and both the girls white sweaters came from a consignment store. Am I cheap or what?!? Ha! No really, as fast as they grow out of clothes I just don't see the point. They look so cute and actually wanted to smile for me this morning. William is dancing behind me I believe to get some smiles.

All Things Christmas

To be honest, I'm so glad this week is over with. All 4 of us had a stomach virus, we're thinking it was Norovirus. Whatever it was, it was NO FUN! Taking care of sick children when you are sick and your husband is sick is just wrong. Ha! Friday we were all feeling better from the stomach mess but William went straight to a severe cold and ended up at the doctor yesterday doing a breathing treatment and came home with 4 different prescriptions. We've had all the sickness we can take for a while!
Friday the girls and I baked cookies and gave them out as gifts to friends and neighbors. Chey loved helping and decorating the sugar cookies. She did a great job! Then Friday night we went to Disney on Ice-Toy Story 3. I haven't uploaded those photos yet. Since William wasn't feeling well, my dad went with Chey and I. We had a great time!

On Saturday afternoon we had our annual Friends Thanksgiving dinner with our good friends The Kivetts, Strecks Bleakneys and Ryan. Melissa his fiance was out of town and couldn't make it, William was sick so didn't go and Tripp had to work so we had a smaller crowd than usual. Here is a photo of all the kids, minus Gavin who had already left. From left to right, Cheyenne, Hailey, Maggie, David and Alicia.

We got snow yesterday! The weatherman was just calling for a few flurries but Saturday at lunchtime it started and kept at it for quite a while. The girls loved playing in it this morning.

Christmas Tree

This weekend the girls have had a stomach bug so we stayed in mostly. We did pick up our tree Saturday night and William and I put the lights on after the girls went to bed. Then Sunday morning we let them help us decorate it. Chey helped, Hailey kept pulling them off. What do you expect a 16 month old to do? ha! They love it though. Cheyenne says its "so beautiful!"

Tree Farm

This afternoon we took the girls to the tree farm where I am doing Holiday mini sessions. I had told the man I would get my tree from him for letting me use his farm for the sessions. Well..... we got there and they didn't have Fraiser Fir trees......but I had already told him I would so we got a really small one...least the girls had fun! We'll got get a REAL tree this weekend!

Halloween!!

We celebrated Halloween on Saturday and Sunday! Cheyenne dressed up as a witch and Hailey was a ladybug. We started Saturday at our church's trunk or treat. Cheyenne and Emma went around and trick or treated at all the car trunks. They had a great time and came away with lots of candy (too much!) Then we went to mom and dad's and did out annual bonfire in the driveway. I made a pot of chicken stew and we had hot dogs and made smores. We didn't stay long because Hailey was getting tired but this year was alot more fun than last year. Cheyenne really got into trick or treating! Sunday I took Chey around our neighborhood door to door. We only did 1 block because those little legs got tired. But she had a great time!

On Friday night, one of the ladies in my neighborhood, Kristy, hosted a witches brew! All the women dresses up as witches and we had tons of snacks and a costume contest. It was alot of fun!
Chey enjoying her marshmellow Roasting the marshmellow. The smoke from the fire bothered her eyes so she didn't stay long there with me.

Trick or treating at Aunt Jill's carChey and Emma

My little witch!

Hailey-bug

Chey and Emma

Trick or treating in our neighborhod

Posin'

The ladies of my neighborhood-dressed up! I'm on the bottom right

Some of the yummy food!

I didn't go for the scary witch look...