Whew... this is going to be a long post!
This year was our year to do Christmas with my parents. The original plan was to do Christmas here at the beach, with my Dad's parents flying down to meet Ruthie for the first time. Well, since we no longer have a store that we need to stick around town for, we decided to go down to my parents' house in Summerville so that we could all stay under one roof. And why not get as much of each other as possible and stay for a whole week?!? We can bring Laurel with us and my parents have plenty of room, so that's exactly what we did!!
We got down there on the 22nd, and my parents kindly provided free babysitting so Will and I could go out to dinner to celebrate our 8th anniversary.
On the 23rd, Wyatt and I picked up Uncle Robbie from the airport (he flew in from Dallas) and went to West Ashley to meet Granddad at the dealership, see thew new MINI racecar, and then go to Mellow Mushroom for lunch. Then we went back home while Grandma picked up Gammy (Ruth) and Granda Bob from the airport (they flew in from Maryland). It was great to see everyone; we hadn't seen Gammy and Granda Bob since last summer (18 months ago) and we hadn't seen Uncle Robbie since August when he flew out to meet Ruthie.
The next day was Christmas Eve. We started the day by going to my friend Shara's house for a Christmas Eve breakfast. Shara and I have known each other since 1st grade and after a couple of years of visiting us from Maryland she decided to move to Summerville. It was here that she met her husband, Dave, and now they have two beautiful girls who are similar in age to Wyatt and Ruthie (Amelia is 3 days younger than Ruthie, to be exact!). They had just moved into a new house and were excited to share it with everyone. While we were there, a special guest showed up! (Doesn't Dave make a great Santa??)
This year was our year to do Christmas with my parents. The original plan was to do Christmas here at the beach, with my Dad's parents flying down to meet Ruthie for the first time. Well, since we no longer have a store that we need to stick around town for, we decided to go down to my parents' house in Summerville so that we could all stay under one roof. And why not get as much of each other as possible and stay for a whole week?!? We can bring Laurel with us and my parents have plenty of room, so that's exactly what we did!!
We got down there on the 22nd, and my parents kindly provided free babysitting so Will and I could go out to dinner to celebrate our 8th anniversary.
On the 23rd, Wyatt and I picked up Uncle Robbie from the airport (he flew in from Dallas) and went to West Ashley to meet Granddad at the dealership, see thew new MINI racecar, and then go to Mellow Mushroom for lunch. Then we went back home while Grandma picked up Gammy (Ruth) and Granda Bob from the airport (they flew in from Maryland). It was great to see everyone; we hadn't seen Gammy and Granda Bob since last summer (18 months ago) and we hadn't seen Uncle Robbie since August when he flew out to meet Ruthie.
The next day was Christmas Eve. We started the day by going to my friend Shara's house for a Christmas Eve breakfast. Shara and I have known each other since 1st grade and after a couple of years of visiting us from Maryland she decided to move to Summerville. It was here that she met her husband, Dave, and now they have two beautiful girls who are similar in age to Wyatt and Ruthie (Amelia is 3 days younger than Ruthie, to be exact!). They had just moved into a new house and were excited to share it with everyone. While we were there, a special guest showed up! (Doesn't Dave make a great Santa??)
Ruthie had a great time too.
It was not easy, but we finally got Wyatt and Jayna to sit still on one step so we could get a picture.
I know it's blurry, but isn't this totally adorable?
Grandma insisted that I get on the OTHER side of a camera for a change.
Through all of the years, my mom and Shara's mom have remained friends as well, and Robbie and Shara's little sister Lindsey were in the same grade. So, we had a chance for a neat picture! (Dave was prepping the turkey that he was going to fry, and Will had already run off with my dad for a Christmas Eve round of golf when this picture was taken!)
When we got back, Gammy took advantage to two kiddos in good moods to get some loving in! This was the first time that "Big Ruthie" got to meet "Little Ruthie"!!
I wanted a picture of Wyatt with his great-grandmother. Of course I first had to take this...
To get this...
And then I got this!
Wyatt really liked cuddling with Granda Bob.
Finally, it was time to start getting ready for Santa. Here's Wyatt counting out 9 carrots for the reindeer.
The suspense was killing him, so we let him choose one present from under the tree to open before going to bed.
The suspense was killing him, so we let him choose one present from under the tree to open before going to bed.
Leaving out milk and cookies for Santa and the carrots for the reindeer!
My munchkins, ready to go to bed so they can see what Santa was going to bring... (Obviously Ruthie was READY for bed!)
He actually slept until about 8 the next morning. Here he is waiting on the stairs before opening presents. We made him wait until everyone was downstairs... why?
Oh my... Santa must have thought Wyatt was a REAL good boy this year!!!
Not wanting Ruthie to feel left out, Santa brought Ruthie a MINI Cooper of her own!
But Santa left a note that Wyatt was able to drive Ruthie's MINI until she was big enough, as long as he takes care of it. It's going to live at Grandma and Granddad's for awhile...
Ruthie and Grandma on Christmas morning.
Wyatt got lots of great toys. He got Candyland from Santa and Sesame Street Chutes and Ladders from Grndma and Granddad. They both have already gotten good use!
Ruthie enjoyed looking at the presents this year, particularly the bows.
It seems she enjoyed wearing the bows, too (in true Davis family tradition).
My mom always talks about how she loves leaving all of the wrapping paper everywhere while we open presents. So, that's exactly what we did this year. We all thought it was great... well, except maybe Laurel.
And here we are, after all of the presents had been opened.
What a goofy family. Oh, how I love them.
What a goofy family. Oh, how I love them.
While Grandma and Mommy started working on Christmas dinner and Daddy was heating up the oil for the turkey, Wyatt decided to try out his new toy. He actually was afraid of it at first and would only drive the MINI, but he soon got brave enough to try. And he loved it.
Ruthie decided to check out her MINI, too.
Ruthie and Grandma.
On our last day in town, Grandma took us to "Bee City" which is a honey bee farm that has also become an amazing petting zoo. Wyatt had a BLAST.
Here he is feeding a lemur. Those were his favorite.
Here he is feeding a lemur. Those were his favorite.
He got in the rabbit pen and got to pet all of the bunnies.
Here he is feeding Fred the monkey. Fred was Mommy's favorite.
He also got to feed a fallow deer. This was especially cool for Wyatt because EVERY night that we spend at my parents' house either Grandma or Granddad takes Wyatt driving around their neighborhood "looking for deer." They see a bunch of them every night (I can't remember a night in the last two years that he hasn't gone looking for deer with them). So, this was particularly cool for Wyatt to get to feed a deer and see it so close up.
On our last night, we had a big dinner and invited over my friend Kathy. Kathy and I became friends in early high school when we started riding horses together. Through all the horse shows and hanging out, our parents have become friends too. So, it was super fun to have Kathy, her husband Donnie, and Kathy's parents over for a cookout. Kathy has three kids. Between the two of us, we had kids ages 4 (Carter), 3 (Wyatt), 2 (Hunter), 1 (Addison), and newborn (Ruthie)!! CRAZY!
Here are the kiddos at their very own table.
And here with our with all of our kiddos. Oh, man... I don't even have the words.
Here are the kiddos at their very own table.
And here with our with all of our kiddos. Oh, man... I don't even have the words.
So, now we're home and celebrating New Years' Eve by attempting to stay awake until midnight (and hoping our neighbors quit shooting off fireworks before Wyatt gets in bed!). A year ago tomorrow was our car accident. I think, except to drive (CAREFULLY!) to church -- we're staying home.
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