I promised the picture...

Here is the picture I wasn't able to post in my last entry because of scanner issues. But here it is...

It's 2009 and I'm SO BEHIND...

Let's see, where did I leave off...

Oh, wow, before Christmas! Well, let me catch everyone up! We went to Texas this year for Christmas! It was great! We celebrated at Crystal's this year. We are going to try to alternate it each year, so no one has to do all the traveling. We left Memphis on Christmas Eve and got there in time for dinner and gifts! :) My mom had been busy for two days cooking and had made such a great spread for everyone, I don't think I'd ever seen so much food! It was YUMMY ...thanks Ganny!

The kids had a blast opening gifts as usual! It was more exciting than last year for Lincoln, he actually knows what presents are now, so he was thrilled with it all and so fun for us to watch him!



Ethan and Evan got Nintendo DS's and that was absolutely their favorite part of their Christmas gifts, ha! We could barely get them off those things! Lincoln got so many things, I don't know if he had a favorite, he just seemed excited about everything!


Christmas morning was MORE PRESENTS! We woke up and got ready and headed to Crystal's for Santa.

We were so surprised when we got there ...Santa had left Ethan & Evan a horse! They got Shiloh The Horse! She is beautiful and so gentle! The kids were so excited!

Lincoln was not a big fan of the horse, I think it was a little too big for him, so he was more excited about his new Diego Train for now and will love Shiloh in time!

After playing with Santa's gifts and eating some yummy leftovers for lunch we took the kids to see The Tale of Despereaux. It was such a cute movie and it was Lincoln's first movie to sit through. I'm sure that it helped that he slept through half of it.

Outside the Hilton after seeing the movie...


Friday after the festivities we took the kids to get their pictures taken together! Let's just say that taking pictures of my child at this age is EXHAUSTING! He is great when it comes to candid shots, but getting him to sit and pose for the camera ...close to impossible! Ethan & Evan were such good sports. Evan was really good at trying to get him to sit down with her. Finally they played a little game with him where they would all run around and then plop down on the ground, they knew that when he sat down they were supposed sit down as close as possible to him and SMILE BIG! It worked! We captured ONE picture of them all three smiling and facing forward. It might not be the most common pose for the photographer, but I was thrilled with it and I know Crystal was too! The other kicker ...the vest! Crystal bought these adorable vests for them to all wear. I forgot to mention when she got them that Lincoln hates anything that comes up high on his neck, so of course that is why my child doesn't have on his cute vest! HA! But hey, the picture turned out cute so that's all that matters! And of course, I'm sure you'd all like to see the picture ...but my scanner is giving me fits so I can't scan it! :( But as soon as its working, I'll post it!

After the crazy photo session, we headed to Chick-fil-a for lunch. I did manage to get an adorable picture ...candid shot of course ...of all three of them together! The picture just shows off their wonderful smiles and the wonderful closeness of them, which just melts my heart!


Well, the holidays are over and the new year has begun and I know I'm looking forward to a wonderful 2009!
Happy New Year everyone!

Merry Christmas Everyone...

Well, I can't believe its already here! We wait all year and wow it's already that time! It really snuck up on us this year! I'm so excited though its here and that we get to spend it with family! We want to wish everyone a safe, healthy & happy holiday!



love, Shanna, Ash & Lincoln

Some Chuck-e-cheese fun...

Ash and I took Lincoln and cousins Layah and Hadi to Chuck-e-cheese today! We had a blast! The kids were in heaven ...pizza, games and cotton candy! ...Oh wait and PRIZES! I can't believe I almost forgot prizes! That seemed to be the most important part of the day! ha! Lincoln is at that age where he really enjoys it there. In the past, he had fun, but this time he had a blast. He is big enough to actually enjoy the fun. Although, I'm not sure who had the most fun ...the kids or Ash!





We made sure we "sugared" up Layah and Hadi before we took them back to Sitty and Sedo's house for the rest of the afternoon! We had a great afternoon and will have to do it again real soon!

Lincoln's first JUDGING...

Last night, Lincoln and I got to help judge Christmas Lights in a Germantown neighborhood with a great friend of ours. I guess I shouldn't say what neighborhood it was incase anyone reading this lives there ...don't want anyone hunting us down because they didn't win! HA! We had a great time! It was so nice to drive around and see what people did to their houses, yards, etc! Some people were so creative and some you could tell had professional help ...and some could have used the professional help! But it was so fun! I think Lincoln was more a fan of the inflatable decor and a BIG TRUCK parked in one persons driveway! It sure was a great way to help get into the spirit! And it sure made me want to try putting up lights next year!

Happy Holidays!
Shanna, Ash & Lincoln

Lincoln and I are back home...

Lincoln and I got home yesterday from Texas. We really enjoyed our week at Ganny & Papa's house! Sorry I didn't do as good this trip on keeping the blog posted with new updates like I have in the past! We had a great time! Lincoln spent as much time on the porch and outside as possible, but the weather was so cold there most of the trip and the wind there just cuts through you. Lincoln loves the porch though, just something about it, guess we should build us one! ha! I think he loved the idea of being able to go outside by himself, he could go in and out and he was safe to do it by himself. My stepdad put in high latches so he couldn't escape! :) He could go outside and yell to the dog next door and watch the horses that live behind their place and he could come and go as he pleased!



The porch was even great for a picnic one day, too! Papa and I had run into town for about an hour and brought back lunch, I don't think he even knew I was gone. He and Ganny were so busy playing, that he didn't even miss us! This was one of the very few short-sleeved days while we were there.

Papa and I took lots of pics of the sky while I was there. He used my camera several nights to take pictures of the stars and such! He and I both got some neat ones of the sky after a storm passed and I got some great ones during a sunset! Here they are...

The Sunset was beautiful, the colors were just amazing!



After the storm...



The porch was even a hit at night! Lincoln loves riding the horse, he didn't care if it was day or night! Here are some really sweet pictures I got while he was night-riding!




More pictures of Lincoln bundled up!




And when it was too cold to ride outside, Ganny & Papa would just bring the horse INSIDE! :)


No, this child is not spoiled rotten!

Well, I hope you enjoy the pictures from our trip to Stephenville as much as we enjoyed our visit!
love, Shanna

Ethan, Evan & Aunt Tickle came for a visit to Ganny & Papa's...

Crystal (Aunt Tickle) and the kids came down for a visit last night. They got here late because the kids had their first indoor soccer game, but it was so nice to get to spend even the short time together. The kids had a blast!!!!! The weather was so much warmer last night and today. The kids spent alot of the time on the porch again and they also enjoyed being inside ...the toys everywhere right now proves that! ha! Lincoln just loved having them all here!



Crystal and I got to get out for a few hours today together and finish up some holiday shopping. There is a store in town that we just love and always have to go when we are in town! We had so much fun getting out alone without the kids to shop! We really got to look around!

They left a few hours ago, but it was an easier good-bye than usual because we know that we all get together again in a few weeks for Christmas!

Fun times at Ganny and Papa's house...

Lincoln and I came to see Ganny & Papa for a week! We are having a great time. When we got here on Friday the weather was so cold! The wind is so much stronger out here! But the wind sure didn't keep Lincoln from playing around on the porch. We bundled him up real good and he spent all afternoon running in and out!


He is fascinated with the dog, Roxie, next door. He loves going to the screen and listening to him bark. He is also very concerned with the dog getting his treats. He comes inside and gets the bag of treats and then tells Papa to "take the puppy a cookie!"

Lincoln also enjoyed some computer time with Papa! Papa let him look at a slideshow of all his pictures and he loved that! He sat in his lap and enjoyed the show.

Thanksgiving...

I'm so sorry that I'm so behind on the blogging. Thanksgiving really crept up on us and then it was gone, the week following was busy and now its December. WOW! But don't worry, I'm going to catch you up! :)

Thanksgiving was great this year! We went to Ash's parents for a late lunch and had a great meal and got to spend some time with Suzy and the kids before she left for her job training for 4 months. Lincoln loves getting to spend time with Layah, Hadi and Mahdee. They had Sedo and Ash out there playing soccer with them and they were all having a great time ...but I'm not sure who was having the better time, the kids or the adults!

We also got to spend time with Nadeen who came to see us and all my girl friends were in town too! Nadeen came in and made us a wonderful meal that was big enough that we could have fed a small army. It was so yummy! She makes the best sweet potato casserole and pumpkin cheesecake! All the food was fabulous! Just having her here for a few days made for a wonderful holiday weekend!



Thanksgiving night was great! All the girls and their better halves were in town and came over to hang out by the bonfire and catch up! It was so much fun and the beginning of a new tradition! Andrea was in town, Mary Katherine, Andy, Leslie and John all came over. It was the perfect ending to our night!



Nadeen helped me decorate our Christmas tree this weekend. I love, love, love my ornaments and look forward to decorating the tree every year. I don't think she had any idea what was in store ....all those ornaments and all those stories! HA! I really enjoyed having her here to help me, I usually end up decorating it by myself, so having the help was so nice!

Lincoln sure loved having Nadeen in town. He loves his "Dean"! He talks about her everyday now! It's so sweet! He loved that she would watch tv in his little chair with him and jump on his bed, too! They had so much fun together and we all hated to see her leave.

Just look at those smiles!

This year was a wonderful holiday and we are looking forward to next year already!