Haley and Shrimp!

     Three years ago we were in a strange place.  We needed someone to care for babies as I began my new job at Trace.  Taking on this new job meant that I wouldn't be able to care for them everyday while working but it meant that I would have a lot more off time with them.  I would be off during breaks and summer!  I absolutely love Trace and all my co workers!  We began praying and asking anyone we knew if they knew of anyone looking for a job.  The same friend that introduced Garrett and I, found us the Downs family!
     Hannah kept them the first year until she left for Peru and was wonderful!  She captured Brewer taking his first steps and loved them all! When Hannah left for a Peru there wasn't a dry eye!  We all loved our Hannah dearly.  Her sister, Haley took over after she left.  Haley has loved our kids the past two years and I'm not sure what we would have done without her.  She was more than just our sitter, she became family!  The kids fell in love with the whole family and even call her parents, "Mommy Mommy and Daddy Daddy!"  They love our kids as if they were their children.  I can't thank Haley enough for all that she and her entire family have done for us! 
      Haley became engaged to "Shrimp" (Trent) and was married this past Saturday.  While it was sad to think that she wouldn't keep our kids anymore, we were also so happy for her!  Kathryn and Brewer love Shrimp!  The reception was so much fun!  They had games for centerpieces along with beautiful flowers.  There were s'mores and dancing!  Even Koda, a dog Haley rescued when Kathryn was small was there!  Kathryn loved the dancing and had a blast!  She even got to dance with Shrimp! 

Fun LONG weekend!

We started off our fun by a girls day shopping with Gan! Kathryn got to enjoy the fun and was such a good little shopper and we went all over! As we were getting off the interstate she said, "We buy so much stuff and my feet are so tired!" She was such a little trooper and never complained! 

We came home and finished watching the end of the Auburn game.  We had fun playing with new toys Gan got them! 

After church on Sunday we came home and played outside and had a fun game of basketball/football!  Working on those college scholarships! 

Such a fun, relaxing weekend! 

Fun busy week!

Big Sis made the school play and has had practice almost everyday after school. These two have had so much coming to "where Mommy goes to school" to play! 

Kathryn got a little upset that toys were mixed up, so she helped Bosley out by organizing them! 

Today they helped me decorate the classroom for a birthday and were rewarded by getting to build with blocks! 

Thanks Bosley for sharing your toys with us! 

We finally were able to leave and made it just in time for a parade in our city! They had so much fun! 

Kathryn and Brewer had a blast waving at everyone! Kathryn also danced to all the different music playing from the floats! It's so much fun living in a small town that still has parades and old school tissue paper floats! 

Little Man

Our little man went from this-To this-

Over Labor Day weekend! Poor Brew had a bacterial infection and was admitted to Children's to rehydrate him. He was so pitiful and was so good about leaving his IV alone.  He was spoiled rotten by Gan and Pod! Gan called and he told her he needed a train, so they bought him the best portable train table! Even sick, he knows how to work the system!! He had the best care while we were there and his ER doctor kept checking on him, Birmingham is really blessed by having such an awesome children's hospital! 

Long Time

So it has been a few years since I've blogged but we have been super busy! We are now a family of five and have started new jobs that we absolutely LOVE three years ago!  We added a sweet little boy on February 13, 2012. 
Here is our sweet and ALL BOY 2 year old Brewer!

 

Kathryn is now 3 and began taking dance this year!

 

Grace Anne is 12 and made the Birmingham Girls Choir this year!  We will be super busy with performances this year!

 

I'm going to attempt to update more often! 

 

 

Christen's Wedding

My cousins daughter, Christen, was married on Dec 17th. She and Chris were married on my aunt and uncle's 50th Anniversary! It was so sweet how during the reception they surprised them with a wedding cake and a first dance! We had a blast with our family! Congratulation's Chris and Christen, we love you!

Wilders Visit

My sister and the girls came over the week of Thanksgiving to help me out. Viley held Kathryn most of the time while Lu and Grace Anne played. Viiley was such a help and loved holding Kathryn. I can't wait to watch our 4 girls grow up together!

Sweet Sisters

Grace Anne loves Kathryn! The first time Grace Anne held Kathryn she got so calm. Grace Anne runs to the car after school and the first thing she does is kiss Kathryn. Kathryn loves for her big sister to hold and sing to her. Grace Anne loves to rock and get Kathryn to sleep. They are so sweet together.

Introducing Miss Kathryn

I know I am way behind but Kathryn is finally here. She was born Nov 9th and was 6lbs 7oz 20in. She is beautiful and looks a lot like her big sister! She is a perfect baby and takes after her big sister when in comes to sleeping. Kathryn normally only wakes up around 2 or 3 times a night. Grace Anne is such a big help and loves her to death. When she hears Grace Anne's voice she turns to try and find her. It has been an adjustment to having a baby here. After 9 years I had forgotten how long it takes to do things. The 1st few weeks my daily goal was to at least get a shower. Kathryn loves to snuggle, she is spoiled and loves being held. I figure they are only little once, why not!

Wilder Bunch comes to visit

My sister and brother-in-law along with the girls came into town yesterday. I can't believe how much the girls have grown. Lu and Grace Anne have enjoyed dancing and reading books. Viley has kept us laughing. She is so funny! You can ask her whats in my tummy and she'll say a "Mammy." Katy and I called our grandmother Mammy and Violet is named after her. She never knew her great-grandmother but for some reason calls babies "Mammy's."

They will be here all weekend but here's the past few days with them!

1st Day of 3rd Grade!

I can't believe my little girl is in 3rd grade! She is growing up so fast! She was so nervous about starting a new school but lucky for me Beth, my best friend in high school, teaches there. She didn't get Beth but she is right across the hall! She is doing so good and met a new best friend the 1st day- Jessie! When I woke her up that morning she said "Mom, I need to say a quick prayer." In the sweetest voice she said, "God, please help me have a good first day and meet a friend." As soon as she got in my car that afternoon she was all smiles! She said God had answered her prayers. Remember once we found we were pregnant she began praying for a little sister, so she must have direct line as my sister says!

We are getting settled into our new house and loving it! We have the best neighbors and there are only little girls on our street! Kathryn will have a friend a few weeks older than her right next door!

Kate's Visit and Spring Fair

A lot has been going on in our lives and will be for the next couple of weeks. Kate and the girls came for a visit and the girls had a lot of fun together. Violet is a mess and always makes us laugh. Some say she takes a lot after me!

We will be closing on our new house the 28th and will begin the fun...moving. I started packing some things up last night and that was so much fun!

I know I'm such a slacker but a lot has happened since our last post. We found out March 9th our family would be growing! Grace Anne is so excited and started praying for not 1 but 2 healthy babies! Last week we had our first ultra-sound and I'm happy to report there was only one baby and everything looks wonderful! The doctor even seems to think its another girl! He only said that because I'm staying sick ALL the time! My dad is so excited at the possibility of another girl. Garrett and I really don't care, we just want a healthy baby.

We are also in the process of building a house. At first Garrett didn't think we should build a 4 bedroom but its nice to know we will have plenty of room. They have finally started working on the 1st floor!

Bevin and Alan's Wedding!

Christmas afternoon we left and headed to Asheville, NC for Bevin and Alan's wedding. they had 14" of snow the week before so there was still a good bit left, so we were able to enjoy a white Christmas! I have to stay this was by FAR the best destination wedding we have been to! Both of their families were so welcoming and everything was so nice. It was such an honor to be apart of their wedding. Alan and Garrett have been best friends (they are more like brothers) forever so Bevin and I have no choice but be around each other a lot! She is such a sweet person and I am so lucky to have her as a part of my life! On Sunday, the boys went to the Land Rover driving school so the girls went shopping! I enjoyed hanging out with Bevin, her mom, and little sister. That night the whole Antee and Lyle clan and us went to the candlelight tour at the Biltmore. I think Alan's dad knows more about that house than the people who work there! The next morning Alan and Bevin and us went on the behind the scenes tour there and got to see so much! The poor guys I don't think enjoyed the 250+ stairs we had to climb! For some reason my card will not download so I will download those pics later!

Christmas!

We had such a great Christmas the year as our first as a new family! I grew up always having my grandparents over for Christmas morning breakfast so this year we started it at our house. My parents came over the night before and spent the night, just in case Santa needed help putting anything together! The next morning Garrett's parents, grandparents, and his aunt and uncle and cousins joined us for breakfast. We had such a wonderful breakfast and enjoyed having everyone over! Grace Anne got the popular Zhu Zhu pets that the cats LOVE and tons of toys. Her favorite is probably the trampoline!