We're baaaaack!

Hey all! Is anyone still out there?! I had all but given up on ever posting again to this fabulous bloggy blog. Thankfully I had my mind changed the other day when Sydney and I went back through each and every post from the beginning. We had the best time looking at all the pics, and watching the videos. Sydney could have watched videos of herself all afternoon. So we are back (for now anyway)! I am going to try to do better so Joel can join in the picture viewing fun one day.
Too much to catch up on, so I'll just start with the here and now. Syd will be starting preschool next week, which I think she is excited about and Joel is going on 7 months old:) Sydney loves being a big sis. She will stop doing just about anything for a chance to hold him. It's crazy too how much Joel looks like Syd at that age. Joel has officially starting sucking the 2 middle fingers on his left hand (longhorns, which I guess his cousin Lyd taught him). Honestly I am thankful he has something to soothe himself...he is an easy baby full of smiles and laughs!
My cup runneth over!

Can you tell who is who? Syd on top and Joel on bottom...crazy huh?! More examples to come!

My little goggle girl..she loves going under! Thank you Y swim lessons! This is her practicing in the bath.

Hiking with Courtney The longhorns...my sweet boy

Summer Lovin'

So I can't believe it's already August! Some of me is ready for summer to be over since it has been so HOT, but I try to remind myself how in the winter I am always dreaming of summer. So here's to making the most of the rest of this hot hot season:) We are headed to the pool in a little while and hoping it feels at least slightly cooler than a bath. Sydney is growing up by leaps and bounds and pretty much keeping us laughing and on our toes all the time. She will be a big sister at the end of January, and got to hear her baby brother/sister's heartbeat today at the doc. What a blessing! Here are a few pics from our summer so far;

Syd's bonnet from Gramps

time in Florence with mawmaw

wadey woo woo as syd calls him

lydy looloo

hiking in townsend

boating adventures

syd's first day of school...(mother's day out)

Cobbly Nob

Every year we head to Gatlinburg for a get together with my mom's side of the family. We stay in a cabin, and have so much fun catching up, eating delicious food, and soaking in the beauty that surrounds us in the great Smoky Mountains. Sadly this weekend it was rainy and cold, but we still managed to have a great time. With family, it always is. It wasn't the same without Katie there. She is in Guatamala this week for a medical mission trip. We can't wait to hear all about your trip! I didn't take near enough pictures but here are a few;

Hiking as a family with 20+ people

Wade with his Daddy enjoying a cozy ride

Lydia and Pappy

Wrestling with Pappy - the girls were introduced to a "hard hold"

Where Has The Time Gone?!

Sydney Elizabeth turned 2 Feb 3rd! What an incredible ride the past 2 years have been. She is our little angel from God. Our ongoing prayer is that God leads us as we raise her to love Him. Sydney grows everyday, and boy what a blessing it is to be a part of it. She continues to keep us laughing til we want to cry (sometimes I do cry:)) and keeps us on our toes. Just today, I was getting her out of the tub and something happened (can't remember what...that was too long ago) that forced my to say, "oh shoot" .....which I then heard her say over and over..."oh shoot" "oh shoot." I quickly tried to change the subject and make a mental note never to say that again around big ears!

We had a Play Doh birthday party for her a couple weeks ago. We missed you Aunt KK and Uncle Matt and Gabby!

Fun in the SNOW

We dug ourselves out of the snow in Utah only to bring some home with us!! We went out there a couple weeks ago and had such a great time. Drew worked the first part of the week, and then the Connells and Purnells met us for some fun in the snow. Just during the week we were there, some parts of Utah got 3-5 FEET....I don't know exactly how much we got, but I do know that trying to walk in it wore us out! The only way to successfully get around in it was with skis or snowshoes on!

Seeing that amount of snow while surrounded by white mountains was a reminder to me of how big God is. What a mighty God we serve.

Here are a few pics to document these wonderful memories!!

Syd sure loved eating the snow while I became a big fan of eating Julie's delicious snow cream!!!!! YUMMY

Sydney and Drew rocking out

The gals before our morning at the spa. Talk about good!

The guys before their first day on the slopes

Sydney and Liam


The girls taking a break from the slopes by the bonfire at Sundance

Lots of Pictures!

We hope your Christmas and New Years were full of love, laughter, and good times with friends and family. We had a wonderful Christmas with our families, and got to continue celebrating the weekend after at Michael and Emily's wedding. Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Clemmons!!!

Syd and Lyd in the car Grammie and Pappie gave them for Christmas


Hugs all around in their cute matching monkey pjs


Drew enjoying Syd's play doh Christmas present:)


Short but SO SWEET visit with Roochita and Abhishek


Nana and Sydney in her new tent


The boys at the rehearsal dinner

Wedding day fun (I didn't take a single picture of the beautiful bride and groom...there are some on facebook if you're on there!)

Playing with foam

Millie was a vicitm of the foam fun


Playing in her beans...

Attempting to sled with Aunt KK

Yummy to our Tummies...

Fun Christmas traditions!!
Annie and Martie came over to build some delicious gingerbread houses with Katie and I. It was a fun-filled evening with such wonderful friends! At the end of the night Drew was the judge.... results to follow.
Gingerbread house making and eating materials

Annie's house (Santa's Spa) - 1st place,

Martie's house (Santa's Party House) - 2nd place

Katie (Santa's Mountain Home) and I (Santa's All-Inclusive Resort) tied for 3rd place. Drew was being nice and didn't want anyone to get last!

Cookie Decorating! I was so excited to do this fun project with Syd, and had hoped she could help decorate cookies for some friends. However, I wasn't really surprised when her first dip into the icing went straight into her mouth instead of onto the cookie:)

Sydney's finished product

Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Phil 2:9-11 "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."