Christmas with the Roberts

We spent Christmas Day with my family, and had a wonderful day!  Below is an early morning Watts family photo.  Pre-make-up....you're not going to see many of these.  

Mimi and Hannah!  

Another family photo....Post-make-up.:)  

Bert hanging out with Hannah and Jacob.  He's such a great Daddy and Uncle!  

Emily and Mimi making Christmas cookies.  They put the cookies too close together on the pan and the cookies all ran together while they were baking, but Emily certainly didn't care!    

Emily and Hannah got a wagon from Mimi and Papa Stan for Christmas.  They both LOVE it!  Hannah smiles pretty much the entire time she's in it.  Emily cried and cried when she had to get out to give Hannah a turn (Jacob was in the other seat)....I'd say the gift was a hit!

My mom's side of the family....the Thompson's....came over on Christmas Day afternoon.  My cousins, Mike and David, were giving Emily and Jacob rides.  David was the "horse" and Mike was security (making sure neither of the babies fell off).  

Group picture.  Three siblings, their three spouses, eight cousins, five spouses to five of the cousins, and three little ones....22 in all.  So thankful everyone could make it!  

One last cousin picture to close out this Christmas post.  It was a fun Christmas with a 2 1/2 yr old, a 1 1/2 yr old and an almost 1 year old.  They kept us busy, but we wouldn't trade a minute.  

Merry Christmas!

Christmas with the Watts

We spent Christmas Eve with Bert's family!  Here are a few pictures that I took early in the morning.  After I took this first picture of my cutie I changed her into her Christmas pajamas so that she would be more festive.:)  

Emily looks so grown up in this picture....I think it's her smile.  

A couple days before Christmas, Bert, Jeff (Bert's dad) and Emily decided to go buy Jeff's Christmas present for Linda.  He was planning on surprising her with an I-Pad.  Early on in the trip Jeff and Bert started calling the I-Pad an "Eagle" so that our little parrot....I mean Emily....wouldn't go back and tell Linda what she was getting.  They had been back for a few hours when Emily said to Linda...."Grandmama, we couldn't find your eagle."  Close call!  They actually had found it, but they had to go to two stores.  The moral to this story is....use some kind of code if you don't want Emily to repeat your story.:)   

It was such a fun few days of being together, opening presents and relaxing!  We're so thankful!  

Wedding

Bert's brother, Michael, married Sarah Carpenter on December 22nd.   It was such a sweet ceremony and reception!  Here's the happy couple...

The spread at the reception.  Bert's sisters and mom did such a great job organizing and making all this food for the reception.  

Bert's sister, Alison, made a bride and a groom's cake for their wedding.  Alison stayed up until 4 am the night before making the cakes.  Carrie and Linda also stayed up until 4 keeping her company and helping her do whatever she needed them to do.  Alison really is so talented!!  We've all told her she could (and should)  start a business!:)  

The groom's cake was made in honor of Michael's full beard (which he is very proud of!).  

Hannah had a great time!  

So did Emily.  She loves hanging out with her Grandmama!  

Watts Family Photo!  

Welcome to the family, Sarah!  You are such a great mom and you're going to be such an amazing wife.  We all love you and we're very thankful for you!!

Sanvidge Get Together

Every year we get together with the whole Sanvidge family (Bert's mom's side of the family) for Christmas!  

This year there were cookie and hot chocolate making stations.  How fun is that?!  I am a huge fan of cookies and hot chocolate so I was pretty excited.  It just so happens that Emily also inherited my love for sweets.  She pretty much didn't want to leave the cookie making station.

We let her have one cookie covered in icing and told her that was it for the night.  She made lots more but we told her she had to give those away to other people.  

Emily spent a lot of the night delivering cookies to anyone who would take them.:)  

Hannah was pretty excited about all the festivities too!:)  It's still so crazy to me that this was her first Christmas.  It's hard to remember life before she arrived.  We're so thankful for her!  

This year we started a new tradition....we sang Christmas carols together!  We'll I'm not sure if it's a tradition yet, but it was fun, so I hope it is!  Bert's Uncle Ken, Aunt Kathy, and cousin Cooper are all very musically talented, and they did such a great job!  

More singing!  

We had such a great time visiting with everyone!  Emily was so excited that night that it literally took her 2 hours to fall asleep (it usually takes her 5-10 minutes).  Was her insomnia from pure excitement or was she sneaking cookies when I wasn't looking?  Ummm??:)  

Emily-ism's

A few cute things Emily's been saying lately....

After bringing us a book Emily said....  "Will you help me read this?  It's kind of hard on my brain."

After sitting on on potty trying to poppy she said, "Mommy, my poppy is sleeping."

"Mom, you smell funny!!  You might need to take a shower."....She said this about an hour after I got out of the shower.  I definitely did NOT smell funny!  She usually gets to watch one Dora episode while I take a shower during Hannah's first nap.  I'm pretty sure this was her way of asking to watch one more.:)

"Where did the sky go!?!?" ....She said this while staring up at a perfectly blue, cloudless sky.

"Mama (as she passes me her macaroni) we need to cool it up."

A few weeks ago we met one of our neighbors for the first time.  Emily and Hannah were with me when we met them.  Anyway, we hadn't seen them since, until just a few days before Christmas, when I told Bert I'd like to take some Christmas candy over to them along with a Christmas card.  Emily joined me.  We talked with the wife and the two little girls for a few minutes.  They had a cute dog that Emily petted (she loves dogs!).  After we got back home Emily was talking to me about different things and all the sudden she said "Mrs. Judy's dog scared me!!"  I just stared at her in shock.  She was right.  That was the wife's name of the family we just went to visit.  To my embarrassment, I actually couldn't remember the wife's name when we had taken them the Christmas candy a little while earlier.  I am 100% sure we hadn't said her name that day, Judy didn't say her own name, and the little girls didn't call their mom by "Judy."  Can you believe it?!  Emily remembered our neighbor's name from weeks ago, when she had only heard it once.  I obviously need to take some memory lessons from my 2 1/2 year old!:)

Hannah - 10 months

Hannah turned 10 months last week.  She's SO busy these days!  She's gone from crawling to speed crawling.  She's pulling up on everything and cruising along the furniture.  She loves clapping.  She signs "more", but only when prompted.  She no longer uses her sleep sack, b/c she's just too active these days. 

She loves puckering up her lips and making a kissing face and noise.  Lisa Greene and Kristen Crews taught her this trick about two weeks ago and she does it all the time now.  It started out with someone else doing it and she would copy them, but not she will start making the sound/face if you just say the word "kiss."  It's absolutely adorable!!   She's absolutely adorable!!  

She still LOVES her thumb, drinks 4 bottles a day, takes two naps a day, sleeps 11-12 hours at night.  

All this new found movement has resulted in more bruises on my sweet girl.  She'll pull up on something and seem totally stable and then all the sudden she'll fall and bump her head.  She has two pretty good bruises on her forehead right now.  I actually had Bert move our coffee table out of the living room for the next few months until she gets a little more stable.  The coffee table was definitely the culprit for most of our accidents, so I'm really hoping that getting rid of it for the time being will cut down on a few of our accidents.  We'll see!:)  

Happy 10 months, Hannah!! We love you!

Anniversary Trip

This year we really wanted to go on some kind of get away for our 5 year anniversary.  A few weeks ago Bert found out that the South Carolina Baptist Convention's White Oak campground offers 2 free nights a year to full time ministry staff of South Carolina Baptist churches. What a blessing! We knew that it would be perfect for us -- a restful getaway that is free!  

I took the girls to Toccoa on Thursday, and then came back to Greenville for a Christmas party that night.  Side story:  While I was gone to my Christmas party Bert accidentally locked himself out of the house. No joke.  He was out there for 45 minutes (in a short-sleeve t-shirt, at night, in December) until he could get in touch with me.  He also had Bagel Bites cooking in the oven....lets just say they were a little over-cooked when we made it inside. :) 

After I got back from my party, we packed up the car and (b/c we're wild and crazy...ha:) ) we left for White Oak at 9pm.  We got there about 11.  This sweet gift basket greeted us when we came in our room.  The room was small and simple....no TV, computer....it was perfect for us.  We were wanting a relaxing weekend, to just be together.  

On Saturday we took a long walk through the woods, spent 3+ hours reading in rocking chairs, got some Christmas shopping done, played a game of Phase Ten (I won), and went out for a great anniversary dinner!  I would definitely call it a great trip!    

On Saturday morning we woke up and headed back to Greenville to hug our girls tight.  We were broken about what had happened at Sandy Hook Elementary the day before....we still are.  Praying for comfort for those families and so thankful that our babies are safe and sound.  

We had such a great trip!  Thanks to Mimi, Papa, Uncle Stanley, Aunt Katherine, Uncle Brett, Lew and Karly  for all taking turns keeping the girls for us....it was definitely a team effort this time, and we appreciate it so much!  

5 Years

Five years ago this past Saturday I married Bert.  Aside from trusting in Christ, marrying him was the best decision I've ever made.  He has loved me, protected me, provided for me, laughed with me, served me, calmed me, stood by me, talked and talked to me, and continued pushing me closer to Him.  I always prayed that my future husband would love Jesus more than he loves me.  I could never doubt Bert's love and devotion to me, but I am so thankful he loves Jesus more.

The past five years have been full.  We've lived in 3 states and 4 different houses in five years....in one of those houses (it was really an apartment, but we called it our house) we lived for 4 years.  Three times we rejoiced with the news that we would welcome a sweet baby into our family.  We witnessed the miracle of birth twice....and it is a miracle.  With tears pouring down our face, we found out we wouldn't get to hold our third child while on this earth...our sweet baby is in heaven.  Bert started and graduated from Southeastern with his MDiv.  We've had a nephew and two nieces born.  We lost my Nanie and Bert's Pawpaw....both to pancreatic cancer.  Last night we watched our wedding video and I got tears in my eyes every time Nanie came on the screen.  I miss her.  We also lost Bert's grandmother.  We bought our first house.  We've played many many games of cards together.  We've gone on countless numbers of walks in the evening after Bert got off of work.  We went on an amazing honeymoon to Jamaica.  Bert asked me the other day if I would ever want to go on another Sandles trip (like we did on our honeymoon)....I looked at him like he was crazy for asking and told him I would leave tomorrow!!!   We've taken two trips to the ER....one for each child.  One when Emily was 10 months old for a crazy virus and one when Hannah was 6 weeks old for a horrible eye infection (H was admitted, E was not).  So many low key evenings of just sitting on the couch talking or watching TV....my favorite!  We had a small kitchen fire (all my fault....there will be a blog about this soon b/c I want this traumatic event to be recorded in the blog book, and it happened before I started blogging!) We've had many sleepless nights with two newborns.  Bert was always quick to help me with the girls in the middle of the night....even if he had to go to work the next morning.  We traded in our car for a van...good move.  We became very familiar with the stretch of I-85 between Durham, NC and Atlanta, GA. We've cheered and cheered together as Emily learned to take her first steps, as Hannah learned to crawl, as Emily learned to go to the potty and as Hannah learned to say "Mama" and "Dada".  It's been such a good 5 years.  I'm so thankful to be doing life with you, Bert!  I love you!

Friends

We sometimes go to lunch or dinner with some families in our church after the Sunday morning or Sunday night service.  This past Sunday night we decided to join them at a great Mexican restaurant called Molina's in TR.  When we got there all the girls were sitting together and they asked if Emily could join them.  Emily was sooo excited to be sitting with the "big girls."  Grace is 5 and Caroline, Audrey and Moriah are all right around 10.  They're a little older than her, but Em doesn't realize it.  These girls are so sweet to Emily!  They play with her, talk to her, help her, and just watch out for her.  I pray that when Emily and Hannah are these girls age, they will treat 2 1/2-year-olds like these girls treat her.  

This was the first time Emily sat at her own table when we went to a restaurant, so I had to record it.  She's growing up on us, folks.:)  

*After we got home I asked her if she had fun with her friends at dinner.  She said "Yes....and I stood up on the chair and Grace told me to sit down."  Thanks for taking care of her, girls!:)  

Christmas Parade

Saturday morning we went to the Travelers Rest Christmas parade.  We had such a great time!!  The parade was much bigger than we expected (this coming from a small town girl), but I'm pretty sure others think it's big too!  This was both of the girls first parade experience.  Hannah took in the sights from her Daddy's back....which she loved!

Emily loved all the people, music, lights, and candy.  She was cautious about picking up the candy at first, but it didn't take long before her pockets were full.  

Mimi came up to enjoy the parade with us and get the girls so that she could take them to a family reunion the next day.  Bert and I had 5 different places to be that afternoon/evening, so it worked out well that she was able to keep them for us.  

Thanks, Travelers Rest, for the great parade!  The Watts will be back!:)

These Days

These days we're decorating for Christmas....

Going to Christmas parties...

Baking cookies...

Learning to walk....

And enjoying our time with family and friends....

Merry Christmas from the Watts!!

30

Bert turned 30 on November 28th.  The big 3-0.  I don't turn 30 for 4 more months, and I've been sure to remind him of that.:)  He doesn't seem to mind.  He said something about being older and wiser....whatever...

We celebrated his birthday with my family when we were there over Thanksgiving weekend.  Mom cooked one of his favorite cakes.  The Thompson's (my uncle and his family) had fun bringing him a big balloon in the shape of a butterfly and a strong smelling bar of soap named "Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap."  We had a fun night with family!:)

Bert's actual birthday fell on a Wednesday, so we decided it would be fun to celebrate with the youth at church!  One of the families in our group bought him this cake and their son came up with the idea to put "Happy Bert-Day" on the cake! Too funny! All the students enjoyed the cake and we surprised Bert!  

On Thursday night (the day after his birthday) he and I went out on a birthday date night.  Paul and Kristen offered to keep the girls for us.  We went to see the movie "Lincoln" (which we both loved) and then headed over to Olive Garden.  We had a gift card for our Olive Garden meal, which we all know makes the food even better!  We had such a fun night celebrating with just the two of us.  Thank you so much to Paul, Kristin, Nate and Caroline for keeping the girls for us!  

Happy birthday to my hubby and best friend.  I am so thankful for you!

Wordless Wednesday

UGA vs GT 2012

Bert's birthday always falls right around the UGA/Ga Tech game.  I've tried in years past to find tickets to give to him as a birthday gift, but to no avail.  This year, the game was in Athens; UGA was ranked #3, and I thought again about how fun it would be to go to the game.  Bert hasn't been able to go to a UGA game in almost 5 years.  This is a long time when you're as big of a fan as Bert is.:)  

My dad put out some posts on Facebook and was able to find 4 tickets!  He gave them to Bert as a birthday gift...what a fun birthday gift!...for all of us!  We had so much fun with Brett and Katherine (my sister and bro-in-law)!  

Kate took this picture of us and it just made me laugh b/c this wasn't staged at all!

This one was....love my hubby!  

Kate and Brett!  

UGA won 42-10, and we had a GREAT day spending time together...win, win!!  

Thanksgiving 2012

We were able to spend Thanksgiving in Jackson with Bert's family this year.  Bert's mom is a GREAT cook and Emily enjoyed helping her in the kitchen Thanksgiving morning!  

This little cutie kept making jail breaks from the living room.  She wanted to help Grandmama in the kitchen too.:)  

Jeff and Bert smoked the turkeys and ham.  Jeff has really perfected this smoking the turkey thing and they were AMAZING, as usual.  Bert took good mental notes and now he's just looking for an excuse to smoke a turkey.:)  

Bert and his dad.  

Hannah enjoyed playing outside with Daddy for awhile.  

Aidan (Bert's brother Michael's son) is so sweet to Emily!  He read to her and played with her.  I had to get a picture while he was reading to her one time.  

All the cousins!  Aidan - 10, Emily - 2 1/2, Hannah - 9 months, Millie and Billie - 4 months

Aidan keeps saying that he needs a boy around to balance everything out, but don't let him fool you.:)  He loves his sisters and girl cousins!  

Emily and Millie. Sweet girls!  

Mommy and Hannah! Love my sweet girl!  

When we were packing up the car to head north Hannah was more than ready for her nap.  She started getting fussy so Jeff took her and let her rest on his chest until we were ready to put her in the carseat.  Pawpaw loves his grandbabies.  

We had a great Thanksgiving 2012!  We have so so much to be thankful for.  We're thankful for Jesus paying the penalty for our sins, we're thankful for our family and friends, we're thankful for our church, we're thankful for good health, we're thankful for our baby in heaven, we're thankful for our house, we're thankful to live so much closer to our families, and I could go on and on!  Through it all, He is worthy to be praised!