Snow 2016

The ice storm was supposed to start about 1am early Friday morning.  Late Thursday afternoon about 4:30 (just a few hours before the ice storm hit) our plumbing decided to back up.  It was a main line problem so we couldn't use either bathroom.  We called about 7 plumbing companies and all of them said they couldn't get out there that night and they probably wouldn't be able to come until Monday because of the big snow/ice storm we were supposed to get.  Soooo, after hearing from the last company we decided to quickly pack up and head to Toccoa to spend the weekend with my parents. We definitely couldn't stay there without plumbing all weekend. 

We left Greenville about 8:30 that night.  Emily had been hearing that the ice storm was going to start about midnight.  She asked us several times if we were going to make it to Mimi and Papa's by midnight.  I told her yes each time, but I finally asked her why she was worried.  She said "well, if we're driving at midnight and the ice starts will our car just freeze?"  Ha! Sweet thing.  

Friday afternoon they started getting a little snow so we took the girls out to check it out.  They were excited!  

Then we came in for hot chocolate.  The girls think it is such a special treat to get hot chocolate but Hannah is the number 1 fan!  Can you tell?  

Friday night after dinner the snow really started coming down while we all watched The Lion King together.  It was a fun family movie night with Mimi and Papa.  During one of the songs Hannah walked over to her Daddy and asked him if he would dance with her.  He of course said yes and started twirling her around.  This picture might be too small for you to see, but she is grinning from ear to ear.  

On Saturday morning Papa went in to work for a little bit but then came back to play in the snow with the girls.  

Poor Claire kept loosing her boots.  They were a few sizes too big for her.  I bought E and H rain boots for Christmas, but didn't buy Claire any because I thought they might be too hard for her to walk in.  I was wishing I had some boots that fit her too.  Oh well...we made do and she didn't seem to mind.  

I thought this was a good picture of my handsome hubby and my baby girl.  

They had so so much fun sledding!  You can click on the picture to make it bigger.  The girls were soooo excited!

What an amazing Daddy my babies have.  

Mimi and Papa haven't ever gotten to play with our girls out in the snow because we've always been at home (Wake Forest or Greenville) when it snowed.  They LOVED getting to play with them and our girls loved it too!  

Just before lunch Katherine, Brett, Ressie and Jacob came over to Mimi and Papa's house to do a little sledding with us.  We drove down to a hill at the end of their neighborhood and pulled out the Sanders three sleds.  

Bert had gone down with Claire a couple times and called down to me that he was going to let her go by herself this time.  I said "What?!  That's my baby! I don't think so!"....or something along those lines, but I was overruled and the next thing I know she was flying down the hill on the sled.  As soon as she started going she fell back and ended up sliding down the hill while laying down.  Bert ran beside her the whole way.  And when he helped her sit up she was literally as happy as a lark.  She wanted to "do 'gin."  

The next time she figured out how to stay sitting up and never looked back.  She was fearless.  

You can see Katherine and Ressie in the truck behind the sledders.  Kate wanted to keep Resssie warm so they were the supervisors.  

Group picture of the kids and grandkids minus Stanley (or Unc 'Tan as Claire calls him), who we missed very much!  

Since I didn't have any kind of maternity jacket I borrowed one of my dad's old ski jackets to keep warm while we were out there playing.  I look slightly large in the picture below, but I liked it because I just love my sister.  I'm thankful my girls have sisters to grow up with.  

After our day full of sledding and fun we gave the girls baths and Bert got this picture of Claire just before he rinsed her off and got her out.  I thought it was a cute picture with her head peaking over the top.  

Another family snow picture!  Next year we'll have our Abby in our arms too and that makes me very excited!  

I'll be fine if this is our one big snow of the year.  I love to see it come and after a day or so I love to see it go.  Thanks to Mimi and Papa for a fun weekend!  

Ressie Turns 1

Ressie turned 1 on January 12th and we headed over to celebrate her first year of life at a party over MLK weekend.  

Isn't she just a cutie?!  

Claire just enjoying her cookie.  I caught her trying to fit the rest of it in her mouth at once.  

Bert took this aerial shot of the party while he was upstairs walking around with our busy 2 year old. I'm not sure if you can tell, but in the picture below Katherine and Ressie are opening her presents and Emily and Hannah are right in the thick of it helping her open.  Ressie seemed to appreciate the help.  

Katherine and Brett with all the kiddos at the party.  

She had a harder start than some with her early arrival, stay in the NICU, and diagnosis of auditory neuropathy, but God has been with the Sanders every step of the way.  He has blessed them with this beautiful little gift in their baby girl, Ressie.  She is loved by so many, but most of all by the One who made her.  We love you, Ressie Bessie!  Happy 1st birthday!  

Bedtime Charts

I posted a week or so ago about Hannah's getting up habits at night.  A couple months ago she started getting up once a night (in the middle of the night) to go to the bathroom, although she doesn't seem to have to go much at all.  After she goes she always wants her Daddy to carry her back to bed, which he almost always does.  I realize to have 3 kids and only have one get up once a night isn't bad, but I decided we were going to try to work on it since we are about to welcome a newborn into our family. We are going to need every bit of sleep we can get!  So, I made her a chart.  She's been very excited about the chart and it seems to be helping some. Although she will still get up some nights.  If she stays in her bed all night she gets a sticker.  When she filled up her first row and got her first prize she was soooooo proud.  We were too! 

This happened on a Sunday, so after our morning service on Sunday morning Bert and Hannah stopped by Ingles on their way home and let Hannah pick out a dollar prize.  

While we were changing clothes and getting lunch ready Emily had gotten a piece of orange paper and decided to make her own chart so that she could earn prizes too.  She brought it to us after she had finished and it made us smile.  

She tried to copy everything just like I had done on Hannah's. We told her we'd think of another reason for her to have a chart because she is already so good at bedtime and night time.  She falls asleep basically when her head hits the pillow (a gift that her Daddy passed on to her!) and stays asleep all night.  

Sleep Hannah sleep!

Night Owl

I think I've mentioned before that Hannah is a bit of a night owl.  She doesn't seem to require as much sleep as Emily.  She still sleeps plenty, but it takes her a little while to go to sleep each night (she is WIDE AWAKE when we put her down) and she has some pretty funny reasons for getting up, so I decided to jot down a few over the last couple months.  Most all of these conversations are followed with Bert or I saying "okay, now go back to bed", but I didn't type that in each one....you can just assume it was said. :) Here are a few of my favorites....

Hannah to Daddy:  *gasped* - Did you forgot to put my cubbies patch on?! (There was still 5 days until cubbies so we still had some time.)

Hannah to Daddy: I need to tell Mommy something.
Me:  What?
Hannah:  I just love you.

Hannah to Daddy:  I need to tell you something, Daddy.
Bert:  What?
Hannah:  I just like your pants.  (They were black sweat pants.)

Hannah to Mommy:  I love your eyes.

Hannah:  When is my birthday?
Bert:  February 14th
Hannah:  Ugh.  I want it to be my birthday right now.  (this took place in early December)

Hannah:  I need to ask you something.
Me:  What?
Hannah:  How is Abby doing?

Hannah:  We can't go to the lake this summer because Abby might fall in the water.

Hannah:  I have a question for you Daddy.
Bert:  What?
Hannah:  Do you love Mommy?
Bert:  Yes I do.
Hannah:  (while rolling her eyes) - yuck.

Hannah:  My thumb hurts.

Hannah:  I just wanted to tell you I love you.  (this is probably her favorite reason for getting up)

Hannah:  I miss Mimi.

Hannah:  I have to poopy.

Hannah:  When is my light going to turn green? (She has a clock in her room that turns green when it is time for her to get up in the morning.)
Bert:  In about 11 hours.

Hannah:  Ummmm.....I need to tell you something.
Bert:  What?
Hannah:  When is the baby going to be born?

Hannah:  "Ummm ummmm ummmm I wanted to tell you that I want the baby to come out right now."  (I was 32 weeks 1 day)

Me:  What do you need, Hannah?
Hannah:  I need to tell you something.
Me:  What?
Hannah:  Do you like my singing?  (She had been singing loud in her bed.)

Some nights she just gets up once before she finally falls asleep and some night she gets up MANY times and we end up having to give her a consequence.  She looks so cute when she comes around the corner to whatever room we are in.  She's as quiet as a mouse and is usually holding her mouth in a funny position and head down because she knows she's supposed to be in bed.  We love our little night owl.  You keep our evenings interesting!:)

Claire - 2 years

Claire turned 2 on January 8th.  She had her 2 year old check up on the 12th and got a great report. She was 33.7 inches tall and in the 47th percentile for her height.  She was 28 lbs, ll oz and in the 75th percentile for her weight.  At the 2 year check-up the usually make a height prediction and the doctor said Claire's on track to be 5'6"-5'7".  She was happy to see Dr. Schultz, gave her a high five, pointed out where her ears were and was just generally cute during the whole appointment.

Here are a few facts about our Claire....

-She calls her sisters Em, Ahh, and A-gail.  

-Isn't a big fan of milk these days.  She will drink some but she has to be encouraged.  

-She's pretty good at feeding herself, but will often flip the spoon upside down right as she's putting in her mouth.  We're trying to break this habit as it can make a bit of a mess.  

-She sleeps with her "La-la" (teddy bear lovie) and "blank blank."  

-She sleeps about 11 to 11-1/2 hours at night and takes about an hour and a half nap each afternoon. About once every 8 days or so she'll decide she doesn't need a nap and will just play in her crib until I come get her at the end of rest time. 

-She loves to swing, ride in the wagon, and ride the tricycle.  

-She's quick to say "thank you" and "please" but usually has to be prompted.  

-She has really started LOVING having books read to her and will sit through the whole book and keep bringing more books saying "dis one." 

-She gets proud of herself when she "finds" things.  The other day I walked outside to the driveway to load the girls in the car and she gasped and said "Dere Mama's car!!!  I find it!!!"  She was so proud. Bert picked her up from the nursery last Sunday and as soon as she saw him she said "Dere my Daddy!!!  I find him!!!"

-She gets "I" and "my" a little mixed up.  On her birthday she walked around saying "I bir-day." She'll also say "my done" when she's finished with her meal.  

-She loves dress up clothes.  Several times though out the day she will bring me a skirt, top, dress or wings to help her put on.  She's gotten into dress up clothes at an earlier age than her big sisters did (especially Emily)....she wants to be just like them.

-At night when we are laying her down for bed we usually have prayer time with her. We'll say "Dear God, thank you for ____ " and then wait on her to say someone she is thankful for. She often says "Unc Tan" (Uncle Stan) first.  After she says a name she wants you to repeat it back to her.  If you don't repeat it back to her she'll keep saying the same name until you say it, then she'll go on to someone else she's thankful for.  

-The other night I was in the kitchen and turned my camera on to look at a picture we had taken earlier that day.  She saw me turn my camera on and immediately backed up against the fridge, gave me a big grin, and waited on me to take her picture.  Cute thing.  

-She loves grocery shopping with me.  We usually go Monday or Tuesday morning while Emily and Hannah are both in school.  She'll say "I hold dat" all though the trip.  She ends up with a lap full of groceries because she insist on holding so many things.  When we get up to the register she likes to hand all her items to the lady checking us out and she'll say "here go" with each item.  

-When you ask her where Abby is she immediately pulls up my shirt and starts patting my stomach. I've tried to tell her Abby can hear her through my shirt but she insists on it coming up so that nothing is between her and Abby but my belly. (side note: I make sure not to ask her where Abby is when we are in public)

-Claire calls the Magna Doodle that she got for Christmas her "thing."  She really likes it and had this conversation with Bert about a week ago...

Claire - "Dat MY thing."  

Bert - "Yeah, that's your thing."

Claire - "Not Dada's thing."

Bert - "No, not Dada's thing."

Claire - "Not Mama's thing." 

Bert - "No, not Mama's thing."

Claire - "Not Em's thing."

Bert - "No, not Em's thing."

Claire - "Not Ahh's thing."

Bert - "No, not Ahh's thing."

Claire - "Not G-has thing."  (Jesus)

Bert - "No, not Jesus's thing."  *Bert didn't get into a theological discussion with her about the fact that it actually was Jesus's thing, as all things belong to him. Ha!  She likes her "thing" and she's keeping an eye on it to make sure no one takes it.

-I was getting dinner started and let the big girls go out in the back yard to play.  Claire had to stay in with me and when I got to a stopping point I asked her if she wanted to go outside.  She started smiling, nodding really big and said "wif my sis-ers."  She loves them so much!

-She refuses to wear a bib 80% of the time which is unfortunate since she still makes a hot mess at meal times.  

-She loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cheese, most any fruit or veggie, honeycomb cereal....she's really not a picky eater at all.  

-Her nicknames are Claire Bear, CK, and KK.  

-She loves to color and dance.

-She likes to throw things in the hamper.  And I'm not talking about dirty clothes, although she's pretty good about putting those in there too when asked.  Last week we looked ALL over the house for her tennis shoes.  I finally gave up and found them the next day buried in her hamper.  Over Christmas break my brother had some papers on his desk and later that day he started looking for them.  He found them the next day in the hamper.  She really is pretty sneaky about it.  

-She was fussing about something and I said "Claire, use your words."  She furrowed her brow and shook her head and said "but I don't want to." 

-Hannah and Claire were in their carseats and I had gotten out of the car for something.  As I got back in she said "Dere Mommy are!!!  Dere Mommy are!!!"  

-On her actual birthday we were eating dinner together and we asked Emily and Hannah their favorite thing about Claire....

Emily - "She's so cute and she calls us cute names like Dada, Mama, A-gail, Em and Ahh."  

Hannah - "Her laughing and her smile and playing with her."  

Happy Birthday, Claire!  You are super busy and can easily wear out your 33-week pregnant Mama, but you are also so much fun!!  You make me smile and laugh all day long.  You are talking in complete sentences now, which is just absolutely precious.  You're an amazing little sister and I know you'll be an amazing big sister to Abby.  We are so thankful for you! We love you, Claire Kaylin Watts!!

Claire's 2nd Birthday Party

Claire's birthday fell on a Friday this year. We got to spend the day with her and then Bert and I headed up to Hendersonville for the youth retreat that night.  We got back into town about 12:30 pm on Sunday and headed to the house to celebrate our little 2 year old along with her grandparents.  My parents met us at the house about the same time to join in the festivities, and Bert's parents were already in town watching the girls while we were on the retreat.  We had pizza, singing, presents, and cake and Claire had a great time!  She is one loved little girl!  

Pawpaw and Papa Stan blew up her balloons and the girls had SO much fun playing with them.  

Claire doesn't look overly thrilled in the picture below, but she was having a fun time. We had just sung to her and she got shy while we were all singing.  She covered up both her eyes with her hands. Ha!  

Claire needed a little help blowing out her candles and she had four people happy to help!  

Enjoying some cookie cake! 

Present time.  She had lots of help opening presents too.  We had to keep reminding Hannah to slow down and let Claire do it.  

The favorite "present" award goes to this box, which one of her presents came in.  She played in this box for days.  

Picture of the party people. 

We loved celebrating our girl!  Happy 2nd birthday to our Claire!  We all love you so much!! 

Breakaway Retreat

Bert takes our students on a winter retreat each January. This year we went back to Bonclarken Conference Center just outside of Hendersonville, NC for a retreat called Breakaway. We were joined by 2 other churches. All the students had such a great time!!

Last year I went on the retreat and brought all three girls with me. The girls loved it but it was hard on me. I missed most of each session and didn't really get to hang out with the students because I was trying to keep up with my 3 kiddos. This year Bert's parents offered to come up and keep the girls so that I could go on the retreat and it was such a huge blessing!  I so enjoyed being able to be a part of it and I really got some great time with the students.  

Our girls loved their time with Grandmama and Pawpaw!  They did crafts, made rice krispy treats, watched movies, went to church, and had a fun time playing!  Thank you both so so so so much for coming up to keep the girls!!  

Here is a group picture of everyone that went on the trip from our church!  It's a great group!