We're still here!

Sorry for the lack of posts and pictures lately. Life has been so busy over the last few weeks and I haven't had a chance to sit down and blog. I promise there will be a few new posts to come...and lots of new pictures since I got a new camera for Christmas!!!

Stay tuned...

Missing!

I have lost my patience! I'm not sure what is wrong with me lately, but I have NO patience at all.  Just the littlest thing sets me off and I get very upset.  Perhaps it's stress, but I don't think that is a very good excuse.  There have been several times this past week where I've snapped at Hannah for doing things any normal toddler would do.  It makes me feel like such a bad mom when I don't keep my cool.

Tonight when we put Hannah to bed and said our prayers, we said an extra prayer for Mommy to find her patience again!  Hopefully this next week will be better!

When it rains...

...it POURS!  I feel like we've replaced every piece of electronic equipment we own over the past month.  Our TV was on the fritz, our personal laptop got a fatal virus TWICE, my digital camera died, and my work laptop no longer allows me to work remotely from home.  We took advantage of Circuit City's misfortune and got a great deal on a new TV and we decided to get a macbook instead of a PC in hopes that we won't have problems with viruses in the future.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Santa Mark brings me a new camera next week!!  There will be no pictures on this blog until I get a new one.  Let's just say we won't be spending any money for a long time after this binge...

And the worst of all...I've had to drive into the office everyday this week for work.  My employer has ordered me a new laptop, but it will take 15 days to arrive.  So until then, I'm faced with the horrendous commute from Jefferson to Alpharetta everyday.  It also just so happens that this is Mark's week to work the night rotation.  So, getting Hannah from daycare has added to my commute time.  I've spent 3 1/2 hours a day in the car.  I'm so worn out and all I want to do is SLEEP!

We are really looking forward to having some time off over the next couple weeks and spending it with our families!

Hannah Meets Santa

On Saturday, along with my mom and dad, I took Hannah to see Santa at the Mall of Georgia. I really thought it could go either way - she would tolerate sitting on Santa's lap or totall flip out. Well, she TOTALLY flipped out. She didn't just cry, she was terrified! The only pictures I have are courtesty of Mom & Dad. I was not about to pay $25 per sheet for pictures of my screaming child. I know that there will be many Christmases to come when she'll be excited to Santa. The pictures below are a little blurry...but you'll clearly see that it did not go well.

As soon as we got up, Hannah was very quick to say "bye-bye" about 15 times and wave to Santa. As soon as she was safe in Nana's arms, everything was okay!

We'll try again next year!

Christmas Trivia

So I'm reliving my younger days when we used to do these silly surveys...does anyone else remember doing these when we were in middle school?

Here's some info about Christmastime from MY perspective...I'm sure Mark would answer differently!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper.
2. Real tree or Artificial? We have one of each.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take the tree down? Between Christmas and New Years
5. Do you like eggnog? Not really.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? A boombox when I was in 6th grade, boy did I think I was cool!
7. Hardest person to buy for? My brother in law Jim
8. Easiest person to buy for? My mom and sister
9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, we have one carved from an olive tree that my father-in-law brought back from Bethlehem.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Snail mail, always! Who sends Christmas cards by email anyways?!?
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I'm not even going to go there...but I'm pretty sure my mom and Katherine can figure it out!
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? The Grinch (the original), it reminds me of my childhood
13. When do you start Christmas shopping? October
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yes, hasn't everyone?
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything my mom makes, especially her cookies!
16. Hot chocolate or hot apple cider? Hot chocolate.
17. Lights on the tree? Um, doesn’t everyone put lights on the tree?
18. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night (the Josh Groban version)
19. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? I love giving gifts, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I also like to receive.
20. Stockings before or after presents? Before
21. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Yes
22. Angel or star on top of the tree? Star
23. Open presents Christmas Eve or in the morning? Christmas morning.
24. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crazy drivers and rude people in a hurry, but those things annoy me year-round.
25. Can you ice skate? Yes, but it’s not pretty.
26. Carolers? As long as I'm not one of them.
27. What do you want for Christmas this year? I'm really hoping that Santa Mark brings me a new camera!
28. Favorite memory about Christmas time? Sneaking down stairs with my sister before everyone woke up on Christmas day to check out the loot in our stockings. And making Christmas cookies with my mom.
29. Favorite part about winter? Not having to shave my legs so much!
30. What is your favorite Christmas book or story? 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Okay blogging friends, if you are so inclined, copy and paste and share your Christmas traditions! 'Tis the season!

Family Pictures

We had family pictures taken this weekend. Hannah did NOT want to smile for the camera. Thankfully, we were still able to get a few good shots.

Here is our favorite picture. Doesn't she look like an angel? Mark says she looks like Cindy Lou Who from The Grinch!

Here are a few of our other favorites.

Turkey Day Fun!

Mark, Hannah, and I celebrated Thanksgiving with both sides of Mark's family. On Thursday we celebrated with Mark's mom's side of the family and we spent time visiting with his grandparents.

All the great-grandchildren playing Aunt Lain's piano

Visiting with Granny

The whole crew

Isn't this the sweetest picture of Granny & Papa?

On Friday we had Turkey Day #2 with Mark's dad's side of the family. Hannah had a blast playing with her cousins!

Here's a video clip of Hannah going crazy on the horse. You'll have to turn your head (or computer)...I couldn't figure out how to switch the direction of the video.

Hannah completely wore herself out and slept nearly the whole 2 1/2 hour drive home.

We hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Thoughts on Thanksgiving...

We are excited to be celebrating Thanksgiving with ALL of Mark's family this week! It should be a good time with family and I know the food will be great!

Last Thanksgiving as we sat down to dinner and went around the table saying what we were thankful for, I remember saying "I'm thankful that Hannah is here and part of our family." It was her first Thanksgiving. As I reflect upon the events of the past year, the things I'm thankful for haven't changed. Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for Hannah's recovery. We are VERY lucky that she is with us today.