Christmas Eve at Grandma's House

We had our traditional Christmas Eve at my Grandmother's house. LM had a great time playing with Hazel and Jakob. She also enjoyed her new baby alive (that we haven't discovered all of it's "talents") and all of her other goodies.

Lucy McLean decorated with wrapping paper.

LM and Hazel really enjoyed the stairs
Waiting to see if someone was going to make her move

Christmas Take 1

We started celebrating Christmas on Wednesday with my cousin Summer's family.

Lucy McLean with her pigtails

Lucy McLean yelling "Mickey" when she opened her new nightgown

She talked her grampy in to putting it on over her clothes! She wore it all night! Eli

Opening her new Bible from Aunt Joyce (pictured to the left)

Snow...Snow...and more Snow!

Ok, so the pictures are completely backwards. Here is our snow adventure!!!

Lucy McLean decided she needed to wear her cowgirl hat outside. You know, they usually protect you from frigid temperatures!

Daddy and Lucy McLean with their mini-snowcowgirl

If you look closely, you can see that Lucy McLean is reminding Ryan to put on a "Nose Daddy"!

We think we left our sled at the Bridges during the last snow. We had to improvise. Ryan thought I was crazy... I thought I was very inventive! Lucy McLean LOVED it!

Ryan helping Lucy McLean make her snow angelTiny snow angel

Ryan's snow angel...check out the head!

Friday night in the snow/sleet

Getting ready to go out...LM wanted to feed me the snowgirl's carrot

She decided she would try it

Since we wouldn't take her out, she decided to take matters in to her own hands and put on her snow boots and get a snack for her and Snoop!

Snow Day

We woke up this morning to one of my favorite kind of phone calls ... "This is a message from Transylvania County Schools...school has been CLOSED...blah blah blah.... We got the important part!!!" WOOHOO. So, I let Lucy McLean sleep in until 8 and we have had a fairly fun day since then. She did wake up in a funk, but got over it when she decided that she really did need to eat. We haven't made it out to play in it yet. I was hoping Ryan would come home early from work, but that doesn't look like it is going to happen. LM is down for a nap right now. It is still snowing, so we will go out when she wakes up!

She walked around in snow boots for awhile. Yes, she put these on herself and yes they are on the right feet!

Ok, so maybe they should recall the blinds. First LM stood on the couch to look at the "NO" "NO"
When she couldn't see good, she decided to take matters in to her own hands by the window

Sweet Payton brought LM his old tricycle. She loves her new "Ca". Anyone know where my child got her jersey accent? She says "Ca" (car)

And Ethny and Robin came by.

and then she was exhausted. More pictures of playtime later!!!

NEVER a dull moment!!!

P.S. This picture doesn't go with the post...but it is another fine example of how LM loves to dress herself. She puts bloomers on top of just about everything now!
So, I am feeling a little more like I am living in a sitcom these days. Here is the run down of a very eventful few days:



Last Wednesday: Ryan calls and tells me to look outside my office window. He has something to "show" me. The "fun" surprise was a wrecked truck :(. He is okay, Lucy McLean is okay...the truck is being fixed!



Saturday night: Lucy McLean is wheezing and hacking all night long while we are at Ryan's parents.



Sunday morning: We leave Ryan's parents at 10:00 to go to Urgent Care with LM and then come home. 2 1/2 hours later in UC and a flat tire on the way home....we finally made it back at 6:00 (p.s. we only live 2 1/2 hours away)



Monday-Tuesday- My wonderful mother rearranges her schedule to be with her croupy grandaughter! She keeps up the house and manages to have a blast with a less than 100% LM. WE LOVE YOU!!!



Last night- LM goes to bed on time and is exhausted. We think we are on the mend and are prepared to take her back to Melissa's this morning.



11pm- LM wakes up coughing and screaming....this goes on until 4:30 AM!!!



5:30 am- We decide that I will take a half day off and wait for LM to wake up from her late night adventures and see how she is feeling.



7:00 am- Ryan leaves with the car so that he doesn't have to walk to work in the cold (remember he wrecked his truck and it is in the shop). We don't live that far away (.74 of a mile to be exact). We had discussed me calling him once we were ready and he could come back and give us the car.



9:00am- LM wakes up and seems to be feeling better. I call Melissa and tell her I am going to take a shower and be on our way.



9:30am- I get out of the shower to find my precious little rascal with my underwear and pj pants on with her toothbrush in her mouth. She then gets up and stands on her little step stool and proceeds to wash "Mama's call" (ie phone) in the bathroom sink. She is grinning from ear to ear. This leaves us with no way to call Ryan to let him know we need the car. All of the neighbors are gone by this hour.



9:31am- I laugh hysterically and thank the Lord for such a fun child. What else am I to do?



9:50am- My hair is dry and my underwear are off from around my child's neck. We bundled up in our coats and Lucy McLean gets in her play car (the stroller is in my car) and we walk to Ryan's work to get my car so that we can get on with our day.



10:30am- We are leaving Ryan's work after giving him a good laugh about our morning... go out to my car and my tire is flat AGAIN!!!



3:30pm- I am finished with my half day of work. It certainly goes fast when you don't get here until lunch. I am heading to Melissa's to pick up my curious little rascal and begin our night together. All the while, I am still laughing at my sitcom life and thanking the Lord for all of it.



P.S. If you need me for the next few days, you may want to try Ryan's phone. His is indestructible...what a smart purchase!!!!

Happy Belated Birthday Aunt Jacie

Yesterday was my sweet dear friend Jamie's birthday. I was slack and didn't get around to posting a birthday wish on our blog for her. This is a picture of us from back in 2006 when we were supporting some of our Carver Primary students during baseball season. I actually met Jamie's husband that night....craziness! A lot sure has happened since then.

Jamie (Aunt Jacie)-
Thank you for being such an wonderful friend. It is amazing how the Lord brings people in to your life right when you need them. We have been through a lot together and I feel very blessed to have you in my life. I miss you like crazy and hate that we don't get to see each other more than we do. You are very special to me and I consider it an honor to call you a friend and an aunt to Lucy McLean! Thank you for being the amazing woman that you are. We love you and WAR EAGLE!!!

Love,
Ryan, Erin, Lucy McLean, Baby S & Snoop

Feeling Blessed

Emily and her oldest son, Aaron

Maybe I am hormonal, but I have to say that I am feeling completely blessed today for the suppport that the Lord has given me. So I have been feeling rough for about a month now. I figured it was allergies and haven't been very concerned. For the last two weeks, I have had a terrible cough. My sweet friend Emily is also my doctor. She was blessed with her second son on October 30th, so she is not at work. Having a hard time going to another doctor, but my wonderful friends at work finally convinced me. I went and have a wierd type of bronchitis. So, today Emily called to check on me. Remember now...she is on maternity leave. I told her that the breathing treatment that the doctor gave me last night was wonderful. So, five minutes later I get a text stating that she is having a machine delivered to my house this afternoon. I text her back to give her a little reminder that SHE IS ON MATERNITY LEAVE and this is what I get in return....

It took one phone call- no big deal. My heart is to help people be healthy so they can live out God's purpose for them- you made my day!

I can't tell you how blessed this made me feel. What a Godly heart and what a fine example of using the gifts that the Lord has blessed us with! You truly are amazing Emily and an incredible friend. Aaron and Tyler sure do have a fabulous mama!

Update

Lucille is still in the hospital. She has been diagnosed with cellulitis, which is basically an infection that has settled in her wrist. She is having good moments and bad. They have her on antibiotics and have given her some blood. Please continue to pray that she can be comfortable and that the family would have peace during this time. Also please pray for Ryan. I know it is hard for him to be away from her right now.

Prayers

Lucille with Lucy McLean
For those of you don't know, Ryan's mamaw is suffering from Alzheimers. Lucille is very dear to us, hence the reason we named Lucy McLean after her. She is one of the strongest women I have ever met. Ryan's mom just called to let us know that they are taking her to the hospital. We don't have a lot of details right now, but I would ask that you pray for this precious woman!!! I will keep you updated when we find anything out.

Christmas Tradition

My mom makes the absolute best peanut butter balls ever. Lucy McLean and I attempted to make our own last night. We had a great time. She smushed balls, threw balls at Snoop...basically everything BUT helped ;). She did havea cute apron on though!!! Afterwards, she was so tired that she went and got her B and her blanket and laid down in the living room floor and zonked out for the night. More pics to come of our "final project"!