Santa comes to school...

Olivia got to visit with Santa at school. Precious!!

Beginning to look like Christmas

Finally started getting ready for Christmas =)

Setting up the tree...picking the perfect ornaments

Boss Brothers to visit Santa

Loganville Christmas parade

Breakfast with Santa at church

Thanksgiving In Florida

This Thanksgiving, after we got home from camping, we went to Florida.  Trust me it was a whirlwind of laundry and cleaning stuff from the camping trip and then repacking bags!

It was warm so we were able to be outside and wear shorts.  We did have some popup rain showers but it was fun.

Decorating cookies

Reading stories at bedtime

To Dunkin on a golf cart ride

Biking with grandma

Fishing

A walk on the boardwalk...literally a storm blew in...scared Olivia to death when a huge branch fell in the water

Soaked...

Boat ride

Golf cart ride to lunch

swimming

watering the pineapple

Leesburg for their Christmas fun

6 years later

It has been 6 years. 6 years I can't believe.  The grief and the pain still linger.  It comes in waves still. But this time around Thanksgiving 6 years ago, I still remember like it was yesterday, my water broke and I lost out first baby.  It is still painful and emotional.  One of my favorite books, Hope for the Weary Mom has a great chapter, Chapter 8- When Life Hurts Too Much, which I read and still cry when I read that chapter.  At times I am not ready to lift the lid of my box and let go and forget.  This is part of me, part of our family, and part of what we have become.  I know one day I will have to share this story with Olivia.  I can only hope and pray that she understands.  I am so grateful and thankful for God's blessings for our family.  He taught me the greatest thing of all- patience.  From now on I use what else I learned- hope and grace.  Hope for each and every day.  Grace, because life just get messy at times and everyone needs some grace.

Don Carter Camping

We took a short camping trip to Don Carter State Park.  It is on Lake Lanier.  This place is great for a fall camping trip.  I could see it being very HOT during the summer due to that all the camping spots were blacktop and not much shade. It is also VERY hilly!  We had lots of fun finding geocaches, a very hilly bike ride, playing at the playground, and going to Babyland General! It was chilly so it was perfect for campfires too!

Yummy hot chocolate!

We made a small Thanksgiving meal!

Can't believe how much better she can swing!

Babyland General

The beach at Don Carter State park