Beach with Nanny and Georgia

Nanny wanted to pay for Richard and me to go on a trip for my 40th birthday.  I decided that I would rather us go on a trip as a family.  Myrtle Beach is about the same distance for us and Nanny so we decided on a condo in North Myrtle.  We have had such a wonderful and relaxing vacation.  

Georgia came down for a few days.  Georgia talked Kamdyn, Karcie, and I into a banana boat ride (photos coming soon).  It ended up being fun, but Karcie cried at first. Georgia also brought Matilda, the crazy scary mask that you see the girls wearing.  Matilda keeps showing up in the craziest places scaring us all half to death.  Karcie woke us up with Matilda the other morning.  

We went down to the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk one afternoon.  We played some fun arcade games.  Who knew that Nanny was a Skee Ball champ?

Richard and I got to visit with one of my dear Jazzercise friends and her husband who have a gorgeous beach house here at Myrtle Beach.  It was so fun catching up with them.

We ate a lot of delicious food, spent a lot of time on the beach, at the pool, and at the lazy river.  We also spent a lot of time just relaxing and hanging out in the condo.  

We also witnessed a gorgeous double rainbow one evening.  How can this world be so screwed up with such beautiful reminders from God that can be seen around us each and every day?  I truly do not get it.  

Love everyone.  Be kind.  Extend grace.  Accept differences.

For Georgia and Karcie!  Our favorite lefties!!

We had to buy sweatshirts because Nanny kept the condo so freezing!

Christmas Eve Eve

These smiling faces are a bit deceiving.  We were plagued with the Christmas sickness this year that lasted almost the entire Christmas break.  Kamdyn woke up in the middle of Wednsday night complaining of a stomach ache.  She laid in the middle of my floor rolling around for about an hour, but never threw up.  This is my "I refuse to puke" kid and she never did, but she was miserable.  The entire next day she barely ate a thing and stayed on the couch all day.  

We decided to open Georgia's present the night that Nanny arrived with them.  Kamdyn and Karcie were super excited to get all of their gifts from Georgia.  The only thing that could have made it better would have been her being here with us.  

  Nanny arrived on the day before Christmas Eve with her sleigh.  We unpacked her things and had dinner.  Everyone ate....even Kamdyn.  We watched a movie and Karcie started complaining of a tummy ache.  I knew what was coming, but refused to admit it at that moment.  I put her to bed praying that she would stay all night.  I lined the floor with towels from her room to the bathroom.  Just as Richard and I were about to close our eyes around 11:00 that night, Karcie opened her door and made it to the towels.  She  was sick every 1/2 hour to every hour until about 6:00 that morning.  I was exhausted!  

Kamdyn was screaming bloody murder because she has this weird puke phobia.  Richard scooped her up and took her to the 3rd floor.  Richard crawled in Kamdyn's bed and I had  Karcie in my bed.  Very little sleep was had and my baby was so pitiful.  She was such a trooper though. . She never once complained or cried.  As soon as she felt sick she would jump up and we would run to the bathroom. Luckily, Richard let me sleep from about 6:00-8:00 on Christmas Eve morning or I would have never made it until Christmas Eve night.  

Karcie felt pretty crummy on Christmas Eve, but we were hoping that she would feel perfect by Christmas Day!!   

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving really was pretty wonderful this year!  We did really miss our Florida Terry crew and Ruthie.  Kathy and Jim came over.  It was the 7 of us and it was perfect.  Nanny prepared a delicious Thanksgiving meal.  Will I ever learn to cook like her?  Probably not.  Sorry, Richard!  Kathy and Jim brought a delicious broccoli casserole and some desserts.  It was low key and just what we needed after several really busy weeks and weekends.  

Georgia and Randy came to visit on the Friday after Thanksgiving.  Kamdyn and Karcie tricked Georgia into playing the Bean Boozled Challenge.  She had to eat a jellybean that tasted like fish. She says that she learned her lesson with that game.  YUCK!!  

I love our little family and every second that we get to spend together.  

Look at those sweet feet.  I guess Karcie needed a picture of them.  

Karcie trying to play the piano.

Go Tigers!!

Attacking Daddy?

A friendly game of Old Maid.  It seemed as if none of them knew the actual rules!

Dead fish???

This girl loves, loves, loves her Georgie!

A little bit of shopping with Nanny!

We decorated Nanny's tree for her.

Nanny and Richard making all kinds of tailgate food and Christmas goodies!