Kentucky Christmas Trip 2010, Part 4

Anna and Jonathan on Aunt Meredith's scooter.

Aunt Meredith with Anna. She looks like she loves that scooter.

Helmeted Anna.

Jonathan and Anna.

Anna running around the stop sign like a nut.

We went to Louisville to visit Meredith's new house! We love her new house. I love the colors and the way it is laid out and decorated. It has a great sense of space, cozy and roomy at the same time. Anna was a little confused when were trying to find it. She kept saying, how can there be houses here? It's not a neighborhood. There are stores everywhere! (She is used to subdivisions and suburbs, I guess.)

The kids and me. I adore porch swing pics and try to take them at every opportunity. I was questioning whether this swing would hold Dave and I when it came crashing down. Thankfully we were not hurt and I just feel bad for Meredith's porch swing. I am feeling VERY sensitive about my weight so breaking a porch swing did not help. Also, I screamed my emergency word... one that starts with an F. I am pretty sure Grandma Jane might have heard me... I feel bad about that. She was inside watching the basketball game. (Kentucky won!)

Me: Wow, honey, look there is some sort of predatory bird out in that tree, like an eagle or something.

Grandma Jane: No. It is a vulture. We don't have eagles in Kentucky.

Me: Silence. (Inwardly thinking, that is the fanciest vulture I've ever seen!)

BUT I still don't know what kind of bird this is. Does anyone recognize it? It was QUITE large and beautiful.

Kentucky Christmas Trip 2010, Part 3 Snow Melts Away

Yes, they will fight over anything. Even sticks. When there is nothing but sticks all around. I think competition for resources is what siblinghood is really all about.

Jonathan was very proud of his new boots! He said, Look, I am just like Daddy.

I think so, also.

Just my 3 favorite people in the world! Anna, 5, Jonathan, 7, Dave, 32.

Anna with the white cat. I am coming up on my tenth year in this family and I still don't know that cat's name. But she is a beautiful and sweet cat, and the kids are always happy to see her.

Jonathan LOVES being outside at Grandma Jane's. So much open space. So many sticks.

Anna set this pose up all by herself. It was her idea to put her foot up on the rock and hand on hip and hold onto the walking stick Jon found for her. She is something else!

Kentucky Christmas Trip 2010, Part 2 SNOW!

Anna standing by her first snow angel. Anna kept insisting it would snow in Kentucky. She said it will be snowing when we get off the plane and there will be snow on the ground to play in! Well, I kept telling her the weather predictions didn't agree, but it turns out she was right. She told me it was all part of her magic. (Egocentric, much?)

Jonathan had a lot of fun working in the snow.

Anna looked so sweet in her jacket, boots, Hello Kitty snow cap... Love it!

Working on the snow angel. I wonder if she realized how cold the ground was going to be before she laid down on it.

Jonathan trying to figure out why this kind of snow wouldn't make snowballs.

Grandma Jane tied plastic bags over his shoes to keep them from getting soaked. He and I went and bought boots the next day so we could really enjoy the snow.

Anna Elizabeth, 5 years old.

Jonathan loved this giant icesicle!

Anna found an acorn in the snow. This is probably one of my most favorite pictures of her ever!

Kentucky Christmas Trip 2010, December 26th

From left, Aunt Meredith, Jonathan, Grandma Jane, Uncle Chris, Ella, Aunt Jennifer, Jamie, Anna, and Dave. We had a wild evening and I think we looked pretty good all things considered.

The Dooley Cousins: Jonathan, 7, Ella, 1, and Anna, 5. Ella was fascinated with Anna.

A bunch of cutie pies!

Ella checking out Jonathan's gifts. Ella is SO cute. I love that toddler stage and I miss it.

Christmas DAY 2010

Merry Christmas! Jonathan, 7 years old, Christmas Day, 2010.

This is sort of a strange look for Anna but for some reason, I like it. Not sure if it pride, anger or determination...?

Lots of work to do in that sand. The kids had a great time, and I think anytime we can, we should go to the beach on Christmas day just for the bragging rights! It was 73 degrees and sunny that day. It was nice to get out in the fresh air and sunshine.

Anna made us a beautiful ornament with her picture on it.

Jonathan bought these for me at the Secret Santa shop. He said I like pink and I like hearts, so he thought they were good. :) He was really annoyed when I wore the earrings Daddy got for me instead.

Anna made us a beautiful card with her handprint.

Christmas Eve 2010

I think this picture of Trystan and Jonathan is just too awesome!

Nothing like Nerf!

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! Justine, 12 years old, 7th grade; Jonathan, 7 years old, 1st grade: Trystan, 5 years old, Kindergarten: Anna 5 years old, Pre-K.

I was actually having to fend her off with my leg while taking this picture.

See that face? T isn't messing around.

Justine made Anna and Jonathan pillows. They were both so happy with them.

Trystan with his Nerf sword.

Jonathan's rear.

Anna quickly shed her beautiful Christmas dress (on the way to church she was threatening to just rip it off with her hands {which, when she wasn't even one years old, she did manage to tear a Halloween costume half off with her bare hands in an itchy fit of rage, so I was taking her threat rather seriously!}) for a peace and freedom themed t-shirt which she accessorized with a bow from a present.

Jason and Janenne reading the RC helicopter directions.

Nona got Jonathan his very own robe. He hasn't taken it off since. And when he opened his own Nerf sword this Christmas morning, he was thrilled that HIS SWORD MATCHES HIS ROBE!!!

Trystan looking pretty handsome!

Sweet mom and daughter pic of Janenne and Justine.