Twenty Ten

Happy New Year!  Wow...2010!  It feels so official...so important.  Like big things are bound to happen.  I almost feel sorry for 2010.  There are so many expectations for this cool number of a year.  And a special thanks to 2009 for teeing it up with added anticipation.  Here's to something better!

But, maybe because 2009 wasn't the most awesome of all years, it made Christmas that much better.  We slowed down, sighed, and realized that despite whatever crud went on in '09...we are blessed.  The best gift we will ever receive was given years ago.  We don't have to wait for it or hope we made the switch from the naughty list or move money around to pay for it.  Thank you, Father, for giving your Son.  Thank you for the 'Great Perspective Builder of '09' and for provision.  We can't bind your goodness in a  number, no matter how good it sounds or how many zeros it has.  But if you feel like knocking our socks off in 2010, go for it!

Onto the Ussery, Jr. Christmas...

We were very excited to see Jack in his church preschooler performance this year.  He learned the songs quickly and sang them incessantly.  You can find him below on the front row, first on the left.  We were so proud.

This Christmas brought a lot of traveling for us.  On the 18th we packed up and were NC bound, anticipating some potential snowfall.  Our family was supposed to meet in Raleigh for dinner, but as we were taking the exit to the restaurant we received the "we can't make it because the roads are too bad" call from my folks.  So...do we stay in Raleigh or do we forge on pioneer style in our non-4wheel drive car?  We went rogue and opted for the latter.  9.5 hours after we left our Bluffton driveway, we pulled into my parent's wide eyed and thankful that we made it safely.  Here's what we learned:  1.  Weather forecasts can sometimes be accurate.  2.  Pickup truck drivers think they can safely drive 40mph in blizzards.  3.  Those pick up truck drivers are wrong.  4.  DVD players are manna from heaven to road weary parents and children.

But after a night's rest and the realization that snow can be more than scary.....

we had two happy campers.

And here, we have three happy campers.  But, folks, this is reality.  You can try to make everyone smile at once, and it rarely happens.

This may look weird.  Because it is.  We reinacted a picture from our childhood.  Unsuspecting sister with crazed brother.  You see it all the time.

The G'boro trip was a lot of fun.  We saw family, ate good food, opened presents and enjoyed every minute.

We arrived back in B-town on the 22nd, ready for Christmas!  After Christmas Eve service (which was so cool), we hosted the Ussery Jrs, Srs. and Trevor Smith families for a Feliz Navidad fiesta!  We ate, broke into a pinata, and played with Austin.  It was a fun night.

His very first Bumbo sit.  Look at that lil charmer:)

Another look at an almost happy bunch.  Seriously, Finn.  Smile!

After everyone left, Jack and I made cookies for Santa and the boys got to open their annual PJs gift.  This year I let them choose.  Jack went for Spiderman.  Finn opted for Thomas.  They both acted like they had never seen them before.  I guess I was the only one that remembered the Target freak out just 2 weeks prior because I wouldn't let them put the PJs on IN THE STORE.  I'm such a bad mom.

Ten hours later.....

Even Scout was a good boy this year.  RIP pink pig.  You didn't last long.

After enjoying new toys for a few hours we went on to Gigi and Poppy Johnny's for more new toys.  These were a favorite for sure.  Bed tents!  (and yes, Finn is in the buff)

G.I. Jack wanted to hold his Santa Baby cousin on Christmas morning.  A child holding a baby is basically glorified propping, but Jack was content with it and seemed to enjoy the attention.  He really does love his new cuz.

Christmas night was spent dining and ping ponging with the Smiths and other friends.  My high hopes to win the annual table tennis tourny quickly dwindled as I found myself out in the first round.  Again.  Maybe that will be the big thing of 2010.  I'll go to the 2nd round.

December 26th was SO BORING after the build up and excitement of Christmas.  We couldn't stay put another day, so we found ourselves NC bound again.  This time for Mr. Gilead, my in-laws' stomping grounds.  Here we are...8 adults. 3 kids. 2 cars.  And you guessed it...a partridge in a pear tree.

Here's the Jordan crew.  This is Gigi's brothers and their families.  Since John and I have known one another (which 2010 marks TEN YEARS...since we met...not married) we have never been with this many of his family members at once.  It was so much fun!  We ate, played games and caught up on lost times.  We hope to go again.

To make our one night stay more enjoyable, we took a tour of Jordan Lumber the next morning.  I've always passed the mill, wondering what it would be like to go in.  But I shall wonder no more!  This place is a beast!  Very cool.  Almost as cool as the hard hats and science lab-esque glasses we got to wear.  The processes it takes to go from pine tree to 2x4 are many.  That's my summary.  I love watching the show "How Things Are Made".  This was the live version, and we loved it.

Meet the Builder Family.  Here we have Bill, Bob, and Betty Lou.

After some lumber educatin' and Burger Shack eats, we went to a hunting lodge where John's Uncle Jack keeps his antique tractor collection.  Our Jack was in virtual preschooler boy heaven.  Wearing a hard hat...sitting on tractors...it couldn't get much better...even though he looks like he's screaming in the next picture.  It's a shout of joy.  I promise.

Jack's Eutopia...

Poppy Johnny and his two older grandboys.

Did you read where we had 2 cars for 11 people?  I was nervous as John was cramming shot guns in the trunks while we were packing.  There was a point along the way when I wondered if he intended their use for recreation or something worse.  Turns out, we were safe.  Just for sport!

Ava Update:  If you missed the last post, you missed our newest relative's arrival.  Here's our niece, Ava.  In a stocking.  Could she be any cuter?

We were not able to be with Matt, Melissa and Ava on actual Christmas, but it has been fun checking them out on their blog!  Lil' Ava is growing and sleeping and still not screaming.  Seriously...any other mothers out there jealous???

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  If resolutions play out for me like I hope, there should be more posts on here.  A big motivation came in the form of www.blurb.com.  John and I printed our entire blog history (4 YEARS worth) into a book for our parents.  And we kept one, too.  It was super easy, fast and affordable.  I know cyber journaling is so cool and convenient, but it was so nice to hold 4 years worth of efforts in our hands.  Go to blurb.com for Mother's Day.  It'll pay off.