Merry Christmas

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Our little mountain girl...

We were at Pumpkin Lane last weekend and hiked Jones Gap. Grace hiked an entire mile of trail all by herself. Amazing! Up hills, over rocks...nothing slowed her down. It has been crazy around here getting ready for Christmas. We are headed back to the mountains tomorrow until next week. H

How do you like our Charlie Brown Christmas tree we cut down out of the woods? Hey it's free!

Oh and Amanda coming! Amanda's coming! Amanda's coming!

O Christmas tree...

So Christmas is in full swing at the Stevenson household. The tree is up and there are presents under it. I have to say we slacked off on the outside lights this year. The motivation just wasn't there...our motivation is in Grand Junction, CO. :o( The inside looks great if I do say so myself. Getting the tree in the stand every year usually ends in an argument between Neal and myself but amazingly this year it was smooth sailing. First try...

We decorated it after Grace went to bed. We decided she really wouldn't be much help this year unless you call breaking /eating every ornament she gets her hands on help. So I broke out the eggnog and Captain Morgan's, Put on my headphones for Christmas music, cleared a dancing area and began to decorate.

Apparently I had one too many egg nog's beacuse I had a killer headache the next morning. But I couldn't let this keep me from my Christmas shopping. So I met Fran and Becca for a Bloody Mary and then we shopped and shopped and shopped some more. Then it was home for dinner and then Neal and I went to Molly's Christmas party. Our neighbor's Steve and Susan rode with us. We love that Gramma Joan can babysit anytime we want. We have learned that babysitters are not cheap these days but Grandma's are free!

On the way home from the party we drove through to look at some Christmas lights and we came across this house...

In Grace's world she has done some hiking and has been working on mastering her little bike.

More teeth are working their way through as we speak...

Stevenson Family Fun Day

So I deemed this Saturday as "Stevenson Family Fun Day". Neal was hesitant since it included going to Rock Hill's "Christmasville" downtown. It promised to be a day of carolers, old time trollies, horse and buggy rides and even a live nativity scene. After laying the guilt trip on Neal that he musn't deprive his daughter of this experience he reluctantly agreed. Now smile for the camera Neal...
First stop, The Jolly Train. Now this was Grace's first mechanical ride. She had to sit next to me and wear a seatbelt and I am thinking there is no way she is going to sit still, I mean this is Crazy Legs we're talking about. So we board and Grace has a very confused look on her face as it starts to move. She lets out a loud shriek and attempted to climb in my lap but I assured her that she would survive. And with that she looked at me very calmly and just reached for my hand and snuggled in close. I swear it was one of those moments I never want to forget...
Then it was time to pay entirely too much money for a horse and buggy ride through downtown. I assured Neal that was not the last time he would find himself paying way too much money for something involving Grace. Grace was a very behaved passenger this time around too. She looked at me as if to say, "Don't worry Mom, I'm not scared. " So $15 dollars later and once around the block it was over.
Snap, Crackle and Pop (you know from the Rice Krispies box) were there and once again Grace proved to be brave in the face of oversized characters. She actually wanted them to hold her.

So part 1 of Stevenson Family Fun Day was over. The next part included putting Grace to bed and having Gramma Joan come and sit while Neal and I headed back downtown for an outdoor showing of Will Ferrell's, "Elf". We bundled up, poured the wine into Gatorade bottles as not to offend anyone, I mean this is Rock Hill. Fran called and decided to join us. We walk to up to where they are showing the movie and a lady stops and asks if we were there to see the movie. We says yes and she comes at us with this, "I'm am so sorry we aren't going to be showing it. Did you come out here just to see the movie?" I am dressed basically in full ski gear minus the goggles and holding chairs and a bag with a blanket. So she gets a sarcastic, "Yes as a matter a fact we got a babysitter just for this...." Now I will spare you the exchanges from there but lets just say the redneck came out.

Okay so plan B. Since we are dressed to be outside we head to Fran's house in the country for a burn barrel. Those of you who know me well know how much I love a burn barrel. There might even be a story out there of me stealing one from the homeless and throwing it in the back of Mable (aka as Amanda's bronco). So when we needed more firewood Fran throws me on the Mule, pretty much a golf cart on steriods, and tears through the woods to the other side of the farm. I survived to take this picture. Oh and Sally if you don't have one of these, you should add it to the Christmas list.

So since it was a full moon we decided to walk down to the barn to see the horses. I hear a very srange noise and Fran informs me that's just the mare having relations. That's nice... They were very friendly and one in paticular named Jelly Biscuit took a liking to Neal.

Can you see the horse nibbling his ear throught the smoke?

Oh and how could I forget to show you how Fran knocked on the door earlier in the evening...

You see Fran is on the Hospice float every year in the Rock Hill Christmas parade. Before the night was over we fighting to wear it, here's Neal's best shot...

So Stevenson Family Fun Day was over...fun for all ages.

A little video for Amanda...

Chin up girl...Grace wanted me to send this to you. Hugs to you.

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S is for Slack...

Yes, yes I know...it has been a while since I checked in. I guess I need to recharge my SuperMom vest. Well we went to the mountains for Thanksgiving and ate enough turkey to put us in a coma for about 4 days. We ate at my parents and my brother Jason, Joy and their daughter Ely joined us. Grace and Ely had a great time playing togheter. They are so close in age it was great to see them interact. We did lots of hiking to walk off all the pie that was consumed. Neal, Grace and I went to Table Rock State Park and hiked some and then went to the playground where Grace proceeded to slide until my back finally gave out from picking her up.

Grace was pointing to the waterfall in case we didn't see it.

I love that the state park is only 5 minutes from Pumpkin Lane. They have a great swimming hole. I can just picture Grace next summer swimming and running on the beach. There was huge set of stone stairs that Grace decided she could climb all the way up. And she did. Now there is a great recipe to have your kid to sleep early.

We did find time to just relax. Cartoons and coffee in the morning are a staple for the Stevenson. (Well milk for Grace). So we headed back to Rock Hill on Sunday and things are back to normal. I started the Christmas shopping and I guess that means it's time to drag out the Christmas decorations. Amanda...do we need to pull out the kayak and lights?

It's official...there is another Pritchard in the family

Well we are home from Hap's wedding. I am just now feeling like I didn't get runover by a truck. It was a worldwind of a weekend but worth every bit of effort to make it a beautiful wedding. I walked down the aisle without falling which was a miracle in itself. Courtney looked amazing! I cried while they exchanged vows. I couldn't beleive that my little brother was getting married. My heart was so full of love this weekend. I love my family and I can't imagine my life without them...

Can you see the fish in the background?

There was plenty of dancing and drinking. Those just happen to be two of my favorite things. Can you pick out which one is me?

Grace at the church

A little later at the reception...my job was to sneak the bride and groom out for a smoke without the parental units noticing...I think I remember humming the James Bond music and making a run for it.

My Mom and I

At the end of the reception they ran out to us blowing bubbles and onto a horse and carraige. It was a truly magical night and I one I will never forget.

2 days and counting...

Until the big day for my brother, Hap. I have to say I am exhausted already and it hasn't even started. The Charleston swaree is in full swing. Rehersal dinner at the Yacht Club, with a slideshow that my Dad and I put together of all pictures of Hap and Courtney when they were babies up until now. I tell you revenge is sweeeeet. Did you say naked pictures of him in the bathtub as a baby? Bridesmaid dress is ready to go but I can't gain OR lose a pound between now and Saturday. I am getting my hair and makeup done professionally, thank god because between you and me I don't know shit about hair or makeup. Wedding at the church downtown Saturday evening reception following at the Charleston Aquarium on the harbor. Now if you have never been there it is great. I can only imagine what it must be like all liquored up and gazing at the shark above your head. I forsee something crazy things to occur with my family and a martini bar next to the otter exhibit.
In Grace's world she had her check up and got two shots. She was a trooper and she got a clean bill of health. She got a new dress for the wedding and a fabulous pair of new shoes. She is still enjoying the leaves. We went to the mountains last weekend. Our view of Table Rock is great now that the leaves are gone.
So if I don't blog for a few days I will be in throws of a Pritchard wedding. Fasten your seatbelts we are preparing for take off....

The cuteness continues...

Another day in the leaves with Grace. Not too much to talk about. I have loved dressing Grace up in all her fall outfits. That really is one of the great things about having a girl. We are just trying to spend as much time outside before it turns bitter cold. Only 2 weeks until Hap's wedding. The coutdown is on.

She just learnred that she LOVES my spaghetti!

She is REALLY serious about this book

She found out how much fun it is climbing up and down the stairs

I think this is one of my favorite pictures of her