Holidays and SNOW!

Its been a little crazy since moving in our new house the day before Thanksgiving!  But, better late than never.  We had Thanksgiving at Lindsay's house this year because she is the only one that is really settled into her house.  The rest of us were building and Lauren was still in their rental house.  We had our usual....too much food :)

All moved in!

We began celebrating Christmas with the "Hill Road Gang" on Christmas Eve morning.  Sandy and Michelle McCord has all the neighbors that live on Hill Road for an annual breakfast.  It was super yummy and we got to meet more neighbors.  Then Janice, Alicia, Zach, Chase and Finley came to our house to celebrate Christmas that day.  I cooked for the first time ever; green bean, sweet potato, hash brown and corn casserole.  It wasn't bad for cooking all that for my first time.  Janice brought the honey baked ham, yum!  After they left we went to Christmas Eve service.  THAT'S when it all started getting a little crazy.  Lauren and I got a text during the service that Meemaw's heart was bothering her, she was short of breath and was having trouble breathing.  Lauren and Chris raced to her house.  The ambulance picked her up and took her to the main hospital downtown.  So, Meemaw spent several days there and did not get to come home for Christmas :(  THEN on Christmas morning I woke up to a text from my dad that he didn't feel right either.  He needed to go to the hospital.  So Lyla, Erik and I woke Gage up to open presents and after they did, I took Dad to the hospital.  You might be wondering why my mom didn't.  Well, she spent the night with Meemaw on Christmas Eve night so she wasn't even home.  Poor Dad had to spend a few nights in the hospital too and did not get to come home for Christmas.  It just wasn't the same.  But we made it work.  Lindsay had those of use that could come to her house for lunch that dad.  Lauren had to work and Sheri was with Meemaw so there were quite a lot of us missing.  That night we went to Mimi's.  The day after Christmas dad got to come home so we celebrated then.  It was a crazy time but things happen.  So....I barely have any pictures but below is what I do have :)

Gage went to the Christmas Show with me and got a early picture with Santa :)

We picked out our Christmas Tree and at the Cedar Lake Tree Farm in Lincolnton.

Love them!

Grandpa Gary and Grandma Treena were visiting and got to go with us!

Annual Zootastic Fun!

Gingerbread House making at the Joe and Sonya Garman's House (Gage was in Burlington with Grammy J)

Gage in his Christmas Program with School (The Learning Express in Denver).  He was a cow and as you can imagine, had a hard time sitting still.  However, when his part came up with all laughed because it was a quite "MOO".

Santa came to Gage's Christmas performance.  Lyla wasn't a fan.

We tried to go see Santa at Bass Pro shop and the wait was 3 hours....no thanks.

We threw Dad a surprise 60th birthday at The Woodshed!

Annual Baking Day! Gage and Lyla were both snotty.

Christmas Morning!  Gage got a new scooter, ninja turtle helmet, pillow and jacket and LOTS of lego sets.  The one thing he REALLY wanted was a sword and shield....oh boy!

Lyla got lots of baby dolls and accessories, dress up clothes and barbies.  She kept asking for a barbie so thats what Santa brought here :)  She hasn't touched it since....typical.

Gage and I at Lindsay's on Christmas Day.

All the kids on Christmas Day.

Our first Christmas on the farm!

Gage's favorite present....the scooter.

Lyla's new Minnie Mouse Robe.

Not long after Christmas we got 7 inches of snow!!!  The night it started snowing Gage, Lyla and the Bergman's went ahead and started playing as it was falling down.  The kids had a BLAST!

Night sledding.

The 4-wheeler was a lifesaver after sledding down the big hills.

2016 Christmas Card.

Thank you Jesus for another year full of blessings!  We are so honored to live in this world you have created for us and equally as thankful for watching over us and providing for us this year.  Thank you for your blessings to come in 2017!  Please bless our friends and family and help us to never forget all you've done and continue to do for us.  Amen.  

The New House.

It has been a little over a month since we moved into our new house, we moved in the day before Thanksgiving to be exact.  LAWD. Have. Mercy.  I had no idea we would just now be getting settled.  When Erik and I got engaged we built a house in Riverbend.  He moved into the house in March 2010 and I moved in when we got married in July.  I don't remember taking over a month to unpack everything and feel "moved in", I guess I just didn't have that much stuff like I do now....plus we have some extra "stuff" now with two kids.  Right now, there are still boxes in the garage that drive me crazy but those won't move until we get a shed.  Anyways.  Long story short, many of you have asked for pictures and I just now getting around to it.  I kind of wanted to wait until it was all decorated but lets be honest, thats not happening any time soon.

Well, we LOVE our new house.  It is just what we wanted and more.  The farm life is so much fun too.   The kids are having a blast.  We never see them.  Thats a good thing for the record.  Just kidding......kinda.  No but really, they are always outside playing and we don't even have to worry about a weirdo taking them or them getting lost.  SCORE!  We have bikes and riding toys galore, cousins next door and Nanny and PawPaw close.  We consider ourselves super blessed.  People around here call you darlin' and use manners, its amazing!  All the workers at restaurants and stores like actually seem to enjoy their job.  The drive isn't bad either.  I don't mind the 45 minutes TO work, from work...not as much.

Below are pictures of the house.  I did the best I could with the picture taking :)

Our House :)  

The Den.  Or as some call it, the living room.

Another view of the den.  We ordered the sectional from Transit Damage in Charlotte.  I did not really want a "bulky" sectional but Erik did and he won.  Four of the chairs recline so that has been nice.  Comfort has always been the upmost importance so we like it.  It can be configured any way you want.  This isn't probably how we will keep it but again, it'll do for now.  

Different view of the den.  Rug is from Wayfair.  

This is the dining room.  Hutch is from The Gibson Mill in Concord, such an amazing place!

Our BEAUTIFUL farmhouse table built by Chris and Tiffany McCord, my favorite piece in the house.   It was decorated for Christmas when I took this.  End chairs are from Wayfair and white chairs are from Target.  

The mantel decorated for Christmas.  Before you ask, the 5th stocking is for Daisy (our dog).  

The mantel after Christmas.

The Kitchen

The island.  This is where we eat dinner because its just convenient.  I've never had a big island so its definitely one of my favorite things in the kitchen!

Stools from Target :)

Farmhouse sink, my ONLY must have.  

The Master Bedroom 

Different view of the Master.

Headboard from Reinvented Charlotte and side tables from Wayfair.  

View from our bed.  Dresser isn't what I wanted but it'll do for now.  

I clearly have some stuff I need to put on the walls.

Picture from the doorway to the master bathroom.  We cannot find a shower curtain long enough so right now there is just a shower curtain liner.  Probably will end up getting a glass door put in.  

Erik's sink.

My Sink :)

Picture from the doorway of the Master closets. 

1/2 of my closet.

The other 1/2.  

PS.  Anyone need a wedding dress?!

1/2 of Erik's closet.  I didn't get the other half, oops.

Gage's Room.

Lyla's Room.

Guest Room.

Bathroom.

Morning Room which is a little playroom right now.  When the kids get a little older it will be more like a sun room for relaxing :)

Bonus room upstairs.

That's it!  Schumacher Homes out of Mooresville built our home and we HIGHLY recommend them. They have model homes available all across the US that you can look at for ideas.  Have any questions, just ask!  A big shout out to my Aunt Lisa for housing us while we were building, to my family for helping us move in and to Erik for putting up with me through this stressful yet exciting process.  Here's to making memories :)