Tiny hands that melt my heart...

Mrs. Hardwick, Bayleigh's preschool picture really knows how to tug on a mommies heart strings. :) This year, our gift from Bayleigh was this wreath made from her hands and the berries are her thumb prints. I think it is adorable. She also made a count down bell that I thought was pretty cute too.

The red dots are her thumb prints.

Cabin 2009

This years cabin trip to Wasatch Lake in Poland, IN fell on the weekend December 18th, 19th, and 20th. We have been doing this every year since the year before Bayleigh was born. Santa always comes and brings gifts for the kids. This year he reminised about the first time he held a tiny Bayleigh in his arms. She was just over a month old her first trip. It is mind blowing how fast the time goes. It was a great time. We did NOTHING. NOTHING. It was amazing. I didn't have to worry about anything and was just able to do NOTHING! I LOVED it. :) This year we exchanged Christmas with the Burris Family and celebrated mine and Larry's birthdays down there too. My birthday was on Sunday the 20th and Larry is Tuesday the 22nd. It snowed the night we got there and the Lake was already frozen. It was SO pretty. I could sit and stare out those bay windows forever and watch the lake and wildlife. :)

Me, Larry, Steve, Bayleigh, Kim, Josh, Kaitlynn, and Whitney.

Me, Bayleigh, and Larry.

Our beautiful kids, Kaitlynn, Josh, Bayleigh, and Whitney.

Christmas @ the Zoo 2009

On Wed. December 16th, 2009 we took our annual trip to Christmas at the Zoo with Eric, Rachel, and Max. It was sooooo pretty as you can imagine. It was also SOOOOO cold! I think we all had a wonderful time and just the togetherness with them was a blast. I love spending time with them and I can't stand that we live so far away from each other, but it just makes us appreciate days like these so much more.

Max and Rachel took part in petting the sharks. Bayleigh was fine watching. :)

At the dolphin Show.

Max and Bayleigh's COLD wagon ride.

Me and Larry.

Rachel, Santa, Max, and Eric.

Bayleigh and Max on the train. BRRRRRRRRRRRR!

A beautiful picture of Rachel and Eric on the train.

After the zoo we take a dinner trip to the Old Spagetti Factory--YUM-O!

See Bayleigh on Santa's List

Bayleigh made Santa's List "http://family.go.com/santas-list/video/105743-ljbrutherford/" - Send your Picture to Santa and See Which List You've Made This Year

Santa Visit!

Yesterday, Saturday, December 5th, 2009, we took Bayleigh to the Greenwood Park Mall to visit Santa. For the last several years before going we have stopped at Shelbyville Wal-Mart to get a free 5x7 with their Santa too. (I didn't include that picture with this post).

Bayleigh was very excited to tell Santa in person that she wants a Zhu Zhu Pet Hamster for Christmas this year. We always allow Bayleigh to ask for 1 gift from Santa because we know he is very busy making all the toys for all of the girls and boys in the world. :) The Zhu Zhu Pet is THE, I mean THE item of the year and it is almost impossible to find them in the stores. It is simply an $8 toy that can be found at Wal-Mart and then of course there are a ton of accessories too. It's even all over the news about the demand for them. So, OF COURSE that is what my child wants. I hope she was a good girl this year and gets what she is hoping for. ;)

Everyone keeps asking me what I want for Christmas and my Birthday. This year has been a real struggle for us in different aspects. I have thought long and hard and the truth is, there is no materialistic thing I want. I just want health and happiness. That's all. Of course world peace would be nice too, but keeping it on my door step, that's all I want.

I find myself slipping into a bit of depression in the winter months and I know it is fueled by serveral things. I am trying really hard to keep my chin up and just go with the flow of things. That is really all you can do anyways. I am not going to let my life be controlled by something I choose it not to be controlled by. :) I choose to stay positive. See the good. Find the good when it's not always visible and just be thankful for what I do have. So far, it's working for me. :)

I hope as the holidays are approaching you find yourself enjoying all of the blessings in your life and that Santa is very kind to all of you. :)

Happy Holidays!
Jennifer

Vaccinations

Bayleigh had her "well-baby" visit at Shelbyville Peds today. The "well-baby" term I believe is becoming an "annual check up" visit. This is sad because I know my baby is growing up. :( Bayleigh weighed 35.5 pounds and was 38.5 inches tall. She is remaining on her own curve, so Dr. Ariel Stilwell was not concerned. She noted in her account that Bayleigh is above average in development and was impressed with her smarts. :) Not gonna lie--makes momma proud.

This visit was a little bittersweet for me because Bayleigh also got her 4 shots of vaccinations for Kindergarten, (2 in each thigh). She has been SO excited to get them because Max, Colin, and Penelope has already had theirs. She swore she wouldn't cry and that she was going to be a big girl. Shot 1, OUCH. Shot 2, louder OUCH! Shot 3, Ouch with a broken voice. Shot 4--OUCH with full blown tears. :( I teared up too, no surprise. The RN that gave the shots said they hold that one for last because it does burn so much. It was the MMR. I was so sad for Bayleigh because she HONESTLY tried SO hard not to cry. It brings tears to my eyes just typing it here. I know she doesn't go to Kindergarten until next August, but they said she is old enough now to get them so we went on ahead and did them so that we have it out of the way.

No pictures with this post. It is late and I just wanted to get the information down so I didn't forget. Until next time, and thanks for reading!
Jenn

Give Thanks and Be Merry!

The holidays are upon us! This is a time of year where typical stresses tend to take the fun out of the holidays and really put a damper on things for me, but this year is different. I am not stressing. I'm not to an extent. Thanksgiving had a couple of rough spots prior to arriving, but turned out to be excellent. We always host Thanksgiving here and our families come together and we eat, and eat, and eat, and eat...well, you get the point. It was just nice. Papa Reynolds didn't come because it was very cold that day and he didn't want to get out and get sick. I understand that. It would have been nice for him to come, but instead we just went to him. Mom and Mimi fixed him a plate of food and he LOVED it! The two of them and Kenya and I took it up to him. He of course asked about Bayleigh who was sleeping back at the house.
Black Friday came and was SUPER this year. I was able to get some GREAT deals that day and get a lot of Christmas shopping done at those great prices, so that makes for a wonderful day. Poor Bayleigh, we woke at 1:30 am to head to Wal-Mart and once we got home. She fell asleep at 2:30 pm and slept until 7:30 the NEXT morning! LOL! She has been Black Friday shopping every year since she was 12 days old! :)
Yesterday, (Saturday), we put up our tree and hopped right into the Christmas spirit! I am excited this year. I am ready to go to Christmas at the Zoo on the 16th with Eric, Rachel, and Max. I am ready to go on our cabin trip the weekend of my birthday. I am just ready for the family time that is on the way! Bayleigh has been so excited about Christmas this year too! I can't wait for her to open her gifts! She is going to flip when she sees I found her an iCarly hoodie! I flipped when I found it and the best part--$3!!!! See?! I LOVE Black Friday!!!!
Ok, this time. Since the computer was down for a week or so, I am only going to post a picture of our tree. I have a couple of accounts on my computer and have to work out the best way to access my pictures from other accounts to post, so short and sweet this time. We went with a red and gold theme this year. I was afraid I wouldn't like it, but I REALLY do! There will be more to come once we get Bayleighs ornament personalized and I will take a picture of her hanging it and then zoo and cabin pictures too!
Until next time, have a wonderful day and check back soon!
Love,
Jenn