Valentines....

My angel Ava Grace has been planning for 2 months a Valentines Surprise for all of us. Now the day was here and she worked so hard getting the playroom ready. No one was allowed in there and she even locked the door and wore the key around her neck! We all received invitations to the party- she opened the door and there were hearts on the wall she had a Happy Valentines Day sign, she had a table for us to sit at with a picture of our family on it. She had made marsh mellow kabobs and she had cookies and lemonade! She wrote the most beautiful song for us about how much she loves her family and then we all had fortunes. What a wonderful Valentines and how blessed we are to have Miss Ava Grace as a daughter and sister!

rap

yes, yes, my sweet E man likes rap. Now of course I review the songs before I let him listen to them but he just loves them and thinks they are so funny-

he is so stink'n cute!

Boone,NC

We came home just in time to unpack and repack to go to our neighbors parents house Mike and Laura Wilson, in Boone with another neighbor and their kids. It was so nice! I don't think I have ever stepped foot in such a big house- wow. It over looked a Christmas tree farm- we went to their vineyard and it was beautiful- lots of laughs- and wonderful food. Mike is really the best cook ever- It was like we ate 5 star meals every day. The kids rode the go carts and had a ball- We are so blessed with wonderful neighbors-

let's SKI

This year we decided to go to Snowshoe Shoe Ski resort since last year we went to Wintergreen.

The kids went to ski school to refresh their memory and they did Awesome! Ava was going down greens with me. Ethan is good but he has to work on turning and getting some FEAR in him. That boy loves to go fast! Nathan did much better this year even though he took a bad fall. I stayed on the Blues, did not go on the Black diamonds this year. I guess I have been there done that and I know that I can so why risk breaking my neck? I had fun- the kids had fun and so did Nathan on the bunny slope!

ethan and papa

Ethan loves to take his new toys over to Papa's house so he can try them out. The new thing right now is Bayblades. It is fun... and even Papa enjoyed it!

my trip....

I had been sinking and sinking and trying to do everything with no time to myself- and I could not do it anymore. Nathan suggested I take some time off to get away... at first I could not imagine leaving, I have to much to do, but then I thought when is the last time I got away? It was 2010 for my birthday. wow that long. So I made my reservations at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville and I packed my bag. A few clothes my bible and my cell phone and a few Christian books. I spent 5 days reading. The first book was the "Power of a Positive Mom", then "What it is like to be Married to Me", and my devotional plus my Bible. No TV, No phone, No nothing- Just me and God and quiet. It was the best experience I have ever had. I have never just been quiet and let God speak to me and WOW did he speak to me. He showed me things I need to give up, He showed me things I need to except, He showed me the good, bad and the ugly and I am so thankful for that. I did get a few massages while I was there and stayed at the spa and read in their quiet room. I can't say I came back perfect. I wish- but I know that every morning I start my day out praying to God to give me strength and to be the best Wife and Mother I can be that day. It was an eye opening experience and I am so glad I took that time for me.