Making hats for babies

While Matt's family was in town, Sarah and Tara were knitting hats. It looked kinda fun and so I asked them to teach me. Needless to say.. I got hooked! They're super easy to make and fun too! (Not to mention.. right now Sarah is making as many as she can for the Save the Children organization!)

So now I will be helping her make some hats for babies! Here is the very first hat I made!

Not too bad huh?

It's a Stevens' Family Christmas...

I know, I know.. Christmas was last month but some of us like to extend the holiday a little. Sending the presents in the mail is not nearly as fun as getting everybody together to do it! So we waited and did Christmas with Matt's family last weekend. Everyone was able to come except for Chris and we had a super fun time laughing, crying, opening presents, and being silly! You never know what you are going to experience during a Stevens' family get together!

Here are just a few of the pictures taken from the weekend.

On the way to find an "arm" Matt saw on the side of the road on the way home. (Don't worry it was just a little kid's jacket!)

Sarah had an upset stomach so she took apple cider vinegar to see if it would help

We made her put it in a shot glass!

and take it just like a shot! Haha! You'll never see Sarah do this again!

Lots of presents!

Megan opening her present -- tennis balls! She loves them!

Aidan ripping open the present

Now it's MacKenzie's turn

We gave Grammy and Gramps pictures of all the grandkids!

Breakfast helpers!

Aidan & Megan having a tea party

Megan feeding her baby

Out on the trampoline

Gramps, Megan, and Aidan

Bathtime for babies!

Sibling love

Putting on a show at Marbles Museum

Workin in the garden

Playing in the water

My family of pirates!

Cousin love!

Megan's BFF of the weekend

High five!

Learning how to give fist bumps!

Good Morning....

I'm not exactly sure what Megan does in her sleep but every morning her hair looks like a hot mess!

For example Sunday morning her hair looked like this....

Wow!

Thank goodness for Johnson and Johnson's hair detangler!

Daddy Goes to School...

Last week Matt found out last minute that he would have to go to Duluth, GA (near Atlanta) for a 2 day training class. We decided to make the best of it and turn it into a mini vacation. What's better than having someone else pay for your gas, hotel, and half the food right?!

Due to the lovely ice storm that hit the class was delayed a day but we were still able to go. Gavin was super excited to stay in a hotel even if it didn't have a pool. Haha! Megan... well... she probably would have been content not driving 6 hours and being in one little room!

Unfortunately, the things we had planned to do we couldn't because EVERYTHING shut down for the crazy amount of ice that was on the road. I was very disappointed with the DOT there. They pretty much gave up and the roads were horrible!

Daddy was done by 2 so after alot of looking around for something to do we came across a Monkey Joe's that was open! It's a big building with lots of inflatables. They even had one for Megan's size! The kids had a blast and I'm pretty sure Matt got a good work out as well!

Gavin was here there and everywhere. Everytime I saw him he was running. I think his favorite was the obstacle course one. He did that with Daddy a lot! Megan was a little nervous at first and then warmed right up! She had no desire to go on the toddler inflatable. Her favorite was the big kid slide!!

All in all it turned out to be a pretty good trip. Even Mommy enjoyed shopping at the outlets! Who wouldn't enjoy getting 5 outfits and 4 pajamas for the kids for only $28! Score!!

Playing with toys at the hotel room

Playing with Daddy at Monkey Joes

The "little kid" inflatable

One of the "big" kid inflatables and also Megan's favorite!

Climbing up the ladder to the slide all by herself!

"Pretty's"

Do these look familiar?

Mardi Gras beads!! Or as Megan knows them as.. her "pretty's"! Don't worry... she didn't get them the way many girls do!! While shopping in the dollar store the other day we saw a pack of Mardi Gras beads for $1. Megan loves them and even asked daddy nicely "Peas!" for her very own "pretty". Daddy was NOT fond of the idea! He was sure she would put them in her mouth, break them, choke herself, etc. Mommy insisted she would be fine! And.... guess who won?!

We only gave her one for now but she does really well with them! She puts it on and then just wears it around the house! It's really cute! No matter how rough and tumble she is and no matter how much she likes to climb..... she is a true little girl and that makes mommy happy! :) I can't wait for mommy/daughter dates to get manicures/pedicures and spend the day shopping!! Daddy will be so thrilled!! Hehe...

Putting on her "pretty"

All dolled up and ready to go!

Our little patient...

Playing with the remote in her special room!

Showing daddy her "pretty" (aka hospital bracelet)

Playing in the playroom with toys!

Yesterday Megan went in for tubes. As sad as it is I was really excited for it. Gavin had tubes at least 6 times and they were great! (Well, except for how much they cost and until they fell out and we had to go back for more!)

Megan was excited too! Playing with all the toys in the playroom before surgery was a treat! Not to mention that each little room had a TV with a remote that she was allowed to push buttons on!

The only part I was nervous about was the anesthesia. Gavin nor I do very well with it. It always makes us sick!

Surgery went well and the doctor said Megan did great! Other than being VERY grouchy when she woke up and all the way home there didn't seem to be any problems! Basically we learned that Megan should never do drugs or get drunk! She isn't a funny or fun person to be around!!

We are so thankful for the wonderful friends and family who lifted up prayers and sent words of encouragement!

Today our little lady is back to her normal diva self! :)

Such a little diva!

So I was trying to take a picture of the super cute pigtails I've been putting in my daughter's hair with my cell phone before leaving to go to the doctor.

Of course I tried a million time trying to get her to smile, not turn her head, close her eyes, etc. None of which I could get... I mean I got a couple blurry ones like these...

And then as I was trying to get one that just wasn't so blurry... I said for the last time (ok and maybe in a little frustrated voice) , "Megan can mommy just get one good picture already and then we can be done?" She turned around... breathed very loudly and crossed her arms just like this....

And there you have it my friends.... a true DIVA at only 1 years old!

Christmas with the Kings

This year was our year to host Christmas. Only the King family was able to make it this year but we still had a great time!

We did all the usual things... like making a birthday cake for Jesus and opening our "Happy Birthday Jesus" presents after Christmas Eve service and even added a new thing! Decorating a Rice Krispie Treat house. I would definitely suggest this over a gingerbread house. Rice Krispie treats taste soooo much better! :)

Christmas morning we read about the birth of Jesus and opened presents. One thing is for sure.... there was no shortage of presents!

We ate a ton of food and enjoyed spending time with each other! The visit was even more fun when North Carolina recieved it's first white Christmas is more than 20 years! When all was said it done we got about 8 inches!

The snow was perfect snow! Matt, Kendyll, Kennedy, Gavin, and I headed out to go sledding and had a blast!

The best part of living in North Carolina is that you never get so much snow that you get sick of it!! Haha!

Of course we all were thrilled to visit with Lilly aka Goose! Even Megan got to hold her and boy was she excited!!

Here are some pictures....