Santee Christmas

Our Christmas celebrations started this year in Santee, SC with a gathering of Drew's Mom's family. With three photographers in the family now we have LOTS of pictures to share for Christmas - hope you don't get bored, we tried to break it up as best we could! Above Aunt Lisa and Alyssa trying to get Miller to smile at the camera - he is more interested in Ho, ho!

Great, Great Aunt Lynda, Alyssa and Granny Lynda trying to solve the money puzzle game. Alyssa finally solved it Christmas Eve!

Great Aunt Missy and Kim cheesing it up for the camera.

The whole gang! Uncle Jim and Aunt Missy, Kim, Drew and Alyssa, Clay, Lisa and Miller with Uncle Chevy, Granny and Aunt Lynda. We all had a great time, good food and made some new memories!

Happy Birthday Vuvva!

By the look on his face, you can tell that Vuvva enjoyed his birthday weekend celebration. We celebrated at Lake Murray most of Saturday and Sunday. This is a photo of Vuvva and all his Grandchildren plus the delicious Banana Pudding that Lisa made - YUM!!!. Below are a few more highlights . . .



Alyssa couldn't wait to get on the Zip Line!





Another of Vuvva's unique inventions is the "Train" - the twins and Alyssa had a blast being pulled around on this vehicle.



They have all grown so much they're having to duck to get their picture taken.



Drew took time to sharpen his photography skills and took some great Sunset shots . . .





Even woke up early and captured the Sunrise.



Like the children who love the box more than the toy, another highlight of the weekend was the Robot Vacuum, Erica and Alyssa playing with it here.



Alyssa's favorite person of the weekend was Will, Heidi's boyfriend. I think she might have had a little crush on "Willed" as she kept calling him.


Once again Vuvva and Nana's Grandchildren from L-R - Alyssa, Emily, Miller, Heidi and Erica. What an incredibly FUN weekend! Thanks Nana and Vuvva for inviting us to the Lake. When can we do it again?!?!?!

Weekend in Columbia, SC

We had a really nice weekend in Columbia. We had lunch with Clay and Miller, took Granny to the Edventure Children's Museum and swam in a pool for the first time this summer. Above Alyssa is either giving or stealing sugar from her Granny.

Miller is getting so BIG! It was a special treat to have lunch with he and Clay.

Granny with her two Grand kids, Alyssa and Miller. Then it was off to Edventure . . .

Big Eddie - it's hard to capture his true size, but he is HUGE and Alyssa had a great time crawling inside his stomach, heart and brain. A really neat display!

There is no containing the energy of this girl - she was all about action and this Children's Museum was a great place to unleash her! She's playing music by hopping around.

Granny and I watching Drew and Alyssa climb to the top of the Energy Tower.

Alyssa's favorite thing was this slide (Don't they have these at McDonald's?)

Slide down then jump - what fun, oh, to be young again!

Then it was off to the hotel where our girl took a two hour swim and is getting better at going under.

Then, dinner at guess where?

Finally, a video of Alyssa playing with Granny and Chevy's kitty, Lilly. We had a really fun weekend and can't wait to see you guys again soon!

Oh HAPPY day!

Alyssa in full birthday gear - Butterfly crown, butterfly necklace, #5 Birthday Girl shirt, and pink & green socks. All ready to take on Chuck E. Cheese's.

Chuck E. Cheese chaos, how FUN!

Morgan and Lillian . . .

Riding the roller coaster ride with her boyfriend. A portend of things to come?!?!?

The Columbia Andersons - Miller, Clay and Lisa

Alyssa and Chuck E. Cheese - look at that smile!

I just couldn't get over the Butterfly cake, exactly like the invitations. Thanks SO much Mrs. J!

A brief computer graphics lesson by Great Aunt Missy.

Oh yeah, I know I'm talking about happy days (oh happy day)!

Too Much Christmas!

Here are some more photos of Christmas 2008. As my grandmother, Mrs. Gennie, used to say we definitely had "too much Christmas!" We traveled this year and had 3 Christmases but we all feel it was one of our BEST Christmases ever. We want to thank our families for all they did to make this Christmas so special. I think I finally understand "too much Christmas!"

Christmas I

Christmas I was held in Saluda, SC, hosted by Nana and Vuvva (in his Merry Christmas Y'all shirt). We had a nice family supper then opened presents. Since we were spending the night, Alyssa stayed up WAY past her bedtime singing and dancing to songs on the computer with Nancy and Jeffrey. We slept well, had breakfast then helped Vuvva pick pecans. I wish I had photos of us picking pecans but this was better captured on video, which I will probably never be able to figure out how to blog. After working soooooo hard, we packed the sleigh and headed north. Thank you Nana and Vuvva for letting us stay with you! The hospitality was wonderful and being able to break up our trip added to our enjoyment of the entire holiday adventure. Definitely too much Christmas!

Vuvva and Drew discussing genealogy.

Lisa and Miller opening a gift.

Alyssa and Miller opening presents.

Alyssa in front of her 3 baby dolls.

Thanksgiving

This year we traveled for Thanksgiving, something we have not done since I met Drew in 2000. But I have to say, I'm so glad we did because it was one of the BEST Thanksgivings ever! Why someone who barely cooks has tried to host a family feast for the past 8 years, I'll never know. Mom did some cooking and the rest was catered so no one stressed out over cooking, especially ME! Below are some photo highlights . . .

Alyssa, trying her hand at photography.

Alyssa all dressed up to go see Annie, putting on a show for her Eya. She has entered the make-a-face stage of her life. Bribing helps but I guess it's just one of those things where you just go with it and pray it ends soon!

Making sure Eya is enjoying the show.

Alyssa and Holt had some great bonding time - Holt lovin' his Alyssa (AA).

Can you say, "Ahhhhhh!"

Dr. Brad and his babies - Jovie and Holt. One of the funniest quotes of the visit: "Your brother's dog peed on the floor! Go tell your brother!" Alyssa to Kim :)

The Dr. Brad Ellisons - Brad, AA and Holt

A special treat - Dr. Robert Sullivan and Molly (who did not pee on the floor) joining us for Thanksgiving Dinner.

We stopped in Irmo on the way home to visit with Granny, Clay, Lisa and Miller and Uncle Chevy. This is Granny with Make-a-face and Miller.

Another Busy Weekend

We had another busy weekend, in fact we took an extra day to squeeze in even more activities! On Friday we headed to the Lake Murray Lake House to spend some quality time with Nana and Vuvva. The weather was pretty nasty but Alyssa's twin cousins, Emily and Erica, came over to make it a night of FUN! Saturday the weather was great and the ZIP LINE was working so Alyssa played hard! We all went for a boat ride and then got cleaned up for a party for Nancy and Jeffrey who are getting married in October. Alyssa and the twins had a babysitter and tons more fun! We enjoyed some fine Saluda hospitality, awesome food and storytelling by quite a character! Even with a late night we were up early for Church to see Miller get baptized. He was so great for his baptism but the ceremony wore him out. The adults and older children really enjoyed the luncheon at his home while he was napping!

First road Trip in the Camry and in Alyssa's new "Boost"

Emily and Erica helping Vuvva with the Zip Line

Hot dogs for Hungry Girls.

Time for a Boat Ride with Captain Vuvva


The Zip Line in Action!

Party for Jeffrey and Nancy

Miller - all decked out in white!

Aunt Lisa and Nana

Granny and Uncle Clay

Just a Swingin'