December Playtime Outside

We had what could arguably be the coldest November in history (it felt like it to me anyway), but the end of December has been either rainy and dreary OR sunny, beautiful and relatively warm. Over the post Christmas weekend, we certainly took advantage of these unseasonably warm temperatures and played outside for as many hours as possible.

Side note: You kinda get an idea that you take too many pictures when your 3 year old demands (seriously, DEMANDS) that I go back inside and get my camera so that I can get a picture of him on his bike, with his helmut and his sunglasses. His set-up, not mine. Of course, I obliged. Who am I to turn down a) my sweet child with a descriptive imagination and b) a fantastic photo op?

The coolest kids in town. What doesn't say "cool" like hearts and dinosaurs on your shades?

"We didn't do it Officer! We swear. We were just sitting here, being cool."

While the neighbors are out of town, Cooper decided to turn their yard into a baseball field.

I'm pretty sure in the MLB, this is considered taunting...pointing in the direction of your yet-to-be-hit homerun?

Whew! It was a rough game and Cooper needed a rest!

Kendall got a tennis racquet for Christmas and made up her own rules. It was a cross between croquet, cricket, a little tennis and perhaps some dodgeball thrown in for good measure.

Merry Christmas Day!

Our Christmas Day was exciting, to say the least. It's amazing each year to watch the kids grow up and get more and more thrilled with Christmas morning. Their reactions are just priceless.

Christmas morning at our house. Kendall was thrilled with her pink bike. Santa couldn't get Cooper a bike without getting Kendall one, too...Even if our garage is already bursting at the seams with trucks, wagons and bikes of all shapes and sizes!!!

Cooper just loved his Lightening McQueen bike. In his words "Santa brought me a big boy bike, so I'm a big boy now. I'm a BIG BOY!!!!!"

Christmas tradtion on the Webb's side is gathering for a yummy brunch. Cooper and Jackson were perfectly posing for this picture!

After a long winter's nap, we loaded up and headed to Grammy and Grandy's house for the evening. The kids were a little grumpy to start out with, but ended up in great spirits...especially once we started opening presents!

We pretended it was still Christmas on Saturday and headed over to Vovo and Eddie's house to open, yes, more presents! Cooper loved his new truck (surprise, surprise!)!

Merry Christmas Eve

We had so much going on the past few days, I'll have to blog in stages. And since this is mostly about the kids, you get mostly pictures of the kids. Besides the obvious, Christmas IS mostly about the kids anyway, right?!

Christmas Eve Eve was spent at the Webb's house since there was absolutely no time other than that to get together on Christmas Eve or Christmas.

Sam seemed to enjoy the first day of his first Christmas.

Christmas Eve morning at the Carver's house. What a fun morning doing something we've never done before on Christmas Eve...spending time with friends!

A Christmas Eve tradition...spending the evening eating good food in great company at Aunt Dianne's (Carol's sister).

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The youngest generation...with TWO new babies since last Christmas! Jackson and Sam will surely be holding their own next year and the house is sure to be a wild place with all six little ones running crazy!

The rest of the evening was spent leaving milk and cookies (store-bought b/c we ran out of time!) for Santa, carrots for Rudolph, reading 3 or 4 Christmas stories and going to bed near 11PM.

To be continued...

Weekend in Nashville

Whew! We're back from a whirlwind trip to Nashville for a Anniversary/Christmas combination gift to each other. It started out as a surprise from me to Chip...that is, until I left my Ebay page up where I had won an auction for Titans tickets. Oh well. We were able to plan for the trip together, which was a lot of fun, too! We were disappointed to make it back after the kids were in bed tonight...as much fun as we had and as much as we needed this little trip, we missed the kids like crazy and spent half the weekend talking about them, shopping for them and missing them.

We got to Nashville Friday evening and were picked up by our dear, great, wonderful friends Mary Beth and Mike (MB and I lived on the same floor my first year at TTU and were in each other's weddings). We went to a fantastic little restaurant called the Yellow Porch. One of the highlights of the evening was watching MB's face absolutely light up with giddy excitement when Jack White from the White Stripes sat at the table next to us! We were too stupid, and embarrassed, to ask for a picture even though they were waiting on us to finish THIS picture before they walked out of the restaurant.

The view from our hotel room at the Renaissance...the Nashville Public Library.

Saturday we went shopping at Opry Mills and saw the Rockette's at the Grand Ole Opry. Before the show, we walked around the indoor gardens at the fabulous Opryland Hotel. My favorite part of that hotel is their Christmas lights along the front drive and water features. It started pouring down rain as soon as we walked outside to see them! I was very sad!!! This picture was taken in front of the many "rivers" and fountains inside the hotel atrium.

The Titans kicked off today at 12noon. It was SO much fun. Neither of us has ever been to a pro football game, so it was great. VERY cold, but lots of fun. We sat on the 8th row in the endzone and although there were LOADS of Steelers fans there, it was amazingly fun. This pic is of Vince Young, now the 2nd string QB, but a good photo nonetheless!

Pre-game warm-up was a great photo opportunity for me. I was a complete tourist/dork and stood on the rail and took lots and lots of photos of the team warming up.

It was SOOOOO COLD! At one time they showed the temperature and it was the warmest part of the day...at 32'! Brrrrr! The sun went down during the 4th quarter and we almost froze to death. No, all you New Englanders...we would not enjoy a December Patriots game, I know!

I didn't get a lot of photos during the game b/c well, it was too cold to keep bringing the camera out. My biggest regret is not taking a video recording of the Manchester United/Titans fans that sat behind us. In all their British accent glory, they made up loads of funny chants, songs and jingles that kept the crowd in stitches most of the time.

Rock & Racquets

We had a great Sunday afternoon at Thompson Boling Arena at the Rock N Racquets event. It was a benefit for the Andy Roddick Foundation and showcased Andy Roddick, Serena Williams, John Isner and Caroline Waznieke (I might have spelled her name wrong!!). We were on the front row behind the baseline...great seats! Except when they were serving from the other side. Just so you know, Andy Roddick has the fastest serve in tennis...and it does NOT feel good when you get hit by one!!! I also got hit in the leg by Serena Williams' ball, too!

The first match was mixed doubles, Serena and Andy against John and Caroline. They were very entertaining!

The next match was between the ladies. During one of their breaks, they decided to try their hand at performing with the dance team. They should really keep their day jobs!!!

At one point some ladies in the audience yelled out and asked if they could get their picture taken with Andy. He said yes! And jumped and screamed like a girl...to fit in with them! It was very funny!

You can't tell here, but Andy is doing one of his impressions...this one of John McEnroe. He also did Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova and Rafeal Nadal.

Coach Pearl came out to attempt a short career in being a Chair Umpire. It wasn't long before he came down. He was a great sport, even returned a couple of shots before heading out to practice with the basketball team (they need it after their sorry loss on Saturday!).

Coach Pearl was joined by former Vol Dane Bradshaw, who also tried to return a serve or two (unsuccessfully, of course).

It really was a great event. Sitting on the front row was a definite plus, despite the bruises! The rest of our weekend was pretty lazy. We enjoyed the Christmas Cantata at our church on Saturday but other than that, we didn't do much! Kendall and I took a trip to the pediatrician yesterday because we were fearful of an ear infection. However, she was diagnosed with a weird kind of sinus infection that has created a dark red circle under her eye in addition to a fairly high fever. She got two shots of antibiotic yesterday AFTER her poor little finger got pricked. And that's not the worse part...we have to go back today for a repeat performance! The doctor said that sometimes it takes 3 or 4 days of this to get better!!! Hopefully her blood work will be back to normal and we can start oral antibiotics today instead! These shots she got yesterday really burn and she was asking me to "take it out" until we got home and she fell asleep! Poor baby!

An Early Christmas Weekend!

We have been overloaded with Christmas this past weekend! Friday night was our Sunday School Christmas party with childcare at the church. I don't think they knew what they were getting into...they had two of the largest rooms at the church busting at the seams with children! Saturday we had Breakfast with Santa at Preservation Plaza in Maryville on the top floor...it was so much fun, especially since it was put on by Junior Service League and I didn't have to work it for once! Kendall didn't sleep well the night before and was NOT in the mood for the jolly old fella! Cooper took a good picture with him though! We got a photo of all four of us, but you can see the strain on my face as I held Kendall from running away! Not pretty!

Cooper asked Santa "where are ALL your toys and presents?"


We had lots of good friends there, but enjoyed taking pictures with the Cobb Girls and Drew on the windowsill the most! (the love of Kendall's life, not pictured here)

Saturday afternoon, we attempted Christmas card pictures with Aunt Emily. She tried. Hard. Long story short, it did not go well. Please note the blank spot for a photo below.





Then came Sunday when Cooper was set to sing in the contemporary service at church. He was supposed to sing a rendition of Happy Birthday Jesus. A DIFFERENT version than the one he has been also practicing for his school Christmas pageant, so I was not optimistic about the church performance! However, he sat on the bleachers, quiet and still as a mouse, kept his hands in his pockets (mostly) while standing and finally started to actually sing during the last 2 or 3 lines. I didn't get many pictures but Chip was able to video a little.


Sunday night was Craft Night at church...a long tradition at FUMC Maryville of food, fun, fellowship and, of course, crafts! The kids had a fantastic time with all of their friends, running around, eating cookies and popcorn (dinner of champions!) and getting their picture taken! This year some genius at our church came up with the manger scene, complete with outfits for angels, sheperds, and Kings! Cooper's friend Ty asked him to be in a picture with him and it was entertainment for all around!

Also on Sunday, we showed up an hour late to Craft Night because a) we didn't look at the time properly and b) we were really busy making our first gingerbread house! I smell a tradition! It was SO much fun. Even Chip couldn't get enough of decorating with the icing tips! As you can see, eating the candy and icing was just as fun as decorating the house!

Merry Early Christmas to All!

November Catch Up

We need to post a few pictures from the last several weeks, during our Blog Vacation.

The weekend before Chip's surgery we celebrated another Cobb Girl's birthday...Emma (not pictures!) turned 4! It was a dress up party and Kendall finally got in her Princess costume without pitching a fit. She's officially a "girly-girl!" Coop got to go in his racecar driver costume...of course!

Grandad was completely surprised at his (surprise) retirement party at Sullivan's the weekend before surgery (funny how all time frames in November revolve around "the surgery")

Grammy picked the kids up and brought them to the hospital to see Daddy the day after his surgery. They had a great time playing with the balloons and somehow finding the room to run in that teeny tiny room!

Kendall is just a tad bit obsessed with her hair clips. She insisted Chip put them ALL in her hair last weekend!

This wasn't November, this was last night at the basketball game. Poor Grandad had his gallbladder taken out, so we went in his place! We enjoyed a really fun double-date with our friends the Carver's.

We certianly hope you all have had a great week!

Holiday Music To Your Ears

Here is a little holiday music to get you in the Christmas spirit. Notice at the end of the video how Cooper doesn't quite like Kendall in the spotlight!

I hope blogging two days in a row satisfies those of you bugging me about not blogging enough lately! ;)

We're Back...With Thanksgiving Pictures

Wow. It's been a while since we've been on the blog. I can only guess you all know why, but I sure am sorry anyway! Chip is doing very well and planning to go back to work tomorrow for an abbreviated day. Knowing him, he'll have us schedule more patients for Tuesday, but we'll see. I know jumping back into work after two rough weeks off will definitely be tiring. He's still handling the surgery and lack of one kidney like a champ...no pain meds and no complaining. I think he's just bored to death, mostly!

We had a fantasticly boring and lazy weekend. Rain kept us indoors mostly after several days visiting with the Wilbourns. What a week. We were sorry to see them go, that's for sure and I'm not sure Cooper knows that they've gone home, to be honest. He probably thinks they'll be back the next morning!

Here are some pictures from the week and Thanksgiving Day at Grammy and Grandy's and the next day at Vovo and Eddie's. No real photos from Mimi and Grandad's because, well, quite frankly I couldn't keep up with the kids and their cousins. They were too fast for pictures!!! Maybe Christmas I can get them cornered long enough to get a picture or two!

Another hike to the firetower, this one with the Wilbourns!

Thanksgiving at the House of Hurst

The dreaded kids table, although, they look happy so far, for this year.

Must have been a pretty funny song!

This was a photo to see what Kara and Phillip would look like with a boy! Pretty cute!

Cooper working hard at Vovo & Eddie's

This was taken at our house, this weekend, but I had to include it. It's one of my favorites of Kendall...not sure why.

Vovo and the girls

Happy Monday Everyone!

Happy Birthday Kendall

Happy Birthday Sweet Little Kendall!!!

Today was Kendall's birthday. Oh, what memories we have of two years ago, the day before Thanksgiving, 2006! I remember a very, very long and painful labor and not having an epidural most of the day (they say you forget, but I haven't yet. BUT, as all the extremely annoying people told me that day, it was, indeed, all worth it. What a wonder she is! She never ceases to amaze us with her sweetness, her girliness, her kisses and her fun little giggles.

A big thank you to the Carver's who invited us over for playtime and lunch so that Chip could rest for a few hours in quiet. Kendall had so much fun playing with the love of her life, Drew...especially the part where she got to lick all the icing off of a gigantic cupcake!

We had family over for a party this evening, just cookie cake and ice cream, and I am pretty sure Cooper enjoyed opening presents more than Kendall. Around 5PM this afternoon, I took Kendall's temperature and it was over 101!!! How unfair to have a fever on your birthday! After a good dose of Tylenol, it came down enough that she seemed to enjoy herself just fine.

Kendall wore her "cupcake shirt" and her "white tu-tu" to her party.
YUM!!!!

A monkey for our monkey!

Cooper asked all day if this was his party, too. Since he turned 3 1/2 on November 19th, I figured it was only fair to let him blow out candles, too!

On a day like today, while Chip is recovering from surgery, a cancerous tumor, a super special visit with friends and celebrating our baby's birthday...we are once again reminded of how blessed we are. This has been by far the most emotional, weird and enlightening week of our lives. We know we will get through it because of the love, support and prayers of our family and friends and even people we barely know. I feel like a broken record these days, but...THANK YOU.