Lynlee Crawling for 1st Time!

Duke/ Carolina Night at the Grove

Every year at the Grove we have a Duke vs Carolina Night and this year Lynlee wanted to get involved (ok, she had no choice). I was so excited to dress her up and I do believe she was GOOD LUCK for DUKE cause they WON 85-84!

The Tutu was given to Lynlee by Kacey Byrd (she made it for her daughter Kori). 

I needed some accessories to go with it so I made the necklace from an idea I found off of Pinterest (of course) and tweaked it a little bit. Then I made the hair bow out of tulle and a button Granddaddy had gotten Lynlee before she was born.

Lynlee's First Valentines

I know having a valentine means something different to each person. It as even meant something different to me throughout the years. 

 The one thing I remember about EVERY Valentine's Day growing up is the card that my dad gave each of us every year. He would hand pick them for each of us kids and my mom. It wasn't extravagant or expensive but it meant the world to me. That is how I want Lynlee to remember this day. 

We started the celebration a little early this year thanks to Josh. Monday evening Lynlee and I came home from FL to find a little scavenger hunt in the house with two recorded Valentines from our Valentine! It was so sweet!!! 

Lynlee's favorite toys right now are her stuffed animals. 

So daddy knew the way to Lynlee's heart!

Unfortunately Lynlee spent her first Valentine's day at the doctor 

getting a flew shot :( 

Since she did so good we rewarded her with a trip to 

Krispy Kreme! 

We then went to lunch at 

Firehouse subs (mommy and daddy's favorite). 

We then had to drop daddy back at the office where he was getting our surprise for him!!! 

Took these pics wile we were in FL and 

I put them in a collage frame for daddy. 

Lynlee is wearing the outfit Josh got for her last Valentines day! 

He loved it!

Christmas 2011 Video

For Lynlee's First Christmas we  spent a few days in Asheboro  with Josh's parents and His  sister's family . We then traveled  to Florida to spend Christmas  with my family . This was my  first Christmas In Jacksonville .  We spent part of our  vacation down  there since mom couldn't travel  to North Carolina  (like we usually do)  because of her hip surgery.  Here are a few highlights  of our 2011 Christmas Vacation!

Another digital slideshow by Smilebox

Lynlees first christmas

 I Look forward to this time of year each year but this year was especially exciting because it was "Lynlee and me" (and daddy's) ;) first Christmas as a family of three! This Christmas was filled with firsts not only for Lynlee but for Josh and I as well. 

Lets begin with our first attempt to make 

our own handprint ornament!

This was our first try.... and definitely not the last!

She hasn't got the creative bug 

just yet!

FYI:

 If you try to do this with a five month old we found that painting her hand instead of putting the hand in paint works the best :)

Lynlee and daddy are glad that this is done...for this year. ;)

O Christmas Tree!

O Christmas Tree!

After we picked out our tree the tree lot worker strapped it onto the top of our Ford Escape.... Well lets just say we didn't go too far until Lynlee's first Christmas tree landed in the middle of Peters Creek Parkway!

Cars had to dodge not only our tree but Josh as he was trying to rescue it before it got hit by a car! Josh and the tree survived without hardly a scratch!

Our first Ornament as a 

family of 3

Pinterest, O how I love thee!!

How many of you are obsessed with Pinterest?

I am!

I was determined to make something that I saw off there for someone for Christmas this year. So me and my sister decided on Scrabble ornaments for my mom and dad . 

Since my mom LOVES scrabble we thought this would be a cute gift from the grandchildren. It was super easy and turned out super cute. I made five, each with the grand-kids names on them. 

They all looked great on mom's tree!

Here is Lynlee's ornament. 

Lynlee's First Operation Christmas Child

I have always been about traditions and this year Josh and I have decided on starting a few of our own family Christmas traditions. We started with the Operation Christmas Child. Lynlee probably won't remember shopping this year or even packing up the shoe box but hopefully this will be something she looks forward to doing every Christmas.

Lynlee's First Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving like we always do in Jacksonville, FL with both my family and Josh's family. This year for Lynlee's first Thanksgiving was a little out of the ordinary. Lynlee and I came a little early with Granny to help take care of my mom after her hip replacement surgery. Very thankful that my mom made it through the surgery successfully and is healing great! 

We always have a big gathering at my parents house. 

This year Josh's family couldn't join us because of  some sickness in the family and my brother and his wife and kids were spending Thanksgiving in Tampa with my sister n laws family.  Although it was a little smaller gathering this year, it was still memorable one and lots of fun.

Jackson Vorphal

Lynlee started her first Thanksgiving watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade with me and Josh and then enjoyed some sweet potatoes for her first Thanksgiving meal. 

Maybe next ear she can try some turkey!