Snowed In!

Well the blizzard of January 2011 has come and gone. Halle has been studying natural disasters in school and she was convinced we had a blizzard. It feels like we are just now getting into a routine now after the Christmas break. We missed 3 1/2 days of school. Cade started out throwing up, then Halle and Gracie ended up with the flu. Now I'm sick----I'm so sick of winter! We did manage to get outside though and enjoy the snow.


Cade and his pride and joy! The Gamecock football!
Cade and momma.....

Halle and Gracie

Halle and Cade!

Christmas 2010/New Year's 2011

Christmas has come and gone and it was a GREAT 2 weeks at home w/ the family! It is always the hardest break to recover from b/c it's just enough time to really enjoy and get used to being at home, and then it's BACK TO REALITY! Plus, it's winter, cold, dreary, and I'm not fan of cold weather. And it's a long haul til spring break---the good news is spring is around the corner! So in the meantime we have basketball to keep us busy and the kids love it! Sadly, no real photos of Christmas morning, but it was the traditional Christmas day. We woke up and celebrated, went to Gram's and celebrated, had lunch w/ the Wilson crew, and followed up w/ Christmas with my family. The kids brought in the New Year in a BIG way. They spent the night w/ their Gram and Grandaddy and had a big ole' time as you can see. Chase and I spent the evening w/ only adults. It was a little weird, but nice! It's always nice to have a child-free evening but it also reminds me of how quiet it will be when they are grown and gone---it will be a happy day b/c I know they are going to do amazing things and I can't wait to see what they accomplish. But at the same time, when you've spent years chasing, running, fussing, praising, teaching, helping, nursing, loving....I'm not real sure how you just stop, or at least stop it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Gracie, Jules, Gram, and Halle

All 5 of the cousins!

Crazy man Cade!

Apparently there was a show!

Watching the ball drop!

Grandaddy and Cade

Halle's 9th Birthday!

Happy 9th Birthday Halle Kathleen Wilson! It doesn't seem possible that you have been with us for that long. With each day you become more and more like a little lady. You are so dedicated to everything you do and it makes me so proud. There is no doubt that you are going to accomplish so much! In school you work so hard and are so smart. You have sweet friends that you cherish and that you love to be around. You have a brother and sister that truly adore and look up to you. And goodness knows you all fight, but with that being said, they are always one step behind you waiting for the next direction to follow your lead, especially Gracie. She looks up to you so much and I'm so glad. So here is to another great year watching you grow and blossom into such a beautiful little girl!
Halle at 3 years old...she loves horses! She actually has on her Christmas list that she wants a real one for Christmas this year. She said we could put it in the laundry room at night when it's cold!
And there's Halle with Gracie right by her side!

Oh how you used to love Dora!

Halle, Cade, and Gracie! Unique in their own ways.......but they love life!

Happy 7th Birthday Gracie!

To think that this baby girl is 7 years old is amazing to me!

Love that sisterly love!

Emma Grace Wilson, came into this world at 4:05 am, QUICKLY. After an evening of labor at home I barely made it to the hospital and was literally waiting on the doctor to get upstairs. He had parked his car in the loop and left his emergency lights on. Literally I think I gave one big push and then welcomed that sweet face into the world. Nothing has been the same since. I brought her home and thought ‘babies are supposed to sleep.’ Not Gracie…..she really wasn’t a fan of sleep. Or at least not at night. Most of you that know me have heard of countless stories of “Gracie…….” There is no question that she’s the child that pushes the limit w/ everything. She does everything BIG. She loves big, hurts big, tries big……..everything! This kid is going to do great things in her life. She is smart, tough, tenacious, determined, kind, and loving! She can light up a room w/ those big eyes and that big smile. And I know she’s going to break some hearts too. I’m sure she’ll break mine a few times, but thankfully, she’s mine and I’m not going anywhere.

Go Gamecocks!

The family took a trip the Columbia this past Saturday to watch the Gamecocks WIN big against Troy. I'm not sure they've ever won a game by that many points. Cade was literally in heaven. He never missed a play and would've stayed to watch 4 more quarters if he could have. All day from 9:00 to 5:00 we were outside tailgating, walking around, or in the stadium. Not one complaint from anyone 8 and under.....it was bliss! I'm not sure if these little ones will be Gamecocks one day or not, but they sure look cute in those Carolina colors. Of course in my opinion, they'd look cute in just about anything. It was a perfect day!

Gracie cheering them on!

Cade, very concerned!

This is just priceless!

The Gamecock Club!

Silly girls!

So, I guess we'll have to wait til next year to attend another Gamecock game. Until then......GO COCKS!

All Aboard the Polar Express

Last weekend we went to Bryson City to ride the Polar Express.....the grandparents, cousins, and all! We had a blast.

A picture of the kiddos before the "hot chocolate dance."

Gracie finding a seat w/ a hot chocolate dancer! Go figure!

A rare family photo!

Probably this year's Christmas card!

While shopping Gracie found a Birthday crown that she felt led for me to purchase....I didn't. Notice the 3 teeth gone. She pulled all 3 in one day. Only Gracie!

And the shopping queen herself finding a perfect winter hat. This kid gets better everyday w/ her mature and sweet self. I know it's her age and that she's maturing...she says the funniest most adult things.

So thankful for a relaxing fun weekend w/ no laundry, housework, school work, yard work, etc. to deal with. Just lots of laughs and giggles, and a few times STOP, but for the most part, everyone was great. This is always a special time of year with lots of fun memories to be made! Childhood---they truly live, love, and laugh each day!

Soccer 2010

Look out!

2.....3.....4

Love a group photo!

Soccer is well underway and the Wilson's love it....even mom and dad! Usually we can be seen running from one field to the next because typically 2 of the games overlap. Fortunately, the fields are usually close together. Cade is a real scoring machine.....I can't get over how hard he plays, how fast he is, and how determined his facial expressions are. It's really amazing to watch, and I'm not just saying that as his mom, really, I'm not! Gracie isn't as fast as Cade but she is so agile, graceful, and good w/ her feet. Her league is more competitive so she has to work a little harder to get the ball in the goal. And then there's sweet Halle. She is such a coachable kid! She says every game "well, it's much harder in my age group to score, it's more competitive." Smart, she is! Halle is less aggressive, and not quite sure of the sport. She doesn't really 'hunt' the ball down like the other two, but one beauty of a girl she is! She enjoys soccer, and that's all that matters to me!

At night, when it's finally quiet, I love thinking about how unique they each are in their own special way. Cade: high on life, always making somebody laugh, and spends hours with a ball in his hand, either throwing it up in the air and diving into the couch OR making plays in the yard. Gracie......SO intuitive and worried about every little detail, yet physically strong, athletic, eager to please, and compassionate about what others think and loves to be praised! Her eyes can light up a room and boy does she look up to her big sister. And then there's Halle.....the leader, the oldest, could probably take care of them all while I went to work. Maturing so much and such a pleasure to always be around....Happy, caring, hard working, helpful. All different, but in good ways, independent--yet usually together. What a blessing it is to watch them grow up!