Christmas Festivities

Birthday Extravaganza!

Well not quite, but it was a wonderful evening. Thanks to all my friends and husband who made it a special day.

I even had help with my candles!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends.

We love each of you very much!

Christmas Fun

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!! Just copy this entire post and paste it into your own post. Change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then tag someone else!

If you haven't already done this, consider yourself tagged!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper - I love to wrap gifts and pretty presents under the tree is one of my favorite things about Christmas.

2. Real or artificial tree? We had an artificial tree growing up because my dad and I are both allergic to real ones. But Gene always had a real tree and thinks it is very important SO we will compromise when the boys are old enough and have a real tree so they can have the experience of picking out a Christmas tree.

3. When do you put up the tree? As soon as possible after Thanksgiving

4. When do you take the tree down? New Years Day if we are not too busy

5. Do you like eggnog? It's okay, it's kind of a family tradition so I usually have a little.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? The gift I remember getting the most excited about was my first pair of tall riding boots.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a couple. But I would really like to have the Willow Tree nativity scene.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Probably my dad

9. Easiest person to buy for? Gene

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can't think of one

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A White Christmas - I love old movies

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? It just depends. I start picking things up as soon as I know what I want to buy.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? All of the Christmas goodies - cookies, pies, buckeyes, chocolate covered pretzels, etc.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear/white

17. Favorite Christmas song? Oh Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Gene and I have always traveled, but this year everyone will be coming to us. Once the boys are born I think it is very important that they wake up Chistmas morning at our house, so we may not be traveling again for awhile.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? dasher,dancer,prancer,vixen,comet,cupid,donner,blitzen,RUDOLPH

20. What's on the tree top? A gold star with red and green crystals

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas morning? Growing up we usually opened one gift Christmas Eve - it was usually pajamas.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Trying to accomodate both families

23. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? No, we have many different ornaments collected from our childhood and everywhere we have traveled. However, I try to unify the tree with ribbon and a collection of red and gold ornaments.

24. What do/did you leave for Santa? Cookies and milk

25. What were any traditions you had growing up? We usually spent Christmas at home. We would always go to the Christmas Eve service, eat dinner and then open one gift. Then we would watch a Christmas movie, usually A White Christmas. Christmas Day was the usual, open gifts, have a big meal, etc. We always would sing Happy Birthday to Jesus that night and have Angel Food cake for His birthday cake.

Sunday School Shower

Last weekend we were so blessed by the girls in my Sunday School class who held a shower for me and the boys. It was at the home of a great friend and she was an amazing hostess. The food was delicious and the flowers and decorations were gorgeous! All of the girls were so generous, I appreciate it so much! I even had some great friends and family members from out of town come to the shower. It was so wonderful to get to spend some time with them as well. Thank you so much everyone. I love and appreciate each one of you so much!

Thanksgiving in New York!

First Baby Shower

A couple of weeks ago, two good friends of the soon-to-be grandmothers threw a shower for me and the boys. It was so much fun and really overwhelming to be surrounding by so much love and support. We received so many awesome presents. I think the nursery is full already! Gene and his dad even showed up when it was over to help load up the car and taste all of the yummy food. I think I could eat a million petits-fours. They are my favorite!

Fun with OKW

OKW is the daughter of our good friends and we just love this sweet little girl. I can hardly believe she is almost 9 mos. old. She has grown and changed so much! Everytime we get to hang out with her we have such a good time. Here a few pictures from the last time she came over to play.

What a face!

My first big project

Typically, I would not blog about work. However, I am really excited about this, so I thought I would share. Last year our office started working with SCE&G in Columbia to design a new Operations Support Center Building. This was the first major project I got to work on and now it is complete. We had a photographer head down there for a photo shoot and below are just a few samples of the pictures. These are some interior and exterior views of the cafeteria. It is so awesome to see my ideas go from drawings to reality!

NYC here we come!

We have been planning a trip to the Big Apple for the week of Thanksgiving for quite some time. Unfortunately we were not sure that I was going to be able to travel. However, yesterday the doctor told us that everything looks great and we are good to go. I am so excited! We have such a fun week planned with dinners at amazing restaurants, Broadway shows, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and so much more. We leave two weeks from today and I can't wait!

Fall Festival

This past Sunday our church hosted it's annual Fall Festival. It is such a great outreach to the community with games, tons of blow up activities and yummy food! There were over 2000 people there. Our Sunday School class volunteered to run a blow up obstacle course and slide. It was so fun to see all the kids in their costumes. Everyone had a great time!

Gene and me on the Atlantis

"to infiminy and beyond!"

Doctor Appointments

I have been a complete blog slacker lately. Unfortunately there has just not been anything worthwhile to write about. Our lives are completely occupied by working during the day and trying to get the nursery ready at night. Oh, and once a week, or every other week, there is a doctor's appointment thrown in there.

One of the joys about having twins is that you are considered "high risk". So, not only do I have to go to my regular OB, but I have to see a specialist too and they each want to see me about every three weeks. So, it basically seems like we live at the doctor's office.

While this is somewhat of an inconvenience, there are some definite benefits. I am such a worrier that it is so nice to be able to see those babies up on the screen, I have an ultrasound at every appointment. I love seeing their heartbeats and getting to see with my own eyes that they are doing well and everything is going great. God is so good. Every time we see a new ultrasound, or have a test done everything comes back perfectly normal. I just feel so blessed and unworthy that we will have not one, but two baby boys. Please just continue to pray for their development, health and safety.

Here are a few pictures from the latest appointment:

Twin "B" profile

Boys will be boys!

"B" kicking "A" in the head

Flowers

As many of you know, my husband is the BEST when it comes to giving me flowers. I love fresh flowers and he always makes sure that I have a pretty bouquet to display. Well, since it was our anniversary yesterday he really outdid himself and showed up with the most gorgeous arrangement I have ever seen. It was so creative and artistic and I was so impressed. Here are a couple pictures for you to enjoy too!

Two Years!

It is so hard to believe that two years ago today Gene and I were married. Time has really flown by and so much has changed. These past two years have really been wonderful and it seems that it just gets better and better as time goes by. We are so blessed in so many ways that I think I will list a few of them: A loving and supportive family, amazing friends, great jobs, a cute little house, good health, the best puppy, and two boys on the way!

To celebrate we are going to have a quiet evening to relax and reminisce. We are going to visit the site of our wedding, the proposal, and dinner at our favorite hamburger place, Mac's Drive-In. It should be such a fun and relaxing evening!

I love you Gene! Happy Anniversary!

Boys!

In little boys' pockets

you will find....
marbles, baseball cards,

pennies that shine.
But these don't compare to the
treasures you find in little
boys' hearts & little boys' minds.

What a joy to know that soon I will be the mother to two sweet little boys!

A fun weekend in Atlanta

This past weekend we went to Atlanta to visit my college roommate Katie and her husband. It was SO hot, but we had such a great time hanging out and catching up.

Saturday we went to the Braves game where Gene got to see a couple of guys he played against while in college.

Good friends are such a blessing. We are fortunate to have made so many here, especially after joining TFBC. But, it is always fun to get together with old friends, especially when you can pick up right where you left off.

A Little History.....

Gene and I met at church when we were freshman in high school. What else can I say, it was love at first sight!

In October of 2004 Gene proposed and a year later we were married!

In July of 2007 we were thrilled to find out that we are expecting, about a month later we were shocked to learn that it is TWINS!