Six Months and...YOU'RE OUT!

From the looks of my blog roll, it appears that some of my Blogger buddies have permanently deserted me! My guess is that they are all trolling around Facebook, and won't be coming back anytime soon. I get depressed every time I see the amount of time that has passed since many have posted, so I have made an "executive" decision. Any blogger that has not posted within the previous six month period will be removed from my blog list. That sounds like a very executive decision to me (hey...a woman has to be in control of something...even if it is just a blog!). I will be replacing those names with more frequent bloggers. Some I know well, others just have blogs that interest me and may interest my readers. So...if you lurk around Greg and Stephanie's blog and find that your name was removed from the list, please don't take offense...it just means that you are half-a-year late, and I'm tired of looking at old news! :)
Happy Christmas Eve!

Another December Mishap

On the final full academic day before Christmas vacation, Evan had the misfortune of stepping in a hole and badly spraining his ankle. When they carried him into my classroom, I could tell he was really hurting. As time progressed, his pain level increased, and he couldn't move his joint at all. I carried him...yes, he's almost as tall as me, so I grabbed him around the waist and lifted...not a pretty sight, but it worked, and we got him to the van. I took him to the E.R. and they took 2-1/2hours to take a couple of x-rays and tell us that he would be ok in a few weeks. With an ace wrap, air cast, and a set of crutches, he has been maneuvering around quite nicely, and with only minimal frustration.

Three days later, still swollen and now a little green and blue (doesn't show up in the pic, for whatever reason).

I'm hoping that all will heal well and that he won't suffer from this in the future. Evan is a very energetic, athletic boy, and he doesn't deal well with sitting around, especially during the first real snowfall of the season!

Happy 27th Birthday, Megan!

We celebrated Megan's birthday at Cracker Barrel, and had a great meal and nice time of relaxation...if that's what you want to call it. Lol! As you read through the post, you'll get a sense of how the evening progressed.
Although Allison has been doing very well in the potty training process, I usually keep a diaper on her. We are away from home most of the time, and accidents aren't really an option, so I play it safe. This particular day, I decided to allow her to wear her little panties while we went out on the town. She went to the restroom several times during the meal, and those potty times weren't always productive. Finally, we began to think she was looking at it as a way to get out of her high chair, and paid less attention to her when she asked. More on that later.

Livvy lookin' so cute...


Suzy too...


By the looks on these little faces...


...we should have known what was coming.


Papa enjoying a little "Suzanna time"...wish I had recorded her giggle. It was adorable!


Just had to show off my gift wrap...I absolutely love this stuff! Silver, hot pink, red, and black...this pic doesn't do it justice, but you get the idea!


Every girl needs a Butler Bag!


Oh yeah, and kitchen stuff...that might come in handy, too! This is to go with her Kitchen Aid that she received for Christmas...

Suzanna was spotted eating something under the table. After further investigation, we found that she had snuck between Greg and I, and taken the remainder of my pecan pie (probably 1/3 of a slice) off of my plate. She was having fun squishing it all over herself and the floor, and tasting a little here and there as well!


Will thought he'd like a little attention also, so he spit the contents of his last bottle all over my arm...do I see a hint of a smile on his little chubby cheeks?


...and while we were cleaning up that mess, Allison decided she really did have to go potty, and she wasn't going to wait on us to take her. Urine and pecan pie don't mix well...

Ugh!
So, we hope Megan will always remember her 27th birthday...we tried to make it one she'd never forget! Ha!

Nichols' Family Christmas 2009

Don't judge the photo...we worked hard for this one!


So inviting...

Patiently passing the time...

Not quite as patient...

Cute cousins Kaitlynn and Aubrey...

Listening to the boys recite a portion of Luke 2...

Will wasn't worried about a thing!

In awe of each gift...

Livvy (not feeling so well) during the "dollar hunt" (see stephanieburley.blogspot.com)

Mama dividing the dollars after the hunt...

The gang...

The logistics of our family Christmas celebration this year were somewhat simpler due to everyone living within a 125 mile radius! I don't know how many years it will be this way, but we'll enjoy it while it lasts! We were able to gather late after work on Friday and enjoy Saturday and Sunday together. Each year the house seems to become more alive by the addition of new little ones...not sure how many more years that will happen either, but it's great for now!
This was the first of at least three family reunions we will be attending this year, and spreading them out seems to make the season last longer and helps to keep us from being so rushed.
We hope you are taking time to savor the lights, the music, the children, and the Saviour who came to bring us life.

This truly is the 'most wonderful time of the year'! We have done a few fun things so far this season, including Bluffton's Blaze of Lights opening parade. Even though it was in the 40's that evening, we were freezing and had to leave a little before the parade ended. We warmed up at KFC (enjoyed the buffet, too!), and then took a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Waiting our turn...



Kaitlynn's first visit of the season with her favorite couple...

Part of our attempt to keep warm!

A little "Will time"...

This pic cracks me up! If you zoom in, you can see what looks to be a very michievous grin on Aubrey's face. Mom had just finished taking video of she and Allison in what appeared to be a real catfight!

The Burley girls were havin' a really bad hair day!

He looks just like his daddy did!