What we've been up to...

Taking bubble baths with cousins...

Making sidewalk chalk...

Playing in cowboy boots...

Watching movies...

Trying on my old wedding dress that was stored in my sister's attic...

Going out to dinner to celebrate my sister's 32nd birthday...

Taking my sister's Zumba class and getting a great, fun workout...

Making huge pallets in the living room floor...

Having "picnics" in the floor with only the healthiest snacks... :-)

Going to Bass Pro Shop to see the animals...

We have been having lots of fun so far!!

Park and Mamaw's Birthday

Christmas Eve was Francis' birthday so we celebrated with a yummy lunch at Cracker Barrel. Chicken n' Dumplins, green beans, hasbrown casserole and biscuits. A true southern meal and it was so good!

Mamaw and Papaw

Cole requested I take his picture while he ate honey. He and his daddy love some honey!

A recent trip to the park last week before the cold and snow hit!

Our Christmas

Cole and I had a good Christmas despite Jonathan being gone. God has blessed us so much and we are so thankful for all the past Christmases we have gotten to spend together.

We started Christmas morning out at Jonathan's parents house, went to lunch at his aunt's house and then headed to my sister's house for dinner with my family (my sisters, mom, stepdad and dad).

Just woke up and was checking it all out

Sporting his Bama helmet (it came with a uniform and ball too). He also got an Alabama tackle buddy, but that will have to be blown up after we get back.

Drums!


Playing the keyboard at his new table from Mamaw and Papaw

Mommy and Cole

Mamaw and Cole

Riding on Uncle Josh's shoulders and pulling his hair

Jonathan's parents, brother Josh and his girlfriend Jamie and his sister Misty with her husband Chris. And a pouty face Cole. ;-)

Cole's great grandma Grammer (Francis' mom)

My sisters!

Steph and I with our dad

Hope you had a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! We are counting down the days until the beginning of February when our family will be reunited!!

Family Fun

Just some of what we have been doing while in Alabama...

Getting spun around...

and around by Uncle Jay

Roxy chillaxin' with Maclaire...she has gotten tons of attention here!

Making fudge with Aunt Misty and Pawpaw

Misty, Grandma Grammer and Cole

Riding the same horse Jonathan rode as a child

Visiting the BEST stadium ever! Bryant-Denney

This picture just makes me happy! So many good memories here!

We have had a great visit so far and are looking forward to the rest of our stay here in the land of the beautiful!

Birmingham Zoo

We took a trip last week to the Birmingham Zoo. What a welcome change to be in a place where it is warm enough to go to the zoo in December and to have family with us.

Cole of course loved it and still says the tiger is his favorite animal!

Checking out the squirrel monkeys

Mommy and Cole


Posing with a huge big Al

Passed out on the way home with a cheese puff still in his hand. :-)

Uncle Gosh

Cole is loving having his Uncle Josh (aka Uncle Gosh to Cole) to play with. When we first got to Jonathan's parents house Cole was stuck to him like glue. Unfortunately he is in Pensacola right now for his internship, but he will back for Christmas. To Cole, Josh is probably one of the next best things to his dad so I can understand why he liked him so much.

Cole giving me a silly face.

Matchbox cars! These were all Jonathan and Josh's from when they were little. Francis has saved them (along with legos, books, etc.) and I think it is great! I plan to save some of Cole's toys too so he can pass them on one day to his children.

Morning at the mall

On Thursday morning Cole and I headed to the Galleria to meet Jonathan's sister Misty at the mall. She was in town for a quick visit so this was a good meeting spot.

Waiting in line for the carousel.


Cole wanted to ride Rudolph. Not sure this is actually Rudolph, but to him it was.

Cole and Papaw. Cole was tired and not in the best mood that day, as you can tell by this picture.

We also went to Build a Bear so Cole could make his first animal. He chose a monkey which is very fitting. I like monkeys and apparently Cole does too so it was a good choice.

About to help stuff the monkey.

Picking out a heart for the monkey.



And bathing him too.

Leaving the store with his monkey. He even got a cute Alabama hat to wear because all monkeys wear Bama hats, or they should anyway. :=)

We had a good morning, but Cole was getting tired and ornary so it was time to go!

Pump It Up

I took Cole to Pump it Up on Wednesday so he could burn some energy. I would love to have a place like this close to home that we could go to. It only about 20 minutes from my sister's ho-use so I am thinking we will go back a few more times we before head back home.

Here we are before heading out. Aunt Steph spiked his hair for him so he could look like daddy.

Peek a boo!


In the obstacle course together.

Going down the slide. He/we (I went with him almost every time) climbed up and went down this slide no less than 50 times. Pretty sure I got a decent workout in that day.

We are enjoying our time here in Alabama and the opportunity to spend time with family. I really love the south and am reminded why everytime I come home!