Ho, Ho, Ho...Merry Christmas!

Clayton really wanted to take this picture of him as the bubble bathtub Santa - so funny! The others were going to do it too, but somehow (Kaylee), the hat ended up in the tub and was ruined. So, Clayton was our only Santa!

Gingerbread Houses ~ December 3, 2009

Ahhh, the ever fun gingerbread house making event in the McDonald house! This year, we found a kit that included a village - 5 houses - perfect for our family of five! Everyone got one house each to make however you wanted. Kevin did not want to make one (he was out of town), so we just made four. We used lots of icing and candy, took pictures of them, and then quickly ate them all up - yummy! One of our many Christmas memory making traditions.

Santa and Her Reindeer ~ December 3, 2009

The kids are so cute to let me put antlers on them and a Santa hat while smiling until I get the best shot! They loved it! I call it Santa and her reindeer.

Our Christmas Tree

Our 4 kids :)

Putting on the ornaments

In front of the fireplace

November 30, 2009

We decide to just do the kid tree this year instead of our big tree. The kids got to put on the ornaments all by themselves! It has a bit of a Charlie Brown look, but we love it just the same!

Hilton Head Island Thanksgiving Week

Our balcony at Waterside by Spinnaker on Hilton Head Island, SC.

We got to visit the Harbour Town Golf Links course - home of the Verizon Heritage tournament. Kevin and the boys love to visit famous golf courses!

Me and the kids at Harbour Town on the Island.

Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum

Pelicans

That is our yacht behind the boys - HA! Just kidding - there were so many and they were so big and beautiful!

We had a swimming pool they call a bathtub in our condo and Kaylee immediately called dibs on first bubble bath!

While on a day trip to Savannah, GA, we ate at the famous Pirate's House. It was built long ago when pirates would come into port and need a place to stay, then became a restaurant and is believed to be haunted by all the rowdy pirates who once stayed. Many of the workers have some good ghost stories but we saw nothing haunted while there.

Pirate Clayton

Argghhh! - Pirate Nicholas

Kevin and the kids on the Fort Pulaski National Monument drawbridge - entering the fort. This is in Savannah, GA on the river.

The powder room inside the fort.

The cannons that pointed outside to take out intruders.

A side view of the Fort.

The kids on the upper level of the Salty Dog restaurant on the Island - another famous eatery.

"Jake" - the dog of the Captain of the Salty Dog (a boat that sank long ago)

The kids on one of the beaches of Hilton Head Island, SC - right on the Atlantic Ocean. We stayed in the sand this trip since it was a bit chilly!

my beach cuties!

November 23 - 27, 2009

We took advantage of having a week off and headed for Hilton Head Island the week of Thanksgiving. We missed out on getting to see family, but did enjoy our time together. One last hoorah before Kevin starts his new job in Tampa, FL and we stay behind to sell the house.

Disney on Ice ~ November 4, 2009

Kaylee and her friend, Lauren

My friend, Gayle, and I took our girls to go see Disney on Ice while they were here in Birmingham, AL. It was a journey through 100 years of all the Disney Magic. The girls loved getting a princess snocone, a princess cotton candy, and a princess light that swirled around in the dark! Gayle and I enjoyed it too.

Clayton's 4th grade Field Trip to Montgomery, AL

We visited "Old Alabama Town" an area dedicated to teaching about things were done long ago.

This was an old schoolhouse that taught K-12 all in the same building.

An old "shotgun"house - they say if you stand at the front door and shoot a shotgun towards the back of the house - the bullet would go straight through.

The Governor's Mansion - built in 1907.

Clayton

Although you can not see the detail in this small photo - the ceiling was amazing! Very detailed and intricate with molding. This is the dining room in the mansion.

Some of the fourth graders in front of the State Capitol Building in Montgomery, AL. The shadow was over them, so the picture was darker than I would like.

An amazing architectural marvel! This stair case was designed over 100 years ago by a former slave working on the capitol at the time.

A bell outside the Capitol.

The Fourth graders took a day trip to Montgomery, AL to give them first hand experience with the state's history. I was able to be a chaperon and loved getting to learn all about Alabama with Clayton! 2009