January 2012

There are only two days left in this month and it has gone by so fast! 

Here are some things that have been going on. 

I personally have been pretty busy this month. 

I am...

 Still participating in MOPS at a local church 

Serving on the nursery team at church and helping get some things in place

Started attending a Chronological Women's Bible Study at a local church. I am already enjoying it and already learning so much. 

I am meeting with a young lady every week and going through a book with her. 

Trying to fit in play dates as much as I can to hang out with other moms. 

Jess and I are still hosting a life group in our home every Monday night. The group has grown so much this past month and we are so excited for the new families that have started attending. We were consistently having 12 people in attendance (4 families) for the last 3 or 4 months and now we are up to 23 to 25 people every Monday.

I have been working on a little get together we are having in memory of Will for his first birthday.Of course the theme for the get together is pinwheels, so I have been enjoying making paper pinwheels. Here is a sneak peak.

Other events that have happened in January...

Jess and I went on a little getaway to Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge. We left Canon at home with Jess's parents. We left on a Thursday morning and came back Friday evening. We enjoyed eating out, shopping, walking all around Gatlinburg, a trip to the aquarium, a game of miniature golf, and staying in a cabin. We had a wonderful time laughing, spending one on one time together, and just talking. We love going to new places. We have been married 4.5 years and we have taken so many overnight trips, that is one thing I love about our marriage/family. I am also very thankful for a thoughtful husband who plans things for me. 

The aquarium was really neat. This is right before I touched a stingray (my first experience).

Inside the room we stayed in. We really enjoyed the view and the wood burning fireplace.

The view from our room.

Getting ready in the morning. I am not sure what I was looking at. :)

The cabin we stayed in.

We took Canon bowling for the first time. I need to get the pictures off of Jess's phone some day. 

We had movie night as a family. We watched Winnie the Pooh while eating our favorite snack - popcorn. Canon still doesn't sit still for very long during movies, but it's still fun.

Christmas Part 2

Christmas at the McNeils

On Wednesday morning (Dec. 28th) we headed to my parent's house. We were also celebrating my grandparent's 70th Wedding Anniversary, so we had a lot of family coming in to my parent's as well. It was so good to see one of my cousins I hadn't seen in years. She was able to bring a few of her children with her as well. She has a four month old, so Canon being the baby lover he is, loved having Asher around. I also enjoyed seeing my aunts, uncles, and grandparents and catching up with them. 

Canon had been talking about riding the 4-wheeler for FOUR weeks (he rode it at Thanksgiving too), so that is one of the first things Jess took him to do. 

On Thursday night we were able to open presents with my parents and my sister's family. We did the traditional reading of the bible and opening each present one at a time. This is a tradition that I actually really like. :) 

My sister, brother in law, and niece

Taking a break while opening gifts

Taking turns holding Asher

On Saturday we celebrated my grandparent's 70th Wedding Anniversary at the church I grew up in. They are the sweetest couple and still so in love. 

My niece and my granddad

Mother with her daughters

We had a wonderful time with my family. Thank you McNeil family for wonderful memories! 

Christmas Part 1

On Christmas day we headed to church in the morning. After church we headed home to eat leftovers from Christmas Eve's lunch and opened presents before Canon napped. I loved that we were able to have some time together as a family on Christmas day. We also had a stocking full of gifts for a needy family in Will's stocking. We enjoyed seeing it by the tree and explaining to Canon all about it. 

After Canon's nap we packed up our car for the week and heading to visit Will's grave, then headed to Jess's parents which thankfully only live 45 minutes away. This is the first Christmas in four years we haven't had to hop on a plane and carefully plan all of our gifts so they will fit in suitcases. It was nice. 

Will's grave on Christmas day. 

We had a wonderful few days at the Rainer's. All of Jess's brothers were in town, so it was fun to be around everyone. All the daughter in laws cooked Christmas dinner on Monday evening. On Tuesday we all went to the Opryland Ice exhibit. We always play a game as a family one of the evenings, so Tuesday evening we played and had lots of laughs. On Wednesday we all headed out. 

Trying to get a sister in law picture. Ha! 

Thank you Rainer family for a wonderful time!

Funnies

Canon talks pretty well and most of the time we can understand him. He seems to be pretty witty and we are really enjoying what he says (for now anyway).

Some things he has been saying that are funny to us.

• Upt for up
• "Look mommy, cars running." We were sitting in our car and he was watching the cars drive by
• He has been putting "so much" on the end of his sentences. "Thank you so much" and "Love you so much" ;)
• Yelling "BEEP BEEP" as an older woman was backing up in her powered wheel chair at the grocery store
• When he is running or throwing a ball he says, "Two One Five".
• Old McDonald is called the "Duck Duck Song".
• An older woman with white hair waved and said hello to Canon at the grocery store. Canon looked up with a smile, waved, and said, "Hi Grandma". His grandma's do not have white hair, not even close. He's a character. 
• We are now in the stage of "What's that?" and "What you doing mommy?". These questions are asked many many times a day. :) 

I know I am forgetting some, but these are a good start.

Rachel

2011 in Review

A recap of our year.

Not sure why some pictures are all over the place.

January

Moved to our new home in TN from NC

Unpacked and starting preparation for Will's arrival

Had our first preview service for  Grace Church

February

Toughest month of our lives to date

Welcomed and said goodbye to our son, William Thomas

Lots of family and friends in town

March

Canon dropped down to one nap

Visited our dear friends in Alabama

Took a trip to IL to see my parents

April

One of my dearest friends, Chalise and her baby girl came for a visit. So good to see her and catch up.

I left Canon for the first time (well besides being in the hospital) to go a friend's wedding in IL

Went to your first Easter hunt

Celebrated Jess's 26th Birthday with a a little get-away for the first time since C was born

Our church plant launched this month

May

Canon's first trip to a zoo - The Nashville Zoo

Trip to IL to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday. Saw lots of family I hadn't seen in years.

Aunt Erin and Maggie came for a few days

June

Celebrated four years of marriage

Trip to Phoenix for the Southern Baptist Convention. All the Rainer's vacationed together! So fun!

Trip to Murray for Maggie's 1st Birthday

Our friend Robin and her son Elijah came for a visit from NC. Very much enjoyed our time together.

July

Went to the pool numerous times. Canon loved the water and mastered the baby slide.

4th of July - Went to a festival with Jess's parents where we saw a parade and a petting zoo.

Canon's first boat ride out on the lake

Trip to IL to go to the 4-H Livestock Fair where I used to show livestock for years. Canon loved it!

                                                                     August

Canon's 2nd trip to the beach. Went to Cape San Blas, FL and vacationed with both sets of grandparents. We had such a wonderful time!

Canon had his first day of school - Mother's Day Out!

Jess and I went to a Titan's Football Game

Remembered our Will at the 6 month mark of his death

September

Took Canon to ride Thomas the Train. A wonderful family day!

Canon got invited and went to his first big boy birthday party at Monkey Joes

Jess performed his first wedding ceremony for one of his best friends. My mom kept Canon while we went to KY for the weekend! So good to catch up with old friends from college and see our sister in law and niece!

October

Celebrated Canon's 2nd Birthday!!

Went to the pumpkin patch

Went to Ridgecrest where Jess had his first solo speaking engagement about his book

I went to NC for a conference and had a wonderful time hanging out with old co-workers and friends from seminary!

Brought cupcakes to Canon's Mother's Day Out class for his birthday.

Trip to IL for a wedding. Canon's first wedding.

Canon's 1st experience with trick or treating

First family movie night - watched Rio with popcorn

November

( didn't take many pictures this month )

Canon's 1st haircut ever!

Jess and I painted some walls in our house

Attended a Remembrance Service in
honor of Will

Jess and Canon started "guy time" once a week and still do it every week

Celebrated Thanksgiving with both sides of the family. First time with my family in 4 years



December

ER visit with Canon. He was very sick with pneumonia, bronchitis, strep throat, and the list goes on.

Canon finally started taking longer naps again!

Mam-aw (my mom) came for a visit

Attended lots of Christmas parties

Went to the ICE exhibit at Opryland twice

Took a trip to see Santa for the first time


Had a wonderful Christmas with both sides of the family.