Happy Birthday, Maggie!!

May your life always be as bouncy, full of laughs, and happy as you are, little one.

We love you--Anna, William, JuJu and Daddy Bill

Snow Day = Snow FUN!

Yesterday morning, we were thrilled to wake up to about 4 inches of snow! We bundled up as fast as we could and headed out the door to pick up the Swopes. After adding their sleds with ours, we ventured on to Suicide Hill. (Suicide Hill is a popular place where many Nashvillians head to "get their sledding on.")

Of course, snowball fights are a must!

Anna & Abbey working on something...

...meet Becky, the snowwoman!

Bob trekking up Suicide Hill.

Suicide Hill--Nashville's best kept secret!

Santa had brought sleds on Christmas for both the Swope and Lummus families, so we were very excited to try them out --and let me tell you...they did not disappoint!! We zipped down the hills faster and further than just about everybody else. In fact, a couple of times, I felt like we were going too fast. Of course, we had some injuries, but it isn't a successful day on the hill until someone gets hurt.

William & Miles starting their journey back up the hill.

Oops! Exhaustion is a funny thing! Poor William.

Apparently, while we were there, News Channel 2 was filming a piece on what the school children were doing with their snow day. I was completely oblivious to this, so imagine my surprise when I recognized a toboggan full of sledders on the six o'clock newscast. I hit "record" on the DVR as fast as I could--below is a piece from that segment. I also took some video myself. Bill brought his new camera with us so I had fun trying it out and capturing everyone playing in the white stuff!

A White & Magical Christmas!

We woke up to snow Christmas morning. Actually, Bill and I went to bed with snow. It started around 10pm on Christmas Eve. At one o'clock in the morning, William came in our room and woke us up to let us know that it was snowing. By 5am, the kids were bursting at the seams for Bill and me to get out of bed so they could not only see what Santa had left for them, but also so they could get outside and play in the picturesque gift that Mother Nature had left for us all! 

Christmas Traditions

For years now, the kids and I have had a tradition of going out around Nashville after sundown to look at all the fabulous displays of Christmas lights. We bake some sugar cookies, grab some hot chocolate, put a Christmas CD into the CD player and drive around to all the neighborhoods and houses known to set-up an incredible Christmas array. It is something we look forward to each year.

Their Aunt Bridget actually helped create this tradition with us as she was instrumental in the baking of the sugar cookies, the DJ for the holiday tunes and the seeking out of the limos (long story). We didn't get to go out with her this year, but we're hoping she (and her sweet baby, Addy) will be able to join us next year! We can't wait to see Addy "light up" at the lights. She will be two by then and will definitely enjoy the experience.

Anna brought her camera with us this year. She got some really great photos--especially considering that it was at night and she was taking them from inside a moving car.(Thank you, Anna!) She was careful to take a picture of this one house we visit every time--it has a special story behind it. Bridget, I bet you recognize it immediately!

The house with the special story.
You recognize this, Bridget?

Some people get out and go visit with a Santa--played by
a couple of the neighbors who take shifts.

The true reason for the season.

I loved the blur of this photo.

Santa and his hard working team!

A December Snow

The kids couldn't have been happier then when snow fell on Nashville earlier this month. School was cancelled opening the way for snow angels and sledding galore. Here are a few shots from Anna's camera. As you can see, at first the snow is barely visible, but it didn't take long for it to accumulate and for the fun to begin. We are hoping we get lots of snow this winter. If it's got to be cold, there might as well be snow--and snow days!!

Anna taking a picture of William who's taking a picture
of the snow.

Our roof at 9am.

Our roof a couple of hours later.

Starting to cover the ground.

Happy Nala! She absolutely LOVED this snow.

One of our elves, Sam, and our reindeer, Hazel,
admiring the snow.

William on the trampoline.

Check out that snow!