Holiday Fun

Our holiday started by heading to St. Simon's on Monday, Dec. 22nd. We had a wonderful visit, staying with Granny and Poppy. We just love staying at their house--"our suite" is the perfect layout for having babies. The boys have their own crib and comforting living quarters and we have our own tv room! Plus, Granny and Poppy are early risers and love helping us with the boys--free labor is always a good incentive!!!

Granny and Cousin Anna help with Taylor. Taylor was distracted by the bright lights and action in the kitchen. Our boy loves to look around!!!

The Webster Cousins (Havens, Sunny and Rush) assist with the boys. As you can see, the boys have discovered the bright lights and sounds from the tv. They would not take their eyes off of it!! We love spending our days in St. Simon's at the Websters because Aunt Eliza always helps mommy and little Havens is a mommy in training! She is very attentive to the boy's needs and is always telling me what they need. ' i think he wants to go outside; he needs to be burped; he sounds hungry...." Havens herself is always needing something--she is a snacker, so she and Taylor have that in common!

Taylor and Turner pose under our tree--pitiful, i know, but we're lucky that we have room for our Charlie Brown tree! With 4 swings, 4 bouncy seats, 2 tummy time floor mats, 3 labs, you can imagine how small our house is feeling!!!

The photo above is Taylor with Nanny Dove. There is no way that she is 90! She is sharper than I am!

Christmas day, we rose at 4 am to get on the road for our traditional Nanny Dove festivities. St. Simon's to Winnsboro is straight highway, but a good 4+ hour trip PRE-BABY. We were anticipating having to stop for feedings, burpings, pacifier repostionings, snacks for mommy and daddy, etc. Thanks to Granny and Poppy who fed the boys while we loaded the car, we got on the road by 7 am. Proper planning does pay off!!! The boys did fabulous! Mommy pumped on the road--sure those truckers loved the "free show". I fed the boys and we stopped to burp them and grab a snack. (Interesting experience---I got behind some lady buying random blankets at a gas station, who paid in coins, so it took forever!!!) No need to stop for diaper changes, because the blowouts occurred in Winnsboro. Two clothes changes and we were back in businness! Good thing that the boys have so many holiday outfits!!

Christmas day is my favorite day for several reasons. My number 1 favorite reason is lunch at Nanny Doves. Nanny Dove, dad's mom, is 90 years old and lives in the same house that she was born in. She cooks a feast of king every Christmas Day and has ever since I remember. I know she must slave all week in the kitchen and i can not imagine how many trips to the store she must make! She makes the same thing every year and we look forward to her cooking all year. She makes this yummy "green" salad that is sweet and tomato aspic that is to die for--now Aunt Susan's mac n' cheese is pretty good and of course, my pound cakes rock, but nothing beats Nanny's oyster dressing and homemade biscuits. I have fond memories of cooking in the kitchen with Nanny. she used to let us shape the biscuits in odd shapes and sizes. Don't you just love your grandmas!! As Nanny, Uncle Charles and Aunt Amma worked in the kitchen with Kirk (Nanny's year around saving grace, helper and extended member of the Dove Clan), the boys were held, entertained by all of my aunts, uncles and cousins. We got to see my sister, Caroline, her hubby , John and my cutie pie 3 year old nephew, John 5. He was fun to see him play with his cousins...all boy!!

Look at those handsome boys...Taylor is smiling and Turner is wondering why mommy is taking yet another photo. The boys love being naked. And best of all, they love each other. I always find one leaning on the other, touching one another. Even yesterday, I found Turner exploring his brother's hand in his mouth!

**If you're following the BLOG, please take a look at my "Saving Grace #3 from Dec. 17th". I started it then, saved as a draft and added photos later, so it appeared before my last BLOG update. "Saving Grace #3" deserves a good reading....

Happy holidays to all!!!