All I Want for Christmas is........

Christmas 2009
March 2009 (First tooth lost)

"My two front teeth!" Can you believe Luke lost both his two front teeth within a few days of Christmas? The tooth fairy will be running out of money at that rate!! Yes, the Shaw kids lose their teeth very early. They also have a tradition of losing them at Christmas. (Sarah lost hers on Christmas Eve two years ago)

The first came out at school. He was wiggling it and suddenly it came out in his hand. He did get some help from his sister on the second one. Two days ago he returned from playing at a neighbor's house without a word. We sat down to eat our soup for dinner and all of a sudden I looked up at him and he grinned with this huge toothless smile. "Luke, you just lost your tooth, honey! Is it in your soup?" He looked at me bewildered and said, "What?" He had no idea! He then recalled jumping on the neighbor's trampoline and Sarah accidently hitting him in the mouth with her elbow. "Didn't it hurt?" I asked him. "Well, it felt kinda funny. I think I did taste some blood in my mouth." "Well, that must of been when your tooth popped out!" I took him over to a mirror to look and his eyes got really big when he saw his smile. He also talks with a little lisp...so cute!

Now Andrew is claiming to have a loose tooth.......he does not, but I bet he might have a loose one on Christmas 2011 or 2012!! Gotta follow the Shaw tradition!

GA Tech vs. Duke

Family in front of rambling wreck

(notice the 2 "crack"berries on David's waist.....

Gotta love start-up companies!!)

Duke's campus was absolutely gorgeous

Luke watching intently

We had great seats on the 50 yard line

Buzz and the cheerleaders

Tech fans in training

This fan needed a little nap

Final Score!

Heading home

Our family loves watching football in the fall. Luke is especially an avid fan! It was even better this year because our team had an amazing season (despite the loss to GA...yes, Uncle Jason, we were happy for you in the midst of our weeping!). We took the kids to a game just down the road in Durham. We got to see Buzz, get a picture in front of the Rambling Wreck and root on the Jackets to a big win against the Blue Devils 49 to 10. Andrew ended up "sleeping" under our seats during the final quarter. Yes, he actually fell asleep on a towel in the middle of a very "loud" GA Tech section! We had a lot of fun and hope for an even better year next season.

Pirate Party

Enjoying the yummy food
Hanging out with neighborhood friends

The"Amazing" Pirate Ship

Finding the buried treasure

All the participants

Pie (whipped cream) eating contest

Loving the pie!

In November our neighborhood of about 24 homes got together for a block party. The theme was "Pirates." One of our neighbors who organized it built a pirate ship out of scrap wood that they found. It was amazing! The kids went on a treasure hunt, had a pie (whipped cream) eating contest and played all sorts of pirate games. The parents mingled and ate yummy food. It was a lot of fun getting to know our new neighbors!

Catching up!

The whole gang

Superman loved the loot!

All 5 patiently waiting at a neighbor's house for a treat

My angel and motorcycle racer:)

Sleeping Beauty resting (and eating!)

Superman lays it all out

My "angelic" 7 year old

Aunt Lauren and Snow White

(Notice the little brown bag in her hand....she was tired of carrying that big candy bag around all night....she found the perfect bag for her size!)

Now that fall has almost come to an end, I have finally downloaded some pictures from all our fall events: Halloween with Aunt Lauren, Neighborhood block "pirate party", GaTech vs. Duke game, and Thanksgiving....whew!! Boy, do I love this time of year!!

Fair Fun

Walking the plank!

Bumper Boats

Sarah and Luke loved the coasters

The kids called this one the Superman ride

Andrew wasn't too sure of the spinning, but hung in there!

Sarah had no mercy on her brothers!

One of three ferris wheels....love the face, Luke:)

Momma and her boys after a long fun-filled day:)
Another animated face from Luke

The view from the top.....definitely our favorite ride of the day

Our annual fair tradition continues in NC.......Since moving to Cumming 6 years ago, we have not missed going to the local fair. The fairgrounds were 2 miles from our house in GA. We could practially see the lights and hear the sounds of the fair from our backyard. It was a "must" event for the Shaw family.

After moving to NC we had to keep the tradition alive and well! We headed down to the fairgrounds early on a Thursday afternoon. We just knew that we would beat the crowds on the weekends and finish before the evening crowds showed up. Of course, we later found out that Thursday was free admission with canned food night! I think half of Raleigh showed up that night...close to 120,000 people!!! Our little country fair in GA was no comparison to this mega-fair. It truly was like the Disney World of all fairs. We had a lot of fun, despite the large crowds. Rides, funnel cakes, and cotton candy....what could be better?

Our Baby turned 3!!

Notice the trucks on the cake.....carefully placed by the b-day boy himself:)

Sarah, Luke and Andrew decorated these cookies with Grandma:)

Present time!! He couldn't wait!

"Shaw kids" wrapping paper:)

Grandma (taking pic) and Granddad were here to join us for Andrew's b-day dinner

Menu: Steaks, baked pots, mac n cheese, and salad

Definitely a meal fit for a prince!

Andrew modeling the outfit that his daddy wore as a little boy

Sarah's lovely decorations for the b-day boy

Happy Birthday sweet boy!! It was so surreal to celebrate your 3rd birthday this past week....how could you possibly be 3 already? What a joy you have brought to our lives these 3 years. It is such a privilege to be your parents and be a part of God's great plan for your life!!

We love you so much!

3 year old Andrew:

-loves to laugh
-has a belly laugh that is just adorable...I think you got this from your big sis

-adores cars, trains, trucks
-enjoys working puzzles

-loves playing outside on the swingset and riding your big wheel

-a good bunkmate with Luke (you have not complained about being on the bottom once)

-misses big sis and bro at school during the day

-loves to run...inside and out! (Especially backwards!)

-jumps all the time on both feet....we call him "froggy" a lot

-enjoys music and dancing

-gives the best hugs

-loves books (favorite topic: trucks and cars....who would have guessed?)

-loves playing Hullabaloo, hide n' seek, Hi Ho Cherrio O and Little People

-likes hot dogs (only child who does in our family)

-still likes his pacifier at nighttime....working on this one!

-loves to talk and tell you about his day at school like big brother and sister

-very independent like his brother

Roomie's Wedding

Blake, Nikki, me and David:)
Hanging out at SU with Mr. Beeson

Hugging the beautiful bride

Reception....love the flowers and ice sculpture!

Sending the couple off with UT, Alabama and SU pom-poms waving

David and I were able to attend my college roomate/dear friend's wedding in Birmingham last weekend. A big thank you to Grandma and Granddad for coming up to WF to babysit the kids so we could go! We love you guys!! We stayed with our friends Nikki and Blake. They were such amazing hosts!! They chauffered us around the entire weekend! We are so blessed by you guys!!

We had so much fun catching up with lots of college friends, visiting our old stomping grounds (Go SU Bulldogs!), eating good ole' southern BBQ at Jim N Nick's and attending Sherri's gorgeous wedding. She came down the aisle with her daddy singing the word's "Praise to the Lord God Almighty" as the choir and congregation sang. It was just beautiful!! Congrats, Sherri and Justin!! We are so very happy for the two of you!! What an honor it was to celebrate with you both on this unforgettable day!!

Fall Decorating

Leaves lining the front step
Chair decor (even the legs were adorned with rocks and acorns:)

Our "Fall" Welcome Mat

No need to buy one...nothing better than the real thing!

Happy Fall everyone!! Don't you just LOVE this time of year? Today I could not resist purchasing a pumpkin at the grocery store for the front porch. I have been noticing that a lot of my neighbors have started decorating for fall. Gotta start getting my house decorated for fall, right? I prefer going to a local pumpkin patch and picking out some pumpkins and gourds, but I just couldn't wait. We will have to do the pumpkin patch thing soon.....gotta have more of them!The cool breeze today and beautiful blue skies just got me very much in the "fall spirit."

After the kids got home from school they noticed the pumpkin right away. They immediately asked if they could help decorate. Before I was able to get down my "fall decor" box from the attic, the kids had gone out into the yard to collect their fall decorations....leaves, acorns, grass, ornamental grass, rocks, sticks, etc... They strategically placed them all around the front stoop. I did not know what they were up to until they were finished. Not exactly what this mom had in mind at first, but I immediately fell in love with it. It was nothing spectacular or ingenious, but it brought such a huge smile across my face. God showed me clearly two very simple truths today.

*Children are a blessing and gift from the Lord; Enjoy them!

Psalm 127:3

"Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him."

Matthew 18:3

"I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

*God much preferred my childrens' decorations over anything I could have done.

Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Proverbs 14:30

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

John 12:43

"...for they loved praise from men more than praise from God."