Backyard Fun

We have had such fun over the past several days in the snow. It really has felt like we are on a winter vacation in the mountains. We found a really neat trail in our backyard that we have used for all our sledding downhill runs. If we owned a pair of skiis I am sure David and I would have given it a try! Amazing what 1/2 a foot of snow and lots of land to explore has done to us!

Snowing in NC!!!

Andrew and his truck in the snow
Sarah's snow-covered feet:)

Ready for a ride!


Our snow covered street


Enjoying the playset in the snow

Ice in your boots=time to come inside

The Shaw household woke up this morning to about 6-7 inches of snow! It took about 2 hours to get everybody fed, dressed and out the door, but we had a blast......Daddy bought 3 sleds from Ace Hardware two days ago in preparation.

David and I become like little kids when it comes to the possiblity of snowfall. As children we grew up getting a few inches every other year or so and it was practically "magical" to us. We both have such vivid memories of sledding down hills near our house with our siblings and neighborhood friends, making snowmen and having snowball fights and best of all, not going to school! It definitely ranks up in the top ten of favorite childhood memories, so we were so excited to get to experience that excitement with our kids. All three came running into our room at about 6:30am ready to go. Here are just a few pictures....more to come in the next day or two. It will be sticking around for a few days since the temp will remain in the 20's to lower 30's. Thank you for the rain (now snow) boots, Grandma! They really have come in handy! Now we are enjoying the blessing of a warm house with a fire and cups of hot cocoa....memories in the making!!

We read a few verses of scripture this morning about snow. Here is a sampling:

"He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes"

Psalm 147:16

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes our from my mouth: it will not return empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:9-11

"Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean: wash me and I will be whiter than snow."

Psalm 51:7

Charlotte Mae is here!!

Sweetness.... (Charlotte is just 45 minutes old)

LOVE this picture of them!!
Some lovin' from Aunt Kristen

Leaving the beach house for the hospital.....keys...check....camera....check.....coffee....check

Boy, what a blessing it was to be there!!

Sissies in the waiting room

Proud Uncle

3 Beautiful sisters:)

The Fortney Five

Seeing baby Charlotte for the first time

One last picture with Charlotte before heading back to NC

On January 2, 2010 we were blessed with a beautiful baby niece......Charlotte Mae Fortney. What a blessing to be in Charleston for the birth! Thanks, Aunt Lauren for ending our vacation with the best gift ever:):) She is a beautiful gift from the Lord! She came over 2 weeks early and weighed a healthy 6 pounds even and was 18 3/4 inches long. We have been praying for you, little one. We love you and already miss you so very much!!

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!!