Thanksgiving Gala!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! =0) We went up to Virginia to celebrate the day with my Dad's side of the family. We ate at Uncle Steve's new home, which is really really nice. This picture is our annual grand photo of the Family with "Old Gram" which she likes to be called. I should say my Dad's Mom who turned 82 on Monday. Happy Birthday Gram!! =0) (Click on any of the photos to see them better!)

Gabby had a blast walking around and getting into everything. Pop Pop did a good job of keeping her in one place. She loves her Pop Pop!!

Julia was a huge help too in walking Gabby around. This was right after Gabby decided to sit down and turn around to move. Julia is going to be a huge help to her Mom and Dad when her new brother or sister comes in June!! =0)

Clay hanging out!! Such a cutie!!

Julia hamming' it up for the camera. Too sweet!!

The picture I took before this of Ella was hilarious because Julia was spitting something out behind her, but it was only funny because of Julia. Ella wasn't looking at the camera and wasn't giving this adorable face!! Ya just have to love Julia and her belly!

Grannie was not feeling well at all, she had a horrible cold, but she was wonderful and came along to be with everyone. She ended up outside with the kids a lot of the time, trying not to hack on everyone inside!!

As usual, Gabby wanted down!

Kerriann was posing for me here!

Mom and Molly out watching the kids play!!

Gabby spent dinner up on the table watching whatever was on the t.v. at the time. I think it was a movie that my Dad and his brothers and sisters use to watch growing up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was pretty cool!! Gabby was mesmerized!!

As I said before, Gram had her birthday on Monday!! Every year, at least while we have been coming up, they have done a little birthday party for her on Thanksgiving. She is always so cute being surprised!!! =0)

At one point Grannie handed Gabby her cell phone and so she carried it around for a bit, calling people!! I think she called Erin's cell!!

This was how Aunt Molly spent a lot of time that night. Gabby loves going up, but still does not understand how to come back down. So it was a chase up, and a hustle back down in order to start all over again! Thank you Aunt Molly!!

Lovely football. Uncle Johnny did a great job socializing, but also got some game in during our holiday!! Clay was on the coach beside me, doing the exact same thing... watching!! =0)

Gathered for the awesome feast!

Aunt Sheila, Aunt Linda, Dad, Uncle Steve, Aunt Che Che and Old Gram!! This is a annual thing now, to take a picture of all of the kids with Gram!!

On Friday, Aunt Dana had the lovely task of pulling out all of the Christmas stuff for Paw Paw and Grandma's house. We made it over around 2pm and helped until Gabby was just too pooped to be happy! She had a blast playing with her Aunt Dana and loved sucking on the lights.

Here Kitty Kitty!

So Gabby knows how to play with the kitties using their toys! I tried to get all of it on video, but she didn't want to cooperate nor the cats. =0)

Walking....kind of!!!

Here we go!!

New Do!!

Well I finally snipped Gabby's bangs. They had grown to cover her eyes and I could never remember to keep a bow in in order to keep them out of her way. She hated wearing one and so you'd usually find it somewhere around her, along with her shoes. =0) So on Tuesday, I decided to just go ahead and do it. I know it isn't that big of a thing, but I always imagined getting her first hair cut done when she was like 2 or 3, not 1. Oh well, better she can see and not be scratching at her face, I suppose. Ha ha!! Well, here are some lovely pictures I took today of her up close. She doesn't quite understand the word smile. Which is funny, because you can say tons of other words and she knows exactly what you are talking about, but when I say "smile Gabby", I usually get this face in the first picture. Silly girl!!! By the way, she was really good while I cut them. I gave her my hair brush, and she examined that while I cut away!! They aren't that even, mind you I haven't actually gotten a degree or anything in hair styling, so sorry Gabby if ya look a little lopsided! =0)

Here is the before picture!
And the after!! =0) I cut an inch of bangs. Poor kid!
Licking her walker. Don't ask me!! =0)
Playing with her tongue!

Still playing with her tongue!!

Ahhh, the fun of walking....maybe!

Gabby has discovered her little rocking chair in the far corner of her bedroom. I was in there putting away clothes and turned around and she was sitting in it. So I immediately ran and got the camera. =0) She is such a silly little girl!!

After she was done with the rocking chair, she decided she wanted to push the button on her Barbie power wheel. =0) She doesn't let me film her on it pushing it, so I thought I would get the next best thing, her standing next to it. =0)

I had to snap some shots of her sitting in her chair. At one point she fell out of it, started crying and didn't stop until I picked her up, of course. Well, after being in my arms for like 2 minutes she was squirming to get down and get back in it. So these are pictures of her after she had already fallen out. So hilarious!!

Trying to crawl out of the room brought on the Zaidy monster. She has gotten a 100% more licky licky lately. =0)

Friday night we had our ward Chili Cook off. Immediately when we got there, Paw Paw came and found us and Gabby went to him. Then of course, she wanted down and for him to....

walk her around.

She loves to do some walking!! Grandma got her some new tennis shoes too, and so this is her first time walking around in them. Notice the high stepping. Actually she trips more than anything and stumbles around in them more. =0) So fun to watch though!

The chili I made actually was one of the four that tied for 3rd place!! Yipee and go Chili'Os!!! =0) Ha ha!!!
We had Stake Conference today and we all went together with Paw Paw, Grandma and Phil. Sonja is in the hospital again, poor thing, and so David is with her, leaving Phil at home. So this afternoon he came down for lunch/dinner. Well, Gabby started out in the hall way yelling at him and then slowly made her way into the living room to me and crawled all around, following Phil. Finally when he sat down, where he is in the picture, she came to me and then proceeded to stand and walk to Phil. He had Zaidy at the time too, so it was like a double treat for her. She took three steps the first time towards him, before she would fall to the ground. I was yelling for Clay to come in and see her doing this, but of course by the time he got in the room, she was down to maybe a step or two. She has been attempting to walk for awhile now, but tonight, trying to get Phil, she took the most steps, and on purpose! =0)

Guess what???

For those of you who may not have known, Clay has been looking for a job these past, oh 6 months. I know that isn't very long, but when you go from making enough to barely making enough, it feels like an eternity!!! Well, he has been to countless interviews only to be told they had given it to someone else or that he was "overly" qualified. Ay!!! Well, HE GOT A JOB!!!! YAY YAY YAY!!! He is now employed, again, with ECU. He'll be working with a new lab that has just opened, doing research on soft muscle tissue! Cool, huh! There is a lot more to it, but that is all I understand really!!! Congratulations Clay!!! We are so proud of you!! Also, today we bought a new car. It's a 2008 Chevrolet Aveo and it is awesome. I drove it home today and I can definitely say it is a keeper. =0) Chevy will also put Clay's hand controls in for free so it made it even better! The trunk even fits the stroller! Yay!!