Christmas Day 2010

What an awesome Christmas we had! Mom and Dad let me sleep in as they got up and opened a few presents to each other and awaited me to get up to find my goodies that Santa had brought. I got a ton of loot from Santa, my Grandma and Grandpa DiFatta, My Aunt Jen and Great-Grandparent Parkers. After we opened all of these gifts, my Hopper Grandparents arrived at our house for brunch that Mom cooked us, MORE presents, lots of playing and later dinner that my Hopper Grandparents cooked for us. We had a really nice relaxing day enjoying one another and our presents. I sorta knew what was going on this year, but I think next year will be an extra special treat when I REALLY can get into the Holiday spirit. Most of all, we must all always remember the true reason for the season- and that is the birth of our dear Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ!

A turtle jumper! What I've always wanted!!! How did Santa know?

Nothing says Christmas like a little "Jingle Bells" on the ole bear flute

Grandmommie Hopper and myself in disbelief of all our goodies!

Daddy got a new pair of Handcuffs for Christmas and already got himself in a pickle when Romeo tried to eat the key...

Daddy's police car covered in our winter wonderland white Christmas that we had this year!

Mrs. Margaret's Annual Christmas Party

Mrs. Margaret- my oh so wonderful daycare provider- and her husband Tony throw us kiddos an awesome Christmas party every year. The parents bring a couple of dishes each for us to chow on and we open presents that Margaret has so kindly got for us. All of my daycare buddies are there along with past kids and their parents. This year, I was feeling a little under the weather with a cold coming on, growing what seems like 10 teeth and just having a down-right toddler day. I did have a lot of fun, but also showed my behind a few times. I was pooped come the end of it and was thankful to finally get in the bed and rest after it was all over. All-in-all, we are all so grateful for Margaret who we are so blessed to have in our lives and for throwing such a fun party each year for us all to enjoy.

Mom and I excited to be at the party (notice how I scratched myself perfectly under both eyes and look like I have a clown face on)

Me and Aubry on Margaret's lap waiting for Santa to arrive.

The tree and the ton-o-presents that we are all about to open

Santa's here!

Proof of me throwing a down-right Christmas fit!

Playing around the Christmas tree

Mom and Dad put up their small artifical tree this year (the one Dad proposed under as a matter of fact) due to the fact that I am so curious these days, they did not know how I would react to a real tree like we had last year. They also guarded it with the baby pen just in case. Mom, however did let me have many moments to get in the pen and explore the tree. I did pretty good- despite wanting to eat a few family heirloom ornaments- for some reason this is a no-no???- and I enjoyed the lights and all there was to see. We have ornaments from when Mom and Dad were children, ones given to us from family and friends and more recent ones for myself. Next year I'm sure I will be grown up enough for us to get a real tree!

Annual Lilburn Christmas parade

Every year Lilburn has a Christmas parade to kick off the season. Mom and Dad have been going before I was around and they are now including me in this tradition of course. What better fun to support your local home town and see all the fun floats, bands and people. I'll have to say, since I am a music lover, the bands were my favorite! Can't wait for next year!

Me, Mom and Monkey Joe waiting for the festivities

Oh, here comes Santa!!!

He's such a Jolly old man!

So cool!

The Grinch who stole....the motorcycle???

Catching up....

Whew! Where did November and December go? I tell ya, those months came and went and all the meanwhile, I have not posted once since Halloween!!! What is wrong with me? What's wrong, well, not meant literally, but is the fact that I'm Mother to a toddler! Now I know what all the other mothers mean when they tell you that once they are walking and have hit the toddler stage, that there is no stopping and boy is that an understatement! Being a full-time working mother, who gets to get her child up in the morning and take him to day-care (on the days Daddy works) I get to see him for a max of 30 mins (since I let him sleep as much as he can while I get ready for work and then get him up towards the end to have breakfast) work a 9 hour day and then come home to dinner on the table, thanks to my wonderful husband who gets home 2 hours before I do. After dinner, it is playtime, which is followed by a bath and then followed by our bedtime routine and then off the bed by 7:30-8 pm. After I get a whole whopping 2 hours spent with my son, I then proceed to get myself ready for the next work day by getting my outfit together and laid out, then doing laundry, washing dishes...you know, the normal stuff that makes a house run and before I know it, it's bedtime for Mommy and Daddy! And the day starts itself all over again. Don't get me wrong, I love my life and am very blessed and appreciative for what I have and to have such a wonderful husband, son and beagle. But like most people, I'm sure, I long for more time in the day where I can spend more time WITH the ones I love. So that being said, I also wish I had more time to blog these days, which I am promising myself in 2011 I am going to set special time aside to do. It's very easy to get carried away in the daily grind and I want to be sure to record times in Ashton's life that he can look back on and be proud that his Mom took some time and energy to record his special life on a blog. Happy New Year to you all! XOXO- Rachel

Thanksgiving 2010

Me, Mom, Dad and the Hopper grandparents went over to the Baldwin's home this year for Thanksgiving. We each made a dish or three and had a traditional Southern feast. Mama and Papa Hardy were there along with Maw-Maw, Jason ans Shon along with Shon's parents and sister and the Baldwin's neighbor's Laura and Ben were all there to enjoy the feast! We truly consider the Baldwin's and Hardy's like a second local family and were grateful for their invitation to spend this day of thanks with them. We had lots of fun eating (yummm..), talking and being merry. We hope we can do it again next year!

Me and Ben horsing around

Mom, can I have some more turkey, pleeeaaaaassseee???

Me and Aunt Jenn-Jenn

The Hoppers and Baldwins

Me, Mom and Grandmommie and Pop Hopper

Michigan Trip - November 2010

I made my very first trip to Michigan in November! Mom, Dad, Grandmommy and Pop Hopper and myself, all loaded up the jeep and headed up to Michigan. We stopeed half way on night 1 in Ohio since the whole trip would be too much for me, spent 3 days in Romeo, MI where Daddy is from and Grandma and Grandpa DiFatta still live and then on the way home stopped in Kentucky as our halfway point and made it home the day before Thanksgiving day. We had such a blast on our trip. We got to spend special time with my Michigan grandparents and Great-Grandparents and Aunt. We all had our very own pre-Thanksgiving meal at my Great-Grandparent Parker's house and it was very special. We had all the fixins and everything! We also got to see Aunt Jen's new house and shop, eat and spend valuable time together. I had so much fun with my Michigan family and enjoyed getting to see where they live. Can't wait for my next trip back up!

Grandma Linda, Great-Grandma Fay and Grandmommie Hopper

I was showing the Grand-dad's some of my moves on the pool table at the Great's house

Daddy And Aunt Jen

The Hopper and DiFatta Crew!