Clemson Bowl Game

This year Clemson was in a bowl game here at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.  They were playing South Florida.  I thought it'd be a nice gesture to get Phillip some tickets.  He's been super supportive throughout this whole pregnancy, so I figured it would be a nice little break. 

The game was held on New Years Eve, so we headed down to tailgate with some friends of mine from grad school. 

Here's my handsome hubs with the "golden" tickets. 

It was a little chilly that morning. 

Here's my buddy, Adam, from grad school.  We did almost all of our work together, mainly because he let me do it the way I wanted.  He's about as close as I've ever come to meeting a well-educated, younger version of Larry the Cable Guy. 

Go Tigers!

Their band did a good job. 

I needed a nap.

Sadly, this was the final score.  We had a good time nonetheless. 

The nice cops took this picture of us. 

We decided to tailgate a bit more afterward and let traffic die down. 

Phillip took the "E" cupcake out of the CLEMSON for Emory.  :-)

Hope you all had a wonderful New Year!  Happy 2011!!!

Santa Came to South Carolina

***Warning: Lots of pictures in this post!***

This year we decided to spend Christmas with Phillip's family.  My parents were sad because it was the first Christmas we had not seen one another, but I had purchased Meineke Car Care Bowl Game tickets for Phillip the following weekend so we needed to spend some time with his family since we hadn't been down since the end of October.  (I'll post all about our Christmas treat from my parents soon!)

I don't remember a lot of the weekend, it seemed quite busy.  Christmas Eve was when all presents were wrapped.  Phillip's mom and I started the job, but seriously the woman is a female version of Santa Claus.  There is no way all of the gifts she buys (and waits until Christmas Eve to wrap) will ever get covered in paper.  Her son finally started throwing stuff in packaging boxes and taping it with decorating shipping tape on Christmas day.  Love it!  Aunt Diane and I took over wrapping and kept going until 1 AM.  Phillip went with his mom to set up Santa gifts for our nieces Christmas Eve.  They got home super late.  How or why Linda Harris does Christmas this way is beyond my comprehension, but God bless her for it.

We all got together Christmas day at Aunt Diane's.  We had a fabulous dinner before opening gifts.  I wanted a nap more than anything after eating.  :-)  Here are some pics from the evening.

Phillip's dad got to join us this year for the festivities.  We love it when he can make it!

You have to love Taylor.  She was chowing down on come corn. 

Logan opening her gifts from us. 

Lee had Daddy Duty during present opening time.  I don't think he minded.

 

Sarah's faces are priceless.

Lee was none too pleased with the play make-up we got Emma (don't worry, all of it is little girl clear and sparkly).  We also had the towel you see embroidered and got her this crazy big art set. 

Some of the crew.  Yes, just some. 

The art set.  Disney Fairy art set to be exact.

I think Sarah got this for Logan, but look at that face.  How precious!

Everyone was helping me open.  This, I believe, was a fabulous WillowTree that we got from Aunt Diane.  I am totally in love with it.

Linda got this for Emma; and OH MY HEAVENS, the child ran this thing so much the motor started to smell. 

 

In case you can't tell, I have a thing for cinnamon discs right now.  Surprisingly, they help a bit with nausea.  My mother-in-law stocked me up for the next 10 pregnancies.

Taylor digging in.  :-)

This has to be one of the best gifts I've received in a long time.  Linda bought me a Sony Reader.  I'm so excited.  Phillip was even impressed by it.  :-)  Thanks Mama Harris!

This is a gift for little Emory.  It reads, "Feed me or I'll snap."  Appropriate.  (I am also looking for a t-shirt in adult female sizes for my friend, Meredith.) 

This is about the time that Lee started to get annoyed with the fabulous weasel. 

 Sarah and I checking out an awesome wrap Linda got me. 

 I am pretty sure Phillip was annoying Emma here. 

I love the faces this kid makes. 

 Aunt Diane finally opened some of her presents. 

My husband lost his Christmas-appropriate closing and gained a whole lot of cast iron.  He loves to cook with cast iron. 

There are no words.  Nor should there ever be words.  Ever.

 She was trying to run from a picture.

 Sadly, I wasn't looking, but I love my nieces.

Such a goof.  

Doesn't he look so happy?  He was tired. 

So he decided to annoy me.

Even though Phillip's eyes aren't open, we hope you all had a fabulous Christmas as well!

My Favs Visit from California

A few years ago, my best friend and her hubby packed up and moved back to her home state.  Sadly, this state happens to be all the way across the country.  Needless to say, we do not get to see one another nearly enough.  We make the best of phone convos and our few visits.

Sandra had a conference in Pennsylvania prior to Thanksgiving, so they headed on down afterward to spend time with Steven's family and visit us.  Can I just say that she is a complete God-send?!

We had an appointment with the doctor the day after Thanksgiving for the anatomy exam.  Baby Emory was looking quite well and we found out that he is a he and not a she!  Sandra and Steven made their journey here after the appointment.  We called them to find out where they were and let them know what the baby was.

Much to my surprise they roll up less than an hour later with a GINORMOUS bouquet of balloons.  (Sandra has to send me some pics because I totally failed to document this visit thanks to being sick.)  Here's Phillip with one of them:

 

LOVE it!  They are the best!

Along with the balloons Sandra made us these beautiful etched glasses with an "H" in them.  Poor guys even had to be patted down going through security because of them.  Sandra and Steven brought all sorts of baby presents.  I didn't even know they made all of the contraptions for bottles that they bought us.  We are completely prepared for all the traveling we do now.  The baby is all set on binkies...made by hand, of course.  She cracked me up because she came equipped with colors for boys and girls.  We also got all sorts of Eric Carle and Dr. Suess books...every English major's dream for their little one.  

That Saturday almost all major college football rivalry games are played.  This included Clemson vs. South Carolina.  We left the boys to their own devices for the day.  Sandra and I decided to be productive and head on out to register.  This task was so daunting.  I wanted nothing more than to run away screaming.  Sandra is just as much, if not more, OCD than I am.  So she made the perfect "assistant."  We literally spent all day trying to accomplish this task.  (THANK YOU TIMES A MILLION!!!)  We got home to dinner and a naked Christmas tree just waiting to be decorated.  So we got busy!  Here's the lovely finished product.  

Sadly, I got sick much of the rest of their visit.  We were able to go out for a bit and have a lovely dinner together.  Here are a few more pictures from their visit.  (Gracie and Mason are missing their friends.)

She even held on to them.  I mean, I think my pup wants to move to California.

Thanks for visiting guys!  We love and miss you both so very much!

Phillip and I cheesing it up.  (I think I am gaining my pregnancy weight in my face.  Not fun!)

Sadly, this isn't looking so cute on my part.  I was quite sick.  :-(  I miss my love!  Thanks for everything!

Thanksgiving and Wii

I have been behind on postings thanks to the hustle and bustle of the holidays and not feeling too spiffy.  So, I am going to try my best to get all caught up in the next week or so.  

First, let's start with Thanksgiving.  We spent the holiday with my family this year.  My parents cooked enough food for a small army (which will come in handy if little man eats like his daddy).  My parents invite a lot of people over, so us girls and our men always get stuck at the kids table.  We scarfed down the yummy food.  Then followed the meal up with a little Wii action.  No one but Phillip and Kandice played.  This made it more amusing for the spectators.  They have a special bond which is apparently only strengthened by non-assertive video games.

She was way too serious about this game. 

Phillip got a little bit of boxing in.  Kandice broke a nice sweat during this one.

Sibling rivalry.

I'm not sure whether this was Kandice's Mii or Phillip's; either way, check out that sweet mullet action!

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and triptophan induced comma!