Wow Gotta Catch Up!!!!

There has been a lot going on since my last post. As you can see by the picture at the top we have had our newest addition to the family but more on that below. The first two pictures are from snow day at RB Wright. You can see Clayton in the red. Papa took Clayton to snow day. He rode down the hill one time and then decided it was better to watch everyone ride down the hill and stay at the bottom and play in the snow.

Here we have one of the I am pregnant and I will eat everything meals. Richard thought it was so gross he had to take a picture. Yes this meal consists of sweet tea, grapefruit, summer sausage, and two smore pop-tarts. YUM YUM!!

Here is a picture from my shower thrown by Erika and Beth. We had tons of fun together and we loved watching our kids play together. Now we all have 3 kids and next time we get together there will be 9 kids...fun fun!!

Here is a picture of me, mama, and Lea at my shower.

Here is a picture of Erika's girl Montana and Ashlyn. They have so much fun together!

Here is Erika's baby Morgan, isn't he a cutie!!

and Erika's middle child Kemp...him and Clayton are only a couple of weeks apart. We miss you guys!!!

Trivia: What does it take to get the Aunt of the Year Award?

Well this year it went to Aunt Lea for chaperoning Ashlyn's 8th birthday sleepover. Yes that is right she tackled the big sleepover. There were 6 screaming girls but they had a lot of fun. I see one problem with the first picture below...after being there a while I think she needed ear muffs not a blindfold.

We called in the big fluffy snow just for Ashlyn's birthday parth:)

And then came the BIG day...thankfully we missed Ashlyn's birthday which is Feb. 15th. This is Brooklyn Elizabeth Faucett born Feb. 18th 7lb 11oz and 20 1/2 inches long. She was my big one Ashlyn weighed 6lb 4oz and Clayton weighed 6lb 7oz and they were both 18 inches.
Here is a picture right after she was born. I must say that I did enjoy not knowing if she was a boy or a girl.

The 1st picture of the family of five.

Proud Papa

Proud Mamaw

Proud Nana and Pop

The BIG sister

The Big Brother

Aunt Lea and Uncle TJ came by and fixed us supper the day we came home!!
Aunt Jenny met us at the Athens meet and got to hold Brooklyn.

Autumn (Amy's little girl) holding her baby cousin. She has had practice because...

Here is her little brother and my new nephew Noah...born November 25th

Ashlyn loves to cuddle up with Brooklyn before she goes to bed.
I think she is trying to figure Clayton out...but he loves to hold her!
Ok so the big ones are not really asleep but it is a cute picture!
I think the girls wear the boys out :)
I am loving staying at home and taking care of Brooklyn and getting to go to Ashlyn's and Clayton's school functions. I really am not looking forward to going back to work April 12th but summer will be here soon. I thought going to 3 would be hard but it has actually been quite fun and rewarding. I do not know what we would do without our special little gift Brooklyn!! Ashlyn is such a big helper and loves her little sister and Clayton is very protective especially if he thinks you are going to take her. God has blessed our family so much and Richard and I could not be happier. Look for more pictures soon!! Check out the videos below!
The first one is of Ashlyn singing at her chapel program (she is the 1st one). Then her vault at the Tifton meet score 8.6 and last is her bars at the Athens meet 8.75.

I was excited to go to Clayton's Luau at school below are some pictures and three (well only two loaded) videos.

Albany Gymnastic Meet

Ashlyn and Kari (Ashlyn's best friend from gymnastics they share the same birthday)

Ashlyn was getting discouraged at Gymnastic practice this past week because she was not able to do some of the skills she could do before. She even talked about wanting to quit come May. Her comment was 'I want to do something I can be good at'. How sad. It has always been her decision if she wants to quit. Then she went to her Albany competition and did EXCELLENT. Now she said she does not want to quit. She had set three goals for this meet and she met two of those three goals. She wanted to get her shoot through (she did), she wanted to make all 8's or above (she did), and she wanted to make a 9 (she didn't but it gives her a goal for her next meet). She is already setting new goals for the Feb. 20th (I hope I get to go) Tifton meet. She wants to get over an 8.55 on something and she wants to make a 9. She did very well at this meet watch and see what you think. Leave a message if you want Ashlyn loves to read the messages!
8.4 on Bars, 8.55 on Floor, 8.55 on Vault, 8.25 Beam, AA 33.75

Best Friends

It is not too often that high school friends can be best friends years after high school is over. This past weekend I got to spend time with two of my best friends from high school. I was telling some coworkers that I was getting together with some best friends that I went to high school with and they were all astonished that we kept in touch and that I still consider them best friends. Erika came down to stay with us and her three kids Montana, Kemp, and Morgan. She was kind enough to bring down some baby stuff for the soon to be arrival. The house was filled all weekend with laughter and playing. The kids had a ball! Then Monday we got to go over to Beth's house to play with Josie, Maggie Rae, and Bailey. Yes we all (soon) are going to have three kiddos. The kids played like they had known each other for years. It was an instant connection. Maggie Rae, Ashlyn, and Montana reminded us so much of ourselves when we were younger. Even though we keep in touch this weekend made us see the value in friendship and that we need to take more opportunities to spend time together. So hopefully this will not be the last pictures you see of our little ones together and soon there will be 9 running around. I miss you guys and love you both!!

Erika, Sherry, and Beth

The crew (back row LtoR) Erika holding Morgan, Montana, Sherry holding Clayton, Josie, Beth holding Bailey, (front row LtoR) Ashlyn, Maggie Rae, Kemp

Ashlyn, Montana, Maggie Rae looking like us when we were younger.

Thanksgiving and Christmas

We have been very busy the last month. We were able to see Nana and Pop over Thanksgiving and then again at Christmas. Thanksgiving was at Aunt Jennie's in Atlanta and we went to Stone Mountain. Here are a few pictures.
Then we went to see Amy and Keith's new arrival Noah Keith Gunter.Next we came home and put up our Christmas decorations. The kids got into the decorating this year. Clayton even wanted to pray in front of the Christmas tree.We spent the weekend before Christmas at Nana and Pops. We had a lot of fun playing at Nana and Pop's. We were glad to see that Pop was feeling better and we got to spend time with him. Our Christmas present from Aunt Jennie were gift certificates to Build a Bear. Nana came with us and helped us Build our Frosty the Snowman and Dog. We had a lot of fun.Next it was Christmas Eve and we watched the Nativity Story and opened one present. Then it was Christmas morning.Then we had Christmas with Mamaw, Aunt Amy, Uncle Keith, Autumn, Noah, Aunt Lea, and Uncle TJ on Saturday.We had Christmas with Papa, Aunt Amy, Uncle Keith, Autumn, Noah, Aunt Lea, and Uncle TJ on Sunday.
We are so blessed to have such wonderful families. For New Years Richard went camping and Clayton, Ashlyn, and I ate shrimp, chocolate chip cookies, and drank sparkaling grape juice. Clayton crashed at 10:30 and Ashlyn and I rang in the New Year. As I think of 2010 I know there are going to be a lot of changes in our family with the addition of a special new one. We will finally get to know if it is a boy or girl :) I would be kidding myself if I thought this was going to be an easy year but my New Years resolution is to put 2010 in Gods hands. It might get rough and a little scary at times with financial strains this year but I know God has ALWAYS provided for our family and he will continue! I hope your family will be blessed in 2010!

Clayton's Thanksgiving Songs at School

I always love when I get to go to the school and eat with my children. This past Thursday I got to go and eat with Clayton. After we ate our Thanksgiving lunch, we got to go back to Clayton's room and they sang some songs for us. I love Clayton's expression in this first picture.

Before and After

Before

After

Halloween 09

As promised here are the pictures from our fun Halloween Day.

First the kids decorated pumpkins.

Then we started carving a pumpkin. Ashlyn loved to dig out the inside of the pumpkin. Clayton would not touch it.

Of course after a while Ashlyn went to go play with Clayton and daddy was left to dig the rest and carve the pumpkin (I will admit Ashlyn got most of it out)

Clayton meanwhile played with the blow up decorations

and they climbed trees.

They both came together to pose with daddy's great work.

Then it was time to get ready to go to some friends house for chili, playing, and trick-or-treating.
Ashlyn was a pink leopard.

Clayton was Optimist Prime (Transformer)

Here are some shots from the party.
Ashlyn and some friends, Brooke and Kilby.

Clayton and Marshall

The gang!

Holland, Clayton, and Marshall

We stayed out really late and ate too much candy but we had a lot of fun!!!