Illinois Trip

We left Christmas night for a 14 hour drive to St. Louis (I don't fly!). James is currently stationed there (well, in Shiloah, IL but St. Louis is only a few minutes away!) and this was the first time the cousins on this side of the family had seen each other since my girls were about 6 months old. These few pics don't begin to cover it all...but enjoy!

Addi riding the zebra...City Museum

Keith and Kay sliding down...City Museum...awesome place!

Me and my girls, City Museum

Pedicures!

Pajama party! This was a nightly occurance!

New Year's Eve party for the kids!

Kay and Addi...at the Magic House...another awesome place. St. Louis seems to be very kid friendly!

Dakota and Addison dancing!

This was the first time it snowed while we were there. Miss Dakota running outside!

Keith being silly...City Museum

Keith and Kay...City Museum...waiting for the circus to start!

Keith and Jay Man wrestling...another daily occurance.

Kay's hair...Keith liked this!

Kay in the snake slide...City Museum

Kay playing in the blocks...(City)

Kay in the art center...making her New Year's Eve hat.

Kay and Julie

Julie in the rocket slide (City)

Julie being silly

Jay

me and my girls having fun...Magic House

Dakota Jane

Curious George...the only one Addi would get near.

Me, Makayla and Curious George...Magic House

Cousins...silly faces

City Museum, crooks, turns, slides, caves everywhere!

Inside the Arch.

My Addi-Belle

Addison playing the piano...City

Christmas in Lilesville

Papa and Addi-Belle

Nana and her girls!

Daddy and his girls!

Cousins!

Lawson Girls!!!!

A Very Happy Halloween

We had a very exciting and Happy Halloween! The day started early with a trip down to see Aunt Christy, Nana and Papa back "home." We had a wonderful time with the family! The girls were a complete show off, especially after they got their Halloween costumes on. We grilled hamburgers, then headed back to Raleigh for the Fall Fest at First Assembly. The girls had a blast! The theme was "The Wizard of Oz" but of course Dorothy was trying to find the Lord and not the Wizard! The characters looked so real that it scared the girls! The girls of course loved the cotton candy and the bouncey house. Despite talking about the ponies all day long, they wouldn't get near them careless ride them! We played games, ate dinner, rode the swings, rode on the fastest hayride you can imagine in the oddest of places, watched the skit, and much more! First Assembly does a great job reaching out to the community and giving children a safe, fun, Christian alternative to Halloween! The girls were Thing 1 and Thing 2 which was an idea from Karen! They were a hit! You could hear people saying as we walked past "look! there is Thing 1 and Thing 2" and "oh, I love it!" Such a hit, and I had a whopping $6.50 in each of my home-made costumes. After the festival we stopped at Grandma's so she and Grandpa could see my cuties! The girls were still showing off and had so much to tell them with the biggest of eyes about their day! Makayla and Addison make everything so much fun!

Hillridge Farms

I just love Hillridge Farms! It is a very exciting place for a toddler. We played in the corn house, watched all the animals, had a picnic lunch, took a train ride, played in the hay, went on a hayride, visited the pumpkin patched, climbed the forts, crawled through a tunnel, played in the sand, did the hokey poke and I am sure I am missing something! Whew! We had a wonderful time! Enjoy just a few of our pics, we sure are adorable dispite our red noses from the cold!

A Mother's Love

Today has been a little rough. I suppose the dreaded, awful stomach virus hit or something of that nature. What amazes me is that age the age of 29, no matter if I am excited, angry, nervous, sick or whatever...I still just want my Momma! Today at my lowest point I just had to call Momma and "let it all out." I cried and told her how horrible I felt and like the wonderful mother she has always been she did her best to make me feel better with the distance between us. There is nothing like a mother's love. I hope that I am always to my baby girls what my Momma has been to me. Needless to say, I did all the things she told me and in a few minutes I was curled up and asleep. I still don't feel too hot tonight, but what a comfort it is to hear my Momma's voice. Us Lawson's, we are a very tight family...I guess that comes from moving in the ministry and so many times us 4 only had each other. I sure do love them and wish they were closer! Thanks for helping me out today like always Momma, I love you!

Mommy's Determination

Recently I started a running program. I had great inspiration from my sister who has lost weight and looks amazing and Alison who is in this program and who's determination has really caught my interest! I haven't missed a day since starting the program. There have been days that I just didn't want to do it, but for some reason I just can't let this go and I always find myself right where I need to be...in the gym on the treadmill or ar some park or lake on a walking trail. I really think I thought to be a runner would be glamorous...you know, if I could only run...I would be tall, skinny, running in my short shorts or tight tights with my long blond ponytail bopping back and forth with my every stride! Boy was I wrong...in fact all the people I see in the gym now or on a trail are all red faced and huffing and puffing...nope...it's not so glamorous. But...it is so rewarding! You can't imagine how proud I am of myself everytime I complete a run! Especially the first time I went with Alison and by some miracle was able to run uphill, every second required, never missing a beat! There is a great sense of accomplishment that comes with my "running training" not to mention the great workout! My goal is a 5k in June of 2010 that I will be running alongside of Alison who has so patiently worked with me and encouraged me daily! Hopefully Christy will come run along side us too, so I have both my inspirations to cross the finish line with.

So...today I decided to take the girls with me on their first "run." Keith rode the bike and pulled them along behind at Lake Lynn. We had a wondeful time! Everyone loved it. It made me and Keith realize this is the kind of family time we should have, outside, enjoying nature, being active...teaching our kids a healthy lifestyle and the beauty of God's creation. Not to mention this was an awesome way to spend our Saturday morning and it was totally FREE!

Enjoy the pictures that I had to stop and take along the way!


Sisterly love!

Posing for Mommy, holding hands on one of the many gorgeous bridges you cross along the 2 mile trail.

And...we let the girls play for a while at the end!

Daddy and his Baby Girls! (we had stopped to see a turtle!)

Sweet, Sweet Kay

And Sweet, Sweet Addi

She was trying to put her hat back on...it was a little chilly and a little windy.

Jumping Bean!

And this is my favorite! I love this pic!

Keith created this to ride along side me! The girls love it, Keith enjoys it and it allows me to get moving!

Just a few of the many, many ducks we saw! We will be feeding these next time. We plan to go out to Lake Lynn at least once a week to watch the leaves change through the fall.

So pretty! I love this place. This makes running much more enjoyable! See, you would be addicted too with such scenery!

One of the turtles we saw!

The leaves are just barely beginning to change.

Hope you enjoyed!