I heard that term the other day and loved it. You'd think the world was ending here in GA. Stores were bought out of milk, eggs, and bread. Schools shut down. Then everything shut down. News people are extremely entertained by all this crazy weather. I said they were entertained, not that the news was entertaining. I actually saw one dude try to use his mic to broadcast the sound of the icy rain hitting his hood. And then proceed to use his mic to pick up the sound of him crunching through the snow. And one news station was saying they had 20,000 + Facebook friends since the blizzard started. Remind me again how this qualifies as "news?" They did slightly redeem themselves with great stories about people helping travelers stranded in the airports for days by buying tons of groceries and one man giving a mom some money for her and her baby to eat after he heard her story on the news. It was nice to hear about the ways people actually do help each other out and there are decent folks still around, we just don't often hear about their stories.. I appreciate the positive stories very much since I am not a news watcher for the very reason that it is so rarely about anything good. Go 11 Alive! Moving along...
I am going on my 4th snow day home from work tomorrow. FOURTH!!! I'm enjoying the time off wearing pajamas, sleeping in, and hanging with my family. I'm not enjoying the thought of making up those days. Grrr. Oh well, every time I think about it, my little munchkin finds another way to make me laugh and once again I'm having a blast. The dogs have been happily living in the garage (with a heater!) the last few days since their pen is still iced over. They think they're ready to be back outside but once they're out there for a little while to eat and do their business, they're can't wait to get back in. Rudy in particular. They've been very good boys. Still getting along great.
The result of telling her to smile
Sunday night the snow fell late. I was woken up several times after that to the sound of icy rain hitting our windows. I thought, "Man! That's going to ruin the snow!" Yes, even half awake I care about the quality of the snow. I love playing in it! Well, I was right. The next morning we were greeted by a white wintery wonderland, but upon walking in the yard discovered that it was ice. Yes, we slipped and slid all around the yard. Not hard to do when you're being dragged by Hank. Still working on training him, but weather and holidays have slowed us up a bit. Anyway, I was not to be discouraged. After a good breakfast, I layered Lailey up in clothes like only someone who has lived anywhere north of GA would know how to do. Then I layered myself up, and before we (I) passed out from heat stroke we headed out into the fluffy crunchy white snow ice. I didn't know how Lailey would like sliding around, but even if she fell she was so bundled up it was like falling on pillows. She's her mommy's daughter. She LOVED it! I asked her if she wanted to go see Nick and Julie (4 houses down) and she enthusiastically squealed "OTAY!!! Nit and Chulie's House!!! OTAY!!!" After a little visit, we walked back, but she thought we were going back to go in so that was met with some resistance. I told her she had two choices: walk or be carried, but either way we were going back to get a "sled." Walking it was, and we were on our way. I entered the garage to find, much to my happiness, that a boogie board was easily reached. Thank you, Davey, for recently cleaning the garage. Off we went again.
How do we sled in Georgia? That's right. On a boogie board. Of course, she loved it.
How to get a good picture...run (aka slide) toward her and pretend I'm going to "get" her.
We slid down neighbor's driveways which were steeper than ours, I pulled her up and down the street, and she couldn't get enough. She even learned to lay on her tummy and hold the rope she would be more stable.
"I pull Mommy! Pullin' Mommy!"
Finally, I had Davey go get a belt to secure her so we could go fast without her toppling backwards, which was my main concern. It worked like a charm. And please don't worry. She was safe. And we live in a cul-de-sac and almost no one was even driving that day. I do think about these things.
To be late uploading Christmas photos. Here is a photo recap of all the holiday festivities.
Picking out the perfect tree at the tree farm known as Lowe's
I told her to smell it...so she did.
We found it!
Davey got his old Pepsi Santa (origin unknown) out of the attic and Lailey fell. in. love. She carried him around the house while grunting the whole time. She then kissed and hugged him daily. Actually, she still does since he hasn't gone back to his place of hibernation yet.
She didn't actually get it, but I still love the picture. And the jammies.
Dancing with Santa- apparently pants were optional that day. Mommy's hat was not.
Visit from "Aunt" Kathryn
CHRISTMAS AT GRAMMY AND GRANDDADDY'S HOUSE
CHRISTMAS WITH SARAH'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY
3 Girl cousins Sadie, Abby, and Lailey
Cousin Jen
BONFIRE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Amy (sis), Hannah (friend), and me
The men at the bonfire
Aunt Amy
CHRISTMAS AT GRANDPA JIM'S HOUSE
"You guys got me a BOX??? Yaaaaay!"
Kitchen set!
Uncle Tim and Aunt Amy
The little chef
For our own little Christmas morning, we used our video camera and forgot to take snapshots. Davey loves watching his old family videos and wants to make sure Lailey has plenty of the same to enjoy someday.
We had a WONDERFUL Christmas and feel truly blessed.
Due to the upcoming holiday festivities, I wanted to make sure to wish everyone a Merry Christmas before I forgot. Thanks for keeping up with the Akin family. We hope you know personally the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. It's the best Christmas gift we'll ever receive.
We wish you the best Christmas and a Happy New Year. Drop me an email sometime if you ever want to comment on the blog but don't want to publicly comment. I'd love to hear from people who enjoy it. sarahkakin@gmail.com
Merry Christmas!!!
Love,
Sarah, Davey, Lailey, Rudy and Hank
Lailey's song repertoire is expanding, even if it's just the first lines. She is singing into the broken antenna of our portable cd player that Davey uses while he works out. It's her microphone.
The songs, in order of appearance, are
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Jingle Bells
Row Row Row Your Boat
Jesus Loves Me
ABC's
And I knew that you were different than anyone before
So I prayed and trusted Jesus even more
Thank you Jesus
For the greatest friend you've ever given me
Thank you Jesus
For my husband and my friend
I will love you 'til the end of time
From "End of Time," music and lyrics by Sarah Akin
9 YEARS AGO this past Wednesday (December 15th) was the day Davey and I officially began our dating relationship that would last four and half years before we got married on May 20, 2006. 9 YEARS. For us, that seems like an eternity.
Thank you, Davey, for being my best friend and sticking with me through the good and not so good times. We've seen some of both, but mostly it's been a wonderful journey. I really will continue to love you until the end of time.
Yay! It's finally here! I'm on break. I get to spend the next two weeks with my family, catching up on Christmas shopping, activities, and more. To celebrate, I decided to waste time on a new blog design, just for fun. I think it looks like abstract Christmas lights.
Hopefully with a little more time I will be able to update on all that Lailey has been doing lately. Though, I never make promises. We may be having too much fun to blog!
A little about the picture at the top:
Yesterday Lailey got a hold of my oven mitts and figured out that if she set them both on the couch she could slide both arms in and then proceed to twirl around the room to Christmas music until she fell over. It was priceless! She looked like a little angel with oven mitts for wings. Love that girl!
Grandpa Jim: "Lailey, you're going to be the 1st female President of the United Sates. When you're president, can I sleep in the Lincoln Room in the White House?"
Lailey: "No."
Grandpa Jim: "Well, can I sleep in the Washington Room then?"
