Emmett Uses a Sippy Cup

In early January we gave Emmett a sippy cup for the first time. He took to it instantly. The video and pics are from different days but funny enough, he is wearing the same shirt :-)




Emmett never drinks from the cup in this video but he does look awfully cute and babbles in it.

A New Friend

Our good friends Jon & Laura had their second baby at the end of December. I got to visit them after the boys were asleep at Grandma & Grandpa's house. Big sister, Emma, was asleep as well, but I got to meet the newest addition to the Hoyle family, Abby Elizabeth. I spared the sleep deprived parents of photos, but had to get a couple of shots of the cutie.

Me and our new friend, Abby.

Abby hanging out with her daddy!

Shower for Baby Renfrow #3!

After Jason's first week of work at Morrow Mountain, we headed back to Durham for a fun diaper shower for Alison and baby Renfrow #3. Two of Alison's friends from growing up helped host the shower with me. It was a great time hanging out with friends, playing games and munching on yummies. We had a pretty good spread....

Gotta love shower goodies!

Some friends, Carmen and Laura, with their babies.

The loot...mostly diapers and wipes, LOTS of wipes.

Mutti, Alison, Gwen (one of the other hosts), Ashley (Alison's sister-in-law), me & sweet Emmett.

Settling In

On 12/28 we came "home" from Durham, to the house we had lived in for like 12 hours and had not yet unpacked anything :-) My dad arrived that afternoon to help for a couple of days, and help he did!! We were able to get all the furniture in place as well as hang shelves and get a lot of other things accomplished. My dad was a huge help, but he worked us so hard we don't have a single picture!! The Veverka's also came by and helped us get settled in. Jay helped me move a bunch of stuff around in my office, including two stuffed Bobcats mounted on a six foot branch :-) (He has a video). Grandma Mutti and Grandpa Vati also came on New Years Day and Alison visited with her kids later that week.

Eli and Jay are buds!

Emmett gnawing on stuff in his chair.

Emmett looking adorable.

Grandma Mutti showing Eli how it's done. (Gator Golf)

Alison reading to the kiddo's.

Playing in Durham

These are some pics of play time while we were in Durham. Hungry Hungry Hippo's was one of the big hits.

Claire, Emmett and Andrea.

Eli riding Emmett's lion.

Emmett playing with his lion.

Hungry Hungry Hippo's!! The four of them played for like an hour, it was crazy! They all took turns counting and saying go, it was fun to watch.

Here is a video of the HHH festivities:

Christmas Snow Fun

Christmas night North Carolina got a pretty good snow storm (for NC). We got about 5 inches in Durham. I was very excited about playing in the snow with the kids, but it took some coaxing to get the other parents on board and then out the door :-) Wyatt takes after his grandparents and didn't want to get cold, so he did not join us. We had a blast sledding, making a snow man and walking around in the woods!!! There are a lot of pics but, they are all so fun I had to add them.

Eli, Andrea & Claire with the sled.

Matt & Claire on the sled.

Eli and Mama on the sled.

Cutie little stay-puff.

Cheesin' with the snowman!

The snow was gorgeous!!

Helping with the snowman.

Big kids gotta sled too!! :-)

Eli pulling the sled.

This pic cracks me up!!! The sled was harder to pull in the snow!!

Claire and Eli on the sled.

Matt pulling Claire through the trails.

The doggies had fun too!

Doc loves to rub his neck in the snow, it is pretty funny.

Of course we had to get a video too! When it gets to the snow man part you will hear Eli ask for a "corn pipe", wanting a corn cob pipe like frosty. He was very insistent that the snowman had to have one.

Videos of Emmett at Christmas

This is a compilation of some video clips of Emmett at Christmas. He loves to bounce and when he does he now swings. He will jump forward two or three times and then lift his feet and swing back, its awesome!!!

Christmas Day - All

Christmas afternoon the Renfrows arrived in Durham and we all exchanged presents.

All of the kids in front of the tree.

Auntie Alison boxed in with kids and presents. The feet hanging off of the chairs prove Grandma Mutti and Grandpa Vati were there too!

Auntie Alison and Eli.

Babers Renfrow got a bear sticker.

Claire showing off one of her new games.

Mama and Eli.

Emmett had to head to bed early.

Uncle Matt getting Eli.

Lucy and Doc even got presents.

Christmas Day - Gwinns

For Christmas we went to Andrea's parents house in Durham. First thing Christmas morning we woke up and gave the boys their presents from us.

Eli was very excited to get a new hedge trimmer :-)

Emmett and some new paci's.

Eli got a couple of books.

Emmett was very excited to be opening presents.

Emmett helping to unwrap.

Emmett got a lovie like his brother's!

Eli playing with his new hedge trimmer and rolling pin.

Moved In

On December 23rd we moved out of Lake Norman and officially into Morrow Mountain. The next morning we headed out to Durham for Christmas.

Christmas Eve in the new house.

Most if the stuff was loaded directly into the garage, but not all of it.

The advent calendar and the stockings (pictured above) were our Christmas decorations for 2010! It feels good to be moved in though :-)