The Waddle Family: I know....long time no post!

So, where do I begin after this long in between posts? I guess the last time I updated was Halloween. Yikes! Well, first let me apologize for it being so long. We had some ongoing computer issues that have yet to be resolved! This post is coming to you now via my mom's laptop that she so graciously left for me to use during her unplanned visit a couple weeks ago. Since I mentioned that we will start there and work backwards. Mom came out on January 18th, due to an accident that Dustin got in the day before that. He was out riding our quad on some property of a friend of ours. They had been paint balling recently and decided to go out and set up some tactical scenarios(guy stuff, so I am told). He hadn't eaten since breakfast and it was now around 5pm. The doctor says that he must have had a hypothermic blackout and wrecked. He had a concussion and broke his clavicle and had to stay overnight in the hospital. He still has no memory of the accident and the 6-8 hours following. He hardly remembers the hospital at all except that he woke up there without Emma and I since they wouldn't let us stay. My mom was such a god send over the next week! With me on Dustin watch she was able to help with Emma. Plus, it was good Grandma/Granddaughter bonding time! So, with all of this going on and Dustin not being able to work due to his injury, we are packing up and moving to Phoenix! Everything happens for a reason and we are taking a huge leap of faith(hopefully in the right direction)!

OH! And Emma started walking on January 10th! Exactly 13 months old!

Now, before all of that we had mom, Gary, and Payton out for a visit the first week in December. That was quite the experience! We loved having all of them out and truly enjoyed Payton! However, after a week with 2 little ones....Dustin and I decided that we were okay with our ONE child(for now at least). While they were here we went to Gatlinburg, TN. It was gorgeous! Nestled at the foot of the Smoky Mtns. it was so pretty to visit during the Holidays! It was all decorated for Christmas with tons of lights! I loved it! Next time I go during this time of year though, no kids allowed! It would have been a great romantic getaway! It is extremely kid friendly during the summer months though!

In the middle of all of this btw, My little munchkin turned 1......SIGH. Where does the time go. There are a couple pics below of her with her Birthday cake. It was my healthy attempt at a homemade cake so she wouldn't gack out on a sugar high. She really wasn't that into it. She is like me in the yuck department. She kept wanting me to wipe her hands off. Kinda funny.

Anyway, before that, in November, Dustin and I took a day trip down to Bristol Speedway on the VA, TN state line. Really cool to see but overall, unless you are there to see a race....not worth going! There is literally NOTHING there except for the speedway. Also, a little dirty.....and we all know how well Danielle deals with yucky places! ;)

Deep breath........geez that seems like a lot to tell. I haven't even touched on Thanksgiving or Christmas! Christmas will have to wait for my next post though. We went to NYC and there are pics to go with that. I figure this post is full enough already. Thanksgiving was fun. We spent it with our friends Nate and Cheryl(who we will miss dearly when we leave here) and their family. We ate twice on Thanksgiving. One of the benefits of divorced parents I guess...JK! The shots of our family below were taken at Nate's dad's on Thanksgiving day by Nate's sister Brandyn. LOVE HER for those! She took some great pics of Emma too. I have never seen my baby's gorgeous eyes pictured so well. I have to say that we really love Nate and Cheryl and their family. They have really taken us in and been there for us in times of need. We have made life long friends with them as far as we are concerned.

Well, enjoy the pics. Till next time......

Smoky Mountains