The Pickle Jar: Lexie's 1st Virginia Trip

We left early Friday morning to go to Pound, VA, so that Lexie could meet all of her family up there. We all had a great time - Jenna loved the snow most of all! I must tell you that I have never seen temperatures so cold! At night, it was in the NEGATIVES! Can you believe that? I took the pick of our car showing 1 degrees, and we weren't even in Virginia yet- we were still in North Carolina!

Our first stop was to Pound 66 - The Station. Eric's Papaw owns it and the whole family helps run it! :) Papaw Pilkenton, Mamaw Pilkenton, Uncle Mark Pilkenton, and Pappox Arvil Pilkenton were all there and got to see Lexie Noelle for the first time.

Lexie's little chin shivered when we first stepped into the cold air - but we had plenty of blankets and warm hugs that warmed her right up ( I don't remember her shivering again the entire weekend!).

Everyone loved Lexie so much and Jenna was so proud to show her off. It was really sweet to see how excited Jenna was (though sometimes she was a bit overwhelming, and occasionally felt the need to demand some attention, lol). And I found myself lost in playing with Jenna so that everyone could enjoy the newborn a little. Jenna is such a good big sister; her excitement is overwhelming! It also didn't help that there was snow everywhere. Jenna has been begging for snow since the first day of winter - and she got more than she

bargained for while we were visiting in Virginia. She played and played until all the adults were too frozen to play with her... ha ha!

We also stepped over to Pizza Plus, just next door to the station, to visit Eric's brother Nick at work. Nick says that he starts as manager soon! :) Everyone got a kick out of meeting his two nieces, Jenna & Lexie.

When we came back over to the station, Mark was putting on these really tall rubber pants- someone's truck had fallen into the creek and froze overnight! It's a good thing he had those pants- that water looked cold!!! Eric's brother Justin was also there to go with them to help tow the truck in.

We passed them on our way to Mamaw and Papaw VanHuss' house - the truck was frozen solid from the inside out! I'm thankful that I didn't have to help pull it out. I'll leave that to the Pilkenton men... ha ha!

We stayed at Mamaw & Papaw VanHuss' house. Lexie and Jenna were both showered with love and affection - especially from Uncle Dougy, who I must say definately tells the truth when he says he has the grandkid's all trained! As we pulled into the drive way, Jenna started screaming for Uncle Dougy before we got out of the car! An Lexie never had to cry much as there was always someone anxious to hold her and feed her.

Both of our girl's were spoiled slap rotten this weekend! Uncle Dougy had to play Guess Who at least about 5 times and had to chase Jenna around the yard in the snow before she would let him come inside and see the new sister. Jenna, by the way, was so funny in the snow. She would throw snowballs at anybody who dared to come outside; she made so many snow angels until she was too cold to do anymore; and not only did she catch falling snowflakes...her daddy caught her just eating handfuls...don't worry, he made sure she knew how bad of an idea that was, ha ha!

Uncle Billy also came by to meet Lexie. Jenna met him at the door and wrapped her arms around his legs insisting that he play with her first - he practically had to drag Jenna with him to get into the room where the baby was!

Uncle Junebug was a life saver - he seemed to be able to calm Lexie faster than anybody. Lexie just loved for her uncles to hold her and Uncle Junebug was quick to just snuggle with her on the couch. He did have to fight Mamaw VanHuss for her first- she just had the biggest smile on her face when she held Lexie. It was hard to steal away the newest Great Grandbaby from such a proud Great Mamaw!

Eric, his brother Justin, and I went hunting on the top of the mountain at Mamaw & Papaw VanHuss'. Eric says I must have been good luck because after hunting without me all morning...just minutes into hunting with me, they had shot themselves a squirrel! Eric first shot at the squirrel and injurred it from what I understand, but it is Justin that gets credit for the kill. The squirrel leaped from way up in the tree and landed not far from me, only to run into a hole at the base of a tree a little ways down the mountain. It was funny because all of us were staring into the top of the trees looking for him for about 10 minutes before finally realizing he was in the hole just at the base of the tree we were all standing around. ha ha! And so, Eric says that I must always hunt with them simply because I am good luck!

Later that day, we attended Michael Ollerton's (Eric's cousin Matt's son) 7th birthday party- he has the same birthday as my dad, which was Friday, January 16th. I must tell you that my dad turned 50 years old this year! It's ok because I cooked him his birthday dinner the night before- I got to serve him his last dinner at 49 years old! ha ha! Happy Birthday Dad and Michael! At the party, the twins Eli & Ben, Michael, Samantha, and Jenna all teamed up to wrestle Eric to the ground. That's one heck of a handi-capped match! Poor Eric was wayyy outnumbered!

We really had a lot of fun everywere we went- from playing Scene it with Kinsley and Dad to wrestling with the kids at a birthday party. We love you and already miss everyone! Below are just a few more pics- the rest are on dropshots! You will see in one of the following pics...that Jenna Jade got ahold of Lexi's baby powder. A picture is worth a thousand words...and perhaps a laugh or two!!!

Mamaw VanHuss & Lexie Noelle "Bubba" (Dakota) & Lexie Noelle