Lexie's 1st Birthday!

Lexie Noelle turned a year old on December 22! Her party isn't until January 16th, but she did get to open a some birthday gifts (Nana, Grandma Neesie, Aunt Brandi, and Great Grandma Hellwig)... all before anyone got Christmas gifts! Lexie loved it and I can't wait to celebrate at her party on the 16th! My baby... a year old.. MAN that year flew by!

Lexie Noelle.. a year old!

Lexie last year on New Years Eve... :)

Christmas 2009

Yikes! The clock is ticking down QUICKLY into 2010 and I've yet to put up some Christmas pictures blog!

I'm sorry- its been terribly busy these past 2 weeks, but I must say this turned out to be such a great Christmas! Since, of course, Jesus birth was the first and BEST Christmas ever... this year might be close to second best!

We were able to show the girls the true meaning of Christmas; and with help from Nana, Grandpop, Grandma Neesie, Grandpa Perry, Pappox, Aunt Lisa & Keith, Aunt Brandi & Uncle Mark, and eBay... we all had a very blessed Christmas indeed (Jenna got everything on her list and Lexie loved her surprises, and Eric and I got some awesome gifts as well!!) And Eric and I were also able to get gifts for our niece and nephew- that was the best gift for us, to be able to have them unwrap something special from Aunt Steph and Uncle Eric. :) We have so very much to be thankful for!

It completely made my day to see how happy the girls were to hear the story of Jesus...and then their joyful squeals as they played with their new toys that Santa left under the tree.

Here are a few pics!

We started our 2009 Christmas in Columbia, SC at Nana and Grandpop's!

Lexie is a cool chick!

BOOT THERAPY! My parents got me 3 pairs of amazing new boots (a black pair, brown pair... and tall purple pair!) and my wonderful hubby got me a black pair that have the softest inner lining ever... LOVE IT! Here is a picture of me hugging my new boot collection...lol... I also got the purse I've been wanting (from the Hubby!)!!!

Lexie was so tired...she fell asleep with a mouth full of peas. Don't worry- I made sure those were out of her mouth before stepping back to take pictures....ha ha...

The famous ZHU ZHU pet! :) Jenna named her Kelly.... and Kelly is really a lot of fun! It's no wonder she was at the top of Jenna's wish list-- thank you Nana and Grandpop!

New coats from Grandma Neesie and Grandpa Perry! Jenna got a purple one, and Lexie got this pink one. :) CUTE!!

Jenna's gift from Pappox- she was allowed to open one of the gifts he sent (he had sent a few for for Jenna and a few for Lexie) She loved it!

Uncle Erich Peschel (Jenna's Godfather) came by and gave Jenna a Christmas present. She was so excited to see him- we all enjoyed seeing you Uncle Erich! Hope to see you again soon!

Santa Claus and Corona's

We ate at Corona's Mexican Restaurant last night and you wouldn't believe who was sitting in the waiting room with his wife... Santa Claus!! We walked in and there they were, Mr. and Mrs. Claus in person wearing their famous Christmas outfits! Jenna's face lit up so bright with wonder and excitement.. I'm sure her face shined as bright as the star over Bethlehem and her wonder matched the faces of the shepherds first looking at the baby born in a manger that night... what a miracle! That's what Christmas is all about- Jesus! And Jenna's favorite story, too, as she makes us tell her the story of Jesus' birth almost on a nightly basis. We told her how Saint Nicholas was filled with joy at our Saviour's birth, and so he brings gifts to all the children of God who believe in the miracle of Christmas. :) Santa is real- and we saw him last night in Corona's...not just in the man wearing the big red coat with the white beard...or the sweet lady next to him in her red and green gown with soft white curls of hair... we also saw Santa in the sparkling of Jenna's eyes...in her huge smile as she exclaimed "Mommy! Mommy! Santa is here! Santa Claus, Mommy- the real one!" And Lexie too- her eyes smiled... that baby clapped her hands and went right to him. :)

I will cherish these moments with my girls- while they still hold the child-like wonder of Christmas... And nothing makes my heart leap with joy more than when Jenna says "Mommy, will you tell me the story of baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph again?"... and that is one story, that I never get tired of telling!

"Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills, and everywhere! Go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ is born!"

Lexie Noelle: Kids & Co Christmas 2009

They said Lexie was the happiest to see Santa... I said "But of course! She's our Santa Baby... I mean after all... her first night home from the hospital, Santa came to our house and brought her presents!" ha ha...

We'll Miss You Kandys

Kandys D. Batson, Lyman

Kandys Darlene Williams Batson, 25, of 70 Lakeside Drive, died December 7, 2009.

A native of Greenville County, daughter of Wayne Scott and Sharon Duck Williams of the home, she was a 2002 graduate of Greer High School, a homemaker and a member of Victor Baptist Church.

Also surviving are her husband, Michael Justin Batson of the home; two daughters, Kaytee Annabelle Batson and Natalee Klare Batson both of the home; maternal grandparents, Melvin and Darlene Duck of Greer; a brother, Brandon Scott Williams of the home; and a sister, Mary Brooke Williams of Lyman.

Kandys was predeceased by her paternal grandparents, Warren and Mary Williams.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday at The Wood Mortuary, conducted by Rev. Ken Vickery. Burial will follow in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held 6 until 8 p.m. Thursday at The Wood Mortuary.

The family is at the home.

Memorials may be made to the Kaytee and Natalee Batson Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 534, Greer, S.C. 29652.

Online condolences may be made at http://www.thewoodmortuary.com/.
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Kandys was like a sister to Eric, and Eric got the phone call at 2:00am, early Tuesday morning taht she had been killed in a car accident. He was told by Kandys' mother to go to the home and deliver the news to her brother and sister who were watching over her children. Eric and I broke down as the reality hit of what he had to do... I didn't get a wink of sleep that night. I talked with Eric on the phone until he got there to make sure he got there safely, then prayed for him as he knocked on the door and told his best friend Brandon and his best friend's little sister Brooke that their sister didn't make it. Eric grew up with that family and Kandys was always like a little sister to him, so he broke down and cried with Brandon and Brooke as they mourned the loss of Kandys. Eric stayed there all the next day to help with the babies as everyone started to come home. He called in tears saying how Kaytee, age 3, would cry out for mommy and someone would have to explain again how mommy is in Heaven with Jesus now. He called again in tears after his conversation with Kandys' husband, Justin, who struggles to just sleep without his beloved wife by his side. When Eric got home that night, we held each other for the longest time - we cried together and prayed for Justin who for the first time, was sleeping in an empty bed. He couldn't reach out and touch his better half like I could... he couldn't run his fingers through her hair... or wrap his arms around her... and we just can't imagine his pain.

I have trouble sleeping when Eric is off on one of his hunting trips... the bed is so empty. But at least I know he's coming home. At least I can pick up the phone and call him... I'm so fortunate to have Eric, to have married the man that loves me more than anything, my soul mate. My heart breaks for Justin - and my heart breaks for the two little girls who now have to learn a new way of life... a life with out mommy. But we told them how much Mommy loves them, and how she'll always be a part of them, watching over them, loving them from Heaven.

We will miss you Kandys... We will miss you so very much.

I don't have a picture of Kandys to share with you, but I do have this picture of her daughter Kaytee holding Lexie for the first time. Kaytee looks so much like her mommy- and Kandys has raised such a polite and wonderful little girl, in Kaytee and Natalee's eyes- we'll forever see our beloved friend Kandys.

Lexie's First Steps!!!!

Lexie Noelle has been trying so very hard to walk this past week. She will stand still on her own for the longest time, and do a "falling" step or two as she glides back down to a crawl. This morning, I was almost late to work because I stayed at day care to watch as her "falling step"...suddenly became a real step, and then a falling step....

Then tonight, while Eric was playing with her during Jenna's rehearsal... She took 2 steps and then her falling step...

My sister and I were sitting with her in the formal living room, and she turned to me and took 2 steps and the falling step to me. We DESPERATELY wanted to catch it on film...so after 15 minutes of trying everything under the sun... we finally caught the video below, of my sweet baby Lexie, taking some of her very first steps. Granted, in the video she only takes one step and then the falling step... but these are real steps! And I'm guessing within the next week or so... she'll just take right off and leave her days of crawling behind her! We are all so proud of you baby girl!!

Note: She takes the step at the very end of the video- after much coaxing and teasing with a pacifier... Lexie is so cute, she even shakes her head "no" at one point as if to say 'Mom, I don't wanna!' ha ha!

Moonlight Movies

Downtown Greenville has "Moonlight Movies" during the late Spring and Summer nights where you can sit outside by Reedy River and watch a movie under the stars. Well they had a special Christmas event tonight, they had Moonlight Movies starting at 6pm - and they showed 2 movies back to back showing "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "A Christmas Story". My sister Lisa, Jenna, and I bundled up and met downtown for dinner and then walked down to the river front to see the movies. It was super cold...but super fun! Definitely something I hope they do again...and next time, just a few more layers of clothing and at least one more blanket...possibly even hat and gloves too.. yes, it was THAT cold... ha ha! :)

Weekend at Nana's and Grandpop's!

As soon as I got off of work on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, we packed up the car and headed to a much needed weekend at Nana's and Grandpop's! :) We had such a wonderful time (as we always do) and neither of the kids wanted to leave on Sunday. Jenna spent the weekend nights at her Aunt Brandi and Uncle Mark's for some one on one time with her cousin Bradley. They played all weekend and even got a trip to EdVenture! And of course, spent some time over at Nana's and Grandpop's with us and the babies. Enjoy a few pics! The rest of the pics and videos are at www.dropshots.com/pilkentonpearls

This ADORABLE pajama set was given to Jenna by her Aunt Brandi and Uncle Mark- the slippers and the outfit is so cute, and so perfect for Jenna. She loves it!
Thanks Brandi and Mark!

Bradley and Jenna took turns taking pictures of each other with me doing silly made up dances... this one is the "race car" one Jenna asked us to do... another one I held Bradley in the air and Jenna called it the "Simba" dance... we had so much fun being silly!One of the few times I actually got to take a picture of the two of THEM doing a silly dance... I have no idea what the name of this dance was, nor do I have a clue why Bradley is dancing with Lexie's shoe... ha ha!

Tori, Lexie, and Nana playing in the back yard! :) Bradley drew a picture of Wall-E (drawing right in front of where Lexie is coloring) and so my child Jenna drew "Chalk-E" and said he was Wall-E's cousin! ha ha! My niece Tori and myself helped color Chalk-E in, she is the giant pink Robot that Jenna is working on!