Watch us dance...

My sister Michele made this crazy, crazy video for Jake, Caroline and me. Please watch it with the volume on! It is hilarious!

It takes a few seconds to load, but it is well worth it!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9619523088

Thanks Michele. I love it!

florida vs. florida state

Saturday afternoon, before the game, Jake, Caroline and I went to visit Laura Caruso and Peyton McLeod and their families. Laura and Peyton's parents live in Tallahassee and they were up form the Tampa visiting for Thanksgiving. Laura and her husband Mike have two boys, Jeremy who is 3 and Mason who just turned one. Peyton and His wife Sarah have a 5 month old named Keller. We had a good visit with them and we got to watch Jeremy play basketball, golf, and football out in the back yard. He even caught a 30 yard pass form his uncle Peyton. He is going to be a star one day!

Here is a picture of Mason and Caroline. Rivalry begins at a young age in Florida!


We were invited to the Rockwood's to watch the football game. They were having a party because their children Carrie and Mark and their families were in town for the holiday. It was also Becky's birthday, but she did not want anyone to know! Happy b-day Becky!

My sister Michele and her family (Mike, Will and Walker) came in for the party as well and brought my mother. Will, Walker and Mike wore their Georgia clothes because it was the Georgia/Georgia Tech game that same day. Will wanted to be the bartender so you would tell him what you wanted and he would point to it, but then you had to pour your own drink. Walker played the player piano, and he called it the "magic piano."



Carrie's son Ben was at the party and he has grown so much since the last time I saw him. He is walking and eating solid foods! Wow, how time flies. Ben was so nice to Caroline and kept giving her kisses.


By the way...Florida won! Go Gators!!!


The Rockwood party's are always fun and we can't wait to be invited again.

First night out

(Translated by Pete for Caroline)

What a Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Mom and Dad went to a class reunion party on Friday night and I had a sleepover at Grandma Brenda and Grampa Pete's house. It was hard for Mom and Dad to leave me but they knew G&G would take very good care of me.

I was a little stuffy so Grandma decided to give me a nice warm bath to make me feel better and it worked just fine. Grampa put my towel and sleepies in the dryer so they were nice and warm too. Mmmmm!

I slept all night and my nose wasn't even stuffy in the morning. When it was time to get dressed for Mom and Dad to pick me up, I wore a new outfit that G&G couldn't wait for me to try on. My silly Dad asked which list I was on!

Thanksgiving

Thursday was Thanksgiving and we were busy all day.

First, I had to make cornbread stuffing to take to dinner. Jake went to the store earlier in the week and I gave him a list of everything I need to cook. Of course I forgot to tell him to get more eggs and milk. So, That morning he had to go to Albertson's (because that was the only store open) and get me what I needed.

We went to my aunt Flo's house and ate lunch with my dad's side of the family. We had some yummy food including macaroni and cheese and our family's famous recipe of lima beans. We also had 3 types of turkey (fresh, smoked and fried), greens, dressing, and my favorite banana pudding. Caroline had some cheese from the macaroni and some of the banana pudding, but just a taste of each. As lunch was winding down I found the "bop-it" toy/game and started to play. I made Jake and my cousin's Heath and JJ join in the fun.


Next we went to Pete and Brenda's house to have dinner. Jake's Grandmother, his cousins Amber and Brandon, and his Uncle Philip came into town to celebrate with us. They invited my mothers side of the family over for dinner and that included: Do, my mom, my aunt Debbie, cousins Cody and Travis, and Travis' girlfriend Allie. We had 14 people including Caroline at the table. We enjoyed food like Brenda's wonderful mashed potato's, pistachio fluff (aka: green stuff), ham, turkey, my grandmothers recipe of cornbread dressing, sweet potato's with marshmallows on top, pumpkin dip, and a ton more. At this meal Caroline tried mashed potato's and we think she enjoyed them. After dinner we settled into the living room and sang Karaoke and played jeopardy.


Later in the evening Jake, Caroline and I listened to Pete play beautiful songs on his violin.

Rolling Over

Saturday, November 10th, Caroline rolled over completely on her own. This is not the first time she has done it, but the first couple of time she was on the couch that has a natural slope so we did not count it. Jake, Caroline and I went over to Pete and Brenda's house on Saturday so Jake could cook ribs for us. We were all sitting around playing with Caroline when all of a sudden she rolled over. She even got her arm out from under her and propped up on her elbows. We tried to make her do it again but we had no luck. Here is a video of her trying to roll over.

Caroline's first sporting events

Monday night was the first time this season Duke played basketball on TV. We had Pete and Brenda over for dinner and to watch the game. This was Caroline's first Duke Basketball game and Jake was very excited to share this tradition with her. He dressed her up in the only Duke outfit that she has (it is for a 1 year old) and they sat in front of the TV and cheered until it was time for her bath.





Just 5 days later Caroline attended her first Florida Gator game in the Swamp. Florida beat FAU 59-20. It was a lot of fun and I can't wait to take her back.

I bought a visor for myself to wear to the game, but it was so sunny I had to let Caroline use it.
The Family at Florida Field.
Do, Jake, Caroline and Kelley.



Sleepy baby.

Go Gators!!!

She's a natural doing Jaws.

Kelley, Caroline, Albert, Alberta and Jake.

More pictures of Chloe McKee

My friend Summer sent me a link to more photos of her daughter Chloe. Enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/Slideshow.jsp?Uc=16311e9p.3eplbq7d&Uy=-v4l9xe&Upost_signin=Slideshow.jsp%3Fmode%3Dfromshare&Ux=0&mode=fromshare&conn_speed=1

These are my favorite!!!

Caroline's 3 month pictures

Gjergj and Hester came over last week and took Caroline's 3 month pictures. We had a great time dressing her up and making her smile. Here are some of the pictures they took...

www.volajphotography.com
www.volajphotography.blogspot.com

Caroline's Christening

On Sunday November 4th, Caroline Brooke Garner was Christened at the Wacahotta (pronounced Wa-ca-hoo-tee) Methodist Church. It was the annual "homecoming" service at my family church outside of Gainesville. Caroline is the 7th generation descendant of J. Porter Smith, who founded the church around 1850. J. Porter Smith is my grandmother's (Do) great uncle. This church is where my nephews Will and Walker were also Christened. Caroline wore a ruby ring tied to her arm that was Memaw's (Jake's fathers mother) and she received a beautiful gold cross necklace from Grandma (Jake's mothers mother)that she wore. The silver bowl used for the water was Sweetie's (my fathers mother). We are so glad that many of our friends and family were able to attend this special day in Caroline's life.

My mom's side of the family(Darlene, Mike, Will, Michele, Dan, Diana, Jake, Caroline, Kelley,Walker, Debbie, Cody, Do, Travis, and Allison.)

Jake, my dad, and Mary

Jake's family (Brenda, Pete, Grandma, Ed and Kate)

Our Friends Grayson and Cathy Kamm and Mary Hall Lester

Me, Michele, Caroline and Dan

Four Generations...Brenda, Jake, Grandma, and Caroline.

Caroline likes to sing Amazing Grace. Watch the Video!

The State Capitol of Florida

Jake and I kept Walker and Will while their parents went to the Jimmy Buffett concert in Tampa. We decided to take the boys out to lunch downtown and to the top of the capitol building on Friday afternoon. Jake and Caroline had never been either so we thought it would be a fun time for everyone. I have not been up there in many years and I forgot how cool it is to see Tallahassee from 22 stories high.

Caroline's day care from the Capitol

Will and Walker like to make Caroline laugh. Watch the video to see more!

New Posts

Hi everyone,

We have been a little slow posting lately. Make sure you read all of the new posts starting off with Week 12.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Love,
Kelley, Jake, and Caroline.

Halloween

Halloween 2007

Caroline was a pea in the pod for Halloween this year. Her Great Aunt Peggi made the costume for her and it fit perfectly! Will and Walker were in town so we joined up with them and went trick or treating at Do's house and and Deb Deb's (Debbie) house. Grandma and Grandpa (Jake's Parents) came over for dinner and we got some pictures with them as well. Caroline was the cutest pea ever. Jake kept calling her his "Sweet Pea."

Will was a blue Power Ranger and Walker was Obi Wan Kenobi from Star Wars.