DYKSTERHOUSE NEWS

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

For Aunt Su Su

Aunt Susanne has been requesting a video for the past few weeks, so these are for you!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

On January 3, 2010, Mary Laine turned one! It is so hard to believe how fast she is growing. Her birthday was a great day. Because it fell on a Sunday, we celebrated with our Sunday School class and family after church. Thanks to everybody who came and to all of you who have been such a support and encouragement over the past year. Here are a few pictures from the party:

I made a "duck cake", since Mary Laine loves bathtime and rubber ducks

Mary Laine's own cake to dig into

The Birthday Girl with Grant, Aunt Su-Su, Papa, Mimi, and UncleWa-Wa

A HUGE thanks to Grant and Susanne who did all of the photo and video work!

Welcoming guests as they arrived

Playing with a rubber duckie

She loves her Papa

ML's big friends (and future babysitters!)

Uncle Walker, G.G. and Papa

NOT a fan of the hat

She has no idea what's coming - she had never had sugar before she ate this cake

Needless to say, she LOVED it!

On a sugar-high

Isabelle entertained us with some tunes - Rollin' on the River was the fan favorite!

Sarah Frances and Mary Laine enjoying their sugar highs together

Getting a little slap-happy

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET GIRL! WE LOVE YOU!

Friday, February 5, 2010

December 2009

After all of our travels in November, we decided to stay put for the month of December. We really enjoyed just being able to enjoy Greenwood and celebrate the birth of Christ.

11 months old

Greenwood has a great Christmas parade that is actually the oldest and largest Christmas parade in the entire state. Mary Laine is still a little young to really appreciate it, and barely even flinched when the trucks with the sirens drove past. It was a very cold parade day, so we were thankful that my parents' house is on the parade route and we could watch through their window. We did venture out into the cold for a bit to say hello to all of our friends who were watching down the street. Mary Laine preferred her window-seat, though!

First Greenwood Christmas Parade

I have to give a Deacon update. We really are so proud of him. While he still has alot of puppy tendencies, and certainly can be mischievous every now and then, he is really starting to calm down and is so sweet with Mary Laine. The two of them are very cute together. They can also get each other into trouble. For example, even though Mary Laine knows that Deacon isn't allowed to play with her toys, she taunts him with them by putting them right up to his mouth as if to say, "I bet you'd really like to chew on this now, huh?" Deacon is usually pretty good about resisting the temptation, though :-). Here are some sweet Deacon pics:

One of the great things about December is that schools take a nice long break - and we get to see alot more of Uncle Walker and Aunt Susanne!

Mary Laine loves her Mimi and Papa too!

Playing catch is one of her new favorite activities

Here are some other cute December pictures:

Major bed-head after naptime

Reading is still her all-time favorite activity

She actually climbed onto the table (via the laundry basket) all by herself!

Celebrating Christmas was so much fun this year with a one-year old. Even though Mary Laine is too young to understand her need for a Savior, or even to appreciate the celebration, we enjoyed telling her about it all the same.

Our "children" on Christmas Eve

Opening presents on Christmas morning - she was more than a little overwhelmed and didn't even enjoy ripping the paper like I thought that she would. But, after the dust settled, she is really appreciative of all of her new toys.

Playing with her new bath toys - thanks Uncle Jim and Aunt Pat!!

The tradition in the Sturdivant family has always been to get together for a big Christmas lunch. My parents hosted everyone this year - and it was so much fun to see everyone. We have added five new members to the family (two births and three marriages) over the past year, and it is definitely "the more the merrier"!

Mary Laine and cousin Jane playing with cousin Carson and Aunt Ygondine

Mary Laine loves her "Big Papa"

Sweet time with Uncle Sykes

I love Aunt Su-Su!

Sweet grandfather-granddaughter picture (Uncle Mike and Jane)

Loving all of the attention

It wouldn't be a Sturdivant-family gathering without some sort of competition. Here we are in a heated game of LRC. Aunt Jan snuck in from behind to take the win!

On the 26th, Gary competed in the annual three-on-three alumni and friends basketball tournament at my high school. Gary enjoyed being able to get back out on the court, and the rest of us enjoyed being his cheerleaders. And what was even more fun was that his team won!! Congrats Brunson Smalls!

Mary Laine yelling out cheers for Daddy

Celebrating with the winners

Finally, on Susanne's 20th birthday, we were able to celebrate with her at her Debutante Ball. It isn't everyday that Gary and I have an excuse to get all gussied up. Here we are all cleaned up :-).

Happy New Year!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Thanksgiving 2009

We had such a great Thanksgiving this year and were able to see lots of extended family. A few days before we were scheduled to leave on our trip, I surprised Gary by giving him an early 30th birthday gift. It has always been his dream to go to a Michigan football game in the Big House. So, I sent him along with his brother, brother-in-law, and dad to THE game - Michigan vs. Ohio State. Even though this wasn't the best year for Michigan football, I hear that it was still a great game and a great experience. We just wish that Jimmy could have made it too - you were missed!

Chris, Andy, Don, and Gary

After the game, Gary's dad took the guys on a tour of the school. Both of Gary's parents went to U of M and Gary had never been there. They got to see old dorms, frat houses, and hangouts. It was really special for the guys to get a glimpse into their parents' past.

That night, Gary's Uncle Ken and Aunt Phyllis hosted the guys for dinner. They had a great time catching up, but the highlight of the evening was watching cousin Lisa's son, Brandt, entertain the crowds.

Gary had an extra night by himself in Detroit, so he decided to go to a Detroit Lions game. The game was a great one and the Lions ended up winning by one point as time expired. He said that he was hugging complete strangers in celebration - how fun!

While Gary was in Michigan, I headed over to Knoxville to spend some time with his sister and my nieces. Mary Laine and Gabby are at a fun age where they can really play with each other now. And Mary Laine loved watching older cousins Ainsley and Emma and learning new tricks from them.

Catherine and I loaded up the minivan with all four girls and made the trip to Charlotte. The girls were so good for us and the trip really went by quickly. But, we were obviously happy to be there and to get to see the rest of the family.

Grammy feeding Mary Laine Thanksgiving lunch

Mary Laine and Gabby snuggling with Uncle Jimmy

Triple Trouble - Gabby, Mary Laine and their foster cousin Alissa

"Almost-Aunt Kate" was a big hit with her gingerbread cookie making for the girls

Ainsley, Alissa and Mary Laine

Emma and Ainsley enjoying Thanksgiving Dinner

Mary Laine enjoying her Thanksgiving Dinner

The dogs were begging for Thanksgiving Dinner to be OVER

First Thanksgiving

Happy to be reunited with her daddy

Unfortunately, we had to cut our time with the Dyksterhouse family short because I (Kathryn) got strep throat. Thankfully, we had an army of helpers with Mary Laine as Gary got the car packed up to head to the beach and I laid on the couch and was pretty worthless.

Aunt Kelly with the girls

Our final leg of the trip was St. Simons Island to spend the weekend after Thanksgiving with Kathryn's mom's family. It has been a few years since we were all together, so it was a really special time for us.