We LOVE Taylor Swift

TAYLOR SWIFT

Hopefully you've noticed that I've updated my music selections.

At our house...we LOVE Taylor Swift!!! She such a lovely, talented girl. She's seems very humble and appreciative, which is so endearing. I hope you'll enjoy listening to her songs (Taylor writes them as well as sings them beautifully.), as you catch up on the happenings around the McCotter Home.

MORE CHRISTMAS!!!!

We had such a wonderful Christmas! It was so special to have a baby in the house this year. James has gone back to Mississippi already, back to work, but Meghan and Adalie are still with us. I'm going to miss them so much when they leave at the end of this week. Speaking of missing...I missed Michelle and Judd who celebrated Christmas in Japan this year, where they are stationed. Judd is a JAG in the Air Force. I am immensely proud to be an Air Force "Mom" AND an Air Force "Aunt"!!!

James, Meghan and Adalie
Lillian Masie (her stage name) opening a gift on Christmas morning.

Mark and I in front of our tree...THE MOST AMAZING TREE EVER!

"Marmie" and her little Addie-Bug.

Aunt Mattie and Addie...Mattie makes this little girl laugh and laugh and laugh. As I've observed Addie over the past few weeks, she reminds me more and more of Mattie as a baby. She's very content and happy...a real joy just like her Aunt Mattie.

Mattie, Lily and I...Christmas Eve at Grandmother and Grandaddy Eddings house.

Melanie and Micah...Christmas Eve.

This was taken at The Mall of Millenia on our last shopping trip before Christmas.

Addie's First Christmas

These are just a few pictures of Addie's First Christmas celebrated at Marmie's house. She looked too adorable in her Christmas dress and headband.

Addie is sitting beneath the Christmas tree amid all the presents. How appropriate since she is certainly God's special gift to all of us!

What a surprise...she was actually opening her gifts at just 7 months old! What an intelligent child. Of course the paper went straight in to her mouth.

Addie is posing with one of her gifts.

Stockings are a big thing at out house. Many times they hold the BEST gift of all! You know what they say about gifts that come in small packages!!

More Pictures From This Special Day

Aunt Lillian and Adalie

Adalie with her Godparents, Matt and Claire Williams and Mom and Dad

Is this the "Gerber Baby" or an Angel??...Oh...it's baby Addie! Isn't she precious!!!

Baby Addie and Jonathan. Addie LOVES his beard!

The Baptism Celebration Continues

Adalie Cavanaugh Darlson's Baptism

Violet O'Hara

Michelle, this post is especially for you. Meet Violet O'Hara, our Tonkinese kitten.

Violet is a Platinum Point Tonkinese from Charlotte, NC. She arrived in our lives just after Thanksgiving by way of Jacksonville, FL., courtesy of Matt and Claire Williams. (They picked her up from the breeder in Charlotte and drove her to Jacksonville.)

Meghan, Addie and I picked her up in Jacksonville and Violet "cried" all the way home...And that was just the beginning!

The beginning of what you ask?

The beginning of the END of this little Tonkinese being a part of our family! I came to the conclusion just yesterday that she is just NOT going to work out!!!!

The Tonkinese breed is a Siamese-Burmese mix. They are a smaller than most cats, have hypo-allergenic fur and loved for their dog-like personalities. Violet's personality, while very affectionate, is more like an alley-cat! She is very skittish and runs away, hiding from me. When I reach my hand out towards her, she can not get away fast enough.

My last Tonk, O'Malley, was so much like a dog. He was always underfoot, followed me everywhere, would play "fetch", loved everyone and very affectionate...he was perfect! And he was not unusual for the breed...Violet, however IS!

So it looks like we will be switching her out for another cat as soon as one is available.