Mountain Christmas Trip

We spent last weekend in the North Georgia Mountains with Mela, Buzz, Ryan, Eve and Emory.  It was so much fun and an amazing trip to get to celebrate Christmas with them since we don't get to see them on Christmas.  The cabin we stayed in was amazing and perfect!  The weather was cold cold cold...perfect! And the fireplace wasn't without a fire as long as anyone was awake...perfect!  I wish that we had more time, but was so thankful for every minute that we had together.

Decorating our mountain tree

My blue eyed girl!

Hot Chocolate!

The cabin was on a river, which meant that the guys all got to fish.  Unfortunately not a fish was caught but that didn't matter...I think that I even heard Justin telling Collier that he shouldn't ever say that they didn't catch anything!  ha!

Delicious food. Awesome fellowship.  God's beautiful creation.  A few little hikes with the little ones.  Late nights wii games for the adults.  Gifts.  Drinks.  Laughing.  Memories!

We didn't want to leave and loved every minute.  We saw this deer on the way out.  Justin rolled the window down for Collier to see her and he said 'he is a cutie'.  Love it!  

Christmas Eve

We went to the morning Children's Christmas Pageant service on Christmas Eve.  This was the first year that Collier was old enough to participate in the Pageant.  He got to choose what he wanted to be, either an animal (donkey, cow, sheep), angel or shepherd.  He choose to be a shepherd and was a little disappointed to not get to carry a staff.  I got to help him get dressed up as a shepherd and he was so cute and particular about where he needed to be and what he was going to be doing.  He processed in and then sat quietly for his turn to go up with the shepherds to sing their song.  He did great!  Kenley went to the nursery!!

After church we came home and ate lunch and then had an early visit from Santa. We were his very first stop before he headed to deliver all of his toys.  Collier was so excited and just ran and jumped in his lap. So cute and sweet!  Kenley wasn't quite as sure...she cried when Mom put her in Santa's lap but then would look at him, smile and then turn away followed by another peek and smile.  Collier also go to help Santa with his other gifts for the rest of us.

We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with the Batman helicopter that Santa brought and sort of taking it easy.  I did a little cooking for our Christmas dinner.  It was a fun but busy day for sure.

On Christmas Eve Eve we went to Mom's to make cookies for Santa.  Collier wanted to make chocolate cookies.  He loves to be a helper and especially in the kitchen!  Plus anything that involves chocolate and sprinkles makes him very very happy! special and fun times!

Happy Birthday Jesus

Happy Birthday, Jesus, 

The candles are for You; 

the carols, decorations, 

the celebrating, too.

Happy Birthday, Jesus,

Yours is the brightest flame; 

so when we light the candles,

We light them in Your names.

Happy Birthday, Jesus,

each time the season starts

we share the love You gave us

that burns within our hearts. 

Happy Birthday, Jesus,

we hope that every day

this love will keep you burning

and You will light the way.

- Alda Maria



Kenley - 9 months

My little munchkin bug is 9 months and we made a quick trip to the doctor for our 9 month wellness visit. Here are her stats:

Weight: 18LB 10oz - about 50th percentile
Height: 28.25" - about 60th percentile
Head Circ.:  17.5"  -about 75th percentile (she has a big nogg'n)

And just in time for her 9 month mark she took 8 steps for my mom yesterday.  Mom called me yesterday morning and said 'she just took 4 steps'. next call '6 steps' and then by the end of the day it was 'she took 8 steps'.  She has been walking and pushing things and even just standing without holding on to anything for a while now.  But she is officially getting brave enough to know she can take steps too.  It doesn't take long for her to realize she can get to what she wants much quicker when she crawls.  It is such a big milestone and I was so happy to see her taking those steps when I got home...it is a little bitter-sweet though.

The doctor said that all foods are a go (except nuts and fish) so I guess we will be adding more and more table foods to her meals.  I have noticed that she is not wanting to be still long enough to  nurse as much and just hope that she can continue for a few more months.  It is my favorite part of each day (minus the time at work when I am attached to the pump) I just love holding her in my arms, so very sweet and for such a short time!

A few things just for the record: her hair does stand straight up..no matter what I do as long as it is dry it is standing straight up.  It is starting to fill in thicker and maybe laying down some.  But she got this honest...My mom only took one picture of me without a bonnet and that was only because my Dad made her and now I see why!  

look at that hair and those eyes!

One of my Mom's best friends called me porcupine!  Clearly my case was way worse than her's....

Now looking at this picture, I understand why mom didn't want any pictures with out the bonnet.  goodness gracious at that hair!   But I do love Kenley's soft fuzzy hair standing straight up so cute!  Hopefully as her hair continues to grow it will lay down better than mine did...otherwise I will be investing in some bonnets!

Christmas Time...Flying By!

Where oh where oh where does the time go?  Geesh, it is flying by and I CAN.NOT.KEEP.UP.  Someone help!  Ok.  Seriously here are the high point of what we have been up to since my last post.

Samuel the elf has come to visit and has been busy and doing all that he can to teach Collier to have an imagination (More on Samuel later)

We tried for Christmas Card Pictures - We tried to have fun! 

this year the bribe was a sprite for cooperation.

We celebrated Justin's Birthday!!  

 These sweet cheeks had their first ever bubble bath and LOVED it!

 She also had eggs for the first time...did NOT love those so much.  spit them out!

 Collier went to spend 5 days with Mela and Buzz..loved every minute and did not want to come home.  

I missed him like crazy but really loved the time with Justin and Kenley.  A little easier and quiter when wild man isn't here.  But like I said, I counted the minutes for him to get back home.

Justin got stuck in the bathroom for about 30 minutes and now we no longer have a door handle!  ha.

Collier had his Christmas program at school and he feel asleep in between his class singing and the end of the program (waiting in the choir loft) and wasn't happy to be awake for pictures at the end.....see the results!  

He didn't want to take pictures and so he turned his back to all of the parents.  Oh lovely!

My sweet baby keeps growing bigger and bigger...why?

 anything can be used as a teether...even a deer grunt

Collier is still trying to understand Kenley, sharing and just being sweet to his sister.  It is my prayer for 2013 that God will soften his heart toward her.  This is the standard...Collier pushing or keeping Kenley away from whatever is his.  Praying for less of this!

He was kind enough to share his 'nails' from his tool box with her.  See everything is a chew toy for Kenley

 She loves and adores him and just wants to do whatever he is doing.  She laughs at him all the time. 

Here they are playing.  I think this may be one of the first instances of them play together.  He was pushing and pulling the basket with her walking on the other side and laughing at every single thing he did.  This is what I am praying for more of!

Sorry for the photo dump.  Hope to be a little more caught up.  Can't believe that it is only a week to Christmas.  Where oh Where does the time go?