Pre School Christmas Program

This was the third year Ava has been in Pre-school and the third time doing the Christmas program but this year was super special.  When the kids get to the 4 year old class they get to dress up as the Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, angels, sheppards, wisemen,  and all of the animals.  Ava was an angel and was so excited to wear the wings and costume and sing for everyone.  She just loves to sing and is always the loudest up there.    The kids did such a good job putting on the program for all of the parents.

Afterwards everyone stayed for cookies and lemonade.  Everyone ended up staying a little longer than anticipated due to a Tornado warning.  Thankfully it didn't reach Enterprise and we were all safe!  What a way to end a program!

 My sweet Angel 

 My friend Haley's little boy Sawyer trying to escape to get on stage

 Not a great picture but you can see Ava singing loud for all to hear.

Ava with her friend Maggie enjoying cookies and lemonade together

Impromptu Weekend Trip

This past weekend we headed to Destin for a quick overnight trip.  It was too cold for the beach but the weather was comfortable for shopping in a light jacket and eating at our favorite restaurants.  It was our first Hotel stay with Max and he did great!  Him and Ava both were troopers with all of the shopping that we did.  You just can't beat the after Christmas deals!

 Pooped after shopping

 His new favorite toy.  He got so excited he rolled over.

 Our view from brunch at Harry T's

Max turns 3 months

I can't believe Max is already 3 months old!  We are having so much fun with him, watching him grow and discover his surroundings.  He is getting so big and already weighs 15lbs and is wearing 6mo size in clothes.  He smiles and laughs especially at mommy and daddy or when you play patty cake with him.  He is starting to try to reach out to things and open and closes his hands.  We are just amazed by him everyday.  Last night he slept for 12 hours straight so fingers crossed this is the start of sleeping through the night every night.  We just love this boy!!!!

I never got around to making his 3 month onesie so this pic will have to do.  I just love his expression in this pic!!!

Christmas with Friends and Family

Since we traveled to Kentucky earlier in the month we celebrated Christmas eve and Christmas day at home.  We started off by having a Christmas eve dinner at our house with our friends Haley, Josh and their kids Maggie and Sawyer.  We made a wonderful feast and had a great time hanging out and letting the kids play.  We ended the evening early to get the kids in bed so that we could all prepare for Christmas morning.

The next morning Mark and I woke up before Ava.  We couldn't wait for Ava to see what Santa had brought.  Finally she got up and was so excited with her new surprises.  We let Max sleep and enjoyed watching Ava open gifts.  Once Max woke up we had round 2 of Santa's gifts and opening our gifts to him.

This Christmas my favorite gift was seeing Christmas through Ava's eyes and having a sweet baby boy celebrate his first Christmas.  I am just loving having Mark home this time around so he can see all of the amazing milestones a baby goes through that he missed with Ava.  The look on Mark's face is priceless when he sees Max do a new trick or just smile at him.  It melts my heart!  Feeling very blessed this Christmas!

 Making cookies for Santa (and us too)

 Ava's elf Oscar said goodbye Christmas eve but left her a stocking full of goodies which included these princess press on nails.  She kept saying "Ooo la la" as I put them on her.

 Getting things set up before our guest arrived.

 Ava insisted the kids table have napkin rings as well!

 Maggie and Ava doing a Christmas craft.  I somehow mannaged to not get any pics of the rest of the crew.  

 Before Ava opened this gift she new by the shape of it that it was a La La Loopsie doll. Too funny!

 She loves her scooter.  The weather on Christmas day was nasty.  Very rainy and even Tornado warnings so the scooter had to be rode indoors.  

 Toy assembly is never fun

 The only thing Ava asked Santa for was fairy wings

He is still a little too small for it but I think he likes it!  

Ava had just as much fun helping her brother unwrap his gifts as she did her own.

Christmas Traditions

Before having kids I can't say that Mark and I had too many Christmas traditions for our family.  We didn't even own a Christmas tree for the first few years of marriage.  We always went to my parents for Christmas or he was deployed or out of the country so it just didn't seem necessary.  Oh how having children make this time of year even more special and fun!  We have developed a few Christmas traditions in the last several years and have added a few along the way.  The first one is that each year we have a personalized ornament made with a family picture and hang them on the Christmas tree.  We also send out a picture Christmas cards to all of our friends and family.  I love how each year my Christmas card list grows!!!  Last year we had a sweet elf named Oscar who joined us to watch over Ava to report back to Santa if she has been naughty or nice. He does all kinds of fun things around the house!  This year we added a Christmas advent calendar with fun activities to do each day.  Ava can not wait to look in the drawer for each day to see what activity we are to do.  We have done so many fun actives this year such as a picnic by the Christmas tree, make treats for a neighbor or friend,  read stories about Jesus, take a wrapped toy to child in need, make ice cream sundays, have breakfast for dinner, pop popcorn and watch a Christmas movie, and so much more.  I can't wait to see what activity we get to do next!  Sometimes being a military family we have to be a little flexible with traditions such as traveling home to spend Christmas with our family.  This year we celebrated early in Kentucky and will be spending Christmas here.  I will miss our family back home but look forward to spending Christmas with our little family and having Christmas eve dinner with friends.  Wishing you all a Merry Christmas!

 Ava said to Santa that she would be happy with whatever he brought her.

 Oscar having fun while we are sleeping

Having a picnic by the Christmas tree.

Christmas in Kentucky 2012

We celebrated an early Christmas this year in Kentucky with my family.  My grandparents were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary so we threw them a party to celebrate what a loving christian example of a marriage they have had through the years.  While everyone was already in town we had our family Christmas as well.

G-ma holding Max for the first time

We started first by having Christmas dinner at my grandparents house.  As always Mamaw cooked an amazing meal!  Then we gathered around to watch the kids open their gifts.  It was great spending time with everyone.  Ava enjoyed playing with Alex and my papaw around the pool table down stairs.  Seeing that reminded me of when I was a kid and how Papaw would play with us like he was a kid himself.  Somethings never change!

The next day we all gathered at Mamaw and Papaw's church and had their anniversary party.  My mom and uncle put together a wonderful party full of friends and family near and far to celebrate with food, fellowship and music.  My uncle Tim sang and played the guitar and my niece Alison joined him to sing a beautiful song as well.

My Grandparents Delma and Velma

Hearing the story of my grandparents journey as a married couple through the poem that she wrote was priceless.  I am blessed to have such a great example of what a marriage is!

My mom sat out pictures at each table of my grandparents during their marriage.  This is one of my favorites of them with my mom when my papaw was in the army stationed in California.

 Here is the whole family.  

 After the party we headed over to my parents house to celebrate our Christmas.  My mom always have some fun surprises in store for us.  Just when we think all of the gifts are done she turns on some music and out comes more surprises.  Although our trip was short it we packed in alot in the amount of time we were there.  We ended the trip in Bowling Green where we stayed at my sisters in their new home.  My favorite was seeing Ava and Peyton play together.  Sure wish we lived closer!

 showing off their PJ's I made them

 Ava and Peyton were excited with their new toys!