Celebrating with the Grandparents!

We have been celebrating and celebrating and we still have one more family Christmas tomorrow! We spent the Monday before Christmas with Mimi and Pop and Christmas Eve with Noonie and Papa J, then tomorrow it's on to Aunt Marilyn's to celebrate with Mimsy and Papaw.

About as good a family pic as we're going to get when presents are involved - the littles were just not into stopping for pictures!

So much activity as all the littles opened presents, it was hard to catch it all, but I love these sweet, excited smiles!

Checking out the flash pads that Aunt Tammie gave them...so fun!

Cutest littles!

All the grands!

We spent Christmas Eve with Noonie and Papa J. We went to Christmas Mass - my favorite! - then dinner at Macaroni Grill and home for presents. 

The littles ready to go to church...

With Noonie and Papa J...

There's nothing sweeter than seeing how excited they get over every little gift! I think the little pumpkin has been wanting this red sparkle dress ever since the first American Girl Christmas catalog came in the mail!

Disney's Frozen!

Spiderman!

Hudson wasn't too excited to stop and try on boring old clothes, but he was excited to get a sportscoat "just like Papa J" so he could talk to Papa J "man to man". Oh my, he cracks me up!! And isn't he the sweetest little thing!! The elbow patches - oh my! Be still my heart!

Noonie got Grace a stylish new coat that she couldn't wait to try on. So funny how different girls and boys are!

Hudson loved this Star Wars encyclopedia and he wouldn't put it down!!

Thank you Papa J for these fun bottlecap bracelets!

Loving on Noonie...

We had one of these sweet handprint plates made for both Noonie & Papa J and Mimi & Pop - I think they loved them!

Someone is super ticklish!!

A little birdie always tells us what Papa J would like. I feel like we have been giving Papa J these Bill O'Reilly books forever...Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, and now Killing Jesus. I'm not a fan of the title but I guess catchy is what O'Reilly goes for...and Papa J was super excited to receive it!

This year was very emotional for me with Noonie's journey through breast cancer. I don't have proper words to thank our mighty and merciful God for bringing her through this journey to the other side. Last December 27th when she was diagnosed, my heart sank. I couldn't imagine my sweet mom going through this, but she met the challenge head on. With grace, dignity, hope, and an unwavering faith that moved mountains.

Last January, just a week after her first surgery, I gave her James Avery dogwood earrings for her birthday. I loved that the petals of each flower form a cross with the center symbolizing the crown of thorns that Jesus bore on our behalf. This Christmas, I got her the matching necklace...with the even bigger cross and center and the chain symbolizing no beginning and no end...just like her faith.

The biggest gift I've received is her recovery and her recent 9 month post second surgery mammogram, which was 100% clear - thank you, Jesus!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a blessed Christmas...

...and praying extra hard today for all with a heavy heart.
XOXO

'Twas the night before Christmas...

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Hot Cocoa + Breakfast Treats! {school Christmas party}

The last week of school before the Christmas holiday has got to be *the* busiest week of the year!! Parties, teacher gifts, school plays, you name it! We went with an elf-themed party complete with a hot cocoa bar and yummy breakfast treats for the little pumpkin's first-grade class.

Ready to par-tay!

Someone was super excited {and super cute with that missing tooth!}!!!

All the fun treats! So thankful for all the parents that helped my co-room mom Alicia and I pull this off!!

We pinned official elf names on all the Pirate Pals for the party and they had to call each other by their new names which made for some super fun and silly moments!!

Book exchange!

Hot cocoa time!

I think it's safe to say the hot cocoa bar was a hit with all the littles!!

The more whip cream the better!!

Collin just has the sweetest smile!  He is moving to another state - we are so going to miss him!!

Cutest Pirate Elves ever!

Solomon's dad put on a great show for the class by reciting 'Twas the Night before Christmas...and they LOVED it!!

At the end of the party we had to say goodbye to another of our sweet friends who is moving to another city. Today was her last day. We will miss you, Sophia!!

But these sweet girls rallied around her to bring a smile back to her sweet face!

And they kept coming and coming and they were so sweet and giggly and in the end, smiles returned to all of those sweet faces.

Sweetest of sweet presents...a keepsake for sure!

We love it, Grace!!
{and I couldn't help but think of a little certain angel baby in heaven...}

I will treasure these "applications" forever!!  Love, love!

One last little squeeze for her sweet teacher, Mrs. Y!

What a fun day!!