You Better Not Pout, You Better Not......Cry

Uh oh...don't think Olivia got the memo...

 We have our fingers crossed for next year.

From Our Family to Yours

The Start of a New Tradition

This year we have started a new tradition. Amberly, Matt, Hays and I know that God has truly blessed us beyond measure and that we really didn't think buying gifts for each other was what we really needed. We have decided to pick a charity each year and spend the money we would have spent on each other helping that charity in a way that they need most.

This year we decided to provide food items for Stew Pot. We loaded up the cuties you see above and headed to Sams to purchase the most needed items and then delivered them to Stew Pot. Hopefully, in doing this each year it not only helps people in need but also teaches our children to give back a portion of what God has blessed us with.

When we dropped the items off at the house the lady receiving them asked us why we were doing this. She asked if we were from some organization or something. Amberly simply told her what we were doing and she started tearing up and was so thankful. It's such little things that we can do to make a big difference in someone else's life. Our hopes are that at least one person gets a nice, warm meal on Christmas this year. That's what makes it worth it.

Just Some Pictures

You probably have noticed  a lot of these type blog entries. Some of these pictures may have no meaning to any of you at all but as I mentioned before this is the way I have chosen to scrape book. I want to remember as much as I can of these early years and beyond. So bare with me on the not so interesting blog entries. :)



Olivia eating breakfast with her nativity scene. Makes my heart smile. We are taking baby steps to her understanding the whole true meaning of Christmas. This is just one of them.

 Now who is responsible for teaching my daughter this trick??? Not good. Not good at all.

She is really into loving on her babies right now. She'll be a great big sister.

Looks like she has a set of twins on her hands. Bless her.

Even likes to read the baby a night night story.

And of course, she has to sleep with the babies. At least everybody is staying nice and warm!

And the Christmas outings begin

There is a little carnival called Winter Wonderland set up where we got our Christmas tree. All the proceeds go to Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital so there was no way we could pass up the opportunity for a little bit of Christmas fun and at the same time helping the children's hospital.

She LOVED the carousel which is a major turn around since Halloween when we tried to ride one at the zoo. She loved riding on the giraffe.

 We also took a little train ride. Love, love, love these two!

The Sumralls joined in on the fun.

She loved the carousel so much we had to ride it twice, this time the elephant.

The little elf that thought she could...

 I will have to say that past years it has been MUCH easier to decorate our house for Christmas but not nearly as much fun. This year we had a little elf to help us out a bit...or so SHE thought.

Picking out our Christmas tree. She was sooo excited she just kept screaming Christmas freee and running around like a crazy girl.

 It's funny how she wants to do EVERYthing we are doing. How can you resist this cuteness though?

Our little elf thought the ornament boxes were stools...she has a bit to learn before next year rolls around.

She did a great job hanging the ornaments though. She has that down pat. We have only had one glass ornament shatter.

But then she thought maybe it was a good idea to get under the tree... Oh Santa, you have some training to do.

She was soo proud of her work though.

Little girl, did we forget to tell you that the decorating is complete?? Time to go to bed!

She had to take a small break and give a call to the big man up north.

Then she felt the need to take some pictures of her work. She hangs with her daddy too much.

Aren't I supposed to be taking a picture of you???

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. It is one of my favorite holidays so we tend to go a tad overboard on the decorating. I LOVE everything about Christmas. I love the gift buying, getting cards in the mail from friends, the parties, decorating the house and cookies, the music...you name it and I enjoy it!

Christmas tree 2011

This year it was a tad more interesting decorating the tree seeing that we had a new elf to help out. I will post about her later.

 It's hard to believe next year we will have 5 stockings hanging from the mantle (yes, Lilly has her own stocking). God is so good and has blessed us beyond measure.

The reason for the season is the birth of our Saviour. Three wise men on the entry hall table are most appropriate.

Happy Birthday to Jesus. Starting this year I think we are going to have a birthday cake in honor of Jesus' birthday. I don't want all of Olivia's childhood memories of Christmas to be about the presents she got but the true reason.

I put Olivia's nativity scene out after she had gone to bed one night. The next morning at breakfast I look over at her and she has the whole nativity scene practically in her cereal bowl and lap. Silly.

Along with the nativity scene, this is probably Olivia (and Hays') favorite decoration that we put out. She begs for us to hold her up so she can stare at it.

I bought this Lenox Christmas plate the year Olivia was born and will do the same for the next baby. It says the year she was born and will be such a treasure to put out every year in honor of our children's birth.

 This little nameless lady has made an appearance. Olivia doesn't get the concept at all so maybe she'll start moving around next year. For this year, she's staying put.

Preggo Shots

Week 27 with Olivia

 Week 26 with baby #2

Well, well, well we ONLY have 25 days until we find out what this wiggly little baby is inside of me. I'm not sure if I'll get any sleep on Christmas Eve. This pregnancy was so very different up to week 16. From then until now it has been much the same as with Olivia (other than the baby moves ALL the time which Olivia did not do). But looking at these pictures makes me think there's a little brother in there. Hays and I were comparing the pictures last night and both said at the same time wow! the belly is so much higher this time. I'm sure God is up there laughing at us right now, chuckling at all of our theories on why it's a girl or boy.