Christmas Morning

 Who's excited?

 Chesson was so happy to use his new awesome grill (thanks Aunt Pat and Uncle Jeff)!

 Anna Corbin immediately wanted to put on her Minnie Mouse dress.  Now, I have to say..these gloves were the funniest part of Christmas.  She would not take them off....all day.

 When it was time to open some of her packages, she said, "it's too hard with my gloves on." So, she had Chesson open all her gifts.  He was of course, happy to help!

 The long awaited logging truck.  This child has been talking about a logging truck for months.  Hooray!!!

 Gra-Gra introduced Anna Corbin to Bitty-baby...the littlest American Girl doll.  It was such fun to watch the two of them play with her, feed her, and rock her.  I think Gra-Gra had as much fun as AC:o)

Can you tell we were in a house full of engineers?  Everything is piled up nicely so that serious building can begin.

This was just the beginning of a wonderful wonderful day.

Twas the Night Before Christmas...

We're ready!!! 

 We met my parents along with Becca and Brian at our church for the Christmas Eve service.  It's such fun to be together!!! 

 After church we came back to our house for some serious gingerbread house building.  Brian and Corbin helped the kiddos while Becca made a house that could have been in a magazine.

please not AC's outfit change -- still in her tights and wearing slippers.  what a hoot.

I am sure they ate more than they built, but really isn't that the fun of making a gingerbread house?

Despite the sugar rush and the anticipation of Santa the kids fell asleep quickly (while visions of sugarplums danced in their heads).

It was a great night!!

TIMMMMM-BERRRRR!

3:30am - Me : Sitting straight up. "What was that?" I get out of bed to look out the window. "Corbin, a tree just took out our fence." 

Corbin: "Huh? How do you know that?"

Me: "Because I heard it....a tree fell on our fence." 

Before I finish talking Corbin is back asleep.  

This morning I called Corbin at work.
Me:  Did you see the tree?
Corbin: Oh, yeah...I think I remember you said something about that.  I didn't see it.

I really, really wish I could sleep that well.  Seriously.  It's amazing.

Preschool Christmas

It's been a full couple of days.  Anna Corbin had her Christmas performance at the exact same time I was hosting Chesson's Christmas party.  Big thanks to Annie for going to Anna Corbin's performance and her party!!!  

I popped in to see her sing...and she promptly sat in my lap.  :o)  

Chesson's Christmas program.

Festival of Lights

We ventured out to Hillridge Farms on Monday night.  It was absolutely worth it!  We practically had the place to ourselves.

can you see anna corbin running up to go down the slide again?

family train ride

s'mores!!

the hay ride was 30 minutes of lights and music - so festive! now if only i could get our oldest to look at the camera....c'mon annie!  :o) 

Chesson is still talking about how there were "lights everywhere."  

Key West

Good news...there are pictures from Key West.  Hooray.  I have to give all the picture credit to Becca.  I didn't have a camera.  

an evening walk to see the sunset -- oh, i how i love this family!

Matthew and Paige's rehearsal dinner.  This photo does not do the house or backyard justice.  It was magical!  

Add caption

ready for the wedding

there's our handsome groom....matthew.  he's a cousin who we think of as more of a brother.  

The entire week was such fun.  We ate out, stayed out late (not as late as everyone else, but late for us), slept in, laid by the pool, read books, and spent priceless time with our dear family.

She's a branchy one

My children were on a very important mission.  Super Hero capes were necessary!  We needed to find a beautiful, fat tree to take home with us!  

Last year we ended up with a tree so fat and tall, that we had to pretty much put it in the middle of the living room.  So, this year I really tried to remember that the biggest tree I could find wouldn't actually fit in our house....details, details.

After we chose several trees that Corbin laughed at and then demonstrated how they were entirely too big....we found this one.  I just love her!  

Sporting their new Christmas pajamas

She's not fat, she's just branchy!!  Perfect, I say, perfect! 

c'mon now.....come.on!  

Christmas Cheer

Being out of town for two weeks set us more than a little behind on getting decorated for Christmas.  Last Friday, I.was.ready.  No tree, no boxes down from the attic...but, that didn't stop me.  I went to the store for the essentials....reindeer antlers, hot chocolate, marshmallows popcorn, and chocolate.  Clearly, the essentials.  We set up an afternoon movie....Rudolph, of course.  

Yep, Christmas has begun!! Who needs a tree?  

Anna Corbin enjoyed "fighting" antlers with Annie.  Good times!  :o)

Thanksgiving 2012

We spent Thanksgiving with Corbin's family in FL.  I can't believe I don't have more pictures.  It was a wonderful time!  Gigi hosted over 30 folks for 3 days worth of meals and fun.  She is an incredible hostess!!  The kids had a great time eating and playing!  

The Graves Families!  

Cousins - - the girls are in outfits made by Gigi

Thanks Lynn Soon Scruggs for the great pictures!

After Thanksgiving Chesson and Anna Corbin spent 6 days with Gigi and G'daddy while Corbin and I went to Key West for a wedding.  ALL of us had a wonderful time!!!

Thank you Betty Ann and Holt!!!  Y'all are AMAZING!!

Community Part 2

Who remembers this post? Yep, yep it happened!!  It was as awesome as I'd hoped it would be.  I'm not sure that we were funny, but we sure did have fun!  

Halloween Community Group 2012!