1st Christmas Post... the beginning

Well here is the first of many and I will post more tomorrow and more on Saturday for my final 2011 post!!! All of this is possible b/c of a 2 hour ride from Atlanta to Birmingham, LOL!!! Enjoy!

Mom and Dad's new tree...it was gorgeous, hint you will see like every picture taken in front of it. I loved it!!! Never worry she still has 4 others and they all had plenty of gorgeous gifts under them.

The very first day of the holiday. Charlee Kate was very anxiously waiting for Ella to arrive! Check out that diaper??? I love it!!! You can tell her piggy tails were a fight b/c that back "part" is horrible, LOL

Looking out the window for Ella

Time to head out for some shopping and they are ready

Playing in the cardboard/draw on playhouse

This was when Ella first came in. Lots of hugs!!!!

After a long day of shopping, naps, and lunch, Kelly and I headed to J'ville with the girls to meet my parents, Kevin, and Hunter to watch Jeremy's basketball game. You may remember me posting on this. Charlee Kate loved watching her daddy play.

Cheering on her daddy

Ella loved watching Uncle Jeremy too. She loved her popcorn too!

The boys after the game. Watching these guys play together brought back so many memories. I am one lucky girl to have memories that go back 16 years ago when Jeremy and I were dating! WOW.... when I type that out it even seems longer than it was. Is that possible for us to be that old?

He played just like he did 16 years ago. He may disagree, but I thought so

Kelly and I wanted a picture of them on the Eagle. This did not happen. Yes we were letting them crawl on the nasty floor. No worries, a bath came next

The break and fun just keeps on going...

Well I always get the "Christmas blues" when it is all over. I hate to see it end. I just love fall/winter and all the holidays that go together, with Christmas being my favorite!!! This year was a little different with our Christmas b/c we had a lot of sicknesses circulating, but yet it was one of the BEST times we have had. Isn't that crazy? I did get about 18 hours of sleep when I had the stomach virus. Now that was good sleep. I also went 3 days with no make up and not fixing my hair! WOW.... that was sickness mixed in with some hard core (about 20 hours) of cleaning, undecorating, unpacking, reorganizing toys/clothes/Christmas presents, etc... I hate to take it all down, but when I know I have to, I want to get it knocked out. Jeremy and I headed to Atlanta for a few days this morning and I wanted it to be all done when we came home. Charlee Kate went to school the day we did a good bit of it and she came home wondering where the Christmas tree was. So sad! But as soon as she saw all her toys, she was okay with it! So sometimes, things just have to move on. We just can't have the Christmas season year round I guess.

So after taking my computer to Apple, I can load my pictures. I will do that tonight and post tomorrow in between my Lenox trip, Phipps trip, Lulu lemon trip, and other stops along the way. Jeremy decided to load me up on work out gear so I need to swap and do a few things. I must say he can coordinate my colors very well though. He knows my favs! We did determine at Apple that it is time for an upgrade. This Mac has been with us for 5 years now (maybe 6) and we have never had a problem. Now to decide on a mac, but I leave that to Jeremy, he loves technology!

We are totally enjoying our time away! About to head out to an amazing dinner then we have a concert to go to tomorrow night after a full day of shopping and lunch with friends. Friday afternoon, my parents are heading over with Charlee Kate for a birthday dinner. I like celebrating for 3 days! Pictures are coming... until then we are continuing to enjoy our break!!!!

Stomach Virus...

You are no longer welcome around us, especially on holidays. You came last year on Thanksgiving and this year on Christmas! You caused me to miss lots of good food, but you DID bring lots of naps and good rest, which I only take advantage of when I am sick! You better not get my child sick, as she is completely back to normal from congestion, ear infections, and pink eye! You better not mess up my trip ahead and anything else I have planned. Please do not come around anymore, but you did not stop us from enjoying our day, resting, and opening presents!

Pictures.... will come when this is gone, house is cleaned and decorations are put away : ) hopefully that will be in two days as long as this virus continues to exit and leave!

It's Christmas time!

and.....It has been for a very long time for our family! Christmas, celebrating, the season.... has been around here awhile. It has been an amazing last few days and boy do I have pictures. LOADS of them, but still no camera cord until I am back in B'ham. Maybe I can download/load on my blog when I am headed out in the car on my first trip a couple of days after Christmas. I promise they will come but there will be lots!

We have enjoyed time with friends, some serious relaxing and just sitting, some good runs (well that would be me), 32 members getting together at my grandparents house (that is a TRUE blessing that we still do that every year), some fun shopping here and there, TONS of laughs (from the little ones and us), a very memorable Christmas Eve Breakfast/tradition for 25 years with the Jones's and this year it was a little different (LOL... we made it work), riding in the golf cart with the kids to look at Christmas lights, the Classic meal, the memories to last forever that these kids have made (and that we are making), and everything else that has been thrown in for 4-5 days. So many good times and now Santa is about to make his appearance along with a "nothing to do day" tomorrow. I love it and I am so excited! We get to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus with cupcakes!!! I think Jesus would have loved Pastry Art ones, but mommy didn't think 5 day old ones would be too good! haha! We have also had some ear infections, major congestion, and nausea in the middle of this, but it hasn't stopped our fun, nothing can mess up Christmas. We love it and we are so blessed!!! I can't wait to post all the pictures. It just goes to show how wonderful this time of year is! Blessed be His name!!!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

Let the Break begin!

Oh I have needed/waited/and wanted this moment for awhile now. I love what I do, but when there are 2-3 days of school left, those kids get anxious and frankly.... so do I!!! I was so excited when the last day came and I was out for school. Kelly and Ella came over early on Wednesday. That turned into a fun filled day of some shopping, eating out, packing up to head out of town, and then of course... the big Jacksonville High School Alumni game. Jeremy was going "old school" to play again! We all went to support these guys and had so much fun watching them play together like they did 15 years ago. It was also neat to sit and see wives and children on the benches now supporting them along with their parents. Charlee Kate LOVED watching her daddy on the basketball court, but Ella and Hunter really enjoyed watching Uncle Jeremy too! After a fun filled day for the kids, it was bath and bedtime at 9:45. They were ready! Such a wonderful, wonderful start to the break. So excited for all the upcoming days that we have ahead. We are so blessed that these kids get to be together around Christmas. They just love being together. I do have one wish... I wish it was much cooler (and that Charlee Kate would get COMPLETELY back to normal... this crud is getting the best of her)! But, I am back home, so I am not going to complain. We did get a very very cold Christmas and white one last year so I do keep that in mind.

Thursday involves lots and lots of relaxing (boy that sounds amazing) and then dinner at the fancy Classic. We love that place!

It will be picture overload when I get my camera cord from home because I am taking tons!!! I just forgot the cord to download, but that won't be long!

I love love Christmas! Even with ear infections and pink eye!

Scroll down for the blog post and an explanation of the pictures! Merry Christmas!

This little girl can crack us up! (sick or not sick). Comes to find out it was an ear infection, very bad cold, and pink eye! She went to the doctor this morning and now we have meds, WHEW!!! Jeremy is so good! He took her in so I wouldn't need to take this last day off and then took Chloe and CK to the vet to get Chloe's shot! He is so good at everything I swear!

Anyways, back to the pictures.... Charlee Kate is opening up a present, the only one she opened which was pink UGGS. That was bad on my part for her to open because she went "boots" and then them down, LOL. If it would have been band aids, she would have opened up a million! Then she got her cardboard playhouse to color. She loves this! She was setting it all up inside. The funny part is her "skirt". Notice they are a little fancy for her?? She wanted all of my bright undies to wear after I took everything out of the dryer. I had to beg for them back. Then she wanted her "Alabama A shoes" as she calls them... on with her jammies. She is a mess! She is DYING to see Ella and Hunter too! They are supposed to come over tonight (play with a sitter) while we all go to eat at one of the many fabulous places around here. Jeremy was telling someone the other day how Tampa had so many chain restaurants where we were. If we had we bought in Hyde Park we would have had more local, but that is another day... another time! We love local! Where we live in Birmingham, it is very tough to get a chain restaurant, it is much more localized! We love it. Anyways, I have lots of good choices in my mind! Let the fun begin as soon as 2:00 gets here!

Tis the Season!

Tis the Season for all the fun that has already happened and all the fun coming up this week. We had a very fun weekend, despite the sickness. My little baby girl really had the fever, runny nose, cough, ears, whole thing. These allergies are literally about to do us in since moving back. I think that has been our only "negative". Hopefully she is better today. Jeremy HAD to be in Tuscaloosa today and I needed to come to school so we are praying she gets through today and then we are all good. She seemed great this morning though!! Kelly's family got into my mom's yesterday and had the stomach bug so we are hoping they are better as well!!! A day for re-cooping for us all!

Our weekend did involve a fabulous Christmas at Jeremy's family's house. We really enjoyed that time together. After eating and opening presents, we stayed all afternoon and night and just let the kids play. It was so nice! Sunday we had brunch with my parents at The Classic, which is even better at Christmas time and soooo gorgeous! Charlee Kate had a 4 hour nap yesterday (because she did not feel good) and we got so much done, some good runs in, and then had our little family celebration last night with yummy Bonefish and opening presents by the fire. I haven't had Bonefish in forever, but they truly have the BEST Ahi tuna. Just fresh, not a lot of sauces and stuff on it, so good!!! Now for our exciting week ahead, which involves lots of celebrating. I will post as much as I can! I can't wait!!!

It has been an amazing Christmas season. We haven't pushed the Santa thing/presents thing with Charlee Kate. I know that will come NO MATTER what so we are truly letting her enjoy the true meaning of Christmas right now. I, myself, love being out in the middle of all the crowds and fun. I do a little shopping online, but I LOVE to be out and about and find the perfect gift. I actually hate it when I have bought the last gift because I enjoy it. I just can't wait to see what everyone thinks when they open them. I love to give!

So here is our last week before Christmas, which makes me so sad. We are taking in every single second of it!!!! We do have a few little trips planned for right after Christmas so that will be something to look forward to when it is all over : )

Here is precious baby girl before heading out to The Classic for Brunch!

Playing with Molly before we left Nana's house!

Nana with her "girls" grandchildren

My picture taking was not so great at Nanas, but I am getting copies from other people so I will post more later.

She got this cute hat from Nana and we put it on her. She left it on!

Not the best picture... but it was something, LOL