Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Christmas Morning came quick...never enough sleep!  But it is so fun seeing the girls get so excited to come down the stairs and see what Grammy and Pap got them for Christmas!  This year I set my alarm because we slept in the basement and Zoe was upstairs, so I didn't want her waking up screaming for us and us not hear her.  While waiting...all the adults got some much needed coffee, started the fire, put breakfast in the oven...and relaxed for just a moment.
 

 

And then they were up!  Papa bought a new book to read to the grandkids about the true meaning of Christmas!

And then the Family Stair Picture....
 

 

Evan got a little tykes airplane and a fun tractor puzzle!

Zoe Jane got all the food for her new kitchen and some duplo building blocks.

Zach's favorite gift Evan received!

My sisters and I all received Kindles from my parents!!!  So excited!!!

Isn't the cover so cute!

Zach received a gift card to a local nursery!  he has already bought 12 Azaleas and 3 Camellias!  Our yard is going to be so gorgeous come spring!

Our Family got my parents the game Bezzerwizzer, a new trivia game, and a new griddle!  This game was so much fun!  Even though we are not usually fans of trivia games....my Dad is..he loves them...but usually they are difficult for everyone else...This one was so fun!!!!

I was so excited to give my sisters Erin Condren calendars....but of course...I ordered them a little late.  Hopefully they will love them...once they arrive!  Joe loves him some coffee...so Starbucks was definitely in order for him!

And we got our nieces a trip to Glow Galaxy!  Under the tree, we gave them glow in the dark jewlery and fun cozy, socks!  More to come on our fun date!

 

Unlce Tim made a cookie bar for dessert!  He did an awesome job.  my favorite was the Hot Chocolate Cookies and the Oatmeal Craisin came in a close 2nd!

Happy Birthday, Jesus!!!!

 

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Mass is one of my absolute favorite masses of the year! It is such a joyful Mass with the special readings and Christmas Music...but this year....for some odd reason....we thought it would be a good idea to take Zoe to Mass with us. Complete Fail!

Not sure what made us think this was a good idea...I think for sentimental reasons I just want her there with us...I need to stop being sentimental!

Mass was exhausting...well the second half. She did okay during the Liturgy of the Word, but it went downhill quickly after that, Since it is such a packed Mass, we are all shoulder to shoulder and it gets pretty heated when you have a child who WILL NOT sit still. Lesson Learned!

Luckily, we did attend the Children's Mass, so Zoe was not the only crazy child present. The Sunday School classes and Children's Choir did a Narrative of the Nativity and it was so cute. They also invited other children to dress as Angels or Sheep and they could be a part of the narrative, too. My nieces all dressed up!

After Mass, we headed to my parents house for the night! We have a Family Tradition of decorating the tree on Christmas Eve. This year we decorated at night and had appetizers and drinks. I just love this tradition!
 

 

It never takes much for Papa to make our Little Man smile!  I have a feeling these two are going to be great buddies!

 

 

And I love our Christmas PJ tradition...Mom did good!

 

I am so sad because this is the only picture I have of Zoe Jane in her Christmas dress....she wore me out that much!

 

I love all the traditions during the holiday and all the time we get to have with family.  I just treasure these times....and I hope as my kids get older they will, too!

Santa Came to Town!

Let me start by saying that I absolutely LOVE Christmas...but it was taken to a whole new level this year!  Christmas Morning for us was such a blast!  Zoe was so unbelievably excited...it just warmed my heart!  I loved this time we all got to spend together, just relaxing and enjoying one another.

And Santa Claus did good...Zoe and Evan definitely were on the 'NICE' list!

 

Santa and his Elves must get on Pinterest...what a great idea to re-purpose an old TV stand into a play kitchen for my Zoe Zoo!

And Evan is going to just love swinging come Spring!

  

We had a pretty crazy week leading up to Christmas fighting colds and visiting with family...so we waited patiently for Zoe Jane to wake up!

 

 

And her she comes!

 

 

 

 

Zoe Jane just loved her kitchen and cooking set.  She played and played...

and played...

and played....

and played!

Christmas Cheers!

Yes....Zoe had M&Ms for breakfast!

Zach and I exchanged gifts this year....

Zach and I are going on a LivingSocial Date night!  We are going to a shooting range in Atlanta where we are shooting 5 different types of guns, then to a yummy Mexican Dinner and Drinks!

I got a new pair of boots, my new phone and a gift card to Kohls...yes please!

What an awesome morning we had!  I just can't believe how blessed we are...I wouldn't trade my life for anything!

Merry Christmas!