Wrapping Up Christmas

We planned to leave for Memphis the day after Christmas, but when I found out that Christy was coming in from Nashville, Meghan coming in from Knoxville, Mackenzie coming from Brazil, and LeeAnn from Spain.... I just had to stay!  Katy hosted our brunch this year, and Melissa and I made some casseroles.  I have been so blessed by my friendships with these ladies for over 15 years.  

Our little ADPi legacies with Aphie

the big kid table

7 friends and 11 kids and growing!

We attempted a timed picture of the adults and of all the families together.  This blurry one is the best I got from my camera.  I still love it.

After our brunch, we loaded up the car and headed to Memphis.  I love wrapping up our year and ringing in the new year in the town where it all began for us.  We didn't leave until after 3:00 and it poured down rain the entire time.  Thankfully, our girls are pretty awesome travelers.  No complaining and we only had to stop once to eat.  We rolled in to my mom's house about 10:00 and of course the girls were wide awake and ready to see their Grandma.  We slept in on Sunday and then celebrated Christmas with my mom and sister's family with a great dinner and more presents!

funny faces

kid table

I love this picture of Elizabeth with her Aunt Melanie

cousins

For Christmas, I bought my mom a photo package for all of us girls to have pictures made together.  It was really a fun experience, and now we have some pictures of Grandma with all her girls!

Alivia and Aleaha spent the night with us at Grandma's which made Elizabeth and Caroline so very happy!

It's been 2 years since I got together with my favorite people from  high school.  But after 20 years as friends, we always pick up right where we left off.  I love these girls so much!!

We had plans to go to dinner with Beth and John on New Year's Eve and then spend a quiet night at their house ringing in the new year.  Unfortunately, Meyers got sick and parent duties called.  Bert and I decided to keep our reservations at Elfo's and take advantage of the free babysitting (my mom) and enjoy a date night.  It was amazing and I enjoyed just chatting with my husband over a really nice dinner.  We were home by 10:00 and asleep by 11:00 and I loved it!  This is real life people!!

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Christmas 2013

Bert had to work the morning of Christmas Eve, so the girls and I prepared our breakfast casseroles for Christmas morning and prepped everything for Christmas dinner too!  He got home right at 2:00 and we went to our friends, the Busbys, for an open house.  It was so great starting off our Christmas Eve surrounded by sweet friends!

Then, we headed to church for the family service at 4:00.  Elizabeth was a shepherd in the Christmas story.

Brayden and Elizabeth

Caroline loved on her daddy during the service.

We always eat Japanese food on Christmas Eve.  Usually we have family in town, but this year no one made it for Christmas Eve.  We were so thrilled to have our friends join us!

Gabriella, Elizabeth, Jackson, Brayden, Jordan

It was so cold that Caroline wouldn't leave her daddy's arms so she's in the adult picture:)

After dinner, we went to our neighbors, the Welishars, for another open house.  I just loved starting and ending our night celebrating with friends.

Elizabeth slept with us on Christmas Eve.  I just couldn't risk missing her face when she saw what Santa had brought her!  Caroline's still in a crib so we knew we would wake up to her singing through the monitor.

A playhouse for the girls' playroom

A scooter for Elizabeth and a tricycle for Caroline

sweet girls waiting patiently for me to get my video ready

Our self timed family picture on Christmas morning

It was so cold outside, but you can't get kids outside toys then tell them they can't go outside to play with them!  So we bundled up and went outside!!

Papa and Nana arrived around 4:00 and we had dinner around 7:00. The girls had round 2 of Christmas afterwards.  Caroline was in hog heaven with her new dress up clothes, books, and songs.  Elizabeth thought Santa had come again because she got a new art table.  Dad and Bert set it up in our craft room/ office  in the basement. Today, Elizabeth and I spent all afternoon down there!  Hello happy place!!!

It's been a very merry Christmas so far!  Can't wait to see the rest of our family!!