Tennessee Christmas 2009

We are so fortunate to be able to spend the holidays with all of our family every Christmas. This year, after returning from the big holiday festivities with the Halberts in Alabama, we celebrated again with the Quists in Nolensville. Mimi and Grandpa were thrilled to host their favorite (and only) grandchildren, along with their parents, for a fun Christmas celebration. The boys were showered with many gifts and there was food and fun a plenty! What great ages: 7.5 and nearly 2, the boys both find the holiday magical and the gifts exciting! We are blessed beyond measure. Come share a bit of Christmas with us...

Mimi and Grandpa and their two buddies

Let the gift exchange begin!

Trying out their new toys...

Our sweet boys...

and their evil twins! (just kidding)

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

The True Meaning of Christmas

As I sit here, surrounded by shiny, new toys that will replace other shiny, almost new toys in the quiet warmth of our home as we've returned home from food and festivities with family, I am reminded of the true meaning of Christmas...watch this amazing work provided by my friend Kelly's organization Ordinary Hero. May we all be reminded of the true meaning of the season in this season and in always...



Merry Christmas!

He Knows When You Are Sleeping...& When You Are in AL!

Santa sure knew our exact location this Christmas. Jack was sure to tell him when we visited him at the mall earlier in the month. Please excuse the first image (no personal cameras allowed at Santa's mall office.)



The boys were up early and happy to see that Santa did, indeed, know exactly where we were on Christmas day (at Meemaw's house.) As you can see, Santa's sleigh was weighed down heavily by the numerous wonderful gifts that the boys received.




Both boys loved all of their gifts and excited played with as many as they could during the morning before we headed out to Aunt Ginny & Uncle Erle's house to celebrate Christmas with most of our extended Halbert family, 23 or so of us, including all the little ones! Jack enjoyed playing his new Nintendo DSi against his cousins Amy and Laura, who both had their own DS handhelds with them, along with Laura's husband, Ross! It was a DS fest! Tyler hung out with Logan and Preston and did great the entire day (til 7p!) without a nap. Wow. I don't think any of us are ready for that to become a regular occurrence just yet. You'll have to take our word for it, though, since not a single picture was taken that afternoon (SHAME ON ME!)

Tyler's favorite toy from Santa, by a landslide, has been Spike the Remote Control Dinosaur.



And we saw a lot of THIS for a few days after Jack got his DSi, complete with his favorite game: Super Mario Brothers (after playing it on Christmas day with Amy & Laura.)


Merry Christmas to all our family and friends!

Christmas Eve in Dixie

Christmas was very exciting this year, as it often is with little ones. The excitement of decorating the house, seeing Santa, spending time with loved ones and receiving gifts with little kids warms the heart. And to see it times 2 this year made it all the better!

We spent Christmas Eve with the new babies in the family. What fun to see Meemaw's house filled with the laughter and excitement of 4 little ones this year! We've waited a long time for Jack to have siblings and cousins to play with at the holidays...he had to go it alone for many years. Now the house is full with 3 babies under 2!! We were sure to get a few pictures of the cousins...

"He comes in with all those presents from WHERE??"

Jack enjoyed being the Christmas "pro" and handed out all the gifts from under Meemaw's tree.

It was a fun evening with our growing family, though we missed cousins Cayce and Jason, who were celebrating with the Williams family this year. Tyler was fascinated with his very own "fish tank" from Aunt Peggy and Uncle Mike.





The boys were happy to head to bed knowing that Santa was coming soon. Of course, they were not disappointed. Santa remembered that they were traveling to Alabama!

(a parting shot of our boys playing...a bit rough at times these days)

Oh where oh where has the blogging gone?

If you haven't heard the news, I'm a workin' girl! Balancing family and business takes some practice, I'm afraid! Hopefully with the chilly weather comes a little rest for this busy Mommy...cuz she really needs it!

So before Christmas gets here, a quick Fall picture as we bid it farewell...

He Loves a Lollipop and I love...

my new camera!!! Took her out for a spin this weekend and grabbed a few shots of my most willing subject...

First Haircut!

Our baby finally has enough hair for a trim! This was a long time coming, as hair was not one of Tyler's earliest blessings...




He did such a good job! Mimi and Mommy took him to Sweet N Sassy's, where Jack says is "the perfect place for a haircut!" and he was such a brave, big boy!

He especially enjoyed the dryer and the lollipop at the end!




Thanks, Miss Becky for the great hair cut! We'll be back soon!

Wordless Wednesday...Rounding the Corner

Trunk or Treat!

The Tree Frog and Wall-E:

Those pesky feet!

As odd as it might sound, this was our first year participating in our church's annual Trunk or Treat. I guess we have Tyler to thank for that one! And Grandpa!

Grandpa, the boys and I headed over to the church, costumes on, for dinner and Trick or Treating, Trunk-style. We had a great, kid friendly dinner of hotdogs, sides and dessert and then headed out to the parking lot where LOTS of cars were parked waiting for their little, begging, costume donned visitors.







The boys were happy to trick or treat at each car trunk and, before we knew it, had visited every car! The weather was perfect and the lollipops (pop pops!) were plenty! A great time was had by all!!

A worn out, candy filled trick or treater...hanging out in our trunk!