Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas again this year. Such a blessing to have our family and our health to enjoy time together. Christmas Eve, we had lunch with Mike's dad. We then went back to our home and opened our gifts with the kids. The kids really enjoyed their gifts, but by far their favorites was Logan's new cell phone and Madison's new iPod!! To see the excitement on their faces makes it all worth it. We then had a candlelight Christmas Eve service at our church. This is a special time spent with our church family and a time for us to reflect on the reason why we all celebrate this great season. At the end of the service our pastor called all the children up front and read to them the Christmas story from the Bible.
Christmas morning started VERY early at our house, as our kids were awake at 1:15am to see what Santa had brought. We were pretty sure that he must have JUST left it because Logan said he heard something outside and our dogs were barking! We had to make them go back to bed around 2:30am; and lo and behold they were back up around 7am! (We are so making it a rule next year that no one will get out of bed until
6:30am!)Logan got a Wii, and Madison got the Molly American doll along with other things. Mammaw and Pappaw always come by early and check out the loot that Santa left for the kids.
We always go to my mom's at lunch Christmas Day and to Mike's mom's that evening.
We had a wonderful day with our families and actually got to enjoy some sunlight afer a solid week of rain!
At my mom's I got a picture of ALL 29 of us who were there.
I am very grateful for each and every blessing that God has blessed us with.
Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Nashville

Okay, I'm really behind on this blogging thing! We went for a long weekend in Nashville the weekend before Thanksgiving. We have not been anywhere this year on vacation after building a new house, and a swimming pool. I just felt like I had to get away just for a couple of days. We had a great time. Got there Friday night and ate at the Rainforest Cafe, which I love. The last time we had eaten at one was at Disney World and Madison was 3. She was absolutely terrified of the "thunderstorms". This trip however, no worries. The kids had money to spend and spent some of it in the Rainforest Store.
Saturday morning, we had breakfast with the Grinch. Two other families from our church, The Bishops and The McClellans, were also in Nashville and we spent the day together. We all had a great time. Mike even went back to the room to watch the Ole Miss game while we stayed at the mall and shopped. We made lots of pictures in the Opryland Hotel, which was what I used for my Christmas card pictures.
The kids were amazed by the lights outside the Hotel, and the beautiful Nativity Scene outside.
Sunday, we met up again with everybody and went to see the ICE! exhibit. This was How the Grinch stole Christmas story carved out in ice sculptures. It was incredible. It was 9 degrees inside. While we were in line, we were given parkas to wear inside! Oh, and there were also two slides made completely out of ice inside. The kids (and Mike) loved this! I stayed below to make pictures! ha
Monday I had to go back to work, while Mike was off for the week and my kids were out of school for Thanksgiving break! (So not fair!)
It was nice to just get a way!!!