New Year's in Florida!

We had a REALLY fun New Year's in Florida this year at Jonathan's Mom's and Grandparents'... here are a few pictures!

Benjamin giving Albert a hug after he had completed the YOUTH 4 day pioneer trek!

Benjamin and Micah could play for HOURS at Nana's house with all of the toys!

Nana and Micah!

The New Year's Man brings you a little toy to start off a FUN year if you remember to put your shoes under the Christmas tree... Benjamin even made sure to put Micah's shoes under too!

Benjamin had a WONDERFUL time roasting Marshmellows with Grampy in the fireplace since it was raining outside... although he didn't like any of the ones with the brown stuff and chose to eat his COLD!

Daddy playing with Micah!

Micah and Benjamin LOVE their Grampy... (check out those bead necklaces!)

Christmas Day!

This was our first Christmas at OUR home ... which was really special!

Here are the boys for a quick picture before they head in to see what surprises Santa brought!

The fun things that Santa brought to Micah and Benjamin!

Benjamin, Rachel and Micah on Christmas morning!

Aunt Charity holding Micah after his nap!

Benjamin and cousin William playing in the playroom!

We had a really fun Christmas ... filled with many memories! It was wonderful to have my parents, Laura and Charity, Scott and William come for dinner! Kids really make Christmas come ALIVE!
I also had to capture a few pictures of Micah in his hand-me-down Christmas jammies that Benjamin wore ... I LOVE them - and I love those two sweet little boys!

Christmas Traditions... Lights, Reindeer food, and Christmas Eve Cookies!

Here are just a few of our favorite family traditions!

Going to see Christmas lights in jammies!

The Christmas camel at the Christmas lights!

Christmas lights at Pettit Creek Farms!

Benjamin putting out his reindeer food on Christmas Eve!

The boys eating the Christmas Eve Cookies!

First tastes!

Micah having a blast and enjoying every bite (and crumb!)

STILL more cookies!

Micah checking to see if there are ANY more!

Big brother (Benjamin) saying NO MORE cookies!

Red the Elf and Letter from Santa!

So we have a special ELF named... Red the Elf who visited our home! He is a special little elf that has red hair and LOVES to paint all of the toys RED in Santa's workshop! He's since had to be strictly put on "red toys" ... he's a special little elf though - because he is the one that thought to make Santa's RED sack and RED suit ... so he is often chosen to be Santa's special helper!

This year he brought the boys a present a few days before Christmas ... which was:

their (why of course) RED Christmas jammies!

Benjamin also wrote Santa a letter ... and you better believe it because he WROTE Benjamin back! Benjamin was so excited and thrilled about the whole thing!

Santa's letter to Benjamin!

Oh Christmas Tree... Your Branches Green Delight Us...

Green branches at least a week or so longer... HOPEFULLY! We went to a real Christmas tree farm to cut down our tree this year ... only to learn that the furthest south they grow Fraser Firs is North Carolina ... so we bought a pre-cut tree and went back to cut down a tree for the boys (and ME!) I always wanted a kid tree - and we got one! Benjamin and I had a little date to the Christmas tree farm ... saw Santa, went on a wagon ride and cut down WHICHEVER tree we wanted!

We have been SO busy trying to get it decorated! We made a fruit loop chain, glitter star, jingle bell ornaments, snowmen with our pictures for the faces, tin-foil painted ornaments, wrapping paper ornaments, a navivity,tinsel, candy canes and tonight... cinnamon ornaments! We are planning to make a FEW more as well!

The boys tree in their playroom ... as decorated through tonight! (note: it is anchored by packaging tape in a pickle jar which is inside a glass bowl ... all weighted down with DIRT ... poor guy didn't and DOESN'T get any H2O ... we're investing in a stand after the holidays!)

So here are a few pictures of OUR tree... the boys at the tree farm (Benjamin PRETTY excited!):

The ornament Benjamin made for our tree this year!

Benjamin took this picture of us at the tree farm!

Micah's first Christmas ornament...

And our tree decorated in our living room!

A most WONDERFUL time of the year...

We are so excited for this WONDERFUL time of the year and all of the festivities that it brings! We started the season off with a WONDERFUL gift from Jonathan's mom ... a bag and notebook filled with Christmas Family Home Evenings ... and more for the year! Micah got his first taste of opening presents and LOVED IT!

Micah was NOT so excited to sit with Santa - as he just turned his hed into his shoulder and cried! Bottom line - he's not being picky about what he gets for Christmas!

Micah has found the tree and the presents and thinks it is so much fun to pull on the branches, lights, ornaments and anything that he can scoot to!

Here are Benjamin and Micah trying to figure out who's gifts are who's!

We went to my parent's to see Laura in the Nutcracker -- but you can't take pictures of the ballet ... but we did get a few at their house - Micah enjoying a few snacks (and yes he does have the orange "I'm eating baby-food now" nose!)...

My grandma reading to Benjamin - they were trying to hide behind the book!

On a COLD day this week... I let Benjamin play on the screened porch - Micah thought it was HILLARIOUS -- hopefully you can see Micah's reflection in the glass!

AND ... my Grandma promised me a picture with Micah! Here we are at the Cyclorama in Atlanta ... she's been wanting to see this "historic piece of art" for many years ... so my mom surprised her and brought her! We had a WONDERFUL visit -- I love my Grandma!

A THANKFUL Thanksgiving recap!

The ONE and ONLY ... red-headed INDIAN!

We had a WONDERFUL week full of Thanksgiving festivities which included:

1. Benjamin's Thanksgiving program - which Grammy and Grampy came to and were a HUGE help with Micah so that I could record Benjamin NOT even singing one single word ... oh well :)

Here's Benjamin, Me and Micah (a very TIRED little guy!) ...

2. Mom Mom, Laura, Nana, and Albert coming to spend a couple days and give their FULL attention to the boys!

FHE turkey cookies...

Nana and Benjamin making "turtles"...

Albert playing with Micah - do they look related or what?

3. A delicious dinner at the Owens's in Ringgold ... I wish I had the big group picture - everything was SO yummy and so fun to be with family!

Benjamin and his cousin Kinsley!

I am so grateful for our many many blessings -- but LOVE being married to Jonathan, having two amazing little boys and a wonderful extended family!