December Part 2-Come Let Us Adore HIM!!

This year we did our Chrismtas morning brunch on Christmas Eve morning, because Christmas this year fell on a Sunday.  April was gracious enough to host again!

 

 Aunt Joy gave you three these sweet pillows that say "LOVE".  How perfect and fitting!

 Camille and Reed in their Christmas colors!

Mother and Daughter....

 

               We all say (well at least the adults!) this is our favorite meal of the year!

Since we had Christmas Eve free this year, we drove around to see the area Christmas lights..this is one of my favorite pictures of that night!

More traditions....Mr Davis has come every year on Christmas Eve, since we have lived on Holly Tree,  to play a few Christmas carols on his French Horn.  We will really miss this when he is gone..

 Setting out milk and cookies..............

 Gifts under the tree..............

 Happy girls on Christmas morning....do I see bikes in the background?!

Tradition Homes shirts from Daddy

 New cameras from Santa....

 Little man joins us....

 Trying out the new chalkboard

 and the popper..............

 

Getting a little fresh air on this pretty Christmas morning!

Look at that BIG elf....Papa greeted us as we drove down the street!  You all loved it!  This was our Christmas afternoon celebration with Mimi and Papa.  It was so nice and laid back...Mimi always fixes us a wonderful meal. 

 Pretty scarf!

 Giddyup cowboy!!!

 Bean bags to lounge in...

Oh wow!!!  A WII....such a fun, family gift!!!

 

As nice as the gifts all are, years from now, it will not be the gifts we remember, but time spent together, making memories, loving on one another and praising and worshiping the KING of the WORLD....our Savior, JESUS CHRIST!  We adore you like no other.....

 

December 2011-Part 1- Come, Let us adore HIM!

 

 This is always an incredibly busy, but fun and festive month!  The time to celebrate Christ's birth!! 

Caitlyn, you got to start off the month singing a solo in your Christmas program in chorus!  You did such a good job!  It was extra fun because you got to wear your pajamas!

Our annual Smith/Green Christmas.  The group of kids gets bigger every year! This year, Ryan and Kristen got to be here with their new baby girl, Rhys.  I love the way you enjoy being together so much!

 

 

Another annual event that Mimi started....Gingerbread houses!  You begin doing this when you were very little with Mimi...now she lets you invite a friend to come to the house and do it with you.  Caitlyn, you asked Malia this year, but we had already taken her home in this picture!



Here we are enjoying the outdoor fire and roasting marshmallows at Kevin and Ashley's.  They hosted the Dowlen Christmas this year.  It was a unique Christmas this year without Mama Jean and with two new family members entering the world soon.

 Piper Dowlen is expected to make her arrival in the spring....

.... and Gavin proposed to Jennifer and they will be married in June!

 

 

They asked you two to be flower girls....so excited!!!

 

Oh, and here we are...the annual gingerbread cookie decorating and Christmas Eve celebration (well, this year was Chrismas EVE EVE!) at Mammi and Big Daddy's!

 

The new Dominguez family of five!!

Sleeping bags!!!  Perfect for all those sleepovers, huh, girls!?

Since Mammi and Big Daddy have 8 grandchildren now, they give each of you a book, pjs, one gift  and a stocking full of goodies

Mimi and Papa always join in the fun.  Reed is getting so good loving!!

Uncle Wes is a great entertainer....

 

All eight with Mammi and Big Daddy!!

Is eight enough?!

November-Sooooo Thankful!!!

November brings more changing colors, cooler weather and more time indoors. That means more time to find fun things to do....here you are, Caleb, dressing up in sisters shoes and finding a favorite

"snack"!  These have become a family favorite anytime of day!

 

Celebrating Daddy's birthday together...in honor of his 35th birthday, we came up with 35 things we love about him.  We could have gone on and on...

 

 

 

 

More fun things to do inside..........bubbles are a hit!!!  And clean my kitchen floors....

Caleb, you are wanting to eat at the table like the girls.  You are becoming such a big boy!

More playing inside....little game of twister with the Laytons!

 

 

Here we are eating with Granny on the Sunday before Thanksgiving. We took Malia this year and enjoyed our first of many yummy family meals...

Granny still has held on to her sweetness and friendliness. She may not know us anymore, but we still bring her joy, which is very special!

Enjoying a late birthday celebration with Caroline and Coal.  What a precious thing that our families enjoy being together so much!

 

Here you all are (plus Coal's friend Noah) with our Thanksgiving Family get together craft. ! Loved these!

And...a little Thanksgiving Rap....thanking God for all HE does for us! 

A rainbow the week of Thanksgiving....God's sign to us that HE is always faithful to provide ALL we need. 

And even more than we need.........what a special Thanksgiving blessing......our precious new cousin and niece, Sofia Jane, born the day before our Thanksgiving family meal. Oh, we have so much to be thankful for!!!!!!