Christmas Peace

Its the most wonderful time of the year...

Christmas preparations, Christmas light sightseeing, an amazing road trip, and some time at home enjoying our gifts and each other. That's how we've spent our 2 week vacation.

Santa left Em'ry's computer at our house a little early because he knew she would enjoy it on the long journey.

Em'ry traveled like a champ! We enjoyed our visit with the Popes and loaded back up to finish our trip to Booker. This Christmas was so special for so many reasons.

Its kind of a tradition for our family portraits to have me wearing a mysterious hat ;)

To sum it up...FAMILY! And, when you think about, how do we celebrate family?

We eat together!

COOKIES!

I'm all about messy fun! And, believe it or not, BRANDI was in charge!

Em'ry being 2 makes a big difference. She understands the whole Santa thing, and though she refuses to sit on his lap, she was more than happy to leave him milk and cookies and enjoy the gifts he left.

She also appreciates the gifts and loves on the people that love her.

We are truly blessed to be able to travel to God's country and enjoy our family.

When we returned home we began the cleanup and organization that is necessary with the passing of each year. Em'ry's room was the biggest project as I placed her changing table and 6-12 months clothes in storage to make room for all of the fun toys she received this Christmas.

I am so excited to see what God has in store for our family in the upcoming year! So, as for 2010,

that's all folks!

A December to remember...

Family, friends, trees, hot chocolate, lights, hayrides, Christmas movies, and JESUS!

It seems like yesterday that my sisters and I were giddy with excitement as we loaded up with my parents and made the trip to find our Christmas tree. Wow, what vivid memories I have of overflowing stockings, houses FULL of people who came together in love to eat and share gifts, taking naps in front of the fireplace, opening presents at midnight and then waking up before dawn to see if Santa had visited. Santa always fulfilled our wishlists, Grandma Dovie's tree was always perfect and equally so were Grandpa's Christmas lights, and Grandma Godino always had amazing food. Man, I have big shoes to fill. A home of my own and a husband and daughter that deserves the best.

The stockings are hung and the yard is lit with beautiful lights. In a few days, we'll travel to Booker and fulfill a couple of those longtime traditions. But, I'm learning that its time for me to step up and take the reigns. New traditions are emerging.

We will bake Christmas cookies with our own intentions. We will celebrate Jesus's birthday! Em'ry has been singing Happy Birthday Jesus for a few weeks now and the sound is so sweet. As times change and people move on, one thing remains, Emmanuel. God With Us!

One of those new traditions, began this year at Dewberry Farms where we found our beautiful tree!

We ventured out with friends to the Cat Springs Tree Farm for a hayride and smores around the fire pit.

Em'ry and Cade enjoyed a visit with Mrs. Clause. This is now the third Christmas that Em'ry will experience without sitting on Santa's lap. And, I'm okay with that.

Well, Richmond is far different from Booker but I'm proud to call it home.

What a December we have had so far and the best is yet to come!

Princess for a day...or life!

Sleeping in, making a donut run in our jammies, playing on an indoor slide, writing on the walls of the clubhouse while we're still in our pjs, laying down to watch Dora and falling asleep, eating spaghetti for lunch, taking cookies to friends and them singing Happy Birthday, dancing along to the musical Santa, eating pizza for supper, and singing If You're Happy and You Know It with Chuck-E-Cheese, that's what a Princess does on her birthday! Whew, I should be in bed because as I type I'm reminded of how it wore me out. But, today is Em'ry's birthday and although we celebrated on Saturday I wanted her to feel special today.

Two years is a blink of the eye. When she was getting close to one, I would get emotional because she was growing so fast and Greg would always calm me by saying we're lucky that she has the opportunity to grow and experience life. Now, she is two and from time to time he is the emotional one asking how it has happened so fast. One thing is true, we seize every moment of every day. We are quick to say I love you and quick to say yes to every activity we can pack our schedule with because experiencing life as a team takes it to a whole new level.

Last year at this time, Em'ry was just learning to walk. In fact, she took 12 steps on her Birthday. She was obsessed with Mickey and Minnie and would eat everything from bananas to asparagus.

Now that she is two, she is running, jumping, talking, counting, spelling her first and last name, knows her colors, and we're working on her letter recognition. Oh yeah, and she won't eat a vegetable to save her life! She loves to play in her kitchen, do "homework," give orders, and her favorite candy is M&Ms.

Alot has happened in the past year, both amazing and challenging. All I can say is, as a family unit God has allowed us to prosper. We are growing and changing everyday.

Here's a tribute to Grandpa Calvin:

Em'ry's Homecoming outfit was a gift from Papa Calvin

Christmas 2008

Sporting the Mickey Ears at Em'ry's 1st Birthday!

Love you Forever!

Last year he spent Thanksgiving in Houston and celebrated Em'ry's Birthday with us. This year I sent Em'ry to Booker for Thanksgiving so that she could spend time with him and her Nana and Papi. Because of his health issues he was not able to travel this year. But, just like every day he was with us in spirit.

Terrific Two!

It was grand! Em'ry's birthday was more than enjoyable. Greg and I are truly blessed by amazing friends, family, and especially Em'ry.

There was no Thanksgiving post because Em'ry went to Booker for 4 days! We are so happy to have her back. Its safe to say there is a different set of rules at Nana and Papi's house because Em'ry is a little spoiled right now.

While she was gone Greg and I had plenty of work to do.

The 3 three projects:

Em'ry's Cake!

Em'ry's Birthday Suit!

Em'ry's Clubhouse!

Some people think I'm crazy for making her outfit and cake but now its a tradition.

Since pictures are worth a thousand words...

The kitchen and magnet wall in her clubhouse!
The chalkboard wall!

The other wall of the clubhouse is dry-erase. Let's just say I need to take a chair out there for myself because at 9 o'clock my dad and the girls are still out there.

The lanterns are aglow!

We have a good life...

On our way to church, we stopped to get donuts. When Greg handed Em'ry a donut hole she said, "We have a good life." And, yes, yes, we do!

We haven't had any big happenings here lately but every day is a good day.

We are so blessed to live in a beautiful neighborhood with my sister. We are making great friends.

Surprisingly, all of Em'ry's friends on the street are boys! Ugh...what's up with that :)

But, they are good boys!

We recently hosted Matt's 30th Birthday party and Savreet rented a Sno-Cone Machine. You know Em'ry loved it!

Pucker up!

Lately, the majority of our time has been spent outside working on the "surprise" for Em'ry's Birthday.

Some days have been chilly but she doesn't seem to mind.

Although the "surprise" is shingled and painted, she still has no idea what it is. Its so cute!