a new christmas.

Christmas Day...what a beautiful day! Jesus' birth, what a humble night so very long ago and we continue to marvle in the grace it brought to us all!
We're so grateful for the joy in our lives and praise God for daily teaching us about what true joy really is!
This Christmas was by far the most wonderful in years! I can't explain how incredible it is to see it all through a 2 year old's eyes.


She was EXCITED!


One of her favorite stocking stuffers!

The fam minus a still sleepy sick baby boy :)

The present opening begins...

He was a sick little guy and just wanted to cuddle with any willing participant...Cole was not so willing at the time :)

Camden was so excited to get some "boy stuff"!

Poor Cam...he really was lookin' and feelin' pretty rough.

Daddy was giving Cole one of his favorite gifts...a big girl Bible.

There were a lot of "favorite" gifts, but I'm pretty sure this may have been the topper! This would be Cole's first dollhouse, and not just any dollhouse, Nana and Papaw got the 4+ ft. tall dollhouse. Thanks guys!

Camden doing what he does...always getting into something.

Camden enjoying some toys--poor guy, first Christmas and he felt aweful.

Another exciting piece of information...my sister had a wonderful idea on how to get the basement in working order for a playroom and she initiated and helped complete just that. There will be more pictures of that to come after we get the carpet in. Thanks Sis!

Merry Christmas once again. We are blessed to have such incredible family and friends! God bless you all in the New Year!

a special night.

Baby Jesus finally joined the nativity scene and Cole was so excited to say that "Jesus was born"!

Happy Birthday Jesus!


On to the next event...Santa's cookies.

Cole wanted to give Santa "chocolate cookies" so I asked her how many we should leave him...her response, "probably five." She proceded to say "I want to share them with Santa." This meant that she wanted one of Santa's cookies--what a girl!

Camden's plan--try the cookies and milk out for himself.

At the end of a very long day...she was exhausted.

more eve.

More of Christmas Eve. We headed up to church to join Daddy. It was a beautiful service and it was so special to have my parents and sister there to share with us.

my kids. (I don't know if you can hear the pride in my voice as I type those words...my kids!)


happy kids--happy nana and papaw!

Look at that smile!--she loved the poinsettias!

A tired family.

Probably one of the most precious sights I've seen in a while.

She was trying to blow the candle out. :)

Our little musician in training won't pass up an opportunity to play the piano with "Uncle Wayne".

And the electric with Jacq.

christmas eve arrivals.

Nana, Papaw and Crista arrived on Christmas Eve morning and we had some thrilled kids! (and parents for that matter:)

Cole was so excited about the growing number of presents under the tree she could hardly stand it!


Always time for some quality cuddle time with Aunt Crista!

Cole was so excited to get a "warm cozy robe" to wear with her jammies.

Camden is starting to love to be read to--doesn't he look comfy?!

family christmas.

On Christmas Eve Eve, our little family had our first Christmas as a family of 4 and it was fun. Cole was VERY much into opening presents and Camden was very much into the paper.

Mimi made us all matching scarves...how cute?! Thank you Mimi!


They have so much fun together :)


Uncle Danny supplied some Madagascar goodness...Cole was thrilled! Thanks Uncle "Dan-dy"!


Uncle Brendan and Aunt Jenn sent books...always a hit! Thanks guys!



A moment of deep concentration.


This picture is one of my favorite expressions of Camden that I've captured in a picture...can't you hear him talking?!


Camden was thrilled to finally get some boy stuff!




He was also content to play with the pink things too though. What a good sport.