Tennessee 2

Christmas morning we woke up to SNOW! Not a ton but it was still snow and it was still VERY VERY exciting. AK seriously LOVES snow. It's so strange. She's only seen it like three times in her three years of life and those three times she soaks up every opportunity to play in it.

ready to get outside

throwing snowballs with Aunt Apple

giving me my favorite winter picture of the season :)

little birdie prints

Once all the snow excitement wore off it was time to get down and serious in the kitchen. We had a dinner to cook. It really was a magical feeling Christmas. We were in a home full of family, Christmas music blasting, Christmas dinner being prepared and the occasional little jig as we jammed out. It was so.much.fun. I am so thankful we were able to go and that our girls got to meet their mammy, pappy, aunts and uncle.

AK & Pappy cooking

she was taking her job very seriously :)

AK, Mammy and Pappy working on Christmas dinner

:-)

the product of a full day cooking. DELISH!

After dinner we all got dressed and headed out for the Gaylord Opryland Hotel for lights and laughter BUT it was sleeting and snowing and Pappy was very uncomfortable driving an hour one way with all his babies in the car. So we turned around and hung out at home. It was just as fun :)

Issy & Aunt Apple

Sisters :)

Mommy and her smallest girl

us

THAT was our Christmas Day. Simple and Sweet.

Tennessee 1

Tennessee...ooooooh Tennessee...how I miss thee.

Our travels to Tennessee were nothing short of amazing. Our girls did amazingly well. We left around 11 AM and arrived around 1:3o Christmas Eve morning. I was convinced Isabelle would be up and stay up for a couple of hours because she had fallen asleep like a champ around 9 PM, but she didn't. I transferred her from her car seat all the way to a mattress on the floor until I got her pack-n-play up. Then I transferred her from mattress to pack-n-play. She didn't wake up one time. It was incredible. She slept until morning.

(somewhere in Arkansas)

Issy and I woke up before anyone else. We sat on the floor outside our room and played with toys as not to disturb anyone. Aunt Apple woke up first. It was her first time to meet Isabelle. It was such a sweet little time watching her play with her baby niece.

(Issy and Aunt Apple)

Eventually everyone in the house was awake and it was time to party :). We hung out and did absolutely nothing all day. It was fantastic.

(Issy and Aunt Shannon)

We originally planned to wake up Christmas morning and open presents and such BUT Christmas Eve night when we opened a traditional ONE gift we all tossed Christmas morning to the wind and opened them all. It was spontaneous and fun. Christmas morning we did the stockings.

With all the family hang out time I somehow managed to hardly take any pictures of the presents reveal. Sorry!

That was our first day in TN. Sitting around, hanging out and enjoying our time :)

party planning :)

Two weeks until I have a one year old (and a three year old). TWO WEEKS! I'm not kidding, that was the fastest year of my life!

For Isabelle's first birthday we are doing everything Valentine themed...you know...since her birthday is February 1st. I am so excited about all the red, pink and white :-). Yesterday I scored some awesome stuff from the hotspot at T@rget. Heart shaped cookie cutters, a heart shaped silicone muffin pan that I'll use for cupcakes, a whole set of Valentine sprinkles, some little goody bags with a Valentine design and a huge heart shaped chip bowl. I'll go back soon for the heart shaped silicone ice tray and some other awesome things I found. I know it seems overboard but it's my girl's first birthday and we're all about love for her :).

Happy Tuesday.



Tennessee talk coming in the near future.

almost...

...ONE!!!

a month and one week later

Yeeaaahhh, sooooo, it has accidentally been over a month since you last heard from me. Whoops.

We've been quite the busy beavers this past month. Since December 7th we have celebrated Christmas three different times. One in Leander, one in TENNESSEE!!! and one in Waco.

AK and I both got new haircuts...hers hardly noticeable and mine very noticeable.

We got home from TN on Sunday and that Friday I made a trip to Waco to see my momma. I was "scheduled" to leave on Saturday but literally an hour or so before I was to leave we got a phone call that my Grandpa Buddy was in a car accident (if you go to the link, that's his car). Ten minutes later we got the call that he didn't survive. It was a very sad day. I left Sunday, unpacked, repacked and headed back this past Tuesday. The funeral was yesterday and I arrived back home today. My poor babies, they've slept in so many beds this past month.

Tomorrow we are going to Leander for Neenee to babysit so mommy and daddy can get a date night. Saturday morning we are all going to the circus. I'm so excited to see AK's face! Pictures to come, I promise.

After this weekend I am pretty sure we'll stay home for a while. We really need to toss in a trip to Victoria soon to visit hubby's grandparents. It'll happen. Eventually.

I'll update soon (I think soon) with all the details involving our trip to Tennessee. It truly was amazing and I can't wait to share pics. My girl loved the snow. We need to move further up north. Just for her.

OH and somewhere in there Isabelle Grace turned 11 months old and has six teeth. She'll be one in like two weeks. OH.MY.GOODNESS! Tell me it isn't so!!! This past year has gone by way way waaaaaaaaay too fast. No joke.