Thursday, January 24, 2013

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year


Sisters with Christmas season excitement on 
their faces! (Faith-16mo, Milla-3 years 4 mo)
It was December 22nd and we hadn't been to see
Santa yet!  We were dreading fighting crowds and 
long lines at the mall....Brandon did some "Googling"
and found a great Santa in a different setting.
Santa and Mrs. Claus transform their Canton, Ga
home into a winter wonderland.  It was a popular spot
with lots of other little ones anxious to see Santa.  
After looking around the Holiday themed rooms--you
wait (only about 15 min) to have a turn on the sweet
Santa's lap! Milla did mention that his beard was
different than it was last year!
this was the Nativity Scene and Angel room
Santa's Info.
Allison and Mrs. Davis hosted the annual 
Ginger Bread House decorating party on the 23rd.
The Grandmas with their Grandbabies
Milla*Mia*Gracie
Carrie (in town from Nashville), Brittany, Me,
Allison and Blakeley
Milla icing her house
Gracie had a pink Cadillac Escalade...
they took turns taking it on a spin around the
cul-de-sac
We celebrated Christmas with my Mom on the 23rd-
(Cappie was already in New Jersey-so we missed him).
We went to a Sunday night service at our church-
Browns Bridge Community Church. Milla was 
excited about the ukulele that Gran Mum got her!  
Faith got a little guitar too! They want to be like 
their Dad!
Milla*Brandon*Faith on Christmas Eve
-we went to Christmas Eve Service at First
Baptist Cumming--Brandon made a break for the
lobby during a song when Faith got noisy...I was in the
middle of a row with wiggly Milla on my lap.  I was a 
little stressed and felt like everyone was looking over 
their shoulder at us--but at the end when they turned the
lights down and we held our little lit candles--Milla's
precious voice singing "Silent Night" made my night!
Sweet Faith!
Christmas Morning!!! 
Milla SO EXCITED about her Princess Castle!
Christmas Morning!!!
Faith SO EXCITED about her new Car!
Christmas Afternoon at the Crim's
We celebrated with my Dad and  myGrandma on the
26th.  We ate our Feliz Navidad meal at our favorite
local Mexican restaurant "Los Rios"
*Milla and Grandpa*
Faith and Granny Girl!
Becky hosted a girl's night on the Eve before
New Year's Eve! 
She went all out and made us all feel so 
special using her china and crystal in her
elegant dining room!
Milla helping prepare some mashed potatoes
for our New Year's meal
Elise and Milla at Gymnastics
Kelli at her baby shower thrown by
her college friends...."Lydia Katherine" is 
scheduled to arrive next month!
a visit with the Sanders Family-- to see their
new home that is being built.  Here is one of Haley and 
Milla on the future staircase.
*Davis, Milla and Haley*
their new lot has lots of room for bike riding
(early January and they are able to be in short sleeves
and shorts!!)
*Faith and Allie*
The incredible hostess Kriya.  Year after year she 
has hosted an annual Corn Hole Tournament for 
Beau's Birthday.  She out does herself each year.
This year there were over 50 people--- it was catered
with a "Varsity" truck--cooking fresh to order...and to 
top off that meal--here she is passing out 
Krispy Kreme donuts!! She warned us to leave our
new year's resolutions at home!
Milla got to visit a dance class-- her friend Keris's
class had "bring your friend to dance day"!!
FUN! Faith watched her every move from the windowed
door--looking forward to being out there someday!

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Away in a Manger

There is a sweet, sweet rendition of the
Christmas Story for children at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWq60oyrHVQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
(if this link doesn't work search "the Christmas Story"
on youtube and it is the first to come up--it is
done by St. Paul's Church in New Zealand)
Milla loves to watch the video and
wanted to play Mary herself.  Here she is
reenacting the manger scene.  
Faith and Milla baking egg-free Christmas Cookies!
(they were not good--Milla took 1 bite and didn't want
anymore!  Need a new recipe!)
Brandon and Milla decorating a Gingerbread House-
Faith is overseeing the project with a big grin!
Faith sampling the Gingerbread House!
Mia came over for a visit
Mia brought her twin brothers!!
Jack, Sam, Milla and Mia (Faith was napping)
Party in Faith's crib when everyone was awake!
Got to go celebrate as Laney Jo turned one!
She was a little Indian Princess with a white feathered
head piece and gold band!  She enjoyed her huge 
chocolate donut!!
Laney, Faith and Emmett (the little siblings)
Asher, Will and Milla (the big siblings)
A group shot at the party!  Their tree is awesome-
3 years ago they got a potted tree as their Christmas
tree--then planted it in their front yard--this year they
were told that they shouldn't have it in the front yard
because it was going to get too big--so they dug it
up and used it as their tree again! 
We also go to celebrate with Annie as she turned
one!! She had a "Winder ONEderland" party...
lots of snowflakes and pretty winter decor

Thanksgiving and November Celebrations

Loved our Thanksgiving this year-- it was spaced out so
so we got good quality time with our families rather than
eating 3 big meals in one day and feeling like
we had to rush, rush, rush.
1st we celebrated with the Crim's at 
Brian and Kelli's house the Sunday before Thanksgiving
My Dad and Grandma came to out house on 
Thanksgiving day.
Mom and Cappie came up the Sunday after
Thanksgiving.  We had a vegetarian Thanksgiving
because my mom woke up in the middle of the
night to put the turkey in the oven--and the power 
went out--so it didn't get done on time!! ha ha!
The sides were DELICIOUS!!
Trying to start a tradition of a
Thanksgiving day hike.  Brandon, Milla, Faith
and I hiked Sawnee Mountain. 
Got together with our Bible Study group
after Thanksgiving
Milla in her Thanksgiving Indian outfit
We also celebrated Brandon's 
34th Birthday on November 17th!
My Mom stayed with the girls while Brandon
went on a date to celebrate.  We drove to north
Georgia.  First we went to Helen and then to 
Dahlonega to "Three Sister's Vineyard"...it was 
so neat www.threesistersvineyards.com .  For $5
you can sample 3 wines--then we got to walk
on the pretty rolling hill vineyards.  Worth the trip!
Earlier in the month we got together with friends to
celebrate all of the November Birthday boys...
(Ben, Christian, Grant and Brandon all turned 34 in Nov)
The Girls and the little ones at Grant and Liz's 
new home!