Christmas in our home...

I love the Christmas season....so I just wanted to post a few pictures of our home. Was able to find Taylor and Lauren matching stockings...very fun!!! - Love it at night when all of the lights are on. Merry Christmas to ALL!!!

Our tree - was too tall so I couldn't fit the star on top!

The Girls Stocking...

Our fireplace...

Found this at the YMCA Christmas Shop and LOVE the saying...I have to remind Taylor of this all the time cause she is right at the age where she is starting NOT to believe...

Tried to take a picture at night so you can kinda get an idea of how it looks...

Parade of Lights

With every Christmas season brings traditions and one of the traditions is the Chattanooga parade of lights. This year was a little different. Kera and Jon had a party to attend and my mom also had a party she had to get ready for. So she kept baby Lauren at home with her and I took out Tay and my 2 nieces Kayden and Em Grae. We bittered the coooooooooold weather and had a great time. I must say the girls were way more interested in the candy than the actual parade!!

Anxiously waiting for the parade to begin

Tay with her ear muffs and rosy cheeks!!

My Neice Kayden...Looooove the hat!!

How precious is she??? My neice Em Grae

Cousins being silly

Watching the parade...

And the parade begins

This was one of my favorite...they had 3 of these.

This was what Emery couldn't wait to see. All afternoon she talked about going to see the gingerbread....

OMA

As most of you know "Oma" is german for grandma. To her 3 granddaughters she has always been "grandmama" - and now to the great-granddaughters she is "Oma". In October she suffered from a stroke and we were so lucky that she made it through. After some time in the hospital she went to a rehab facility where she had to learn to eat again...basically learn to talk, walk, use her hands, do adl's - really everything we do each day that we take for granted. She has done aswome!!! - She even got introuble a few times for doing things on her own. Tomorrow, December 17, she will be able to return to her home. My mom will be moving in with her as well as a caregiver that has been hired. It has been a roller coaster ride the past few months and all I can say is that it has brought us together more as a family. We'd appreciate all of your prayers as we now enter this new phase.

This is a California catus from her sister...AKA "Auntie" - Beauty!!

Taylor rolling Oma down the hall to dinner..

Kisses for Baby Lauren

Aumie and Lauren....(who is not too thrilled about the kisses)

Oma and Lauren

Lauren with her 2 favorite grandmothers!! :)

Does she look like her sissy or what?

All of the Great-grand children

Miss Kayden and Oma

Emery Grae and Oma

Taylor and Oma

The twins and their "Grandmama"

This is Laurens most favorite position!!! (as I believe is Oma's!)

Trip To Visit Auntie Karlie...

This past sunday my mom, Taylor, Lauren and myself went to Knoxville to visit my sister Karlie Beth. The girls and myself surprised her. It was priceless when we pulled up. She had no idea!!! We had the bestest time ever too. The girls love their Auntie. We played some board games which was Taylors favorite part of the trip. We played Trouble and Taylor is a very competitive player. To make a long story short the 3 of us were ganging up on Taylor because she was having the luck of the Irish. (which she does have a small amount of by the way!!) However Auntie Karlie did win. - Her home she lives in is beautiful. She lives in a historic distric of Knoxville and the home is an old victorian. They had it decorated for Christmas. We're all SOOOO proud of her and what she is doing in her life. Most important we're just grateful to God to have her back in our lives. We look forward to many more visits like this. And if you read this Karlie Beth - thanks for a fun visit. I love and miss you and seriously am so very proud of you - PS - notice how many shirts Karlie has on - (we were there for 3 hours!!) :)

Pictures infront of the xmas tree...

Me and my beautiful sister...outfit # 3!!

The family just before leaving..

Auntie Karlie and Lauren...(right before she puked all over Karlie!!)

Auntie with her nieces - beautiful smiles...(outfit #1 )

Being silly with Auntie

So sweet... (outfit # 2)

Per Karlie Beth "Hi girls..." :)

Hanging out playing games...so much fun!!!

Proud mother....(took this picture like 20 times!!! - mom is VERY picky!!)

Bumble Chair -

Picked up this bumble chair for Lauren before she was born - My sister told me what a great chair it is and can be used as early as 3 months. Well Saturday night Lauren was acting like she wanted to hang out with daddy and sissy in the play room - and instead of laying her on the ground with her gym I decided to prop her up in her chair - even though she isn't quite 3 months old. And she did great - was just kicking back - (for like 3 whole minutes!!! - than the crying began)

Chattanooga Christmas Lighting 2008

Our annual Chattanooga Christmas lighting was last night - We started this in 2003 - it was much smaller than and in a different location - Over the years it has grown - and last night it was super crowded - I believe it was because the weather was so nice - they have this awsome live nativity scene - it's the girls favorite part - and than lots of music - boats with lights going down the river - and of course many vendors - just a fun way to start out the christmas season - Mom of course supplied us with a great dinner before we headed downtown - some great white bean chili with homemade chips in shapes of turkies and apples) - Had a fun time -

Taylor feeding Lauren before we left for the event -

Kisses with sissy

Taylor and Lauren

Sweet Baby Lauren

Another sister photo before leaving for the event

Walking a distance to get to the lighting - Auntie Kera, Unkle Jon, Cousins Kayden and Emery joined us -

Taylor and cousin Kayden full of energy running

Lauren "tagging along" in my Mia Tie (compliments of Aumie - which I LOVE - as does Lauren!!

The live Nativity scene

Some live animal - donkey I think! :)

Taylor able to pet a goat!!!

Emery hanging out with Aumie on her shoulders!!

Unkle Jon and Kayden (posing scary!!!)

Auntie Kera and Taylor

This picture was taken at least 5-6 times and Taylor is just like her mother - closing her eyes - we finally gave up!!! - Still a cute picture with Aumie!!

Me and my beautiful mother --

Taylor, Lauren and me!!

Auntie Kera and cousin Emery

Cousin Kayden drinking hot chocolate

Taylor also drinking hot chocolate

Fireworks at the end of the festivities

Christmas tree