Merry Christmas!!!

This year, our little family celebrated Christmas with just us four. We missed our extended family, but there was something special about just us. Christmas eve started off with Emory and daddy going out to krispy kreme. We were all going to go, but Gabe decided to take a nap instead. Look at these pigtails!! I remember dreaming of a day with long blonde pigtails for Emory and here we are. They did not last long, but I enjoyed it while it lasted. I have no clue why the socks are on her hands...

 After getting back from krispy kreme, we decorated cookies. There can just not be enough sugar on holidays.

After naps we got ready and went to Christmas eve service at the church where the kids go to school. It is a kid friendly service with a nativity, plenty of songs (which Emory loved) and a story time for the kids. Emory was fascinated with Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, so we had to go say hello after the service.

 We really thought about what family traditions that we wanted to start for holidays. We heard about families that took cookies to fire stations on Christmas eve or Christmas and thought that was perfect for our family to do. Such a simple way to give thanks for the work they did in saving our house. Hopefully we can teach our children to be grateful during the holiday season and shift some of the focus away from presents. The firefighters still have to be there on holidays away from their families, so why not go for a visit. Our local station just got federal approval for a search and rescue dog, Hula. Emory thought she was great.

 We picked up yummy dinner (no mom should have to cook on Christmas eve too!) and after eating we got the kids bathed and dressed in their matching pajamas. I wonder how long I will be able to get away with this!

 Milk and cookies for Santa, carrots and water for reindeer which Emory called kangaroos. She also wanted to give the kangaroos apple juice and orange juice but I convinced her that they were just fine with water.

 Emory picked the Star Wars cup for Santa. Makes her daddy proud.

 Christmas morning was very laid back. Grant got up with Gabe and when Emory got up they all came in to wake me up. This picture is when Emory first saw her kitchen.

 Em and Gabe got cooking...

 Big sisters are very helpful with tricky wrapping paper.

 She got this hat and apron set from her dear friend Brady for her birthday and wanted to dress the part to cook in her new kitchen!

 Gabe enjoying the bath toys Emory wanted to get for him. Gabe got Emory a big sister necklace from James Avery. Bath toys, jewelry, bath toys, jewelry. Hmmmm.

 Looks like all the kids enjoyed Christmas.

Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas filled with love!!

11 Months Old!!!

Today I was thinking about Gabe being 11 months and I am so in love with my son. He is truly amazing. He still seems small to be doing all the things he can do now. I do have to admit that I am sad about him getting big and not being my baby anymore. The big boy phase is creeping in! No more cuddling before naps and bedtime, he basically lunges out of my arms to roll around in his crib. Insert broken mommy's heart here.

Gabe is crawling all over the place. Not only crawling, but pulling up and standing WITHOUT holding on. So fun! He has gotten a few bumps here and there, but with a kiss and hug from mom, he is off again. Gabe still only has 2 teeth, but is eating anything and everything. His favorites right now are blueberries, strawberries, mac and cheese, hot dogs and goldfish. He is still taking 2 naps and sleeps about 12 hours at night. He knows we need him to be a good sleeper. Gabe can say dada, baba (bottle) and I think he's starting on ball. He has been sick lately, which is no fun for out little guy. He threw up for the first time last week and still is not 100%. He has more hair than Emory did at this point, which doesn't seem fair, but we love his golden locks. It looks like daddy's genes won again and it will be very light, fine and straight.

 Gabe is never far away from his tiger. B.F.F.

 Seriously?

 Here's where I lost control....

 All done?

 Yes!

Gabe is such a wonderful boy. He is exactly what the fourth member of our family was suppose to be. He is silly and adorable. Thank you Lord for giving us our son and for blessing our lives with him!

Silly Dress Up Party...

For Emory's third birthday, we decided to have a silly dress up party. She really enjoys dressing up, but I didn't want to have a princess party so that her little friends that are boys could come. It was so much fun to let the kids pick out what ever they wanted to put together.

The loot! Thank you Oriental Trading company....

 Ready for the party. This is probably one of the best pictures of our house after all the renovations. We have been living our normal life and I have yet to get good "after" pictures.

 Someone wouldn't take a nap because she knew it was her birthday party that day.

 Cupcake toppers. Super adorable!

 Ella Grace picking her necklace.

 Abi was going for the layered look.

 The Fluellen boys.

 Lovely Lucy. Such a sweetie.

 Emory LOVES being sung to. She was so ready for this moment.

 The girls were enjoying their treat and Gabe was not wanting to be a construction worker.

 Silly girls (and daddy) after the party. Needless to say Emory had a great time with her friends. We were so fortunate to be in the house for her party and that so many people could celebrate with us!

Ho Ho Ho....

Mixed reviews for Santa. Gabe didn't like it one bit, Emory was very excited this year (the first time).

Emory sat and talked with him and told him that she wanted a kitchen and Gabe wanted blue cups. Blue cups are in her dishes play set that he likes to chew on, I guess she figures it's time he got his own!

Emory is Three!!!

What an amazing big girl we have! We are blessed to have her. She is super funny and so kind (with the occasional lapse in kindness to Gabe). She really enjoys singing songs she learns at Mother's Day Out, which makes it interesting for us to figure out what she is singing. She also likes playing with play-do and coloring. Emory likes to eat hot dogs, "pink drinks" from Sonic and popcorn. She was potty trained, but with all the recent moving around, things are not going that smoothly. She is loving her new pink princess room and her new big girl bed.

 Sweet heart!

Birthday fun with brother. One of her new favorite things is to climb into Gabe's crib when he wakes up.

 We ended up at Jason's Deli for a birthday dinner. Gotta love that free ice cream!!

Happy third birthday precious!! You are a joy and we love you SO much.