Christmas at Lottie's

A few years ago we decided to start having Christmas with our family in Gallatin the Sunday before Christmas day due to everyone having to be a million different places. It works out well. We can all eat, relax and enjoy each others company without being in a hurry. My dad's sister Lottie has the celebration at her house every year. I wish I had taken a picture of the food. It is always over the top. So good!

Lottie with mom and the girls Lottie's daughter in law Liz with Endsley and her FIFTH... Benton

Dad and Riley...I love this one

Endsley and CeCe

The kids draw names and exchange with each other. We started this last year.

Riley and Endsley opening their goods

Riley was more excited about the fruit snacks tied to the gift than the actual gift. She is a snacking machine!

Matching outfits:)

Sisterly love

After Lottie's, we ventured back to our house for Christmas with Brandon. He had to work in Kentucky, so we celebrated with him early.

First, we had to pose for a family pic in front of our tree.

Riley helping Papa open his gift from Brandon. Notice..he is a little pale. I will get to that in another post.

A princess outfit from Uncle B! She loved it!

We found that she could care less about what is in the package. She just likes to open them...everyone's!

Now she decides to perform. Forget about the school program or dance class. She is totally o.k with letting it shine in the comfort of her own home.

CeCe and Endsley watching...

"Party in the USA!" She ditched the dress but kept those heels on! Can you say stage mom?!

And stage dad? She loves to watch this on you tube. She sings and dances her little heart out.

In Riley's words, "So I put my hands up, they're playing my song, nanana away"...

"I'm noddin my hands like yeah, moving my hands like yeah."



It was hilarious! Made for a real funny night!

Twinkle Twinkle

This is the first year that we put lights outside. At the other house we always put a little something around the front door. Jeremy was not too excited about it but did it anyways. Riley loved them, so it was well worth it. CeCe added to our decorations by surprising Riley with a snowman that lights up on our front porch. After her school program we drove up and she said, "I got a snowman! Just like CeCe's!" Just some classic posing in front of the tree

Riley talking to Sparkles

School Christmas program

KOTK had a Christmas program on the last day of school. After the dance performance I didn't know what to expect.:)
Sitting with her class
There is our little show stopper! Who cares about singing "Ba Ba Baby Jesus" when you can play with the buttons on your shirt?

And pulling her shirt over her face

She was happy to pose for a pic with CeCe and Nonna afterwards

With me? Not so much

Dance Christmas party

Mid December, Riley's little dance class had a party and a little "show." Let me say this, Riley loves to go to dance class and participates every week. So, Nonna and I were all ready to watch our little ballerina and this is what we got.

The whole time! I mean I can't really blame her. You get eighteen sets of parents and all the grandparents that came to watch lined up around the room. I can see where it could be overwhelming!

Her dance class and teachers, Mrs. Stephanie and Miss Kaitlin
I am REAL curious about how the "showcase" at TPAC is going to go down in June. Hmmm.

Thirty

I started writing this post the morning after my birthday...O.k, so thirty was not that bad. It wasn't the number that really bothered me. What bothers me is that I remember my twenty first birthday like it was yesterday. Me and my close friends in college went to dinner and then out. How did the time go by so incredibly fast? I think...how can my thirties possibly live up to my twenties? I went to college, married my best friend, bought our first home, went on some awesome vacations, grew closer to my Lord and Savior than I ever had my entire life, had two beautiful babies, bought our second home and much, much more! I can say, I am happy to be in the place that I am in now. Yes, the twenties were fun, but I have a feeling the thirties are going to be even better. Different but better. It ended here and I am just getting back to it. (1/5/10)

Thanks to Samantha and Leslea, I started the day out with a trip to "Chick-O-Lay" and the movies with Riley and their kiddos. We went to see Princess and the Frog. It was cute. That night we went to eat with my parents, Jeremy's parents, Brooke, Travis and Chance. The waiter thought it was Riley's birthday, so he brought out a little bitty ice cream sunday. It was so yummy. Here we are about to blow out my candle. Then comes Saturday. I thought Jeremy and I were going to dinner and to a Christmas party that night. Sandy calls earlier in the week and wants to know if I can go to Green Hills Saturday afternoon to pick out a designer purse from a friend of hers who just got back from China. Also, to pick out some other things that I would like to have for Christmas. I said, uh, yeah, for sure! I'm in. I will just meet Jeremy in Nashville when we are done. Perfect. Little did I know, he had been planning a surprise party for me for two months. There was food, drinks, cake and friends. I was even told he mailed a paper invitation. No evite here people. I would like to say the first picture is of my excitement when I walked up to everyone staring at me. Can you say embarrassed? Uncomfortable? That little walk from the car to where everyone was seemed like a mile. I was very happy and surprised. But when I saw one of best friends, Rachael, that lives in California that I had not seen in a year, but talk to every other day standing there, I screamed like a silly little girl. Thanks to Brandon for capturing my reaction!

Linlee, Rachael, Lacey and I

I was talking to Lacey on my actual birthday and said, "I just wish y'all were here." I got my wish:)

Everyone singing "happy birthday" to me. Embarassed. Again.

Our parents and my brother

Dinner at 1808

Before the Santa's Christmas partay.

There were so many pictures of everyone there. If I put them all on here it would be the longest post ever. I am going to save those for an album that a little birdie gave me.

Thanks to Jeremy for such an awesome birthday. You always go the extra mile for me. You're the best! I love you!!

7 months

Another month gone! Endsley is now 7 months old! Several more firsts for our little cutie this past month. First time to sit in the high chair. This is how she greets me. How lucky am I to wake up to this every morning?!

First time to have a biter biscuit. Jeremy had a hard time finding these at the grocery store. I sent him with a list and he called to ask me what a "bitter biscuit" was and where they were located.

She's not a huge fan just yet. She's working on her skills.

Just some sweet pics

Teething has been an issue. No teeth yet, just a lot of chewing on everything.

I went into her room one morning and found this. She went from lying down to the seated position all by herself!

Endsley and Daddy Look who's crawling!! She has been scooting around for a while, but Thanksgiving night she took off. She is not fast by any means. I call her crawl the "army crawl." She pulls her weight with her right arm. Not at all how Riley crawled. She was on all fours. Here she is going after a set of keys...

She is into EVERYTHING! She managed to slide the top off this toy of Riley's. Every time I turn around she is going for a cord. Maybe some of the toys Santa brings will help keep her distracted!

Just for kicks, here is a picture of Riley at 7 months. Some people thinks Endsley looks just like her. I don't see it. Either way, they are both precious and beautiful to me!:)

Endsley is still such a joy to have in our lives. Such an easy baby. She doesn't like to be held much. She wants to be down in the floor with her sister. I have to watch Riley like a hawk though. She treats E as if she is a baby doll. She wants to hold her and pull on her. For the most part she is great with her. She does have her moments. A few days ago she bit her on the finger while I was feeding her. I will just say this, she was punished. I don't think it will happen again. I am just hoping the jealousy phase ends soon. Happy seven months! Love you!

The new do

Yesterday, after dance class, I decided to take Riley to Dudes and Divas or Divas and Dudes. Whatever the name, it was cute. I will definitely be taking her back. Her hair was so stringy. It looked like Mack and Muffin had been chewing on it. I decided the best thing to do was to cut it into a bob. I absolutely love it. She kind of looks ready for kindergarten though and that makes me sad! She thought this experience was fun too. I don't think going back will be an issue. Here she is not wanting to have her picture taken, again.