Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve day we took it pretty easy. We didn't have anywhere to be until that evening.
Riley with the snowman that CeCe brought for our front porch. She was so proud of him! Endsley had been so good about not getting into the tree until this day. She was all the way under it before I snapped this pic.

Riley and I decorating cookies for Santa. She picked the colors out at the store. Blue and Red.

Admiring her gingerbread house that we made that morning

The tree in Riley's room

Endsley's tree

The cable box and dvd player make for a good backdrop for the stockings.

We went to C-town for dinner with Jeremy's extended family. They always come over to his parents house. We eat and play dirty Christmas. It's always fun. I left with $25 to Carmeike Cinemas. Jeremy brought a backpack. He didn't think anyone would want it. When it was stolen by Uncle Tony, Riley was not happy that her daddy's present had been taken away. She said, "daddy, somebody get your bap pap? Where's your present?" Jeremy came home with the back pack. I guess it pays to have a three year old on your side:)

Some pics from the night
Anastin loves the camera

Santa made a mini stop and brought all the kids pj's to wear. He knocked on the front door and left the packages in the entry. He wanted them to know that it was time for them to get ready for bed because he is on his way!

I think this might have been a first for Pop Pop

When we got home Riley put out the milk and cookies for Santa. She thought he needed a chair to sit in to eat his cookies. So cute! When Jeremy was pouring the milk she said, "Look mama, he's got milk like Riley!"

Up next...Christmas morning. A cold semi snowy day makes for a good time to catch up on the blog!

On Monday December 21st,

I got together with some of my longest and best friends. I have been friends with these girls for a long, long time. Some friendships beginning in the 4th grade and some in the 6th. When we get together we pick up right where we left off. We had lunch and caught up on everything. It was fun for us all to be together. The dynamic is funny because we are all so different. Little did I know while I was having my leisurely two hour lunch with my friends, my dad was having a stint put in. I had left my phone in the car, so when Mary Ann and I got back in I had several missed calls and a few texts. My brother being one of those text and voice mails. That was weird because I had just talked to him before lunch and he was about to head back to Kentucky. My aunt gave it away with a voicemail that said, "Hey Ash, just calling to see what was going on with your dad." Panic. Heart starts racing. He had a heart attack in 04 and it is one of my worst nightmares that it will happen again. I immediately call Brandon. I said, "Where's dad? What's wrong?" He calmly told me that he was in the hospital. It was all over and he was o.k. He had been with my mom the whole time. They knew I was in the middle of lunch when this all went down and didn't want me to freak in the middle of the restaurant. I dropped MA off and went straight to the hospital. My dad had known something was wrong for around a month and told his cardiologist at his year visit. I did not know this. On the morning of the 21st he and my mother went to meet with her to get the test results from his stress test. She wanted to do an arteriogram right away and if there were blockages they could stint them right then. Sure enough, he had an 85% blockage in the same artery that he already has a stint in. Thank God that they were on top of their game and caught this before another heart attack. Glory to God for that one! My dad was so mad at himself because of my girls. He felt like he had let them down. His fear of something happening now is that they won't remember him. My thoughts...well, God is giving you a second chance to get your eating and exercising habits together buddy. I don't think I will have to remind him constantly this time. He got his attention... I'm sure of it!:) He said all he could think about when they were putting him slightly under was Riley dancing to Miley the night before. We couldn't mention her name in the hospital or he would cry. It's pure, raw love. Love it.

The day after with Endsley. Still pretty pale.

Stew is doing great now. Feeling good and back to his regular routine.

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.