Christmas 2011 & New Year's 2012

Whew! We've had a busy couple of weeks...and I have a lot of catching up to do.
First of all, my grandma was in town from Washington...we had such a special Christmas with her! She left to go back home Monday, and we are surely going to miss her!

Our Christmas began December 18th, we had Christmas with Collin's mom and step dad. In leiu of gifts this year, we bought gifts for a local women's shelter. We had good food and good fun! It's always crazy, because there are 8 little kids and 12 adults.

Monday, December 19th my grandma arrived into town! We finally got to see her the next day at a party my dad was playing Santa. Annabelle spent the night with my parents, and got to spend some special time with her GG on Wednesday.
Wednesday was my last day of work until January 3rd! I was so glad to be able to really enjoy Christmas with my family! Thursday, I took my grandma for some last minute shopping...and by the time we got home and wrapped the last of the presents we were DONE! We napped on the couches for a long time :)

Christmas Eve, we enjoyed the morning running a few last minute errands and breakfast as a family. And this was the first year we were able to attend our Church's Christmas Eve service. I was so happy to go and even bring my grandma!

After the service we made our way to my Aunt's house for dinner. Annabelle was given a BEAUTIFUL red Radio Flyer tricycle! She loved and I was a nervous wreck.

We left my Aunt's house to go to my parents house to open presents with them. We let the girls open their presents first, and us adults had more fun watching them! Annabelle loved opening her presents and wanted to play with everything right then :)

After the girls were done, it was the adults turn. I think we finally got done 2 hours after we began!

Christmas morning, we had to WAKE Annabelle up at 9:00 to see what Santa brought. We enjoyed opening presents, eating, and even had a mini church service at our house {Thanks to Westhills!}.

After: we relaxed, watched movies, read, played, and slept the day away.

We did Christmas with the Ray's that night, had tasty beef stew, and opened more presents. I love watching Annabelle and Weston play, they are so sweet together!

The rest of my vacation was filled relaxing, doctor's appointments, family, shopping, friends, and food!

Our New Year's was spent at Carson and Laurice's. Nothing to big...just food and friends! Annabelle stayed up to ring in the New Year, but thankfully crashed not to long after midnight!

2011

2011 was a fun filled year! Can't wait to see what 2012 brings!

January:

February: 

March: 

April: 

May:

June: 

July: 

August: 

September: 

October: 

November: 

December: 

Thanksgiving 2011

Our Thanksgiving was full of family and food!

We traveled sown to Jacksonville on Wednesday.

Poor girl...getting too long for the Pack N Play

We woke up Thursday, did some cooking, playing, parade watching, and got ready to go to Thanksgiving.

Annabelle's favorite spot at Grandma and Granddaddy's

We had the best time at Thanksgiving Lunch. Annabelle had a little playmate, Seth. And they played and played!

Annabelle and Daddy enjoying the hammock :)

Friday, we got up and headed about an hour away to visit Collin's dad, Step Mom, and Grandma Gerry. We had a nice visit and Annabelle loved putting on a show for them :)

When we got back to Grandma and Granddaddy's, I put on Tangled for Annabelle {thinking she would nap}. But, I'm pretty sure everyone BUT Annabelle fell asleep.

Saturday we headed back home. We were sad to leave Jacksonville, but looked forward to being home.

Annabelle and Grandma's roses

Sunday, was the typical: Church, Lunch, and Home Group.

Monday, Collin got the Christmas Tree out, and last night we decorated it. We enjoyed Miracle on 34th street as we hung the ornaments...and only 2 ornaments got broken! ha!

Getting the ornaments JUST right

Yo Gabba Gabba YO!

Let me start with Thursday, because that is when my weekend really started!
Collin and I celebrated our anniversary by going to eat Pappasito's! It was so good! I mean REALLY GOOD! We had fajitas, chip, margaritas...I was stuffed! Everything was so fresh...I watched the girl make our tortillas from our table...that fresh! We walked around Target, got some coffee, and headed to pick up Annabelle. Annabelle had the best time {like always :)} with Uncle, Reese, and Cousin!

Friday, I was doing stuff around the house, when Collin called me and said the school just called him and Annabelle wasn't feeling well. I went to pick her up, and 2 minutes from the house, she got sick :( I was so sad for her! Thankfully, she didn't get sick anymore, but we did end up cancelling our family pictures to be on the safe side. We enjoyed a relaxed night at home, watching what else...Tangled :)

Saturday, we spent the morning around the house. Annabelle was feeling better, but to be on the safe side, we stayed in and watched some Yo Gabba Gabba shows {You know...to get pumped about the show!}. Annabelle laid down for a nap, and when she woke up, we headed to trick or treat at The Mill. She loved getting candy! Saturday was also the BIG Georgia/Florida game. Collin skipped trick or treating {not without hesitation :)}, and headed to some friends house to watch it. We joined afterwards.
And while the boys watched the game, us girls went shopping! We got some good deals at Old Navy!

Sunday, was the day I had been looking forward to! Annabelle and I attended 1st service, then headed home so she could nap. We met our friends, The Anderson's {Derek, Jenn, and Tayler}, then made our way to the show!
Nothing can quite explain what a joy it was to take Annabelle to The Fox Theater to see Yo Gabba Gabba LIVE! I have such wonderful memories going as a little girl with my mom, and couldn't wait to do the same thing with Annabelle. I can't wait to take her again!

Waiting for the show to begin :)

Intermission

BFF

After the show...I promise she loved loved it, although you can't tell by her face.

The show was fun! The girls were uneasy about everything the first half, but the second half was different! They were dancing and singing and loving it!
After the show, we had Varsity for dinner. That was a fun experience too! The girls loved their naked dogs and frosted oranges :)

Silly girls!

It was the PERFECT ending to the weekend!

4 years ago today...

We put on a dress and a tux...

Were surrounded by friends and loved ones...



Took our vows...

Sealed it with a kiss...

Became Mr and Mrs...



And then we partied....

4 AMAZING years later...Happy Anniversary Collin!

Apples, Apples, and MORE Apples!

Fall is my absolute favorite time of year! This year I wanted to do some of the more Fall-y activities :)
A couple weeks ago we went to The Pumpkin Patch, I'd like to go on some Nature Walks, but this weekend we went Apple Picking!

Friday night, we had the best night IN! I made spaghetti, we watched movies. It was just perfect!

Saturday, we woke up BRIGHT and EARLY! We met Carson, Laurice, Weston, and Theresa and headed to Ellijay! It wasn't that bad of a drive...of course Annabelle watched Tangled all the way up there :)

First stop was Hillcrest Orchards. We picked Apples, petted farm animals, took a wagon ride, we even ran into our friends The Anderson's!


Jump, Jump, Jump!



Precious Cousins!

Picking Apples :)

Got one!

Carrying our Loot!

Love :)

Petting Farm...right before the goat started eating her shirt :)

After we picked all of our apples, we had lunch at Zaxby's, then headed to the Apple Festival!

We didn't get home until 6:00 that night, and we were wore OUT!

Sunday, we finally hosted our first Home Group! Collin and I are so excited about this! It's something we have wanted to do for about a month now, but everyone has been busy. But Sunday night was a good get to know you night! Can't wait to do it again this Sunday!

Labor Day Weekend 2011

We headed down to Jacksonville for Labor Day Weekend this year, to visit Collin's grandparents.

We left super early Friday morning

Putting stickers on Mommy's hand was the game of the day





and pulled in around 1:00. Once we got there, we visited for the rest of the day.

A Tea party with Granddaddy :)

Saturday Morning, we lounged around the house...

Cartoons with Granddaddy

Napping with Daddy

Then we headed to lunch at Five Guys. Came back home, and di some more lounging and playing and visiting. That night we had dinner with Uncle Mike and Aunt Kathy.

Bedtime Story with Grandma

Sunday morning, we packed up and headed to church. After Sunday School, we got back on the road. We had some pretty bad weather on our trip home. Thankfully, we stopped at the Outlet Mall :)

M&M Face=Happy Girl!

Once we got back into town, we decided to just go ahead and eat before we got home. We agreed on Mexican. When we pulled into the parking lot, I told Collin that some of the cars looks like our friend's. He thought I was being silly. And while getting Annabelle out, she said "I see Cousin! I see Reese! I see Uncle!". As soon as we walked in, there were our friends eating :) We talked for a bit, and then headed to hang out for a bit. We didn't get home until 10:00!

Monday, was so rainy. I took Annabelle to Air Jump to jump with Wes and Miles. I then decided it would be a good idea to take Annabelle to Chick Fil A to eat lunch while she was still awake. And as soon as I was getting her out of the car, the bottom fell out! We were soaked! We ate and then on our way out, a Chick Fil A employee grabbed 2 BIG umbrellas and walked us out to the car. Talk about GREAT customer service!

We came home for naps. Collin was really wanting to go to REI for their clearance sale, so after Annabelle woke up we headed to Kennesaw with Carson, Laurice, and Weston. REI is like Target for boys, they could browse for HOURS! I was done within 10 minutes of being there. The kids loved playing in the tents :)

We had Chili's for dinner...yummo! And before we left, I wanted to look through Target.

The weather is rainy and cool! Fall is just around the corner!