Tuesday, December 28, 2010

More pics

I posted some more pics down under the Opryland post a few days ago. They are of the "ICE" feature at Opryland. So cool...literally!

Last night as we were getting kids tucked into bed Sam said, "Hey, Daddy...take a picture of me and I'll pretend like I'm asleep." Which was funny enough. Then as I was about to snap it...he gave me this face. LOVE HIM! Like the pink blankey? Sam has now commandeered all three of our kids' homemade blankets (by Pat Phillips). He sleeps with his, Ella's and Maddie's now. So...I guess you could say he's extra secure with three security blankets :)

Little cheeser

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Christmas Day 2010

What a perfect day! We woke up to a white Christmas! It was beautiful! The kids woke us up with shrieks at 6am ready to run downstairs. On the way down the stairs Maddie (our organized family member) stopped everyone to remind us that we had to take a picture of them on the stairs "like we always do". (she's 9. Bless.)

On the way to see what Santa brought

our dream of a white Christmas came true!

ohhhhh the screams!

stockings!


Maddie gave Ella a cute baby doll bed (rescued from a yard sale and painted pink)



I love this of Sam...after the madness of Christmas morning, he enjoys a quiet moment with a sucker watching a DVD.

Ella got an easy bake cupcake maker. She is quiet the chef. She spent the morning making lots...and LOTS of cupcakes!

toward the end of the day we took some time out for sledding! Sheryl and Sam went flying down the hill in our back yard.

Sam was a snow ball throwing machine!

Ella says, "I LOVE SNOW!!!"


We are on noise overload--a typical Christmas night experience! :) Maddie got a karaoke machine, Sam got a remote controlled car and a paper guitar so we've had a LOT of background noise in our house today. Truth be known, I love it! It was a wonderful day.

I pray that wherever you are tonight that you are feeling the warmth of family and the love of our Heavenly Father. Merry Christmas to all of you!

Christmas Eve at Nonnie's

As is our annual tradition, we spent the evening at my mom's on Christmas Eve. We open gifts from her and eat yummy snacks and sweets. The kids were so excited they could hardly stand it! We came home from Opryland Hotel and had a few hours to chill out before the festivities. My mom's house is always so warm and inviting, but it's especially that way at Christmas.

Walking (or running) into Nonnie's house. The kids definitely swarmed the place.

Sam examines the mantle and stockings

The kids at my mom's house


I asked the question..."Who's excited about Christmas Eve?????"

Sam and Nonnie

Sam got decked out in Titan's gear!

The kids and my mom
After we opened gifts and had lots of good food we packed my mom up and all drove back to our house because of the chance of snow. If it snows it will be the first white Christmas Nashville has seen in 17 years. I think it will happen!

We got home and got the kids into bed and waited for Santa to arrive! Wait....what's that sound??? SILENCE...ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Then, it began spitting snow and it seemed it went from just a little to snow showers. It was GORGEOUS! We were so excited! a nice quiet few minutes watching the snow fall on Christmas Eve. It doesn't get much better than that!
Sheryl and Bear. (the pic on the wall behind her is a Christmas gift from my mom from about 13 years ago. It's a black and white photo of Sam Thomas Elementary taken by our friend Gordon Trice. It's still such a treasure!)

Santa came!! I captured some pics during the quiet of the evening.


Fa-la-la-la-la

All is calm...all is bright
As God brings this day to a close, we're mindful of the true reason for celebration. Light came into darkness. In Him is the Light of Life. He is true Love. We are especially mindful of His provision this year. So many blessings cover our lives. We are thankful for Jesus, Immanuel, God with us!

Opryland Hotel

As a Christmas gift to us, my mom took us to Opryland Hotel for a few days including the Radio City Rockettes' Christmas show. We had a BLAST! We ate amazing food, saw incredible lights and loved the Rockettes. Most of you will remember that only 9 months ago, Opryland was completely under water...millions of dollars in damage. However, just a few weeks ago they had a grand re-opening. They are alive and well and it's more beautiful than ever!

Here are some pics...

the Delta section of Opryland Hotel

Delta Section

we rode the boat all through the Delta

Christmas in the Delta

Nonnie and Ella shopping

Sam

Magnolia section of Opryland Hotel


Maddie


Nonnie and the girls

Cascades section of Opryland Hotel...amazing at night

Delta section at night
boat in the Delta. Riding the boat was one of our kids' favorite parts!

lobby of Cascades section
We went to the really cool "ICE" feature at Opryland. It was freeeeeeeeezing! They give you these big parka coats to wear but it's still ridiculously cold...around 9 degrees.

The whole feature was based on the movie "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"

that's my mom buried down in there peeking out with Sheryl and Maddie nexxt to her

the kids

this section was super cool---the whole left and right side of the room was a giant ice slide that the kids went on...and we did too, of course!


Ella, Maddie and me

Ice nativity

At the end of the exhibit there was hot chocolate and cotton candy!


Poinsettia tree in the Delta


My mom took us to Old Hickory Steakhouse in the Delta on our last night. It was amazing!