Sick Day

He looks like he doesn't feel good - poor fella

Luke is still pretty puny so we decided to stay home from church this morning in case he is contagious.  We ended up getting a lot done at home - lots of cleaning and organizing.  We got out for a little while to make some Christmas returns and to grab lunch at Subway.  The kids spent a lot of time playing with their new toys.  Katherine loves her doll stroller and pushed it all over the house.  She seems to be playing with her dolls more which means I am usually the one changing the clothes and shoes. I must admit, it is pretty fun!

T-Town Christmas

Luke and Cynthia

A new Lego!

Andrew and Thomas have set on this couch every Christmas!

Some new gardening tools

Nanny's new calendar

Aunt Sheila with her Alabama coffee mug

Nanny gave me a neat hand-painted wall hanging

Gift cards were the most popular gift!

They wasted no time putting the Lego together

Giggly girl!

The girls played with K's new Hello Kitty set

Family picture!

We went to Tullahoma for Christmas today.  We did breakfast again this year and it works out great!  Thomas made chocolate chip pancakes and everyone else brought other breakfast foods.  I love breakfast!  We had a great time visiting and playing with the kids' toys.  It is so great Nanny is able to cook and enjoy having us to her house.  We do not get down there near as much as we should but always have fun when we do.  Andrew and Mandi headed back home from Nanny's.  It actually started snowing this afternoon so we wanted to get on the road before it got bad.  The kids slept on the way home and so did I!  Luke is still a little under the weather running a low-grade temp.  He doesn't seem to really feel bad just a little quiet.  Hopefully he will be back to normal soon!

No Fun Overnight

Well, Luke and Uncle Andrew didn't get much sleep last night.  Luke started feeling bad so he and Andrew were up and down during the night.  He was running a low grade temp and was coughing and had a runny nose.  Mom called me this morning and said Luke wanted to come home.  That never happens so I knew he was feeling yucky.  We did a breathing treatment and that helped some.  We had some fun things planned for today.  The kids were going to go to Monkey Joe's with A&M and then we were all going to Cheekwood to see the trees.  Luke didn't feel like doing any of that so we ended up being home.  He took a long nap and he seemed to feel better after that.  I honestly think they are both exhausted.  It has been non-stop for over a week now.

Laura, Virginia and I had our annual Christmas outing tonight.  We ate at Porta Via which was fabulous!  It is great Italian food at very reasonable prices.  We lingered over dinner and shared some gelato and enjoyed a cup of coffee.  The rest of the night was spent at Virginia's talking, talking, talking!  We always pick up were we left off the last time.  We cover everything from world events to decorating tips.  I l.o.v.e those girls and don't know what I would do without them!  The summer will be the next time we see each other and we are talking about doing a little overnight trip which would be fabulous!!!

Nonna's For Christmas

Sweet boy

She is ready for presents!

We are going to let Luke start paying his way!

Inside joke...

Uncle Andrew's gift was as big as Luke!

She loved her owl towel from Andrew and Mandi!

Christmas = smiles

I was excited about Luke's new backpack

He was enthralled with the Lego book

Paul checking out his new shirt

Andrew has some reading to do

Paul and I both went back to work yesterday.  Mom took the rest of the week off so she kept the kids yesterday.  Andrew and Mandi got home really late last night.  They got to hang out with the kids today.  Mom cooked her famous beef tenderloin and rosemary potatoes.  She asked us all a few weeks ago if we wanted her to make something else this year we all had a resounding "no!"

Dad's cousin Barry and his wife stopped by this afternoon while they were visiting Nashville.  It was good to see them again. We enjoyed our yummy supper and then opened gifts.  Luke was happy because he got some Lego stuff and Katherine got some fun toys.  The night got away from us and it was close to 9 before we finished with gifts so we didn't enjoy our dessert.  Luke asked if he could spend the night so we went home with one less kid!  We had a great time tonight and I am excited to be off work for the next three days!

Christmas in Gallatin

There were two little helpers this year!

Memaw and Kitty enjoyed opening their presents

Happiness is Trio Blocks...

Katherine insisted in getting in the toy box Bop made her!

Bill surprised Paula with an iPad

K needed some help with her new houseshoes

Luke liked helping everyone else open their presents, too

Homemade boiled custard - yummy!

Both kids like the Minnie Bow-tique!

We got to Gallatin around 2.  Everyone was already there.  Jim, Claudia and Lauren celebrated Christmas with Bill and Paula last weekend so we missed them today.  It wasn't the same without them.  We let the kids and the great-grandmothers open some gifts first.  Luke was ready to tear into them as soon as we got there.  Kristen and Jon gave each of the kids a UT shirt. Luke got Junior Blokus and some Legos and Katherine got some new doll clothes and some doll accessories.  I gave the greats a calendar again this year.  Not very original, but I think they enjoy looking at them everyday.  Paula cooked a great supper of chicken and dressing with all the trimmings!  There were numerous desserts to sample.  I especially liked the homemade coconut cake.

We opened gifts after our early supper.  The kids both got great cedar toy boxes that Bop made!  They love them.  He also made all the girls a fun jewelry box.  He is really enjoying his wood working hobby.  I am glad we get the finished products!  The main entertainment was just watching the kids enjoy everything!  They got so excited about each gift with the exception of clothes.  I hate that, but I definitely remember what that was like growing up --- you never wanted clothes, always toys!

We had a great Christmas Day!  So much fun and so much to be thankful for!  We truly are blessed.

The Nice List!

Silly boys

Bleary eyed, but excited!

She is a happy little girl!

Luke went straight to working building on his new Lego table!

Katherine wasn't sure where to start

Now, that's talent - vacuuming in high heels!

By the looks of what Santa left for the kids they both made the Nice List this year!  They were both so excited by what the got.  Luke was thrilled with the Lego Fire Transporter set and was surprised by a little Lego table. He also got a new bike!  Katherine got a doll stroller, a princess tent and some books and puzzles.  They both got stick horses.  Nonna came to watch them go through their stuff.  We leisurely cooked brunch while the kids played.  We had biscuits, creamy grits, fruit and some yummy brown sugar bacon that I made.  It was nice not having to rush around this year.  We took our time before we got ready to go to Gallatin.  This was my favorite Christmas morning so far.  The kids were sweet about everything and really seemed to be appreciative of what they got.  We missed Andrew and Mandi though; they have been with us the past couple of Christmas mornings!

Our Family Christmas

Showing off his new movies

Katherine loves her new dress up shoes!

The kids started putting together the new Lego set immediately!

Spreading "reindeer food"

Warm enough to wear short sleeves!

Two old souls...

We came home from church and got ready for our family Christmas.  Paul told me yesterday he wanted to cook Christmas Eve supper and for me not to worry about it - how nice!  While supper was cooking we opened our presents to each other.  Luke got a logging truck, some movies and a 3-in-1 Lego Creator set which he was super excited about.  Katherine got the Cinderella movie, Minnie Mouse dress up shoes, a StoryTime LeapPad and a Lego princess set.  Paul and I were both pretty boring this year and gave each other practical gifts -- pj's, cologne and so on.  Supper was great -- bourbon orange chicken, green beans and rice.  We fixed milk and cookies for Santa and put the reindeer food out before loading up again and heading to Gallatin.  If you are counting, that is three trips north that we have made today -- tis' the season!

Bill and Paula have a get together every year on Christmas Eve night.  It is mainly whatever friends and family are around.  Jon and Kristen are with her family in Mississippi and Jim and Claudia are celebrating Christmas at their home in Franklin this year. So, it was just the four of us and the Jenkins and Roy families this year.  They kept it simple this year and did grilled cheeses.  We stayed for one game of Catch Phrase, but it was still a late night for us.  We didn't get home until 9:30 and Katherine was wired.  She had no intentions of going to bed!  It took me an hour and three different trips in her room before she finally went to sleep!  It was a late night, but we are ready for Santa!