Our Little Christmas Eve

Luke loved opening his presents
(and ours, too)

Mom finally got her Coleman lantern

Luke liked helping Daddy put together
his new work bench

Our Christmas all started when I brought Luke home from school on Tuesday the 22nd. We had only been home a few minutes when he threw up the first of 7 times! He also had diarrhea. I stayed home with him Wednesday and he was feeling much better by that afternoon. Since I had to take off Wednesday I ended up working Christmas Eve which was a little sad since I had been looking forward to having it off. I just so happened that the hospital was extremely busy considering it was a holiday. I worked as fast as I could and left early.

That afternoon Paul, Luke and I had our little Christmas together. Luke had so much fun with his packages! We gave him a wooden work bench which he loves!!! He is in to anything to do with tools or construction. My favorite gift was from Luke--it was a book of our blog the first year he was born! I love it. I am reading it a little everyday. It is so neat to see how much he has changed and what all we experienced our first year as parents.

That evening we went to the candlelight service at Gallatin First Baptist. We were just a few minutes late and it was standing room only! So, we sat in the foyer with Scott and Sharon Jenkins. Luke loved to hear the music and would clap and say "yay!" after each song. Uncle Jim sang and it was so pretty to hear!

We left church and went to the Troutts for a get-together with friends and family....

Random Pics

Anxiously awaiting Christmas...

Hmmm...Luke looks like
he is up to something

We had a fun and interesting Christmas week. I will try my best to catch up on all of our Christmas happenings in the next couple of days. We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!

From our Family to Yours....

Merry Christmas!

Mr. Cool

This is what Luke looked like yesterday afternoon while I was getting ready to go out. I did not ask about the events that lead up to this look....maybe I should! The hat and glasses did not last long though!

Luke's School Party

Luke enjoying the new puzzles

I could not get Luke to look at the camera!

Rylee was really excited about her treat bag!

Luke's Christmas party at school was Friday. I was able to leave work in time to join him. The kids had fun! They ate a lot of sugar! Luke had his first juice box. By the time I got there he had already drank it all and was wanting more. I asked the teachers to give him water instead which he was fine with. After they ate the kids opened gifts they had brought to have in their classroom. There were probably 5 different boxes filled with sidewalk chalk and finger paints. I was glad we bought puzzles! Luke has so many sweet friends in his class and it was fun getting to meet their parents.

Paul's Birthday!

Luke helping Paul with his gifts.

Uncle Jon and Luke

Deep Thoughts...

Wednesday was Paul's birthday. We started celebrating the night before by letting Paul open one gift. By the time we realized it Luke had opened all of his presents! Oh what fun Christmas will be!!! We met Nana, Papa, Uncle Jon and Nonna for supper at Cheddars in Hendersonville. We had a great time. Luke loved going to look at the huge aquarium in the restaurant.

Paul and I went out by ourselves last night to celebrate again. We went to Paul's usual pick, Carrabbas at Green Hills. We tried to finish up our Christmas shopping without success. We ended the night with dessert at Amerigos.

Christmas Cookies!

Waiting for the oven

Luke did not eat all these, I promise!

Bella and Eli decorating their cookies

Bella, Eli and Sophia coloring

This morning we went to the Brewers to make Christmas cookies and eat lunch. Luke fell asleep on the way and was quiet at the beginning. We had so much fun cutting out, baking, decorating and, of course, eating the cookies! The kids did so well together. By the time we were ready to leave Luke had gotten used to everyone and was settling in to his "wild man" mode.

I was hoping that he would fall asleep on the way home and I could simply put him in his bed and he would take a 2+ hour nap. Well, no such luck. He did fall asleep in the car but woke up as soon as we pulled in the garage. I spent the next hour trying to get him back to sleep, since I desperately wanted a nap myself. Luke was having none of that. So, I finally gave up and we spent the rest of the afternoon doing some errands. My days off are wonderful but fill up so quickly!

Busy Weekend

Luke patiently waiting on his food

Hmmm...playing with the Barbie van???

Like most people December is jam packed with holiday events for us. This past weekend was no exception. Friday night I attended a black tie holiday part with my mom's work. It was at a very cool venue in Downtown Nashville with a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Despite the fact it took us 2 hours to eat supper the evening was a lot of fun!

Saturday morning I had to work and we had made plans to attend Brunch with Santa at Fairvue Plantation but decided to cancel at the last minute. Luke did not sleep that well Friday night and we were afraid he would be grouchy. That night we had dinner with some friends from out of town. After church Sunday we were able to relax for a little while before we went to my work party in Hendersonville. Luke had a lot of fun playing with all the other children there. My boss has grown children but still has a lot of their old toys. The kids got a kick out of playing with the Barbie van and convertible!

A New Friend for Luke

I just love this picture!

How sweet is this?!?!

The boys learning early to wait on the women!

Will and Catherine

Last Saturday night we met up with our friends the Kingerys who were in town from Knoxville. They were in Nashville to do some Christmas shopping and the Titans game. We decided to meet at Opry Mills to eat at Macaroni Grill. The mall traffic was crazy. What is normally a 15-20 minute drive from our house took us over an hour! We did luck up and get a great parking spot right in front of the restaurant. We put our name on the list and did some shopping. Shopping with two toddlers is pretty interesting. The husbands tag-teamed it with us so we could try to get some things done.

Luke and Will played so well together! It was so neat to see them playing and loving on each other. Will is about 9 months younger than Luke but they are about the same size! Will was such a tropper considering he had an ear infection. The last time we saw Will was last December when he was only a few months old. We always have such a good time with the Kingerys. I always comment to Paul after we have spent time with them how I wish we lived closer. Hopefully we will keep our tradition of meeting up around the holiday season!

Playing at Nana and Papa's

Making some "tea"

Playing in the cabinets

I normally work 1 or 2 Saturdays a month at the hospital. Paul and Luke usually drop me off and then make the rounds visiting the grandparents and great-grandmothers. It is a great opportunity for Luke to visit his family. He has so much fun at Nana and Papa's. He loves to get ice out of the machine and play in the cabinets! Nana says that he has his own routine as soon as he gets to their house.

Who is that Elf?

Luke is not much for hats of any kind. But, on rare occasions he puts one on all by himself without any encouragement from us. This was the case recently when he found one of his toboggans in the dresser. Paul's 94-year old grandmother, Kitty, still likes to knit and has made several hats for Luke since he was an infant. This one reminds me of an elf hat! The fact that Luke was running around without any pants on only added to the Elf look--we just need to get him some tights!

Luke's Mega Tower!

Peek-a-boo!

Showing off his hard work with Dad

Last night after our friends left Luke did not want to leave his blocks! After we changed his diaper and were trying to put his PJ's on he insisted on going back to the playroom to see his blocks. After we pried him away he was asleep in no time!

As soon as we got home from church today he wanted to get his blocks out and play! This might be good for Paul and I!!! He seems to enjoy playing with them by himself and does not want us right there with him like normal.

Kids Christmas

Paul had his hands full with
Luke and Hanne

Luke and Emma playing with
his new Mega Blocks!

Emma loved the Rudolph nose

Cade was so sweet reading to Hanne

Christina enjoyed sitting at the kids table!

Cam and Emma enjoying a book

Saturday night we continued our tradition of having Christmas with our friends, the MacLeans and Louws. The kids drew names and exchanged gifts. Cade and Connor could not wait to open presents. They probably asked ten times when we could go upstairs and open them!

Luke got some Mega Blocks which he loved! I think he played with them for 45 minutes straight after he opened them. Nothing has ever kept his attention for that long. Cade and Connor got cool Leggo cars that required adult assembly. Cam and Rico were super excited about putting them together! Luke got Hanne a sweet outfit that we know she will be adorable in! Emma got a puzzle and some books.

All the kids played so well together! At the end of the night all the adults looked around at the disaster area in the playroom and decided that was the sign of a fun night!!! Oh, how our lives have changed...but, we love it....

Breakfast with Santa

Luke played with his woof,woof
so much it burst!

Trying to get Luke warmed up to Santa

Saturday morning we went to Breakfast with Santa at First United Methodist Church in Gallatin. It was a fundraiser for the Shalom Zone. We met Katherine, Rico and the girls. We enjoyed a good breakfast. They also had face painting, balloon animals, train rides and of course, pictures with Santa. Paul and I were really hoping that Luke would be more excited to see Santa this year. No such luck! Luke really liked looking at Santa from a distance and enjoyed running around on the stage with his "woof,woof" balloon doggie. But, when it came time to sit in Santa's lap for a picture he wanted no part of it! To top it all of a lady from the local newspaper was snapping pictures of Luke crying in Santa's lap and wanted to know if she could put them in the paper! Hopefully she will have gotten some better pictures of smiling children to use. Guess we will find out this week.

Once in a Lifetime Game

Jon, Kristen, Me and Paul

Loving the game!!!

Jevon getting attention for a bleeding arm

Leinart in action

The two QB's

Since Paul went to the Titans game a few weeks ago he has really been wanting to go back. He decided we should go this weekend. We did not have tickets and he wanted to just wait and buy them on the street. I would much rather have tickets in hand and not have to worry about. It just so happened that our friends, the Orgains, were not going to use their seats yesterday. They were kind enough to offer them to us! WOW! The seats are awesome. They are on the 2nd row on the 30-yard line. They are in the same area as the players families. It was cool to see Vanden Bosch's kids and some of the other players families. We hit the ServPro tailgate prior to the game. Our friends, the Dixons, own and operate the ServPro in West Nashville. Several of the franchises get together and have an awesome tailgate that is open to the public.

The weather was great for football--just a little on the chilly side. We had just a few minutes of misty rain. The game was incredible! Vince Young is an amazing player. To be that up close to all the action was so fun! Paul and I were both hoarse from all the screaming we did. If you did not see the end of the game you really missed out. Vince drove down 99 yards with a little over 2 minutes remaining in the game. He threw to Kenny Britt in the end zone with no time left on the clock! The stadium erupted!!! It was truly an amazing experience! Too bad our camera battery died in the 3rd quarter and we were not able to get any celebration pictures.

Once we left the stadium we were on cloud nine. We got to our car rather quickly and headed home. Unfortunately Paul dropped his phone in the parking lot. Luckily a very nice lady found it and called Paul's parents who phoned us to tell us about it. The lady agreed to wait on us to get back so we could get it. We were so grateful to her for finding it. Paul did not even realize he did not have it. If she had not found it we never would have known what happened to it.

Luke spent the afternoon with Nana and Pop. Luke has started calling Bill, Papa. Bill loves it! We do not know if it will stick or not. Lauren calls him Grandpa. Who knows? Maybe each grandchild will have their own name for Bill. We were so glad they agreed to watch Luke so we could go to the game!

Thanksgiving, Round II

Luke was very interested in picking
his Christmas present out of
this catalog.

Luke loves his Pop!

The girls got the task of "fluffing" the wreaths!
Lily, Kristen's dog, helped

Saturday afternoon we went to Gallatin to have Thanksgiving with the Troutts. Somehow we did not take very many pictures. There was a big group this year. My mom joined us which was nice. Memaw was there! It was so great she felt liking joining us. Everyone got to request their favorite food for the meal--how fun! We enjoyed Kitty's pineapple rice, Jim's sausage stuffing, my sweet potatoes and much, much more. Paul smoked a ham which I thought turned out even better than the turkey. It was a great way to kick off the Holiday season!