My Vacation!

As your read in the previous post, I have been off of work for a week. It was so nice! I also got some time to myself, thanks to Super Dad being his usual wonderful self.

I shared a special Birthday shopping trip with Mom and Heather, Mom's Birthday is December 27th and Heather's is December 29th so we celebrated by shopping! (my Step Mom Amy also has a Birthday on the 29th!)

After shopping we walked over to Opryland Hotel to check out the Christmas lights. It was gorgeous!

I also got a chance to meet up with "City Cousin!" My cousin Amanda and I have started a new tradition. Every Christmas break we meet for dinner at Macaroni Grill, this was the second annual "City Cousin, Country Cousin" outing. We had some wine and some great conversation! City Cousin lives in New York, Brooklyn to be exact. She works down town and lives a fabulous city life, at least that is how I see it! We have grown up together and I am so thankful that we are still able to keep in touch.


One day I will make it to the city so she can show me around....

Ella's First Christmas!

Wow! It has been a busy two weeks, but we had a great Christmas! Ella had so much fun and got so much attention. She quickly learned about opening presents and she got so many wonderful gifts. We ate, we laughed, we really enjoyed every minute. I have lots of pictures to share and will try to keep the chatting to a minimal ;)

December 23, Christmas Eve Eve! We had Christmas with Jeramy's Dad and his family. We all went over to Todd and Tera's for dinner and presents. We had a great time! The kids are all so much fun and became adapted to each other pretty well. We don't see them as often as we should but we still had lots to talk about.
Here are the girls and the babes:
Jen and Owen, Me and Ella, Tera and Ashlyn
I have no clue what was so funny, I think Ella trying to attack Owen! She is quite the little flirt :)

Jen and Owen, Tera and Ashlyn

Papa Ron and Ella

Nana T and Ella walking through the house!

Opening her first presents!

Ashlyn loving all of her Princess things!

Owen and Ella playing with Ashlyn's bouncy ball

Christmas Eve we stayed the night with Jeramy's Mom. We had such a special Christmas with her and Poppie! She has lots of pictures that I need to get from her, I couldn't find my camera. Nana made us all a huge dinner and then we opened presents! Ella receieved some great toys, books, suckers and a special CARS riding toy, in which she absolutely loves!!! Hopefully I will get some of those pictures to share.

Christmas Day, after a some delicious breakfast burritos from Nana, we headed to my family. Talk about fun... Everybody was there minus Tim, Mary Helen, Maggie and Dylan, they were in Knoxville having a big Christmas with Mary Helen's family! But we sure did miss you... We had our usual family spread, food not waistbands well maybe waistbands too ;) The kiddos were all so excited to open presents but they were all so good waiting patiently.

Grama and Pop

Jeramy, Campbell, Ella and Keely

Katelyn and Me... Trying to steal a picture of us! Katelyn is the oldest of the kids, she is such a beautiful young woman now! She is so kind and patient and helpful...

Campbell and Cole waiting to open their presents!

"The Girls!" minus Mary Helen and Maggie

Uncle Craig and Rylee Roo!

Big Man Carson, this present was a HUGE rocket type gun...needless to say, He loved it!

And here is sweet Ella! Opening her gifts at Grama's House.

I love this picture, she is so amazed by the Jack in the Box!

Her cool vaccuum from Keely!

Tearing into some paper...

I hate pictures with Ella sucking on her paci, but we quickly discovered it was a plug and a good one at that! Every piece of paper went right into her mouth... Paci worked wonders that day :)

Checking out the other kids and their presents!

Super Dad!

Ella and Keely

Reagan and her totally awesome dress up clothes! She was a happy camper clopping around in her high heel shoes :)

After we left my family, we headed back over to Jeramy's Grandfathers house, Pa Ellis. This was a special trip, Ella got to meet her Great Grandfather for the first time! We are bad parents for just know getting over to see him but that's ok, it made for a very special Christmas for Jeramy and Pa Ellis!

Here are Jeramy, his mom, his Pa and Ella Jean. What a special picture!

And here's one with me...

After a long day of celebrating with family, we headed home! Ella was so tired....

I have been fortunate enough to have the week after Christmas off! Ella and I played and slept and played some more... I offically accomplished NOTHING! Here it is January 2nd and my Christmas tree and decorations are still up. Oh well, we had a wonderful time off!

Ella playing with her new toys!

T'was the Night Before Christmas....

Well almost. I can't believe it is almost Christmas. I am having a hard time excepting that and I feel so unprepared. I love Christmas and meaning behind it, but I just feel lost this year. I can't explain it. You would think this year would be more special then the past years, with Ella, but she doesn't know the experience, the feelings, the excitement. I guess it is up to Jeramy and I to help her with this experience. I'm getting there. Maybe by Christmas Eve I will have the spirit...

Last night, as we put Ella to bed, we kept hearing a thump, thump, thump...
I peak through the door to see her thumping her head on the back of the crib. It was more comical than anything else, but you have to think "What in the world is she doing that for?" I tried to grab my camera to do a video, but she soon settled in to sleep, until I disturbed her when I was standing over her, covering her up with her blanket. I gave her another kiss and laid her back down, only to hear more thump, thump, thump... Silly Girl!

Ella is 10 months now. She is full of attitude and determination! She is a stair climbing master, not by Mommies and Aunt Missa's choice though. She enjoys high fives and making smooching noises! She is learning so quickly. I know she doesn't understand the meaning of Christmas this year, but next year should be super fun...we'll have to start a Christmas fund for next year :) hehehe...

To all of our friends and family, we love you and wish you all the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest New Year!

What do you do when you are called out by your Hubby?

You Blog! Last night, Jeramy called me out on my family blog. He told me that since I've been running/training I have just abandoned the family...blog, that is :) Well I'll show him...

In all seriousness, we have been very busy. My running blog, I can hop in and update real fast. This one I need interesting stories and pictures. hehehe... So this time of year is just crazy! Christmas Parties, work, friends, family, I could go on all day. To be perfectly honest, I am being quite the Scrooge. Jeramy and I are doing really well on our budget, but in return we are cutting back on a lot of things, like gifts for example. It took everything I had just to decorate my house!

That is sooo not like me, but I have just been busy and with our sweet little girl, spare time is few and far between.

First weekend in December, Read Christmas Kick-off! It was a great way to kick-off the Holiday Season.

Second weekend in December, Tyson Dinner at Miller's Grocery....YUM YUM! Followed by the Riddle Christmas Party

Every year we play Dirty Santa and the gift has a theme, this year the theme was to bring a "T" gift. A gift that begins with a "T". Good times had by all! It was also Holly's and Allison's Birthday so of course Katy, the Hostess with the Mostest, prepared a Birthday Cake and we all sang "Happy Birthday!"

This was a pretty early night for Jeramy and I, but I heard the Dianna's showed up and the party carried on to the wee hours of the morning...maybe just a little jealous ;) Oh I have to tell you about our Dirty Santa gifts...

I got a James Taylor CD with a pack of Trident and Jeramy got a Toupee! Yep he stole it, such a goof :)

This weekend we FINALLY get to see the Pippengers! I am so excited!!! We have been trying to get together for a while, but Ella has had a couple of colds and we don't want Tinsley to catch anything. Also, Saturday I am going to Hermitage to Crystal's Christmas Party. This is going to be such a fun night! $5 Dirty Santa, wine and some of my best girls!

Merry Christmas to all.... We hope your Holiday is filled with many blessings!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Ella and I went to Heather's house to make our Apple Pies. We started this tradition MANY years ago. Sometimes we get special helpers and sometimes we don't. This year our helpers were Rylee and Reagan! It is always so much fun and I'm sure it will be a tradition passed down to the girls!

This is me trying to make Sweet Potato Casserole! It was a mess. I just don't do a great job at cooking anything. Especially in large quantity. I think this will be the last time I volunteer to make this... It was all over my kitchen!

Happy 9 Months Ella Jean!!!

9 months ago today our sweet Ella Jean came into this world. She has totally exceeded our every expectation and she is such a blessing in our lives!

Newborn

9 months

(Photography by Crystal Potts)

Some traits that she has developed:

She does not sit still! But in a good way :)
She really only snuggles when she is sleepy.
She naps best with her momma ;) hehehe
She loves her daddy so much and just the sound of his voice excites her!
She LOVES to eat!
She is very impatient when it comes time to eat.
She REALLY enjoys suckers, thanks Auntie Angel ;)
She loves other kids, especially her cousins and Mr. Henry!
She is a gift from God and she shines everyday!!!

We can't believe she is 9 months old. For some reason, that seems like a huge milestone! Before we know it we will be celebrating her 1st Birthday!!!

Can she get any cuter!!!

Yes, I'm totally biased. That Ella just amazes me every day. This is a video clip of her walking with her toy. She is also quite fascinated with my wheeled rack in the kitchen, she pushes it all over the room...

Last night I was cleaning up after dinner, Ella was playing in "Her Drawer!" She had bottles and cups spread across the kitchen. I left to take some things to the bedroom and came back to find...




Ella had crawled into "Her Drawer!" I immediately grab the camera. By far one of the funniest things she has done.