Someone was a good little girl!!!

This year was a special year for Al and I. We were able to spend Christmas morning with Matt, Angela, and Anna Beth. They were nice enough to let us sit in on their Christmas morning. It was a lot of fun for us to be able to be involved in the excitement of Christmas morning with a 2 year old! Here are just a few pics of the morning.

Cookies for Santa!

Before any headed to bed Christmas Eve we had to leave cookies for Santa! They we sugar cookies with icing and a few sprinkles!!! YUM!!
Sneaking a bite of cookie!!!

Christmas Eve with my mom's family!

Every year on Christmas Eve we gather with my mom's family. This is a long standing tradition. We used to go to my grandparents house, but now that they have passed we go to one of my mom's siblings or her house. This year was at my mom's. We had great food and played a couple of games. The first game was my mom's idea. We drew names at Thanksgiving and you had to bring something from your house that you wanted that person to have. It was a really neat idea, then we played a game with the story "Twas the Night Before Christmas". It is kind of like Dirty Santa except we read the story and draw a word from the story. Every time the word is read you are able to take someone's gift or get a gift from the unwrapped gifts. Anyways, it was a lot of fun and I look forward to it every year!
My mom's two sisters and her brother.

Me and my cousin Heather.

Me and my mom!!

Well, you know who we are!

Santa's Village minus Santa!!

Ok, so we have been trying to get to Santa's village since the day after Thanksgiving, but it has rained so much we have not been able to go. So, tonight we loaded up with BIG plans....to see Santa Claus and let Anna Beth ride on the "hump" in the front seat while looking at the Botanical Gardens Christmas lights! WELL, everyone else in North Alabama had the exact same idea we had, imagine that! We did make it to Santa's Village, but the line to see Santa only had about 200 people in line (not exaggerating) so we were able to most of the other activities. When we headed to the Botanical Gardens the line to get in was literally back to the interstate and about a mile down the other way. So needless to say, we have a lot of making up to do for Anna Beth because she was completely mislead the entire evening. Here are a few pictures from the evening!

Anna Beth writing her Christmas wish list to Santa!

Anna Beth was a snowman!!! By far, the cutest snowman I have ever seen!

We liked the blow up penguins!

Not so much the teddy bear!

There were ladies clogging, they were really good~

Anna Beth loved the Reindeer. She kept waiving and saying "Hey reindeer"

I am not sure which reindeer this was? I am thinking Comet!

All in all, we had a fantastic time, but next year we will not be waiting until 2 days before Christmas to go if at all possible!!!

Another gathering!

On Monday night we went to my mom's to gather with the Battles' family and part of the Grigsby family. We had good food as always and was able to visit with family we don't get to see very often. This is a picture of me, my brother, and my Papa Battles!!! Still enjoying the Christmas Holidays!

Merry Christmas!!

Saturday night we celebrated Christmas with my mom, Brett, and Sarah! Christmas at my mom's is the greatest. We always have the same menu and we play the greatest games and have the best time. I had a great time opening all my items for decorating my new house! I got a new comforter, curtains, throw, a necklace of chocolate pearls, a Biltmore mirror, flameless candles, an under the cabinet radio/cd player, a pitcher to match my new dishes and several other things! Mark, Jared, and AJ come over afterwards for dessert and more games!

Al, Sarah, and Jared won the snowman competition!

Me, AJ, and Brett did also played the snowman game, but we came in 2nd!

We make ginger bread houses and I was just proud the mine actually stood up this year.

The girls! Me, my mom, and Sarah

The newly engaged couple!

Me and my mom!!

Me and my hubby!!!!

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas and I will have more pictures of all our get togethers ~

Christmas with the Looney's

It has become a holiday tradition over the last few years to have a special Christmas with the Looney's. This year was a lot of fun because the kids are getting older and have a lot of fun opening and playing with their presents! Happy Holidays!!

Cake Mix and Kisses!!!

Tonight Angela decided to make all of us some chocolate cupcakes. While they were cooking Anna Beth and I decided we would "lick" the bowl!! I have always loved eating the leftover cake batter and so I thought I would share this love with Anna Beth. We enjoyed every last drop!! It was a great way to spend a very rainy evening!!!

Anna Beth loved giving "chocolate" kisses! We, of course, enjoyed receiving them!

Getting the very last drop!

Chocolate smiles for everybody!!! W

SEC Champions!!!

What a game! We have waited so long to be back in this great spot......We enjoyed the experience at the Looney's and we will be there on January 7th at 7pm to keep up our end of helping the Crimson Tide make it all the way! Here are a few pictures from the great night!


Matt and Al chest bumping after the game!

I can honestly say I have never seen my husband so happy! (they were gator chomping Tebow... while he was crying!!)

The greatest coach ever!

We all have specific spots we have to watch the game from!!

Let It Snow!!

This is the view from our room at Matt and Angela's.... about 6 a.m.!!! :)
The first snow at our new home!!

I LOVE the snow!!! I hope this early snow means we might get a big one this year!! Enjoying the holiday season!

Completed Walls, only a few more to go

So, we are making a little more progress. Al has finished more of the brick and from this side you can get a good look at what it is going to look completed. They put our indoor doors in last week and also the central unit. I am super excited about the way things are turning out!!

Going to the Chapel......

Well, my little brother is engaged! I am so excited about this and am looking forward to all that goes along with planning a wedding. Brett and Sarah have been dating for 6 years; since Sarah was 14. Yeah, I know she was a young one! They are so cute together and am so excited about Sarah joining our family!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a very enjoyable Thanksgiving. We were able to sleep in a bit and be lazy all morning. We watched the Macy's Parade and waited all morning for Anna Beth to see Abby and Elmo. She was so excited to see the big Abby balloon coming down 34th street! We then went to Al's cousins house for lunch. We had a great meal as usual. I have to admit I am a little embarrassed, since Al and I fell asleep and slept for about an hour and a half. Not what we intended, but I have to admit the nap was nice. For dinner we headed to my aunt's for more good food. Although we were still stuffed from lunch; we ate a full meal including dessert that evening. We had a wonderful evening and we hope you all had a fantastic Thanksgiving! Looking forward to the Christmas Holidays!

Insulation, sheetrock, and brick......it's coming along!

Things are moving right along with this beautiful weather. In the last few weeks, they have come in and sprayed our foam insulation and put up the sheetrock. With the sheet rock being in, I can really get a good idea of my rooms. I have pretty much decided where our furniture is going to go and what furniture I am going to need when we are finished!!! Al and Matt have also been working hard on the brick. I am really enjoying watching everything coming together!!


Al bricking on the front of our garage!

This is the doorway going into the kitchen. I love my archways!!!

This another look at the kitchen.

This is the extra bathroom. Al is going to tile the shower!

The foam insulation is awesome! I really hope the utility bill is as low as they say it will be!