Wrapping Up 2012

Today, we wrapped up the year on a somber note.  Our dear family friend, Pat Justice, went home to see Jesus after battling cancer.  We were thankful that she was able to celebrate my mom's 60th birthday with us this year and I will never forget how she opened up her home to throw one of my bridal showers.  She was always such a giving woman and we will all miss her very much.  This year we also lost my friend Jennifer's sweet mother, Debbie Massengill, to cancer as well.  Although we are sad to see them both leave the earth, we know that they are now rejoicing in heaven in their perfectly healthy new bodies.  

These types of lows help us remember to savor every moment and embrace all of the highs.  Obviously, Charlie was the high point of our year.  Even though he was our second child, the experience of bringing a baby into the world is truly just as unbelievable as the first.  We are so thankful for our two boys and can't wait to see what 2013 will bring.  Below is a picture of them celebrating New Year's Eve with friends today...

I will end the year with the words to a song texted to me by my friend Allison today:

"Should Old Acquaintance be forgot

and never thought upon;

The flames of Love extinguished,

and fully past and gone:

Is they sweet Heart now grown so cold,

that loving Breast of thine;

That thou canst never once reflect

On old long syne."

Christmas

We have been "Christmasing" now for over a week and I'm not sure Hayes is ever going to want to return to normal life!  The boys got a ridiculous amount of stuff this year from all sorts of family.  More than any toy, they mostly enjoyed seeing family that they love so much.  

The weekend before Christmas, Mack and Mary (Papaw Bland and Memaw Mary) came into town.  Hayes was so excited to open his first Christmas gift this year!

Saturday night, we went to Opryland hotel and visited "Holly Jolly" land.  Hayes enjoyed riding the cars and trains and seeing all the sights.  Charlie had fun taking it all in as well...

Mack and Mary with the boys...

Attempting a family picture!

On Sunday, Jenny Beth flew home from NYC and we gathered at my parents house with my mom's side of the family.  The highlight was when Santa and Mrs. Claus (Hamp and Paula Morrison) came for a visit!  Although we missed Ashley and baby Henry who was sick, the boys had a great time opening gifts and singing Jingle Bells with Santa!

On Christmas Eve, my parents joined us for our churches Christmas Eve service and then we went back to our house for Chili and snacks.  We tried out our dining room table for the first time...

And let Hayes open "just one gift from mamma and daddy"...

And then Santa got to work!

Christmas morning was SO much fun!  Hayes ran down the hall and shouted "OH WOW"!!  Charlie wasn't sure what was going on, but Hayes made sure he had all of his presents...

On Christmas night, we went back to my parents house to eat leftovers and to exchange gifts...

The weekend after Christmas, Donna and Jim (Granny and Baboo) came to visit.  They loved all of their gifts and Hayes especially loved his grocery store...

And last night, we celebrated the "end of Christmas" with Chinese food and trying out the high chair for the first time!

All in all, we had a wonderful Christmas staying at home!  Derek was able to take the entire weekend off, so we enjoyed relaxing with not much to do.  It didn't snow on Christmas this year, however we got a small dusting a few days after.

Charlie was absolutely precious on his first Christmas.  He was a trooper as I jammed him into all of Hayes' old Christmas outfits from 2 years ago!  He is our Christmas angel and we are so grateful to have him with us this year.

Hayes enjoyed Christmas more than ever.  He LOVED singing all the Christmas songs especially "Jingle Bells", "Frosty the Snowman", "Holly Jolly Christmas", Silent Night" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" to name a few.  It was really important to me that he understood why we celebrate Christmas.  So last night, I asked him and he exclaimed "because it is Jesus' birthday party!"  We will try to build on this each year!

Christmas time is truly so much better with children.  Derek and I were giddy when putting out all of the Santa gifts and couldn't wait for their reaction in the morning!  We are so thankful to celebrate baby Jesus' birth and couldn't be more grateful for the two best gifts we could have ever imagined.

Merry Christmas!