Christmas Morning

This year for Christmas, Ava wanted TWO things: a Snow White dress and a scooter... Whew! Glad Santa got that one right!







And, she had to put the dress on BEFORE we could even look at the other pretty boxes. Actually, she wore it to church before coming home to open gifts!






Uncle Dave and our sweet nephew, Brady (who, bless his heart is still called "baby" Brady by Ava after almost 9 months)...

Christmas Eve family dinner

This year we celebrated a beautiful Christmas Eve on the lake at my Aunt and Uncle's house. Ava had a blast getting reacquainted with some cousins and enjoying the fall like temperatures outside. It even looked a little like fall with all the leaves laying on the ground. Much different look than we have at home for sure. Ava got to jump on the trampoline with her cousins...Dax, Brooke, Riley, and Halle....it was a big deal to her that the trampoline was outside. She got a smaller one for Christmas that hangs out in our basement.










This was our first time meeting my cousin's youngest son, Riley! He was a doll and so much fun to play with.





All the cousins hanging out on the stairs...wonder what Mr. Dax and Miss Ava are up to??








Here's my dad. Pawpaw always has the job of carving the meat. He's done it so many years, he's definitely a PRO!!




Riley getting some grubbs from Aunt Libby :)



There's nothing like a Christmas in the south. I love the butter beans, corn, corn bread dressing, ham, turkey, fried oysters...oh, my belly hurts just thinking about it all! YUM!! I hope that each of you were blessed to spend a happy holiday with your family.

Bellingrath Gardens Magic Christmas

When I lived in Mobile, AL my favorite place on Earth was Bellingrath Gardens. It is a very majestic place to me and gave me such strength and peace when I most needed it. Every season yields a new blooming flower and every Christmas is the "Magical Christmas in Lights". I've always wanted to take my family there. This year was that time. BUT...welcome to Christmas in the South... 73 degrees, humid, and FOGGY!!

;

Wheels of my own...

Ava had biggest surprise waiting for her when we came home from looking at Christmas lights...She got a big girl bike from Nana and Pawpaw and it was sitting under the Christmas tree ready to take that first lap {around the kitchen}.





YES, I think it is a hit!! Thanks Nana and Pawpaw!

Special fun with Nana

Once I relized what a tired girl I had...I marched her off to get a bath {under Nana's supervision}



THIS is what I found when I followed laughing and giggles coming from the bathroom :')

Merry Christmas! Family Photo

Merry Christmas! May the Lord bless you with peace through the holiday season and into the coming year! We love you all!

Meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus

Ava's school had a night with the Claus'. Santa and Mrs. Claus were special guests at a pizza dinner. This is the first time that Ava actually met Santa. She had been to the mall to see his helpers...but Santa came to her school and BOY!! was she excited... {in hind sight - that's probably why she was dancing around the Christmas tree! haha}


Here she is waiting her turn to meet the man in the red suit.


Taking this very serious...telling him she wants a Snow White dress and a scooter...Hope she was a good girl :)







They had a room where you could make food for the reindeer...Well, of course we made a stop. We definitely want the reindeer to find us on Christmas!






Ava and two of her teachers...Ms. Lindsey and Ms. Sadie


Ava and her main teacher...Ms. Jen


Then, finally, one last stop to finish this fun night... PiZzA

Christmas Tree 2011

This year espcially, Christmas seemed to come WAY too close to Thanksgiving! I can't believe it's time to get the tree and decorations up. I do love this time of year...and I think I've passed that love on to Ava...





This is what happens when an almost 4 year old is excited while you're trying to take pictures...

Happy Thanksgiving

We spent a nice family filled Thanksgiving close to home this year. It was a quiet blessing and we hope that your family enjoyed a time to reflect on what a truly amazing world we live in.





Lily is watching intently...just in case...

Ava even helped me make the salad.




Getting a "happy" from Aunt Nancy and Uncle Mark-




And all that turkey = pooped out!



On Friday night, we had the gang over to celebrate Grandma's birthday. Ava topped the night off with entertainment...a fashion show!

Trick or Treat

We hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween!

Love, The Bumble Bee Butterfly

Red October

Immediately following the Rams game, we raced over to the baseball stadium to watch the National Championship parade. We weren't the only ones with that idea...there were TONS of people trying to get from the dome to the stadium. We rode the train and had to wait through 2 trains before finally squeezing in.


At the stadium we found this sea of red -


People were lined up and down the streets, literally 10 rows deep...this town LOVES it's baseball... they even sold tickets for inside the stadium.


Our friends arrived VERY early and got us all a great spot!






There was an energy in the air that I can't describe in words. It was truly electric. While waiting for the parade to make its way around to the stadium, we had a fun police officer really working the crowd... She would point to one side of the street and say "WORLD" then point to the other side and say "CHAMPS"...it went on like this up and down the street. She even tried to get us started in a "wave". HaHa...it was so much fun.


It was a LONG wait until we saw those first players.



And then...They came... Tony LaRussa leading it off


Followed by the trophy


Fredbird


The rally squirrel


Then each player followed in a truck, surrounded by their family.