{Snapshots of Christmas 2013}

Christmas day has come and gone. I'm pretty sure that our tree is drying out, but don't be surprised if you stop by and I am still playing Christmas music in the kitchen while I sip my gingerbread latte...

I love all things Christmas and having little girls has given me an excuse to be a big kid!  Early Christmas Eve morning, I started rocking our Christmas tunes and making reindeer pancakes.  Abigail was so joyful trotting around our house dancing to " Jingle Bells".  And then we saw the snowflakes!  It only snowed for about ten minutes, but I bundled her up and out on the deck we went to dance around in the snow!  It was such a fun morning!

We enjoyed this Christmas season so much because it was filled with memories of family and snapshots of joy!  Abigail has gotten the hang of presents and after we celebrate her birthday next month, I'm pretty sure she'll be ruined for life.  She thinks everyone is bringing her a present these days!  Her big gift this year was an adorable little pink kitchen that we found second hand.  She watches me so intently when I'm baking and tries to do exactly what she sees me doing so I knew this would be a hit.  We brought it down from the attic late on Christmas Eve and put it by our tree.  Mike and I giggled as we pictured all the excitement that was just a few hours away!  

My own little Christmas miracle was sleeping in on Christmas day.  This little baby slept until 5:00 which makes for a very happy mama! Violet is such a joy and is just starting to really focus and grin!  I was able to enjoy a few precious moments watching her smile and coo before Mike brought Abigail into our living room.  It's moments like these that I want to remember forever. 

And then, the fun began!  Abigail came around the corner to our living room with wide eyes as she saw lots of presents and her new kitchen! 

 

 She has played so much with this little kitchen and she hasn't even opened her pots and pans or noticed her apron yet.  Mike's mom had a friend make the cutest aprons for Abigail and of course Uncle Alan got her the most adorable winter coat!  I'd say she's a happy little girl! 

Mike's mom and dad were able to come down from Chicago and spend Christmas with us again this year and it has been wonderful!  Alice always comes with a box full of cookies and recipes for us to try.  Dan of course is getting his exercise running around our house with Abigail in his arms or on his back...and occasionally on his head! We even took a trip down to Columbia for Christmas dinner with my family and ventured out to the Opryland Hotel to see Christmas lights . What a wonderful Christmas it has been! 

{These are a few of my favorite things}

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in our home!  I love this time of year and I've enjoyed decorating our house this year more than ever.  Abigail loves our Christmas tree and since she loves owls so much we decided to get an owl ornament to add to our collection.  Mike and I started the tradition when we got married to get one new ornament each year for our Christmas tree.  Here is our pretty little owl of 2013!

I think my favorite new addition this year is our burlap stockings by the mantle.  I wanted to get stockings with our names on them and I found a cute design on Etsy that I fell in love with.  Aren't these adorable?

I love to decorate our mantle with each changing season and Christmas is probably my favorite!  This year I added miniature pine cones.  I also have a few hanging from our tree.  

If you follow this blog or my instagram, then you probably know that I love chalkboard art.  This year, I found a few ideas on Pinterest and decided to decorate the chalkboard on my entry buffet.  The lyrics of this hymn are beautiful and powerful and I try to let the words sink in each time I pass by. 

Each night, Abigail and I read stories and sing Christmas songs before bedtime. Her favorite book right now is Frosty the Snowman!  We sing it over and over for her.   I also started reading a children's advent book to her.  This is the book we have and I think it's perfect for her age. 

I love creating memories for Abigail and I can't wait to do the same for Violet.  Last year we gave Abigail her first Christmas ornament and we picked out a cute little stocking that we could stuff with a special note.  We have the same ornament for Violet and this year Mike and I wrote a special note for her first Christmas. 

Merry Christmas! 

2013

Nanna's Table

There are so many sweet memories surrounding the kitchen table at my grandmother's house.  Long conversations and good food mixed with laughter and timeless stories are what I think of most when I think of the kitchen table at Nanna's.  

I am so thankful that I now have pictures of me, Abigail, and Violet all at her table!  They are priceless to me.  

I think these were taken at my first Christmas so I was one week old.  You can see where my girls get all their hair!

This picture was taken when Abigail was around 8 weeks old.  I remember this visit so clearly because Spring was in the air and after staying cocooned for 2 months with a newborn, I was ready for a road trip!  

And this last one is Miss Violet taken at 4 weeks old.  She's working on her follow through of course.  I'll have to tell her all about her great grandmother one day and how she was an All American basketball player!