We had a holly, jolly Christmas!

Our Christmas was truly wonderful! We started the celebration on Christmas Eve eve having Christmas with Minnie, Ninnie, the Kirks, Uncle Miles and Aunt Katy and my great-grandmother Evans. I hosted again this year, so for me, that meant not taking pictures as I just didn't even think about it till after the night was over! Boo! But it was lots of fun. We had good food and lots of laughs and a wonderful time opening gifts. It is so much fun to watch those 4 cousins together.


Christmas Eve morning Dru, Simms and Minnie delivered gifts for our church's operation empty stocking. I am so glad Simms was able to be a part of that and I know it touched her little heart. I can't wait to do that as a family next year. Unfortunately due to the time, our family didn't make it to the Christmas Eve service and communion, which I just hated, but I know next year Cope will be a little more flexible with his schedule! Christmas Eve was spent at my Meme and Grandaddy's house. 29 years and counting for this Christmas Eve tradition {and Meme and Grandaddy had just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. How amazing!} Santa even made a stop by the house before dinner. Once again I didn't get many pictures, but here are a few..

Before we left for Meme's we put out our reindeer food and Santa's milk and cookies which Simms and I made that afternoon. We went ahead and did this in case the kids feel asleep on the way home, which they did. Simms also made sure we left our mantle lit up so that Santa could see.

Christmas morning we awoke to this..Santa Claus had visited our house and we had two excited children in our house!

That Santa Claus! He knew how much Cope loved wheels, trains and cars!

And that Simms loves all things food and doll related, and that ALL she wanted was a cash register!

They were such excited little children! It was precious and fun to watch them look at each others things. Simms would say, "Look Cope. I told Pixel to tell Santa to make you a train table. And he did!"

After dropping by my Grandmother Evans' house to see my aunts, uncles and cousins {we didn't think we'd still be in town when they started lunch} we headed to the lake to celebrate with Dru's parents and the rest of the family. We had a great time. Ate great food and I promise I ate no less than 20 of Becca's sugar cookies. I am not joking. I had them for breakfast both mornings we were there. The cousins had so much fun together, and we had lots of time to love on baby Emiline. We had an impromptu birthday party for Cope our last night at the lake so he could celebrate with the Allgoods.

Cope's party, complete with cupcakes made by Simms {and Aunt Becca}..I can assure you Simms did the sprinkles, not Becca. If you had only seen the kitchen when she was done. Not to mention she used the ENTIRE bottle of sprinkles! But he loved them!

Opening his gift from Lilla, Emiline, Aunt Becca & Uncle Gee and then modeling them the next day..

And playing with his birthday present from Gigi and Papa..

We had a very blessed Christmas, spent with both of our families that we love so much, and who were so generous to us. We are thankful for this season and what it means, and I am so glad Simms "got" it this year and I look forward to Cope understanding a little better next year! And speaking of Cope, he is 2 days away from turning 2. I cannot believe it! Until next time..

From our family..

..to yours

It was bound to happen..

Sickness in our house! We've gone almost the entire summer and fall without being sick, and then over the weekend I could see it creeping in. Simms was the first victim. Dru and I were determined to keep it away, so off we went to the pediatrician Monday, where Simms was diagnosed with mycoplasma {walking pneumonia} and we were given a prescription for Cope too just in case {it was filled a day later}.The good news is that they feel better, aren't contagious anymore, and are acting like themselves again. Tuesday they were like walking zombies due to one of the meds {which I've cut back to just a night dose instead of morning and night}. I kid you not, I would look at them and be like, "what is going on here? These are not my kids!" While the quiet, calm "zone" they were in was nice, it wasn't normal for them, and I didn't really like it! We've had a rainy, Christmasy week in which to get better though and I'm thankful for that! Now we are ready for Christmas with Minnie and Ninnie, Great Grandmother Evans, the Kirks and Uncle Miles and Aunt Katy tomorrow night!
My sweet little victims

This was really Cope's attitude about being sick, stuck in the house all week with a constant monsoon going on outside..Good thing for Christmas music all day and our Christmas trees on all day too {and a few trips through some drive-thrus for tea and cokes for me}

We made salt dough Cinnamon ornaments and I will say this...so many sites made it seem so easy..and I guess maybe it is if you are really "domestic" but it was harder than it looked for me..getting the dough just right, dealing with kids and flour {OK maybe that was just MY kids who had a difficult time not going crazy with the flour} but we did it anyway and ended up with a few ornaments..

this was the zombie day by the way..can you tell?

and we hung all of our ornaments on our playroom tree

One day as I washed dishes they wanted to play McDonald's and this was the "window" where I ordered and they took my order..at this point I really wanted to order something not offered on McDonald's beverage menu ;)

We've also made a gingerbread house..using a kit of course..

Here's to hoping for a healthy Christmas..and here is one boy hoping for a train table..I mean how good is he at improvising? Books as a bridge? Poor Dru..he's been at my parents since he got off work tonight {it's going on 10} being Santa's helper getting a head start on putting things together so we aren't up all night on Christmas Eve!

Olivia! Olivia!

No, I am not referring to the kids show, but I am referring to Dru's cousin O, who is now a United States Marine! Olivia graduated as a Private First Class {I guess I am writing that correctly} today! We are so, so proud of her. She had over 30 family and friends in attendance for her graduation on Parris Island, SC. I love Olivia. My kids love Olivia. Dru loves Olivia, and claims to be her favorite cousin. I have been a big Olivia fan for over 10 years now, when I met her as a little girl. I love our time hanging out in the summers and when we make the trip down to Clermont. She is a great girl! I love how close this family is. That so many people wanted Olivia to know just how proud we all are of her, by making the trip to see her graduate! And those that couldn't be there were thinking of her all morning! 12 weeks of grueling training, mentally and physically. I could NEVER survive that, I'll be the first to admit and I know a lot of others would admit the same! But Olivia persevered, and now she is a Marine! Simms and I would pray for her every morning on the way to preschool the past 12 weeks, for mental and physical strength, and I know so many others were praying for her as well! Dru, Simms and I made the trip to SC last night. We were all up and out of the hotel headed for the graduation ceremony by 6:15 this morning. It's been a full 24 hours, but we wouldn't have missed it! After the impressive graduation, our big group headed to Savannah for a delicious lunch at The Lady and Sons Restaurant. Delicious! Congratulations Olivia! We are all so proud of you!

just a portion of our cheering section for Olivia. A lady behind us asked, "y'all are ALL here for one Marine?" Yes ma'am we are!

The wonderful band! They even played Santa Claus is coming to town before the ceremony started. Simms loved that!

Platoon 4040, PFC C.O. Pool's Platoon

So excited to finally hug her neck!

A VERY proud family!

Mrs. Lil, Aunt Katherine, Aunt Fran..3 close and fun sisters!

Simms loves Olivia!

And so does Dru! Dru was determined to make it to her graduation!

OUT on the way home. She was going on 3.5 hours of sleep. She slept on the way to SC last night, then was wide awake when we tried to transfer her to our room. She had to be up by 6, but she did great I think. She was tired at lunch and then slept great the whole way home. It was a great experience and opportunity for her, so I am glad she went with us! Cope stayed with my parents and I missed him like crazy, although he thoroughly enjoyed being an "only child" for 24 hours!

We are so proud of you Olivia!