Post Christmas Wrap Up

Lillee and Bax both got after Christmas haircuts! She made the decision to chop it off? Whatever she thinks is going to be easiest for us both! It looks so cute but makes her look so grown up! Thankfully the tiny bangs are beginning to blend into the side hair! I think she wanted to look like new American Girl doll, Kit.

This one reluctantly got a cut as well even though he said he wanted it to grow to his shoes. I guess Lillee should have been the one to pose next to Kit, not him?

So the dog is in the house. Temps are not even that cold but Scott is gearing up for a treacherous winter and trying to train him to be inside. Hound dogs smell! and shed small white hairs! and poop like horses! Now he has a crate in Scott's office so he stays down there. Kids sure do heart him a whole lot!
Lillee got a pottery wheel from my parents. This is artsy Scott taking these pics! We've made one bowl and gotten it painted so far!
Between Duke and Santa presents, this one's been keeping himself busy even if it is behind the sofa!
Christmas Eve we had "Happy Birthday, Jesus" party complete with Stouffer's chicken enchiladas and lasagnas! Many bird mouths were ready for this yummy treat.

These two BFFs were so happy to exchange gifts!

HAPPY 2011!

Doe a Deer

I'm not sure how I got these two in matching sweaters - thank you Smith/Ballard family! I thought they were so cute with the little Christmas deers - even with black jeans! Off we go to a cookie decorating. These three are party animals.

Tis the Season

Had to add a couple of pics of our gingerbread houses. We had a fun time with great friends and the queen of crafts making these. Martha herself couldn't have done a better job (or made a bigger mess) than us. Don't look too closely as their is hot glue on the house on the right!

Baby it's cold outside!

These pics are for my mom. She gets us a nativity each year. We did not put all of them out this year for tiny hands are always busy! We had to remind him these are not Star Wars figures fighting. It was a very sweet moment as we heard him talking to the baby Jesus and tending his flock of sheep.


We braved Lenox Mall with Amy, Libby and Margaret.
Who knew the Pink Pig would take 1 1/2 hours? No thanks.
Instead, we stood in line a mere 20 mins to see Santa. These Griffin kids wanted to know where his big black plastic belt was! Ben was still not having it so I had to get in to hold.
We did some shopping. I guess with 100 people in the store they decided to slash prices. Again, long long line!
Bax and Libby found a few items.
Lillee took a snooze before we moved on to the Apple Store! Merry Christmas daddy!
Came home and did a little baking! Thank you Dollar Tree for the cutting boards.
They forgot a couple of things they needed to tell Santa.
This was another Santa we crashed an orthodontic office party to visit.
Little Debbie Christmas trees! Ben's favorite.
Griffin Christmas parade. Lillee was in it for her Impact Cheerleading. It was about 30 degrees with HIGH winds.
But these two braved it!
So did these two! What a JOYfilled season.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas from the Keys

Now this should have been our Christmas card!

The Nutcracker has been an awesome experience! Lillee was an angel and a soldier this year. Wow - these moms are serious and intense. I'm so proud of myself and my bun making skills this year. I've always struggled to get it just as tight and slick as Patsy Ramsey could but this year my little Jon Benet looked perfect! I can't tell you how many times we've squeezed in and out of these tights! Lillee did a superb job dancing. I read something in the program and felt sad I didn't think of it. It complimented the dancer and said she had the strength of a soldier and the grace of an angel. How fitting. Lillee is a strong minded, independent little girl. I continue to pray for her grace and kindness as well. I hope she will continue this love of dance she has right now.

These two girls are loving the rehearsals, the yummy food they get catered with and mostly some down time with their DS. Elle was sick and Lillee was beside herself with someone to chat it up with. Fortunately, they get to hang out at school as well since they are in the same class.

Here's sweet Bethany. She has on her maid costume but there were many other costumes she put on. She did an awesome job and is such a role model to those young girls. Lillee thinks she hung the moon. What a great girl with such potential. I can't wait to see where she turns up!

Our own Key "nut" cracker! He keeps us on our toes! I will do some more month by month pics soon!

I'm not sure whose outfit this was but if you read this and it was yours, please comment so we'll know where to return it!

This picture was taken right before he got on top of the table to enjoy himself a clementine.

Turkey Day 2010

This was Scott's first turkey on the egg. It was yummy! A little cajun style with a bit of a kick to it.
My secret recipe pumpkin pie! WINK WINK!!! Mr. Jenkins, thank you!

Baxter went down to my parent's house the Friday before Thanksgiving. He stayed through Tuesday and my mom came and brought him back. In the middle of Lillee running back and forth to Nutcracker we had a really nice meal and time together. Complete with SWEET TEA!

I made a yummy little cranberry gelatin mold. It was a different as it had horseradish in it! I thought it was a good combination with the spicy turkey.

This little turkey enjoyed himself. He and Lillee both ask for a leg!

Before lunch we watched the parade on TV. How awesome would that be to actually be in NY! We'll definitely have to work that into our traditions one year. Maybe when Ben is 10??

This is how Ben enjoyed the parade.

For about 1 1/2 hours he was glued to the sofa!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2010

Christmas Card Time

Shhhh....this picture has a special meaning! Baxter was two years old when Lillee was in PreK. She would ride the bus home an awaiting little brother and Mary. Mary would say how great Bax had been all day til she got home and started whispering in his ear!!! Hence, we still talk about words like provoke and "rile" him up!
Cindy Stansberry braved these kids and came to take our Christmas card picture. We were supposed to go over to a place in Jackson but I thought our house would be just fine. There are no manicured lawns and gardens like her other beautiful locations but it all turned out okay. By the time we were finished and now seeing these pics, there may not even be a picture Christmas card! It's exhausting work!
Lillee had to have a hat to cover up the haircut! Baxter was running through the yard before the shoot, fell and got a hole in his pants! Character, character I kept reminding myself.

I love this picture of Lillee.....

and definitely this one!

Two sweet boys.

Cindy really did a great job capturing Ben's serious side! He looks just like my dad I think.