Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Celebrating Christmas, Part Three

Happy Birthday Jesus!
 Both kids were quite under the weather Christmas morning.  JJ was getting a cold and Tori was suffering from a lingering eye infection (another effect from pneumonia).  So, church service was out.  The kids didn't even open presents from Santa and Paw Lowell until around 11:00.  So, we knew that they weren't feeling well at all!
 
  From Paw Lowell an X-box and Barbie mustang...

 Tori and her loot...Hey, I love her toys because I get to play with them, too!

The furry babes get some extra special Christmas attention

 After Christmas lunch at our house with Chris's dad and my parents, we rested up a few hours and then headed to Mamaw Sandy and Paw Estel's house for dinner and more present opening.  All of us are blessed beyond measure!!!
 
Quickly becoming one of Tori's favs...La La Loopsy mini dolls

Our fun times continue....Check back to see what is going on at our house after Christmas!

Celebrating Christmas, Part Two

 A tradition continued...Introducing the Whaley family gingerbread house

 They both are very focused when it comes to this Christmas task.

 Christmas Eve...Always begins with lunch, gifts, and family time at Mamaw Teina and Big Paw's
 This year was a Michael Jackson tribute with decorated black fedoras and dancing to "Thriller."  Thanks Aunt Audrey for the great craft time!


 Uncle Tee-Tee had a big surprise that took them outside for a treasure hunt.  They all dug in a container full of bird seed to uncover their maps which promised more treasure hunts and more goodies during our family beach trip scheduled for May 2012.  He even had the big kids (my brothers and I) on a hunt, too.  Yep, my uncle spoils us just a bit.

 Celebrating Christmas Eve with Chris's extended family....
 Tori loves her great Aunt Angie!
 Chris's grandmother is a card.  Sometimes it is hard for her to get around, but her mind and wit is sharper than any fifth grader!
 Tori could hardly wait to get home and leave the "Reindeer Magic" for Rudolph and crew.  She loved that story this year as well as the Hallmark Jingle one. 

Of course, we couldn't leave out Santa.  Sorry Santa, but Mama Elf didn't have time to make homemade cookies before Christmas.  We will just have to catch you next time!

Okay fans...Part three coming soon!

Celebrating Christmas, Part One

 At the 41st Hanging of the Greens at Trenton Street Church
 JJ had his middle school band Christmas concert the last week of school.  He and his fellow band mates did an outstanding job!  Bravo to the beginning band members!!!


 Tori was still battling pneumonia the last week of her school.  Chris took her for the Christmas party since she was fever-free.  She was one sick little puppy for a few days!
The Sunday before Christmas, we attended the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra's Christmas celebration.  We took Little Granny (Chris's grandmother) with us, and we all enjoyed the performance and the great Christmas tunes.
 Lil' Miss Grumpy with Santa who made the show...She still was battling the aftermath of the pneumonia.
 Instead of giving gifts, my sister-in-laws and I opted to do lunch and the Chipmunks movie with the cousins before Christmas weekend.  
  (December 22) Our now twelve-year-old...He celebrated that night with his family and best bud.  The cake theme this year was Mario.  Kim did another outstanding job.  He was so pleased with his cake!  And gifts...well, he was showered and blessed with them.  Thank you everyone!



 Mamaw's birthday was the next day...We took her to the tea room in Sweetwater.  This year she had both her girls there along with some of her best friends.  Because it was so close to the water plant, my Uncle Terry came as an extra special guest.
 A little impromptu photo shoot at the tea room...It is certainly a lovely place for one! 


Check back for part two....I didn't want to overwhelm our readers with too many pictures at once!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The Semester Can't End Soon Enough!

 Here's the picture I deleted from the last post...All Mamaw's turkey's at Thanksgiving!
 At the soda fountain during Rockwood's home tour...Thanks Mamaw and Paw for going with us!
 Cornstalk Heights own cookie lady, Tracie.  She is known far and wide for her cookie spread for our Christmas home tour.
 I took the boys to Fort Southwest Point's Christmas tour.  Boy was it dark and the wind from the lake really cut us into!
 The best part of the tour was all the reenactors that participate.
 A bit of old with the new...He was taking pictures of all the buildings and artifacts with his DS.


 Cookie making time...Thanks to Mia and Joseph spending the night the weekend Chris was gone, and his wonderful administrative assistant, Cathy, who sent us the jar of cookie mix, we had lots to keep us busy.
 Cathy, those were some darn good cookies!  I think that we inhaled them by the next day.  Thank you so much...It was so sweet of you to send it!

 Mamaw and ice cream...Can't get any better than that!!!

Wow.  After the day we all put in yesterday, I think we are all due a little break. Tori is sick with pneumonia; JJ had a dentist appointment to remove his last baby tooth in order to prep for braces; I am at my wits end trying to finish up my school stuff; Chris is working like mad to prepare to leave his office behind for awhile; and JJ, Chris, and I are studying 6th grade math, science, social studies, and language arts to prepare for second nine-weeks tests (Yep, Chris and I feel like we are back in school, but we didn't have this much in 6th grade!).  Plus not to mention all the preparation to take snacks and presents to our work places and schools.  Can't we just pretend it's all done and begin to enjoy our holidays?  Whew!

I already feel so behind anyway with all the holiday tasks.  Christmas cards done...nope; shopping done...nope; decorating complete...nope; kitchen completely finished....nope; holiday baking...Are you kidding?  That's a big Nada!!!  I am really trying not to stress.  I just wish that I could shake off this cold that has me dragging a bit at this point.  Let's just pray that it doesn't turn into something worse.

As you can see above, there are just random shots of the kids here and there. Chris has been traveling to meetings and conferences lately, so at different points in the past two weeks, we were in survival mode.  His longest trip was to Orlando, and the kids and I so wanted to join him with the warmer weather and the proximity to Disney.  But, too many responsibilities kept us here to hold down the fort at home.

Don't get me wrong, we have been enjoying the Christmas season.  There have been several things close to home that have really sparked our Christmas spirit.  And we have several things on our schedule for this weekend and next week.  Concerts, Christmas parties, birthday celebrations are just a few things we have to look forward to.

I have one special request to make of my blog friends once again.  Would you remember my Aunt Sarah?  She has taken yet again another fall.  Confusion and dementia are unfortunately taking over, and her body is frail from almost 93 years of time and toil.  She never wanted to be this way, and my mom and I never wanted this for her, either.  Thanks a bunch for your time and friendship!

Have a special December evening filled with lots of happy moments!