Christmas 2012

When I was a child, Christmas eve and Christmas day was all about family and  spending time together, Christmas eve service at church with those special music songs and cookies. When there are little ones in the family it is just like going back to those childhood christmases.  John and I traveled back to NC and spend time with Chip, Elissa, Celia and Lily before the holiday.  Jumping on the trampoline with the girls was hysterically funny.  And of course Elissa provided gingerbread house kits for "us" to put together. 

Are these precious sisters or what?

The Livingston family dressed for the Christmas eve service.

Then we traveled back to SC to have Christmas with Jonn, Jenna, Jack and Sam. Krista joined us Christmas day so the picture was complete.  Christmas really is all about the kids,the boys had a blast and we were so fortunate to get to be a part of their special Christmas.

And by the way, the ornament at the top is one of my favorite ornaments, painted by Krista and representative of the year that my life changed forever.  Merry Christmas to all!!!!

FLORIDA time

December in Florida is truly spectacular!! The Christmas programs for the community are so varied and there are so many, that you have to choose your favorites.  Although I did a bad job of taking pictures, we had a wonderful December.  This is a photo of the light display at the Gaylord Palms, a very exclusive hotel that we just happened to have the privilege of staying in several years ago.  We went with friends, Carol and Mike and stopped at Chick Filet for peppermint and chocolate milkshakes afterwards.

 

 We try to always attend the concert in Winter Park sponsored by the Morse Museum and we were able to make it again this year.  The Orlando Symphony plays, the Morse museum displays a collection of Tiffany glass windows.  The attendance is huge.  We went with friends Ron, Diane and Kaye and stopped for ice cream afterwards.  Do you see a theme??  We also went to hear the St Luke Episcopal Church Boys and Girls Choir.  Absolutely wonderful but no ice cream included.

And of course we had to take a dip in the hot tubs at Solivita.  Since I am the author of this blog I can include the photos of John and leave out the ones of me.  My handsome husband!!

Celia turns 7!!

Becoming a 7 year old is a big deal, especially when you are Celia Pope.  She loves her birthday!!  Her wish for her birthday dinner was a meal out at Chili's, mac n' cheese and fried apples followed by a birthday song and ice cream sundae.

Her birthday party, the next day was at her gymnastics place with all of her friends, rainbow cake made by Elissa and lots of gifts.  She is one sweet girl and I am so glad that we were able to be there with her to celebrate!!

Time with the boys

I got an invitation to help out with Halloween this year.  Jack loved his dinosaur costume but was not in the mood to have his picture taken.

Sam was loving his pizza but his costume options didn't please him so he dressed all in black.  Jack and Jenna were on the fast track Trick or Treating around the neighborhood with Jack's friend Mason, while Sam and I strolled for house to house.  He consumed treat on the spot.

In November John and I were lucky enough to keep the boys for a whole weekend while Jonn and Jenna celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. I found a local playground and the boys had a blast.  Time in the back yard playing chase and a little sandbox time are always a part of the visit.  Are we lucky grandparents or what??

I just love these boys!!!!!!!

Jack goes to the Asheboro Zoo

If you know anything about Jack at all, you know that he LOVES dinosaurs.  With his 5th birthday coming up, John and I decided that we just had to take Jack on a road trip to the Asheboro Zoo to see their special exhibit.  You guessed it, DINOSAURS!!!!!

Elissa, Celia and Lily joined us there which made the day perfect!!

The pictures say it all!!!

Family gathering!!

It has become our tradition, this is the second year, that we get together my family on a Saturday in September to reminisce and remember.  There are 16 of us now and it is no small task to get on everyone's calendars. 

Elissa, Chip and Celia arrived first and were thrilled to be reunited with Lily. (see previous post) We all got to see a calf that was just 7 hour old and had just been born on the farm behind our house.

I take advantage of the opportunity to get a family photo.  It is a rare occasion when I have them all together and I do love the yearly picture of the whole gang (although some are more interested in having their picture taken than others i.e. Jack)  I feel so blessed every time I look at these faces!!

So there you have it....This is what we looked like on September 29, 2012.  We are not a perfect family by any means but we have a good time when we get together and I love, cherish and am grateful for each and every one of us.

Big gifts come in small packages!!

In September Elissa and Lily spent the night with us on the way home from a trip to Maryville, TN.  To our delight when they got up the next morning Elissa shared the news that Lily didn't want to go home with her but was hoping to stay with us.  Serendipitously, we could make it work because the Pope family would be returning the following Friday for a Saunders family reunion.  Soooo we got to keep Lily for the week.  I felt so pleased and honored that at 3 years old she was brave enough to spend the week with us by herself.

We went to Asheville and had a chance to visit a friend that had a 7 week old baby.  Lily happily seized the opportunity when invited to hold her.

 
We really didn't do anything special but we had such a wonderful time with her. She was such a sweetheart and we all enjoyed every minute. 

And of course time in the sandbox is required.

And some time at the playground.

Gifts do come in pint size packages.  We do love our little Lily!!