Christmas 2010, part deux!

my sister, mystee, and her hubby, dean, came to town from

georgia the day after Christmas. so my side of the family

celebrated together at our house that evening, the 26th.

we had dinner and dessert, singing, and gifts. fun night!

Christmas 2010

we started Christmas by spending the night at jim and sandi's.

something matthew and i used to do every year before having kids.

but this year, some family would only be there Christmas eve,

and some only Christmas day, so we had to be there for both!

thanks to my darling nephew, jacobus, for introducing miller to icees...

miller and i with my niece kalea. her parents don't want photos of

her on the web, so this is as much as you'll ever see of her-

but i promise, she's beautiful!!

dreaming of Christmas morning....

so excited!!!

glamorous and generous hostess

the north pole experience in greer, az

we had such a magical experience!! there was no snow, but

everything else was so amazing- we started with

hot chocolate at the lodge, followed by a delicious buffet.

then we boarded our trolley, which goes through a

magical portal to the north pole (after some magic words).

seriously, the place is so beautifully decked out-

there's a toy museum and a big compass that spins

(showing that you're really at the north pole),

and santa's original work station (before the expansion!).

then we entered the main workshop to find some

delightful elves waiting to show us around.

the kids all got to help make some toys, and then had a HUGE war

with the elves using these nerf-like shooter things. so fun!

i love how excited he looks in this picture!

of course, the elves loved miller!


time for cookies and cider at santa's bakery.

they sang some carols, too.

i could hear toby scream-singing from 2 rooms away!

some of the beautiful details in the workshop.....but pictures can't

capture the warmth and incredible smell going on- it truly smells like

all the most fabulous parts of Christmas!!

writing letters to santa IN santa's OFFICE- complete with keys

to different sleds and rooms, full bookshelves, and pictures

of him and mrs. claus out fishing during the off-season!!

back to the lodge for storytime with mrs. claus

miller's gloves are just a little big....

thanksgiving 2010

miller dedication

we dedicated sweet miller to God on october 31st.

grandma and pappy joined us, and took these adorable pictures.

i love miller holding toby's head! they adore each other so very much.

just now, as i was typing this, toby asked me something from downstairs. miller heard his brother's voice, walked over to the baby gate at the top of the stairs and yelled "aaa" "aaa" until toby came

over to see him- and then proceeded to come up and kiss miller

on the head. miller stopped yelling- he got what he needed.

love love love!!!

can't decide which of these two family pictures is better- you tell me!!

pumpkins pumpkins pumpkins 2010

pumpkin patch

my sweet sweet toby! he's such a funny guy. and you know we made him hold this second picture forever while we waited for miller to look up! he's trying so hard to keep smiling with the sun in his eyes!!

pumpkin carving day at school