All Things Christmas

We got home from Disney LATE on the 23rd, so we had to finish Christmas shopping on Christmas Eve.  Yes, we were those people!  Then we went to Christmas Eve services.  

 And you'll notice in the background that our tree is still not decorated! Shameful, I know.  Between Drew's birthday, our anniversary, Andrew's birthday party, all the choir festivities at church, and our trip to Disney there was just NO time!  The tree was up...it just wasn't decorated.   We got to that around midnight!

Christmas morning came early for these tired and weary souls.  Normally we have to go wake Andrew up, but when Aubrey started fussing I could hear Andrew.  He was already in the living room checking out the loot! (Hey!  The tree has ornaments on it...but I confess, only 1/2 of them!) lol

Drew's goodies.  Andrew picked out the tie at his school's Santa Shop all by himself.  

 Aubrey's First Christmas

 Santa Baby

We had a couple of hours to enjoy Santa's delivery before it was time to hop in the car and drive to Albertville for Christmas dinner at Granna and Paw-Paw's.

 Aubrey!  Be a lady!

 Photo bomber x2

After 3 Christmases in Albertville, we left on the 28th to head straight to MS.  We also got a new (to us) vehicle on this trip after looking for a year.  But the joke is: We had to get one or else all of our Christmas stuff wouldn't fit in our explorer, which was true!  We stopped in Birmingham to pick up Adam's girlfriend, Kristen so she could spend Christmas with the Ladner's too.  When we got to Grammy and Granddad's house, Nanny Laura came over to give the kids their presents.

 And then after eating some yummy gumbo, we opened more presents!

The next day we went to City Park in New Orleans for "Celebration in the Oaks."  There are tons of beautiful lights.  City Park has the largest collection of live oaks in the world and they're all aglow at Christmas time.  The kids had fun playing in the Fairy Tale section.

 Andrew wanted to ride rides, so he rode by himself and this stranger. 

The best part of the night:  Adam proposed to Kristen!  I'll officially have a new sister-in-law on May 24!  Isn't she gorgeous?! 

We had a whirlwind Christmas but that's part of it when you live away from home.  We wouldn't trade our time with our families for the world, though.  

After Christmas it was rush rush rush back home.  We had 2 days before we left for Pasadena!

Bear Jamboree and All Things Halloween

Our Halloween festivities kicked off with Andrew's school's "Costume Capers" .  Since they can't wear masks, he wanted to be the same blow up pumpkin like last year.  Here he is marching around the track.

 That same night his school also had their annual "Bear Jamboree."  I didn't take many pictures, but I did manage to get Andrew going down the giant bouncy slide.

 It was an unusually COLD night.  Jojo was all bundled up...and sleeping.

A few nights later we had trick-or-treating at the squadron.  Andrew had fun making a yummy spider.

Aubrey was happy to see Daddy!

 My costumed kiddos

Next on our Halloween list was the fall festival at FBC.  We played lots of games before heading home to trick-or-treat in the neighborhood. 

 Our "little angel" was a big hit.

This little angel should have been dressed as the devil!

This year for trick-or-treating, we had some friends come and join us in the neighborhood.  We loaded all the kids up on the trailer and pulled them through the neighborhood.  It was much more efficient (and way faster).

 Spyro from Skylanders

 Andrew's pumpkin

 My pumpkin :)  Of course it's a cupcake!

The Rest of Our June at a Glance

After our trip to Disney, we headed to Albertville for a pretty busy weekend.  A friend of mine got married and it was Father's Day.  When we got there, Aubrey and Trace were happy to see one another.  

The next day was Carrie and Tim's wedding.  It was beautiful!  I'm so glad I got to be there.  Our former youth minister (my first one ever) who has been a missionary in Brazil for the past 18 years, was home on furlough and actually performed their ceremony.  It was special.  The last time I saw Chris and Melody was at OUR wedding almost 9 years ago!

 Erin and Carrie

 Oh, I have lots of good memories with these girls!  How I love them so!

Later that night, some of the old youth group and their families got together at Catfish Cabin to reminisce.   Good times were had by all.

 The next day was Father's Day.  We went to Granny's house after church and I was able to catch a few pictures of "Daddy" with his kiddos.

 Later that afternoon we went to Granny Nita's where Aubrey  hung out on the table.

 Drew had to leave that day, but the kids and I stuck around for a few extra days to help out.  My grandmother had knee surgery and we needed a few extra hands around.   Being there a little longer gave us time to play and take pictures of the kiddos!  

Paw-Paw hung a giant swing for Andrew

Andrew also lost his second tooth!

I got to keep Trace Parker for a few hours on a couple of days while Mom was at the hospital with Granny.  Andrew liked playing babysitter.  He gave Trace his bottle and rocked him to sleep.

Cute pics of the Grands:

Some pictures of them NOT in their PJs!

 This picture cracks me up!  Aubrey very quickly lost interest in our little photo shoot and Andrew wasn't happy because he was being eaten by mosquitoes...it was just funny!

 Once inside she felt much better!

Two weekends later the kids and I made it back to Albertville for Mt. Calvary's 75th Anniversary Homecoming.  It was a quick trip this time but I'm glad to I got to see a lot of my home church family.  And of course, the kiddos got to spend some more time together. 

 Aubrey told Trace a story...

Apparently they both thought it was pretty funny...

 ...REALLY funny!

 Could we have a left handed pitcher on our hands??