We kicked off the beginning of December with our Holloway/Hartsfield Christmas celebration. This year we went to Uncle Jim and Aunt Jill's house for dinner. The cousins had a great time playing together!!
First generation of cousins (missed you Alexis!) and second generation of cousins.
And the husbands!
One of our very favorite traditions is our Sunday trip to Phipps to see Santa, followed by the Pink Pig at Lennox, and dinner at the Varsity. While getting ready for church on Sunday morning, I asked Drew to go in the bathroom and brush his teeth. He came out a few minutes later and I hear Jonathan tell him "go see your mommy." That is never something that you want to hear in the same sentence with Drew. He comes in my bathroom and I am looking at his bedhead. No wait...that is not bedhead. My almost six year old has actually CUT his HAIR! And I don't mean a little unnoticeable trim. He has taken scissors and cut it all the way to his scalp in the front and center of his forehead! Doesn't he know that I have to book our Santa appointment in October? Couldn't he have waited for one more day?? Really? So, we did the best we could with a "natural looking" brush over and went to see Santa. How cute are these sweet babies (minus the new do)??
The family...
Naughty and nice...
The whole family with our newest addition Kylie...
After Santa, off to ride the Pink Pig and eat at the Varsity!
After Santa, off to ride the Pink Pig and eat at the Varsity!
The next weekend, we made a trip to Stone Mountain Christmas with the Kelly and Strickland family. We went several years ago with mom and dad, but this was Joshua's first trip. We took the skybucket to the top of the mountain. Even though I have been to Stone Mountain a million times before, I think this may have been my first trip to the top. Poor Scott did not enjoy the trip up in the skybucket. And once we got to the top, I was a nervous wreck that my babies were going to fall off. I really did not have alot of confidence in that weak little fence they had up there. Obviously they have not seen Drew and Joshua!
After our trip to the top, we went to see the Polar Express movie, listened to Christmas stories, and then took the train ride. The very best part of the trip! Love that they have the real Christmas story of Jesus' birth!
The next day was Candy and Gingerbread house day! This is a tradition that was started with my grandmother when Shanna and I were kids. We always looked forward to making candy, fudge for me and divinity for Shanna, and then decorating the houses. I am so glad that my Anna Caitlin loves fudge as much as I do. And as you can see, Joshua's favorite part is eating the icing and candy from the houses!
My sweet friend Karen and her family came into town to visit for Christmas and we had a great time catching up with them. Dinner at the house and letting the kids play. It does not matter how much time passes between visits, Anna Caitlin and Drew pick right back up playing with Cal and Brady. AC and Cal had a little dancing going on and Drew and Brady are all about the Wii!!
Class party celebrations are always a highlight of Christmas at school for the kids. Somehow, I got volunteered to be in charge of Anna Caitlin's class party. It was so much fun to plan it, but lots of work. I don't think people have any idea how much work room moms do! I am not a room mom, but have tons of appreciation for ours! Here is a sweet picture of the kids with some of their friends...
Mommy and Anna Caitlin...
Cutest little elf...
And of course, it would not be Christmas without our annual gathering with the Jones family! Yummy steaks on the grill and time with our "second" family is always fun. Can't believe how things have changed since we started this tradition 15 years ago with our first Christmas dinner at Outback!
As you can tell, our holiday season is jammed packed. But it is such a fun time of year for us! I love making these memories with my family!!
