Christmas

The Santa Picture

 

The Christmas Parade with the Jacksons

Cocoa and Pajama story reading at church.

 

Tina, my coworker and friend, and I got each other the same book for Christmas. And I got her a pair of Choose 901 socks and she got me a Choose 901 scarf. Hysterical.

Emmy wanted to have a little Christmas party for some friends. Noah and Emmy helped make cookies and little gingerbread houses to decorate and Santa even showed up!

 

We did the Polar Express train ride with our friends the Condos.

The Jacksons came over for brunch on Christmas Eve. This is my most favorite time of the year and I love being able to have everyone at our house. The kids are so precious and so magical. Sol, Papa Richie and LynnLynn were here even if I didn't do a good job of getting pictures. And Santa showed up again!

 

Christmas morning is always a blast.

We decided to do something a little different this year and go to Nashville. We got John tickets to the RedWings vs Predators game the day after Christmas. So, after opening presents, we all loaded up and headed to Opryland. They have a giant display made from ice each year. The last time we went, the kids were tiny and the theme was The Grinch that Stole Christmas. This year it was the Nutcracker.

 

 

 We visited the Johnny Cash Museum.

 

Then we got our Red Wings game faces on!

 

 

We had heard about Nashville's Hot Chicken and that we had to try it. On our way out, we stopped here. It was the hottest chicken ever. John and I both were crying. Tourists were coming in to try it and said they wanted extra hot; I looked at them with tears down my face and said, "oh no you don't!"  

Jandad

Late in October, John's dad asked us to take him to the emergency room because he had a "croopy crud" that he couldn't quite shake. We thought they might admit him that day because he was having such a hard time breathing. We didn't realize that he would end up with pneumonia and in ICU. Or that he would never leave that hospital. Emmy never got to see him again and John and Cathy were broken hearted to lose their remaining parent.

We have so many wonderful memories of Jandad. I am forever grateful to him for how he would stay with Emmy while I traveled for work. He was so sweet to take his time and stay with her in Memphis since John had to be at work so early in the mornings. When Emmy had her rock and roll birthday party, she said she wanted a band. "I don't care who plays at my party, Justin Beiber, Justin Timberlake or Jandad, but I want a band!" and she got one. Hearing all of Jandad's former students talk about him was remarkable. We were so lucky to have had such a great Jandad.

Our first Friendsgiving

 

Halloween

As is our normal routine, Emmy had more than one costume. For the carnival at her school, she dressed as a mummy. I was out of town for the one she went to at Idlewild Pres but she was something else.

 

She always loves carving pumpkins with friends even if our cake didn't turn out like it was meant to look. 

Then for Halloween night, she dressed as the President of the United States. John and I were her Secret Service Agents. We had so much fun. We had a podium that we decorated at home and then made a cardboard one to carry around for Trick or Treating. She would say, "I would like your vote and your candy". It was precious.

 

We got to meet up with some friends to walk around and the police stopped to give the kids candy too.

 

Emmy drew this awesome picture of the night. One of the houses we went to had someone dressed as Chris Farley from SNL.

Gulf Shores

John and Emmy had been given me lots of grief about not going to the beach this summer. So, we took advantage of the great weather and made a quick get away on Columbus Day weekend. It was perfect. It was still warm enough to get in the water but not sweltering. We rented a house a block from the beach and walked back and forth everyday. We had the best time, especially since we rented a convertible for the trip.

We stopped in Tupelo on the way down to visit Elvis's birthplace and the shrimp festival was going on while we were in town. I have never seen the water so clear. It was kind of creepy how clear it was; I think I prefer not to see the little fishies while I wade out!