Before this Christmas passes on by......

I had to share this sweet picture! Sam really wanted to wear a scarf this season and Trae found one that he could borrow for him to enjoy!

Glances of Christmas 2011....

The day was filled with sweet grandma kisses, gathering together, sounds of drums, busy in the kitchen, much clean up (thank you to everyone who pitched in!) and memories. This is the good stuff, the rich stuff and we are grateful. Life is short!

Lots going on in the kitchen....

We are busy today preparing our favorite holiday yummy's!!! Christmas Eve will be a 4PM church service followed by a yummy Christmas Eve breakfast meal. My first mother in law started that tradition many years ago and I have carried it on. It is a tradition that I love and my family has come to love. It is also perfect because than Christmas morning you have wonderful breakfast leftovers waiting for you with little to no work. Tator tot casserole, monkey bread, brown sugared bacon, grapefruit and fresh pineapple.

We also have Christmas day here with family and our Christmas meal. We love hosting it and this year will have 8 of us. Honey baked ham (thank you mom!!!), deviled eggs (thank you mom!!!), spinach brownies, 2 kinds of rolls, brioche sausage dressing, grilled asparagus, gratin potatoes, sweet potatoes, chocolate pie and snowball cream dream cookies.

Grateful that Trae is home today and we are able to have family time, time to get things done and enjoy the blessings! Merry Christmas!

Family.....

Current loves....

Sams current loves are the alphabet (which he has always loved), music, dance, drums, guitar, Olivia, friends, maps, gingerbread man cookies, days of the week, calendars and Mike and Ike candy which he calls jellybeans! He has been talking about go swimming and the ocean. He hasn't been to the ocean yet but we really want to take him in the next year or two. He is a smart, busy, active, desires connection, loves people and sensitive little boy. He loves to go outside and play with dad for hours or stay in the kitchen and make cookies with mom. He still loves going to church and getting his bulletin and stays in with us during worship. He is happy to go back to his class once the music is finished but he really wouldn't want to miss it. He knows the words to a lot of songs and we catch him singing them often.