Christmas Lights

It's become a yearly Wake Forest tradition to go out and look at Chritmas lights with our friends Claire and Kyle Ramage.  Last night we loaded up in the van and headed out see all the lights.  Here we are just before we left. 

Emily thought it was great fun. She kept saying "Yites, yites." She was acutally a little sleepy, but she never got fussy and she never fell asleep. There was too much going on for that sweet baby to fall asleep.  She's her Mama's daughter....doesn't want to miss anything.:) 

We stopped by McDonalds for some hot drinks before we got too far.  My drink of choice these days is a peppermint hot chocolate.  It is ridiculously good.  Last night I had my second of the season, but I feel sure I could have one a day if Bert would let me.:) 

There is one particular street that goes ALL OUT with the Christmas lights.  I'm talking about basically the entire street....every house is impressive.  We look foward to driving down this street every year.  Here are pictures of two of the houses on that street. 

We had such a great time looking at Christmas lights and hanging out with Claire and Kyle last night! 

Merry Christmas!:)  

Reading

Emily LOVES books!  Truly, if you're wanting to calm her down, distract her, get her to drink her milk, or just love on her....one of the best ways to do that is to let her crawl up in your lap and read a book to her. 

A few mornings ago I came around the corner from the kitchen and she had pulled out all of these books and was "reading" to herself.  She didn't even look up when I took a picture of her. :)  

This pregnant Mama couldn't even be annoyed when I had to bend down to pick up all the books she had pulled out.  She's just too cute!:) 

4 Years

This past Thursday (Dec 15th) was our 4 year anniversary.  It feels like we've been married for much longer than 4 years, but 4 years it has been....and it's been great! 

I could not be more thankful for my husband.  I didn't know at the time that it was going to be possible, but I love him more today that I did on that amazing day in 2007 when I became his wife. 

Bert took me out to a Japanese restaurant in Raleigh (one of our favorites, but definitely only for special occasions).  The place was packed on a Thursday night.  We were there for hours, but we didn't care....we just enjoyed being together.:) 

He gave me the sweetest card I've ever received.  He actually made it, which I do believe is a first for him.  The fact that he made it only made it more special.  It's definitely a keeper. 

I love you, Bert.  I love being married to you.  I love our family.  I love the story we're writing together.  Thank you for four amazing years....looking forward to the years to come.:)

Small Group Christmas Party 2011

Last night we had our small group Christmas party at our apartment.  We had such a great time!!  We shared an amazing meal (pot-luck style), had a white elephant gift exchange (bring something you have laying around your house-style), and we just enjoyed being together.  

Emily is helping Bert pull out all of the presents from under the tree.:)  

Group shot...

We're so thankful for these men and women and the way they daily challenge and encourage us!

Big Girl Bed

A few nights ago Bert put together Emily's toddler bed.  One of our clients from work passed it along to us after it had been in her attic for 15 years and she wasn't planning on using it anymore.  We were so grateful and excited to get it.

We're planning on moving Emily to the toddler bed after we get back from our Christmas travels.  She's not climbing out of her crib, and seems to still be happy in it, but we're needing to make room for our Hannah who will be here in a few short weeks.  We think she'll do totally fine, but you're welcome to pray that the transition would be a smooth one.:)  I'll be sure and give you an update after we've moved her.  

Here are a few pictures we took the first time she climbed up in her bed.  She was SO excited!!:)  We kept telling her that it was a "big girl bed."  So, that's what she calls it now....big girl bed.:) 

Right now the girls room is a work in progress, but I'll be sure and take more pictures once we get it decorated and organized!:)  

Christmas Decorations

We decorated for Christmas as soon as we got back from our Thanksgiving travels.  I get so excited about getting all the decorations up!  We only brought up (from GA) about 1/3 to 1/2 of our Christmas decorations this year, but we're so enjoying what we do have.  

Here is our cute little tree.:)  It's been the perfect size for us these past 4 Christmas' while we've been in seminary housing.  We're both looking forward to getting a real tree one day, but this one has definitely served us well!:)

Emily loves the "Chrimas tree" and "yites" (lights).  We weren't totally sure how our busy, sweet little 20 month old was going to do with the tree, but we have been pleasantly surprised.  She'll walk up and touch it, she'll lay under it, but other that than she just leaves it alone.  I'm actually not sure if she realizes she can take the ornaments off.:)  Shhh.....nobody tell her.:)  

Every other year we've hung our stockings under our pass through between the kitchen and living room.   This year we decided that hanging the stockings that low would be too tempting for Em,and we were afraid she would pull off the stocking and the nail along with it.  SO.....we needed a plan B....  

Not exactly the most traditional place to hang stockings, but it works.:)  

Last night we had our small group Christmas party at our apartment.  One of the girls made a comment about how she like how personalized our tree was.  I guess I haven't really ever thought about it, but I LOVE that most of the ornaments mean something to our family.  Sooo many times during the Christmas season I'll walk by our tree and one of the ornaments will catch my eye and I'll smile just thinking about the memories it brings back.  

Here are a few of my favorites...

We get a family ornament each year...here is the one from last year.:)  

Our anniversary is Dec. 15th (which just happens to be tomorrow).  We went on our honeymoon to Jamaica and picked up this ornament on our last day there.  I remember standing in the little gift shop trying to decide if it was worth the money (we are both savers).  We finally decided to get it, and I'm so glad we did!

We got this this ornament last year to celebrate Emily's first Christmas!

Merry Christmas, everyone!!:)  

7 down, 1 to go!

Last night at about 1am Bert finished his last final of the semester.  Woohoo!  7 semesters down, 1 to go before he graduates from SEBTS with his MDiv!  I really am so proud of him!!  I can't tell you how hard he has worked these last 3 1/2 years.  He works full time, goes to school full time, grades for a professor, leads a small group, and still makes sure that Emily and I know that we are his priority.

When we had Emily his office got converted into a nursery, and I never heard one compliant.  This picture was taken about a year ago, but it's a common scene around our apartment.:)

We're so proud of you, Bert!  Thank you for providing for, loving and serving our family so well!  Emily, Hannah and I are your biggest cheerleaders!:)  We love you!!