Christmas 2010

Happy 4th Birthday Coco!

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

Opening gifts @ Grammy & Namps before the parade

Wow. It doesn't seem possible that our precious December flower is actually turning 4. My 4th birthday is my first real memory. The party at the park, Tinkerbell doll and Strawberry Shortcake big wheel are all such vivid pictures in my mind. It puts the parenting pressure on: anything we do now she may very well remember!! Ha!

Seriously, like I'm sure I will each birthday, I feel like we were bringing her home from the hospital just yesterday. We were prepared to bundle her up but the weather was crazy - 65 degrees and sunny when we came home. This 4th birthday is a lot different. It is FREEZING outside! Crazy Tennessee winter weather makes me happy to be moving to Florida.

Speaking of, Daddy came home from Florida just for the holiday of Coco's birthday. He wouldn't dare miss seeing his girl on her day. His weekend home started the birthday festivities and they didn't stop for a full week: a party at school, the Christmas parade and last but certainly not least the big hoorah at Pump It Up!

Her cute class: Miss Joy's Little Lambs!

Coco sliding with her favorite person, Luke Acree; these 2 could find real trouble together!

Mommy, Coco & Grammy
@ her school party

Coco, this is for you:

At 4 years old you are super smart and have the mouth and attitude to go along with it. We never know what you might say: it may make us laugh or it may land you in time out. You are full of personality and life! Anything with a princess on it is your favorite and you love to play dress up in Momma's shoes. You can't stand to wear pants or tights and prefer to wear just your undies around the house. (Daddy says this has to stop!) Your teacher says you have an innate ability to learn and we pray that we can guide you to grow up according to God's plan. There is never a dull moment when you are around - you are and always will be my precious angel!!

Packing Party!

Amanda, Kate, Sara, Laura, me, Amber

THE MAD PACKERS!

Some very dear friends came over to help me pack tonight. Kate, the ring leader and organizer of the event, asked me if I would be interested in having a packing party. My response was this: "Ordinarily I would insist not, but I'm desperate, so yes!" The amount of boxes and stuff we packed away in just a few short hours was amazing! But, what's even more amazing, is that these precious women, whom I'm lucky enough to call friends, took time away from their families and busy December schedules to show me love. That is amazing and THAT I will never forget.

When I put Coco to bed, she chose a story that I was surprised I had actually never read. It was a Snow White book and it nearly made me cry. The very last page of the story read: "Being a good friend sometimes means letting your friends go...and then having them come back for lots and lots of visits!"

Tiffany does NOT like her picture made so I was so happy she let me take this!

Two minutes earlier, Kress said she wasn't photogenic. I think this is proof to the contrary!

Amber refused to smile; she did give me some less than G rated hand motions after I took this. LOL! I wish I could have caught that Kodak moment!

Is Kate really packing or just catching up on current events?

A Pumpkin and a proud Momma

We gave Coco a book for her 2nd birthday entitled "Different Like Coco." It's a pint-sized version of the biography of Coco Chanel. The book is adorable and I love the moral of the story: always dare to be different. This has been our prayer for Coco ever since. We recognize that she oftentimes does not go with the flow and follow the crowd; this, to us, is a wonderful trait. It is admittedly a difficult personality to guide & instruct but we embrace it all the same. I was reminded of all of this when I went to her Thanksgiving party at school. Each student got to take the pumpkin home he/she had chosen at the Pumpkin Patch back in October. I went to get Coco's from the room and saw a row of beautiful pumpkins! Some really big, some really small, all of them orange...except for one. There was one white pumpkin in the bunch. I asked Miss Joy which was Coco's and she knew exactly what one: the white one. Miss Joy said Coco hunted and searched all over the patch for the perect one. My insides fluttered and I was instantly such a proud momma over this silly little pumpkin!

Turkey Day 2010

Grammy showing off her made-from-scratch Wet Walnut cake

Cory & Shelby

Coco & her BFF Jan Man!

Since Namps was recovering from rotator cuff surgery,

Jerry Hunter got to carve the turkey this year.

Looks like he's taking the job pretty serious.

Namps & Sebastian building towers...and knocking them over!

Jasper, Braxton, Aunt Jaime (sporting her Brazilian Blowout!) and Jilli!

Coco appropriately dressed as a "wild Indian" at her school's Thanksgiving Feast.

Fine dining at TCA!

Halloween 2010

As ususal Halloween was filled lots of candy and fun. We attended the annual Fall Festival at church, trick or treated at few houses and ended Halloween night with handing out candy at Grammy & Namps's house. Without a doubt, we had the most adorable Snow White and baseball player ever!

Fall Party at the Goforth's

Staci & Dan Goforth hosted another wonderful Fall Party this year. We were in the middle of a drought, but managed to have a small, yet contained, fire for roasting weanies and making smores. This kids decorated pumpkins and ran around playing; it was great family fun and a wonderful reminder of God's blessings of friends and fellowship.

Impossible to get everyone looking at the same time!

We don't get together much but when we do, Coco & Luke are inseparable!

My sweet boy

Family pics are few & far between... I love this one.

Coco was seriously thinking about how to decorate her pumpkin.

Sebastian & Lydia Joy

I think we found out what Santa needs to bring! He loved the tractor!

Solving the world's problems over a campfire??