Christmas Photo shoot

Every year I have our wonderful photographer take our Christmas photos, but this year due to lack of time and extra funds I decided to tackle it myself!!

(initial shirts courtesy of Nana and tutus courtesy of me! All handmade this year...)

The girls were fairly uncooperative, it was freezing outside, and nobody was into it. Soooo I busted out pink and red gigantic lollipops and changed their tune!

It turned out pretty good and I was able to get some fun shots of my sweet (and sometimes not so sweet girls. :)

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Nutcracker

I took Aubrey to see the Nutcracker at the Fox Theatre this year for the very first time. She was sweet enough to pose for Christmas pictures before we left in her tutu......we had such a fun time. She loved the ballet. The Dew Drop Fairy was her favorite and of course "Clara". Who they actually called Marie in this version I think?

But we loved it. A super fun, super festive mommy-big girl day out!

"Rudolph" our Elf on the Shelf arrived.....

Aubrey looks forward to this every year. She loooves her elf. And he always arrives on Thanksgiving night. We read the story and she is allowed to give him a big hug and then no more touching him! He is off to his various fun hiding places throughout the house. This year he spends alot of time in the kitchen....making sure Aubrey is being a good eater :), and in her bedroom to help her stay in her bed the entire night through! So far so good! Thank you Rudolph!

So, so happy to be in the holiday swing of things! Having fun.

Thanksgiving 2010

This year for Thanksgiving we were fortunate to have my family at our house for the weekend! It was the first time we have cooked a Thanksgiving meal in our own home and one of the first Thanksgivings in quite a few years that we have been able to be with family! In years past we have been unable to travel for one reason or another and the Foster Family has hosted us (who are pretty much like family to us anyways!) So this year we were so happy to be able to have my family as well as the Fosters here to celebrate with us.

Jon was in charge of the Turkey and he took great pride in cooking a perfect bird for everyone! I was told it was great!! Being a vegetarian and then seeing it sitting on my kitchen counter all raw and GROSS pretty much ruined it for me, but everyone else loved it. Jon was so proud, as he should be! It was a great day and we were so thrilled and so blessed to have so many people that we love so much all in one room. We are so Thankful for so much. Thankful for good health, amazing family, wonderful friends and another year full of blessings.

Aubrey, Austin and Ella......chillin.

Jon carving "The Bird"

Sweet, sweet Davis......we love this little man!!!

Emmy and Ella-Bella

Foster and Sarah.....love this family!!

Austin and Eliana relaxing on the swing...

My big girl....

Mom and Dad! aka....Nana and Papa

Jon and the Turkey Leg....grooosssss.....

Jones Family Thanksgiving 2010

We went down in early November to the annual Jones Family Thanksgiving Reunion in Dothan, AL.......my birthplace!

We met up with about 50 family members and enjoyed getting to visit with each other, eat a whole lot of yummy food, and watch the kids enjoying themselves. We have it every year at a beautiful park in Dothan that has the biggest and coolest oak tree that the kids love to play in, as well as a beautiful lake. It was a perfect day and we were so happy to spend time with our extended family and catch up!

Blue Ridge 2010

Our Annual trip to Blue Ridge, GA

We had sooo much fun this year!! We headed up to Blue Ridge over Halloween weekend to enjoy the fall foliage, mountain views, the apple orchard and the Blue Ridge Halloween Festival in the downtown streets of Blue Ridge.

The weather was absolutely amazing. The ladies got there a day early and did some shopping and had a little R&R and on Friday the guys drove up with all the kiddos!

We did our yearly trip to the apple orchard and tasted the fresh apples and bought lots of yummy goodies to bring home and eat!

For the first time we went to the Blue Ridge Halloween festival and had a blast. The kids all dressed up in their "scariest" costumes.........yes, that is my scary little "zombie" as Aubrey called herself on the end. We tried to convince her to be a pretty halloween scary princess of some kind but she realllly wanted to be a "zombie". Which to her meant a black cape, black wig and some really scary makeup courtesy of her daddy. We walked the streets of Blue Ridge and visited all the little shops which handed out tons of candy. It was festive and lots of fun.

This was our 4th year in a row heading up there and we can't wait to go again next year!!!

Blue Ridge 2010 continued

mimi visit!

Mimi came to visit her grandgirls in November...........the girls had a ball playing with their mimi who plays with them tirelessly!! We had fun just hanging out at the house and soaking up quality mimi time. We also took Mimi to the fall festival here in Smyrna called The Jonquil Festival........so much fun. It was a record breaking heat outside for November but we all had a blast and enjoyed the sunshine!
Mimi will come back for Christmas and we can't wait!

new rainboots...

i took eliana to try on rainboots to buy her for Christmas......but once we put them on at the store she REFUSED to take them off. I'm sure this is the first in a long line of must-have-boots for this baby girl.......OH and the must-have headband from the dollar bin at Target. But it's the first thing she's ever kept in her hair so I was happy to oblige!!

Love her!!!

pumpkins and fall

My favorite crepe myrtle.........love the leaves in the fall!!!

My girls! We love heading to the pumpkin patch to get the fall started! This was about the only picture I could get with Miss Eliana in it. Since she started walking I can't get her to stand still long enough to say "cheese"!! We came home and Aubrey and Jon did the pumpkin carving and got us well under way to welcome fall......one of my favorite times of year!