13th Wedding Anniversary

An anniversary does not go by that we don't reflect on the value of our parents.  I say it often and its a great reminder to us as parents, there is so much power in praying parents!   Our parents have both set strong examples and expectations of marriage, not just the pretty parts but the hard work, the stick by you, the late nights and early mornings with kids and careers, and a strong faith.   Thank you Mom and Dad and Major and Lynn for your countless hours of prayer, support and encouragement through our journey!  We are blessed by you.

From my Faebook Post:13 years ago (at our rehearsal dinner) Jimmy gave me a new Bible with the sweetest letter written as we started our lives together! I still cherish it and am thankful for all we have been through. 

With the girls already in Atlanta we snagged a quite dinner at St. Johns.  Its our favorite splurge restaurant which we laughed and said “wee were not eating here 13 years ago”.  That is because when we started our marriage we made a decision to buy a house and start to really tackle some big financial goals....paying off all credit cards, student loans and cash flowing my MBA program (the bank was going to pay for Jimmy’s).   To do this meant we ate out less, we did not buy new clothes often, we did not take fancy vacations (or really any unless they were trips to Ohio or Atlanta to see family), and we did not buy new furniture.    Those were big sacrifices to win later but we did it!   

From my Facebook Post:  Happy 13 years to us of marriage! Jimmy, if you would have told me when we started this journey we would be where we are today with all the joys and challenges life had brought us I know i could not have imagined it! I love you more than the day we said "I do". You are forgiving of me and the girls mistakes, you love us unconditionally giving up sleep on the weekends, Saturday's of watching Notre Dame football uninterrupted, and many more. You make me enjoy life and embrace the journey and dream rather than plan and stress over if and when we get there. I adore you and am excited about what the next 13 years will hold.

In 13 years we have: 

--lived in 2 homes

--had two beautiful daughters (and one miscarriage)

--5 cars 

--2 MBAs (plus some extra accounting courses ...not by the accounting major)

--7+different career roles 

--AND best of all worked through some of the hardest and best moments of our lives.  

I laughed and said 13 years has been full and really shaped who we are, when we get to the next 13 we will have an adult (Gracie will be 21) and a late teen (Maggie will be 18).   Jimmy said going through the teen years will make the next 13 the hardest.  Ha.  Maybe he will be surprised?

We dreamed together what our next goals are what that looks like when we get there (the girls college is paid, our house is paid, we can give more than we ever have and more). 

This year we grew by 4 paws….  never would I have dreamed!   

So blessed beyond measure!   

Christmas: The reason we celebrate!

Sunday everyone slept until 7am!   That is a big accomplishment for our family. Ha.    The girls were in big church with us for our Christmas service and enjoyed popcorn and the movie message!   The girls had been asking to go to see Santa at the Choo Choo so we decided after church to go downtown for brunch and then to see Santa.  Its always so nicely decorated and they are so sweet to give the girls time to visit with him and not rush us through (and Mommy likes that they will email me the pictures with the copy right!).   It was a long wait but probably the best Santa pictures we have AND some good people watching too! 

Sunday Pic with Bella! 

Gracie Mommy picture with our glasses.  

Some days Maggie still needs her monkey and snuggles.  

Lunch at Food Works.  The girls got french toast which Gracie said "this is better than the frozen kind" (so I don't make french toast at home often or at all!)

Chattanooga Choo Choo Santa.  We love going here and do it every year.   

Gracie sharing what she has asked for (iPod Shuffle) 

Maggie sharing what she has asked for (American Girl Doll)

Love all the Christmas decorations at the Choo Choo! 

The photographer has this dog and Maggie LOVED it!  The dog as been there every year we have been going. 

Sweet Sisters! 

Sweet Gracie Bug 

Monday was dental appointments for the girls which is never bad (they do love Dr. Fred) but was nice to get that out of the way.  We then delivered a few Christmas flower arrangements to some special people. 

Maggie has been asking to have “her best friend Joy” (from church) over to play.  So we made that happen.  Gracie was not too excited to not have a friend  but she was a good sport!  We then wrapped Jimmy's presents.  

Maggie wrapped a pair of her scissors to give to Jimmy.  It was so sweet! 

Gracie is learning how to wrap and doing a nice job. 

We had a few low key days before Christmas.   Christmas Eve we always drive around with hot chocolate and see the lights in new PJs.  Christmas Eve This year there was a big light display at Camp Jordan to drive through.  It was set to music and the girls loved it.   Bella even got to ride!  

One of my favorite traditions is the girls (well okay all of us) get new PJs on Christmas Eve.  Up until now I have always wrapped them in these buckets, however as the girls get bigger Jammies don't fit as well in them.  I am on the hunt for new ones.  The girls begged for days to get them early!   They were so excited.   

We did pink this year!  I love these smiles! 

The girls said we should have gotten PJ's for Bella…ha!

Cookies for Santa! 

Christmas morning started at 5:30 with sweet little girls and a puppy ready to jump in the fun!   We had a great morning reading the last advent day before we did gifts.   Yes, Jesus is the best gift, the forever gift the all we need gift!    

We loved doing Christmas in the keeping room.  

Up bright and early!  

First reactions!   

Gracie has asked for a "GIANT" Twix bar!   Luckily Santa had a helper that was able to find this!  

Gracie was so eager to get her iPod Shuffle loaded with her songs! 

Love this reaction!   I'd say she was happy! 

Helping Daddy read what his gift was!  

The girls were so excited to give Daddy an experience to drive a real tank and an excavator this summer sometime with Papa, Uncle Joey and the boys!   

Priceless!  Maggie's reaction to her very own Pandora bracelet!  

Showing it to Sis.  Her first bead was a heart that read "my sweet pet" with paw prints for Bella.  Gracie got a puppy bead to add to hers as well. 

Love these blessings of mine! 

Daddy was showing Gracie how to use it and make sure her playlists were how she wanted them. 

This is how we spent Christmas afternoon (once our final tradition of getting all the Christmas decorations down was complete).  

So the girls big joke all Christmas season was that I needed antlers and a big red nose for my car.  So anyone that knows me clearly knows that I avoided this at all costs!   So christmas morning when I went out to my car this is what I saw…the girls won!  ha.  I agreed to drive it one day with it on.  They thought that was soooo funny!  

The girls always get new games and books for Christmas.  It was fun to learn this one!  We love it.  

Maggie played doctor and with her American Girl doll ALL DAY!  

Sleepy girl!  

Silly girl (but also sleepy girl)

Then we shared love and gifts that express this.  The girls were sweet saying over and over “this is the best Christmas ever”.  Which made this Mommy’s heart warm as we really tried to not overdue it!   O how much more does our Heavenly Father love to give gifts to us!    The pictures will capture the sweet moments and funny moments too!   

Friday Mommy was under the weather still and Ellie had been sick so instead Mommy took a sick day and chilled with us.  We did get to see Ellie for lunch and give Uncle Gabe hugs before heading home to relax more.   Over break Bella has gotten quite a bit of loves!  

Bella loves! 

Move Bella loves! 

Time Home!

Sunday Pic quite sassy!   Lord help us! 

Sunday picture of course not looking at the camera and being as silly as ever! 

Sister picture (forced as we were on our way out the door, neither was too excited about it and it shows!)

PJ day at school 

ahh, of course she wanted to wear her bones PJs!  really?   I am learning a lot of flexibility and individuality as I never would have left Gracie out of the house in these especially during Christmas and for school!   

I LOVE dressing the girls for Christmas and really festive for all holidays.  

Gracie's class did crazy Christmas dress and this is what she wore (although it was a big argument because she "had nothing to wear" and then when she came home said it was "too crazy for her" ha!   We are in big trouble as we get through the next several years!)

Silly girls! 

Christmas hat day! 

The girls wrapped up the first half of their school year and ended with Christmas parties on Thursday.   We threw “to do lists” out the window and enjoyed time together and relationships with friends.  The girls each got to have their dearest friend from school over Thursday for a sleepover! We may do this every year!  It was a great time for them (and me too).    It was low key with lots of smiles and laughter!    Christmas break will be mixed with friends,  days with Mommy, days with Daddy and some time with Aunts, Uncles and cousins!   They sure are excited. 

Classing Maggie look! 

Maggie loved fishing for a candy cane during her party! 

Addison, Tyler and Magie.  We have been trying for 5 years to get a "good" picture of these three!   Praying for many more like this to display at graduation.  

I love the opportunity to be with their classmates and see this smile!  

Maggie and Addison at Pump It Up! (this was after they were up at 5am playing) 

Still the sweetest friends!  Gracie really misses Kenzie not being in her class this year.  They had a great time playing! 

Saturday was the most low key day we have had in months it seems.   We were flexible, unscheduled and informal.  We enjoyed gymnastics, some fun shopping for each other and rest.  We have been trying for months to get together with the Smith family but never could make ti happen, so we finally had a family play day!   

Milk and Honey treat after our lazy Saturday!   

Yummy!  These girls and their Daddy make me so happy! 

Bella snuggles in bed! 

This one is a big Daddy's girl! 

Priceless!   She will always want to snuggle us right?   

Bella and Stella (the Smith's now have a puppy that came with them to play too!)

While this looks vicious the girls (the puppies) really did love playing together with complete supervision!

Bella was worn out!   Come play again Stella! 

Praying for many more days/ weeks like this!