Christmas 2016

Christmas Eve Jimmy grew up shopping and doing the Santa picture at the mall (regardless of age).  So he always tries to save a few things to pick up with the girls and if we don't do the Santa picture at the Choo Choo (our favorite place) he does it at the mall.

Maggie age 7 and Gracie age 10

She looks like she is a teenager not 10!   Love this girl to pieces! 

We were learning how to take care of the pool. 

Christmas Eve night we all get our new Christmas PJs to snuggle up in and then drive around to see the lights.

My favorite packaging for the PJs.    (Hobby Lobby and a nice embroidered initial)

I love this smile.  (You can see her teeth are beginning to have some gaps which is exactly what we needed the appliance to do.)  

First Christmas with braces! 

Mommy note:  wash their PJs before wrapping.  The girls are so sensitive they were itchy so had to be washed so they could wear them in the morning.  Last years PJs for seeing lights! 

This pup is so well loved 

We had a wonderful Christmas in Tennessee.  While we do miss our  extended family on Christmas there is something sweet about waking up in our home Christmas morning.   We have always said anyone is welcome to joins here!  

Gift giving is about to happen!

Snuggles before they are allowed to go to the keeping room.   Mommy and Daddy always want to have showers and be ready for the day before we tackle the morning of gifts. 

They could hardly stand to being in there right away! 

Stockings first! 

Shopkins was one of Maggie's top requests 

Gracie wanted fitbit bands 

Santa brought Maggie BB8 and Gracie R2D2 iPod controlled characters.  They were so neat! 

Bella loved her toys too! 

Maggie has asked for a harmonica to replace one she had lost.  

From Mommy and Daddy hoop earrings 

and an Eeyore pandora charm 

Maggie at the beach found the R2D2 pillow and has asked for it ever since.   She LOVED it!  It was a Star Wars Christmas for her as she also got Star Wars sheets and a Darth Vader bead for her Pandora bracelet too.  

Homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast!   

The afternoon we did "operation take down" which means all the Christmas decorations are down and up for next year.   We started this when we were first married as we always left shortly after Christmas to spend New Years in Atlanta and celebrate with Jimmy's family.  We never wanted to come back to the house with it all still up waiting for us to get it down.   So we still do that.  

It was such a nice day and unusually warm we were outside and enjoying looking at the pool (and some of us got in....).  Bella was the first one in really because she was drinking from the bowls and fell in.  Oops.  But she did great and swam to the tanning shelf to get out.  

Begging to get back in. 

The best pool guy!  

water temp was 51 degrees

Maggie thought it was quite cold! 

now dry and playing with Dash and Dot (coding robot) 

a Christmas evening nap before we watched When Calls the Heart

Merry Christmas!  

Thankful Christmas Letter 2016

My people!  

Moments that take my breath away to realize how quickly time does pass.   15 years marriage, 2 beautiful girls ages 10 and 7, a house we have made a home, and personal growth that has been hard and yet continues to bring great.   

Where it all started!   Lee will always hold a special place in our hearts! 

Annual Photo with letter 

2016 Thankfuls

Our Family and Friends,

Our “Thankfuls" are one of our favorite things to look back on and as a family focus on it more daily.   We love to hear the girls’ comments throughout the weeks and in their prayers.   We hope you find them encouraging as you think of the big and small things that we all have to be thankful for, and that they give you a glimpse into our lives over this past year.   

Gracie:      A new found love for reading.   Paddle boarding to the sand bar at Seabook with Daddy.   Annual stop to see “Brownie” the horse at the beach stables (the horse seems to actually remember Gracie!).   Surfing the big waves.   Last year of Elementary.  iPad learning.   Sleepovers with friends.   Facetime and texting both friends and family.   Math!   Candy corn pumpkins.   Successful eye surgery for Bella which helped B-dog get her playfulness back.   

Maggie:    Java Java frozen coffee at the beach.   Sleeping late during the summer.   Bella recovering from a   hospital trip after eating grapes.  Math.   Riding my bike.    Cousins, Ellie and Silas, that live close to play and do sleepovers with.   Bella being able to see.   Playing gymnastics with my friends.   Mrs. Barrow helping me learn to love reading and gain confidence.  Mac and cheese.    

Rachael:  Beach trips and lots of them this year (although I could always go for just one more!).   Extra time in the Dominican Republic with Jimmy relaxing, dreaming, and planning!   Watching Jimmy engage with the girls and give extra grace just when they need it.   A husband that is the teacher in our home.   15 years of marriage celebrated this year!  Annual photo shoot this year at Lee University where our relationship began.   Being part of a teammate’s decision and execution for his family to be missionaries in Germany!   Celebrating my Grandpa Sutton’s life with him before he passed.    The friends and family we have to help us raise our daughters.   Family Family Family.   Quiet moments on the porch to reflect.  

Jimmy:    Another year of the Daddy Daughter dance with both girls at Chattanooga Christian School.  Family fire nights.  Beach trips with the family.  An upcoming Chicago trip with Rachael to celebrate 15 years of being     together.  Watching my mom and dad enjoy retirement together.  An annual trip to Las Vegas.  A wife that   supports me and loves our daughters.  How excited Bella gets to see her “humans” every day when we come home.  My bed!    Most importantly, both of our girls being baptized and accepting Christ into their life this year!!!

May you know His love more abundantly as we celebrate His birth this season!   May you have a blessed new year!  

Jimmy, Rachael, Ruth Grace, Margaret Faith, and Bella