Happy New New 2020! A New Decade!

When we entered into this last decade we did with a 3 year old and a 3 month old and had celebrated 8 years of marriage.   We have survived the toddler years with two.   We have now celebrated 18 years of marriage.   We transitioned to several different churches for the benefit of our family's personal and spiritual growth, maintained old friendships that have been tested by time and distance and welcomed new ones.  We have seen changes in our chosen industry and our careers and yet have become better because of it.   We have made the decision of private school for the girls and continue to celebrate that decision with no regret.    We have added a porch and a pool to the house all for the sake of not moving!   We have made and celebrated reaching different financial goals we set and set new ones to push ourselves.    We have embraced our 40s!   We have gained and lost weight and worked tornados a healthy balance in it all.   Some days, months, and/ or years were easier than others.  

And now a new decade.  One that at the end will have drastically changed our lives with significant milestones reached.  If I am honest I am excited and yet not ready for this decade.  It will mark the growing up of my baby girls.   In this decade Gracie will graduate high school and her undergraduate of college (Lord willing).  Maggie will graduate elementary, middle school, and high school and will move onto college.    We will be empty nesters although one will still be on the "payroll" with a few years left of her undergrad.   We will celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in this decade (and end the decade at 28 years strong).   

There are so many experiences along the way yet to be written.    For now we will embrace the moments we have.    Cover our loved with prayer as we draw close to Jesus and pray the girls find their passions in life and find what God has created them specifically to do.   May our lives continue to be rich in relationships.   

Last family picture of the decade!  O my loves how much I adore you! 

Wrapping up December 2019

We wrapped up December enjoying time home.   We spent New Years Eve at Grammy and Papas as we have done for years and played dominos.  The girls are at such a fun age to join in and play too.   Maggie had the option this year to do New Years with the family or with her friends. She choose her family and took a rain check on a sleepover.   Must be we still rank pretty high! 

Papa got a pellet gun for Christmas.  The girls (and Jimmy) have enjoyed shooting it off the back. 

 

sweet sleepy girl!  She snagged Grammy's chair.  

Good snuggles with Daddy!

Maggie got some Christmas money from Great Grandma Sutton and decided to use it towards Legos. This girl has spent all her break creating with Legos for hours upon hours!  

I can't resit sweet sleeping pictures! 

Gracie and Rachael Mommy Daughter Weekend!

When Gracie was in 6th grade we started a Mother Daughter weekend with her sweet friend Lucy and her mom.  This has been such a sweet time to look forward to.  I will start this with Maggie at 6th grade as well, although we may have to spread it out and do summer vs. winter to recover!  We have so much fun wherever we go.  

And we are off! 

This year we decided to venture out of Chattanooga and tackled Atlanta. We shopped and enjoy some great food!   The friendships Gracie has are such a blessing to us as parents.  

this girl!   She is a gem. 

Gracie and Lucy 

Ponce City Market Atlanta 

Dinner at Mission + Market 

Breakfast before we head home. 

We had breakfast at the Pancake Social at Ponce City Market.  Delicious! 

 We are dreaming of the next trip... maybe Nashville?

When Friends Become Family!

When we crossed paths 12 plus years ago at daycare morning drop off and evening pick up we never would have been able to foresee the sweet friendship that would bloom.    The kids wee never in the same classes and yet the friendship the girls have with the boys is priceless.    When they announced they were moving to Dallas a few years back we were so bummed!   However, any change we get to connect we do.  They wrapped up Christmas break with us fo a few days.   4 adults, 4 kiddos, and 3 dogs in one house was priceless.  

Night one - Kiddos all wanted to crash together and watch a movie. 

We took the kids to the jump park.  They jumped and the adults watched and talked. 

Although it was December... yes it was abnormally warm and perfect for the kids to walk the dogs 

 Capturing memories is one of my favorite things to ensure we do!   So I never pass up an opportunity to have some pictures taken.

I pray these kids always remain close friends. 

we crashed Saturday night and just soaked up time to rest and refresh together.  

It is not goodbye it is see you later!   We are counting down to Dallas for Spring Break! 

Christmas 2019

While we miss having family with us on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, one of the things we do love is our own family traditions.

Christmas Eve we have appetizers for dinner.  Then we get new Christmas PJs, drink hot chocolate and drive around and see Christmas lights.   When we are back to the house it is bedtime with a plan to be up for Christmas morning at about 7am.

PJ time! 

Color themed but not matching.   When the girls were little they would match.  Now I just threaten that we will all match.   

Bella got in on the action this year! 

Christmas Morning.. the stockings were hung and filled with care.  The girls had a sweet Christmas with some surprises they had not asked for but loved.    And one surprise that even Mommy did not know about...

We gave Jimmy a ND quilt that had his hold jersey he had, a few things from the girls baby clothes that were special and some other neat T-shirts.   

Jimmy went out Christmas Eve to do a "craft"... turns out it was a puzzle for us to figure out on Christmas.  

Letters to figure out what word it made.... 

yes...we finally got it.... "HAMILTON" (at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta).   The girls have not seen it yet but have been asking.   

Christmas night.. the house is quiet and calm. The decorations are down and it looks like Christmas is done.   We are thankful for the family time and the reminder to pause and remember Christ birth... but are glad to be headed into normal routines soon. 

It was a Nike year... 

Aunt J and Donnie stopped by to visit, but this girl could not hang much longer.   

sweet note from Maggie we unwrapped 

Being a family is my biggest joy!   Merry Christmas!