Christmas in Kentucky

Christian has become our photographer lately. Not too bad:) We went to my parents house on Christmas night. It was so good to ALL be together this year. We had a few presents and lots of fun. You really begin to see the bigger picture of what is most important when a family member has been gone (like Travis was) and returns home to share in the holidays.

Mim picked her out a pretty necklace on their trip overseas and is helping B put it on

Travis brought us all back some goodies from Afghanistan. Baylor got a bracelet and Christian got his first pocket knife...both made from lapis that is mined there. Mom and I got the most beautiful pottery with carvings etched in the sides. Jeff and dad received these Elders hats. They are wool and very warm b/c believe it or not it gets very cold over there.

We spent the next couple days playing with our presents and hanging out with the fam

Christian did a little stand up routine for us...the boy loves to tell jokes

Kim was so happy to be able to cuddle with her sweetheart this year

a few presents

The annual "kids" picture on the couch

Time with Nana and Papa

It has become tradition to meet with Jeff's family the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We like to eat at Cock of the Walk (hence the humongous chair picture) and go to Opryland Hotel to look at the lights. It was especially memorable this year because of the flood. In May the hotel had water throughout the bottom level and we all wondered if there would be Christmas at Opryland.

Above is Uncle Jeremy, the kids, Nana and Papa
Below is our attempt at a family picture. Not only with kids that don't always cooperate, but also with a brother-in-law who doesn't know how to look through a camera the old fashioned way anymore:)

The kids were dancing underneath a gazebo in the Delta

checking out the water fountains that "jump" from spot to spot

Outside at the Nativity

and the BIG poinsettia tree of lights

Thanksgiving 2010

We had Thanksgiving at my aunts house. Mam-ma and Pap-pa were there of course. It was so good to see and spend time with them. Pap-pa had not been feeling well for a few weeks before so it was a gift to have him feeling better on this day.

lots of yummy food

I put in the above picture only to show Baylor's budding photography skills and below you can see what Christian made a bee line for post food...a book of course

Baylor LOVES her KayKay

Christian reading his "I am thankful" story to Mam-ma

Later on he tells me he wants two things for dessert. I told him this was a special kind of day that he could have both...then in he walks with three big pieces of fudge and a cookie!!! He was NOT allowed to eat all that, I promise.

More time in Crossville

When we arrived at Fairfield Glade they had this pretty little fall scene set up. I have to brag on my son b/c he took this picture. He can frame it up and center subjects...I'm pretty impressed.
I wanted to get some cute individual shots, but "sweet" Baylor wasn't being very cooperative.

This is her weird smile and (as usual) "not looking at the camera" face

This is her "I really don't want to be doing this" face

the "I would rather play with the straw" face

and finally the "I'm going to look pitiful" face

My "expert at camera faces" boy got it on the first try...he has had a few more years of practice

Papa and Jeff got a fire going and cooked our dinner

while Baylor looked around for acorns

Dinner time...yummy hot dogs

Nana had told them about the indoor pool so that was a must the next morning

with her goggles on she'll look at the camera with a BIG smile. This girl loves to swim

Christian will be playing basketball for the first time this winter so he decided to work on his shots in the water too

Sunday we went to the State Park for lunch and hanging out by the lake

Once again, Christian showing off his photography skills

Our best attempt at a family picture

I love the arches on this stone bridge. I wish the trees behind it had some more color

The kids with Nana and Papa

Later we hung out at the playground...Christian got better at the monkey bars

and Baylor mastered the pole

while daddy checked his email :)

They played so well together and that does not happen very often for such a long period of time

They made themselves dizzy "flying" on the swings

Nana helped Christian with a craft project

and we played a little mini-golf

Christian was really concentrating

and Baylor just tried to get it anywhere she could:)

We had a fun time hanging out with Nana and Papa. The place we stayed was very nice and we enjoyed our time away from busy schedules