Christmas Activities - 2013

Although we were missing a huge part of our family this Christmas, we did a lot of fun things! We started off seeing Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Junior League's Market Noel. 

Another weekend, we went to Belview Baptist Church's Polar Express. It was so good! She got to write a letter to Santa and mail it, then she decorated and ate a cookie.

We got to see Santa and heard the real Reason for the Season, told by Santa!

We finished with a ride on the Polar Express. We will definitely be going back to this next year! 

Another day, we decorated Leah's grave. It was Taylor's first time out there. Ever since, she is always very excited to go to Leah's grave and every time we pass her cemetery, she says, "Leah's Legacy!". Precious girl! 

I also got to see one of my best friends who moved to California over the summer. She flew home for Christmas and spent a weekend in Tuscaloosa. She stopped to have lunch with me, and this was my fortune after our Chinese lunch.

We also visited the ice skating rink in Tuscaloosa one Saturday. It was very expensive, so I didn't pay to go on the ice with her, but she did great! 

Somehow, I don't have any pictures from present opening. We spent the weekend before Christmas at Nannie and Papa's. Then, Mama Donna, Papa Rex, Hilary and Andi came up Christmas Eve to open presents together. Nannie and Papa came up Christmas Eve after Papa got off work and spent Christmas morning with us.

One thing we did this year, and will continue doing, is the Jesse Tree. We read a Bible story every night leading up to the birth of Jesus. There's a lot more activities that we could have done, but I wasn't prepared with the ornaments and all. I'm going to try to be more prepared next year!

Memorial Day Beach Trip

We went to the beach with my parents for Memorial Day weekend. This year, Taylor didn't like the ocean very much, but she is a little fish in the pool! We are starting her in swim lessons again very soon. She LOVES swimming!! Since Mom and Dad were with us, they really took more care of Taylor, and Adam and I had a chance to relax a little bit. Thanks Mom and Dad!

Friday night we stayed at Nannie and Papa's house (even though they were on their way to Alaska!) to break up the trip. We were able to take our time Saturday morning before heading down to PCB. Adam took Taylor to a playground and for ice cream while I waited to get my toes painted, then brought her to get her finger nails painted.

This girl loves having her nails painted. She's also gotten in to wanting skirts. I have a girly, girl!

Then, Sunday morning Adam rode 100 miles on his bike in prep for the Ironman! The weather was perfect, the water relatively warm for the cool spring we had, and not a cloud in the sky!

You can support his journey by donating to Leah's Legacy. Here's the page with a link to his Rally site.

Memorial Day, Adam and I went parasailing!! It was so much fun! We didn't get any digital pictures, so I can't post one.

Here's some random pictures from our trip:

Toes in the sand!

Aunt Hilary asked her to bring a shell home for her!

Classic family beach pic, but on the bay! I'm pretty proud of those Crossfit arms! 

Easter

Saturday morning, we started our Easter weekend off with a 5K run for colorectal cancer awareness, the Rumpshaker! We were running in honor of one of my best friends, Amber, and in memory of her mom. We had 46 people on our team, "This Toot Shall Pass", and raised over $1500! We won some team awards for fundraising and team spirit. 

The team!

Amber had just put up the picture of her mom on the memory wall.

Yay!

Brandi got 2nd place for Most Team Spirit!

Later that afternoon we went to Ella and Miles' 3rd birthday party! I can't believe our kids are 3! Amber had a cute Easter theme, but did a great job incorporating Ella and Miles' request for Minnie Mouse and Thomas the Train themes. 

We started off participating in our church's Easter Egg Hunt. Taylor got a basket full, but we do not need all of that candy!!

Can't even hold it up she's got so many eggs!

After playing on the inflatables for a while (Taylor's favorite thing to do), we got busy with cake and presents!

Birthday girl and boy!

Taylor Bug loves Papa!

And Nannie!

Trying so hard not to help open presents!

Can't help it anymore!

Sunday morning we went to the sunrise service where Leah is buried. Honestly, I can't believe that is part of my life. Then, we went to our church, out to lunch and family came over to visit.

The cross had flowers on it at Leah's funeral.

Taylor's Easter baskets from Mommy and Daddy and Nannie and Papa!

This was such a fun weekend! I can't believe that March is already over.

Christmas Fun

Christmas started off at Mama Donna and Papa Rex's on Christmas Eve. There aren't many pictures from that night, but here's one of Taylor and Mama Donna dancing with Dora on the Kinect. 

This are the presents Santa left for Taylor. Santa brings Taylor 3 presents, just like Jesus got. The donuts were just a little extra treat.

Just a picture of our tree this year.

She's up! Her first question was, "Where's my bike?". It was the only thing she had asked Santa for and she expected it! We'll have to work on the lesson that you don't always get what you want.

She was excited about her "big girl" overnight bag for spending the night with grandparents.

Mama Donna and Papa Rex came up to have breakfast with us and see what Santa brought her. She also opened her presents from Mommy and Daddy. Adam built her this dollhouse for Christmas. She would watch him work every night. She has been so excited to play with it!

A ball and glove!

Dora backpack with Map!

Leg warmers for dance. Her friend Savannah wears them every week and she's been wanting them so much!

She also got a new bag for all her dance clothes.

Telling us the Christmas story using her Little People nativity scene and her new Jesus Storybook Bible.

Loving her new bike!

She did not want Mama Donna and Papa Rex to leave, so she blocked them into the kitchen.

Nannie and Papa came up the day after Christmas and spent the night. Taylor had so much fun opening all her presents from them!

A guitar! 

Daddy showing her how to play!

New cowgirl boots! She wants to wear these everyday!

She also got nail polish and Papa even let her paint his toenails. 

We had another wonderful Christmas and had more chances to teach Taylor about Jesus. Next year I plan to do an Advent calendar and read Scripture and have a service project each day.