South Carolina Christmas

We left at 3 a.m. on December 21st to make our journey to South Carolina. (Yes, I know it is now a month after our trip...sorry, life happens and I haven't been on the computer much!) We decided to leave early so we could drive straight through and maximize our time there. We spent the first part of our trip in South Carolina with Jon's family. It was great to see everyone and have time with his parents and see their new home. Here is our picture review of our South Carolina Christmas!!!

3 a.m. in the car and ready to go!

He did go back to sleep...and traveled so well that day. We traveled for 16.5 hours. However, when we made it to S.C. we realized he had a fever. He was pretty pitiful the next day and Allyson and I ended up taking him to a pediatric urgent care the night after we got there. Poor baby...turned out he had strep! Thankfully no one else got it. He recovered slowly, but surely.

We made it!!

On Friday, the 23rd we had a steak dinner at Allyson and Kevin's. Love Kevin's steak. It was, as always, good to be together. Can't believe we actually managed to get a family picture. The picture isn't quite the same without Amy. We sure missed her, but were thankful to be able to Skype with her on Christmas Eve morning when we opened gifts. Love and miss you Amy!

Jeremy, Liz and their kids spent Friday night at Nana and Papa's house too. Ava and Bryn had a sleepover on Nana and Papa's floor...sleeping bags and all. It is so much fun to see these two girls together. They get along and play so well together. Cousin love for sure!

Ava loves her Lalaloopsy...thanks Nana and Papa!
We all opened gifts early Christmas Eve morning. Later that day more of Jon's extended family joined us for lunch. What a sweet time with family that day!

Emet loves the guitar too...thanks Nana and Papa!

Christmas Eve Lunch...LOVE this!

Girls' Table

Christmas Eve at church with my girl

Christmas Morning

Maybe we are crazy, but we did buy our 3 year old his first drum set...he loves it!

We surprised Ava with a camera. She has loved taking pictures!
She takes after her Mommy I guess!

At the Elliott's Christmas morning

Pic with Nana and Papa

North Carolina Christmas

We had a great trip over Christmas. We saw lots of family and friends...it was a real treat to get to go back to North Carolina (and South Carolina) to celebrate. This is the picture review of our wonderful time in Hickory with my parents and my friends. Our "North Carolina Christmas" couldn't have been better...well, Jon may say if we'd have had snow it would have been better. That's my snow loving husband for you!

We did gifts and Christmas dinner when we arrived at Mom and Dad's Christmas night. This is Ava with her new Sketchers Twinkle Toe Shoes. She's been wanting these. Thanks to Granna and Pops for the fun shoes. She loves them!

Opening gifts

Emet is very into monster trucks right now. He loves this truck...and so does Owen!
Thanks Granna and Pops!!!

Kids' Table

My Batman Boys
Emet is also very into Batman...love these shirts and beanies!

Pops and Owen...too sweet!

11 Months old...goes SO FAST!!!

The kids, Jon, Dad and I met Kellie and Eli at the movies the day after Christmas to see Chipwrecked. It was cute! The kids had a blast and loved seeing the movie! It was a fun afternoon and I'm glad we got to share it with Kellie and Eli!

We met Tracey and Bailey at Chick-Fil-A for lunch one day. It was great to see them and catch up, even if our visit was way too short! Bailey and Ava enjoyed their ice cream!

Next time we take this picture another baby will be in it...Tracey is due in a couple of months. Can't wait to meet her little guy. Bailey is convinced his name is "Daba Carraba Amerson 452 Hours." Don't ask...but that's what she is telling everyone. I doubt they go with that though!

Jon and I celebrated our 8th anniversary on December 27th. Mom and Dad were so sweet to keep the kids so we could go out and celebrate. This is their dinner that night. We got to enjoy dinner at Kobe Japanese Steak House, walk the mall for a few minutes and catch the Mission Impossible Movie. Thanks Mom and Dad for letting us get a date night on our anniversary. It was a treat!

Date Night

My sweet boy

There was a lot of backyard football at Mom and Dad's.
Notice the eye black stickers...Emet got them in his stocking!

I LOVE this picture of Dad and the kids!

Do they look alike?

Love my little girl!

This is so Emet right now!

Christmas pic with Granna and Pops

He will be one soon...I'm not ready for him to grow up!

Each year Kellie, Leigh Ann and I get together with all of our kiddos. I love this time with them and seeing our kids together. We started the tradition of making Christmas ornaments together this year. It was a lot of fun. I love these ladies and am thankful for them. They are coming to see me in just 2 weeks...I can't wait!!!

If only you could see what it takes to get these kids to take a half way decent pic. Of course, Emet is being his usual silly self...mouth wide open!

A great week in NC for sure. Loved having time with my parents, seeing my kids love on my parents and getting to spend time with some of my best friends. So glad to get to see Tracey, Kellie, Leigh Ann and their kids. These ladies mean so much to me. It was a great way to spend half of our Christmas vacation!