"Newmasgiving" since the 3 holidays seemed to run together...
~ Happy New Year! ~
Seriously, is it pronounced "twenty ten" or "two thousand and ten?" My vote is for twenty ten because it's easier to say (and write out if you ever should have to) and it has less syllables. Couldn't we all agree that less is more? So 20-10 it is!
Adam & I consulted and made an executive decision to stay at home with Little Miss on New Years Eve. It's too risky going out on the roads with all the crazies roaming around, and don't even get me started about the frigid temps. Hurry up spring!
Plus, Alaina's on a firm schedule with a bedtime that occurs far before midnight, so STAYING IN was what we were all about. Alaina went to bed around 9pm, and Adam & I surprisingly stayed up until midnight. Actually, past midnight because someone kept shooting off fireworks and we found ourselves running into Alaina's room to turn on sleep sheep so she wouldn't wake up from all the noise (sleep sheep automatically turns off after 45 minute cycles...and I think we made at least 4 rounds that night.)
Anyway, we watched all of the New Years Eve shows while staying cozy in our PJ's in our warm house with our sleeping beauty nearby. Ahhhhhh :)
~ Merry Christmas! ~
Christmas 2009 was different. Parts were bittersweet, but all in all it was grand. My family has set traditions that we have been able to count on for years. I like traditions, and Adam has enjoyed taking part in our traditions. But this year was different because someone was missing (the bitter part) and someone was finally here (the sweet part). My grandmother, who would have been 90 years old, passed away last Valentine's Day of cancer. Grandmother is very dear to my heart and someone who I admire and think only fond thoughts of. Someone thoughtful and loving. Someone precious. Her tradition was cooking a gigantic, delicious Christmas breakfast that was always hot on the table at 9am (in College Park). Of course this year, the tradition was not possible. I can only imagine what her Christmas morning was like in heaven. WOW!!!
This is grandmother last year at Christmas (the one in the middle). She was opening the present from us announcing my pregnancy!
Although it was sad not to celebrate Christmas and our tradition with Grandmother, we were thankful and excited to share it and start our own traditions with sweet Alaina! So everything was mixed up a bit, but we enjoyed Christmas as a family and in some ways it was the best Christmas ever. I had been waiting...and waiting...and waiting for a long time to have a baby in my arms for Christmas. Thank God the waiting is over!
Adam & I also made the executive decision to not pack too much into Christmas day. It was important to spend quality time with each part of the family and not be rushed to get here and then there, like in past years. And luckily our families were flexible enough to work around our schedule. So - Christmas Eve was spent in Snellville with my parents, brother Dan & his fiance Stevie, Aunt Gail, Uncle Brent & Great Aunt Martha. We spent the day there and were home in time to do Alaina's bedtime routine.
The clan minus my dad, who was the photographer. Um...where's Alaina???
Here she is playing with my dad, aka "Pops"
Christmas morning was spent in our living room, in our PJ's, with coffee and a "catered" Waffle House breakfast. YUM!
We watched "A Christmas Story" while I hovered by my space heater and watched Alaina play in her Exersaucer - her gift from Santa! I guess she was good this year :) She also had a couple little toys in her stocking.
Christmas afternoon was spent at Adam's parents house in Ball Ground. Only a 20 minute drive - loving it! Some of Adam's extended family was there, including his Aunt Amy, Uncle John & Ashlyn from Maryland! It's a treat to see them as they only come down south for Christmas every other year. Ashlyn was looking forward to meeting Alaina for the first time and she even named her baby doll "Alaina" in her honor. How sweet! She is 4 years old and is much into Disney princesses and anything girly! We got a little glimpse of what our life will be like in a few years :)
Amy, Ashlyn & Alaina
The day after Christmas was spent LOUNGING around and making our way through all the bags and boxes and tissue paper trying to find the loot! We were blessed by extreme generosity this year, not unlike any other year really. Personally, we undershopped. But we were glad to be able to give everyone SOMEthing, even if it wasn't much.
Sunday we spent the day in Blairsville with my mom's side of the family. Adam & I brought a 13 pound turkey for everyone to eat up (meaning Alaina)! But seriously, we had a feast which included turkey & ham and all the fixings. It was a fun time! Always full of laughs. Alaina seemed to be having a good time too :)
The boys - Dan (my bro), Adam (duh) & Austin (Haley's boyfriend) - and the girls - Stevie (my future sis in law!), Hadrian, Me/Alaina, Haley, Hannah)
Oh yeah, and the Saturday before Christmas we always gather with Adam's extended family in Dallas, GA for a meal and white elephant game. This year was no exception. Here's a few pics...
Every year, Adam & I have a photo taken in front of Gene & Mary's mantle, just the 2 of us. This year it was a photo of 3!
Gene covered in babies! Addison (6 months) & Alaina (5 months)
Alaina with her adorable distant cousins Anabelle & Grace
Adam modeling his white elephant gift in hopes that someone will steal it! I bet you'd be surprised to know that it came home with us :(
~ Happy Thanksgiving ~
My memory is starting to fade about Thanksgiving since it was 6 weeks ago or so! Let's see...oh, Alaina got sick with an ear infection 2 days before Thanksgiving. Luckily, we were at the pediatrician's office getting a checkup when her symptoms began to appear, so the nurse checked her out and prescribed an antibiotic and external ear drops on the spot! Talk about perfect timing. Despite her sickness, Alaina seemed to feel pretty good on the actual turkey day.
Our tradition is spending the day with my family in Snellville. My mom & grandmother (aka "Babelle") always prepare an absolute FEAST with a ham & turkey, the best dressing in the world (3 pans of it!), and a handful of other delicious sides. What did we bring, you might ask? Forget about my famous strawberry trifle...everyone was dying to get a nibble out of the 12 pound turkey we brought! It's only appropriate that the Emmett's come with a turkey in arm to every family gathering from now on, you know. Ha! We ate until we were stuffed, and then just hung around the house visiting and laughing and playing with Alaina.
4 generations of mother/daughters (Nix/Collins/Kitchens/Emmett)
Part of the family...Dan, Haley, Babelle, Adam, Me/Alaina, Hadrian & Hannah
Aunt Becky with her girls
Another tradition that is so special is Thanksgiving movie night. For as long as I can remember, my 3 girl cousins & I make plans to ditch the oldies and head to the movies on Thanksgiving night! Adam goes along to be the male escort, and because this is probably the one time of year we will actually go to a movie theater. He does a fine job, might I add. Since it's always freezing cold, he makes it his duty to pull the car around so we don't have to make the long walk. He's like our bodyguard too I suppose :)
This year, Hannah decided to not go because she had to be at work bright & early on Black Friday (insert "Eek" here). But Aunt Becky took her spot instead! So along for the ride was me, Adam, Haley, Hadrian & Aunt B. We saw "New Moon" (yes, Adam did too...you can tease him later) and IT WAS AWESOME! I was a little sad to leave my sick baby behind though :( She was pooped by the end of the night.
Hope you had a memorable Newmasgiving too :)
1 comment:
Awww! Nice pics and stories. Fun to see you all and love on Baby A!
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