Ally Kate pics

Now, I'm obviously no professional but it was fun to play...isn't she gorgeous?!?

ALLY KATE is here!

Finally, the girl we've all been waiting for for months. We love her to pieces already!

Waiting on baby girl to get here

Healthy and PERFECT girl. So happy for my sister, Chris, and Cole. 

They are IN LOVE with her

One last Christmas

After Christmas, we had Christmas with my moms sister and her family. It's so fun to see my "baby" and my cousin Russ's "baby" play together. We were close as kids and so I love that they will be as well.

I only took cell phone pics. I really tried to live a little more and take pictures a little less this year. Only just a LITTLE  though ;)

Christmas Day

For as long as I can remember, with the exception of last year, we have had Christmas Day at Grandmother Williams's house, and since my parents now live in her house, we were able to have it there again. We did miss the Smith's, but I know that they can't miss out on Christmas morning at their house just like we can't. I sure wish they lived closer!

Look at my BIG baby!! Where does time go??? And, PS, he hasn't worn a bib since he was nine months old..not sure how I pulled that one on him. Nor do I know how we got him to sit in this chair. It was probably a cookie bribe. 

A Pinterest recipe, of course. And, it was actually good. 

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning is such a happy time. It is always so exciting as a child to "see what Santa brings" but I can say without a shadow of a doubt it is MORE fun to see your child live those moments. We all have so much going on in our lives and face so many difficulties daily that it is so nice to take a break  see the "magic" of Christmas. And, that doesn't always mean Santa. 

I sort of have mixed feelings about Christmas in general. Now, I'm not a Grinch by any means of the word but I do agree with Cindy Lou Who who said  "Everyone gets all kerbobbled. It seems a bit superfluous".  I want to celebrate the birth of our Savior and I want to be with my family, but the other stuff is just a filler. Some of it is fun, but some of it seems completely over the top.  There are so many things that I simply LOVE about Christmas. People, in general, are more loving/giving. I love the music. I love the smells. I love the way Christmas tree lights make my house feel. I love giving gifts to people as a way of showing them I love  them. But then, I do not love the mad rush of crazy, mean people around the mall or Walmart at Christmas. There are other things that I do not love, but I can't seem to think of a way to put them without it coming across the wrong way. So, I'll just say that I wish Christmas was a little more simple. I wish I didn't stay up until after midnight decorating cookies or finishing wrapping gifts or that I could run to Walmart for toilet paper and not have to fight my way through. I just think simple is better. I sort of derailed a bit..so, I'll move on to the point. Even though every moment leading up until Christmas morning is completely rushed and sometimes crazy, Christmas morning never seems that way. It's like time stops for just a moment. And, watching Bishop truly gets better every year. 

This year he wanted Santa to bring "a polar bear (no clue where that came from), choo choo trains (I may or may not have influenced this since my sister gave me my nephews' train table), trucks, and a spiderman. Now, I know its ridiculous but we did get him all of those things plus a book, a puzzle, stamps and pj's but next year I really do want to do the whole 4 gift thing I've seen on Pinterest (something want, need, read, wear). It's hard because I do only have 1 child and I do love giving him things that he wants. I try not to do that often, I don't want him to be ungrateful or spoiled. He doesn't get a new toy from Walmart every time I go (or ever really) but at Christmas I do give him more than I normally would...or Santa did anyway. 

And watching him open the stocking was literally priceless. Everything he pulled out he would say "oh my gracious, oh my goodness!!" 

So, so happy

Santa dropped some of his cookie in the fireplace

"oh my gracious" face

Momma got Bishop and daddy matching jeans and boots. His first pair of boots :)

Hays's Christmas

Because Christmas is so rushed, we only were able to stay a short time at the Pojo Hays's house, but we made the most of it. Bishop loves every one of these people and asked to go often. I do love that. 

I was brave and decorated Christmas cookies with the kids. It was messy...but it was fun!

Some ate more icing (by squeezing it directly into his mouth) than decorated. Can't say I blame him.

Papoo and the grandkids

Two little ladies got MAKEUP. Oh, how fun it was. Karen and I got our nails done. I wouldn't trade my boy for anything in this world, but I'm so happy to have nieces like these girls.