Christmas fun!

I love the season of Christmas! Here are some pictures of what we've been doing lately to celebrate.

Addi was in a Christmas pageant at school. She was an angel. Here she is with her friend Taylor.

The kids loved playing with Finley while they waited to perform.

Addi's classmates/friends.

Elise Rose laughing when her halo fell

singing "Away in a Manger"

(I love this "Elise Rose face")

Addi and Ms. Lindsey

Our family came to see the pageant (Gigi, Mary, David, Laura, Robert, Jett, and Dartmouth). Gigi gave Addi a special angel ornament (which she dropped and broke as she took it out of the bag. We tried to glue it back).

We made a trip to Bass Pro to see Santa. John waited in line for about 2 hours while we walked around and kept the kids busy.

Finally, we got to see Santa! Addi was thrilled! She jumped right in his arms and thanked him for sending her elf. We were so happy that we stayed and waited for so long!

Thanks, Alicia, for this precious outfit! Finley's worn it multiple times!

When I was little, my parents and their Sunday school class made nativity scenes where you start on Dec. 1st and each night you read a verse and add a piece to the nativity scene. The set they made when we were little disappeared (after many, many years) so Mom spent a LOT of time and made one for each family. This is Addi's favorite part of the day (and mine, too). She loves the anticipation of what we'll get to add to the scene each night. Thank you, Gigi, for such a special gift that takes me back to my wonderful childhood and allows my girls to experience the same.

my little loves

Finley's teachers at school gave her this precious hat, a book, and a rubber duck for Christmas. She was so excited!

Here we are for the Trotman family Christmas!

Anna and Fin

Gigi and Fin

Memommy and her 10 great grandchildren

4 of the 9 cousins and our kids

My cousins and I laugh at the years of the 9 of us running around Memommy and Greatdaddy's house. The noise was ridiculous! The videos show paper flying, kids screaming...pure, joyous chaos! We love that we can get together with our own children for the same wild family get togethers!

gymnastics

Addison is taking gymnastics and just loves it! Her favorite parts...the trampoline and Mr. David (her teacher). On Tuesday, she ran straight to him and grabbed his hand. Too cute! When she started gymnastics about 2 months ago, she would scream and pitch a fit b/c she didn't want to go. Now, she LOVES it! John, Finley, and I have lots of fun watching her on bars, beam (bean as she calls it), floor, vault, and trampoline. Here are a few pictures.

Finley is growing and changing so much these days! She is almost 6 months old. She is sitting up for the most part. She loves to stand up and jump. She (unlike Addi) enjoys jumping in the Jump-a-roo. I sat her up in her bath last night and she splashed and splashed. I can't wait to put her in the tub with Addi. I think they'll have so much fun! It's nice that she can sit with Addi and play now.

Pirates and Thanksgiving

I am just now posting Thanksgiving pictures. I am also posting pictures of Grayson's (our nephew's) 5th birthday. Mom, Julie, and Randy planned an awesome party for Grayson! Julie made "stations" like Sinking Ship, Walk the Plank, Tatoos, Cannonball Toss, Digging for Gold, etc. Mom had covered boxes to look like pirate ships, painted cannonballs, etc. It was so cute, and the kids had a blast! We had a great turn out!

John let the "pirates" attack him. What a great uncle!

Randy dressed up as a pirate to lead the crew on a treasure hunt around the church. At each "X" they got something: pirate hat, eye patch, sword, treat bag.

Addi just loves babies! She had fun hugging on Baby Katherine.

The awesome pirate ship cake

Aunt Glenda and Emily entertained Ellis and Finley.

Max was ready for the party in his pirate shirt!

Mom worked so hard to make this party special for Grayson!

Thanksgiving at Mom's house...Finley and Reese are just 2 weeks apart. Addi and Riley are just 5 weeks apart. It is so special to have 2nd cousins who are so close together.

John finally gets to hold Ellis!

Memommy has 9 grandchildren (plus all of our spouses) and 10 great-grandchildren!

Aunt Royce and Mom holding Reese and Finley...They get together a few times each month and take the girls to Chick-fil-A to play while Lauren and I are at work.

Memommy and Brooks

Thanksgiving with John's side of the family...Laura and Robert

Georganna holding Finley

Addi and Harry had fun making marble mazes. Harry is so sweet to play with the kids!

Dartmouth, Jordan, Finley, Addi, Harry, and Jett

We are so thankful for our families, especially that we all live within an hour of each other. What a blessing...