Celebrating Through Life with Good Friends

I am blessed to have some of the best friends in the world. Friends that I may not see as often as I wish or call as often as I should, but true friends that would drop anything in a heartbeat if any of us were in need. These are friends that I pray to God that Lauren would be lucky to have in her life: inspiring women, Christan women, good influences, smart, beautiful, and fun women! I have known these beautiful women since we were young girls: from middle school, high school, crazy college days, and beyond.

We were able to get together with our families, signifigant others, and kids to have some good times and good food at Joy's mother's "game room." It was a late Christmas/early New Year's celebration. Ahhhh, the infamous "game room" where we spent practically each weekend in during our senior year of high school at William Blount. The game room where we told secrets, laughed, cried, slept, danced, sang, listened to music, and just "hung out" with friends.

It was so much fun to see these girls, and I wanted to capture a photo of us to remember our good times. Philip was kind enough to take the photo.

I can't explain the joy that I get out of watching Lauren grow up with the children of my friends. Teresa has a son and a daughter on the way, and Amanda has 2 sons. Jennifer was not able to be at our party, and we missed her very much. She has 2 daughters and 1 son. She was with us in spirit!

Thank you, God, for blessing me each day with special family and friends in my life. I am rich in love and friendship.

Christmas 2008....

We gave them a digital photo album for Christmas.

David loved to clap and say, "yah!"


This is how you do it.

Yah, my cheese grater!


Santa was too good to Lauren this year! Notice the "High School Musical" cheer leading outfit that we got her from the Disney store. I didn't realize that the top was so revealing! Lauren, however, loved it and called herself a "belly-shower." Apparently, that is what cheerleaders are called in her mind!

Showing some love for Pappy!

Wayne & Becky show off their new "son," named Oz!

Santa brought Lauren a "puppy grows and knows my name." She named her Abby.

Well, I've gotten way behind on updating this blog as I should! It seems like I made it up to Christmas Eve and stopped! I've been so busy with work and of course Lauren's activities, that I don't seem to make the time. Let's not forget about the time on spend on photo editing...I love that hobby!

Christmas was a fun, busy time as usual. I wouldn't have it any other way. We opened gifts at our home in our jammies when we woke up on Christmas morning. For lunch, we feasted on ham, turkey, & all the fixin's! We hosted at our home and had my family over during the early afternoon. At dinner time, we went to Julie, Steve, & David's home for fondue and presents! It was a blessed day!

Thank to good Lord for blessing my family with wonderful relatives (best friends) to spend time with!!! Lauren was such a good girl. She really has matured so much this year. I can't believe that this is her last year as an official "pre-schooler." sob, sob, sob.

Church Play & Christmas Eve 2008

Lauren at our Church's Christmas Play.

Santa came to church to pass out gifts. The youth have been exchanging gifts and have visited with Santa every year since before I was born I believe!

I was glad to catch this moment of Lauren and Cannon horsing around. Notice how Lauren couldn't wait to change into her "cozy Christmas pajamas." She definitely loves to feel cozy. That's my girl!

While spending Thanksgiving with Aunt Anne in Georgia, Ladybug and Aunt Anne secretly made Christmas gifts for Lauren to give Aunt Julie and me. This is the box that Lauren made for Julie. Isn't that so special and sweet? Notice how proud Lauren is of herself! It will be the most beautiful gift I will ever receive for Christmas.

Baby David's 2nd Christmas with us! Boy is he growing up too fast.

Siblings Philip & Julie with their families!


Here is Aunt Julie with her son David and niece Addy. They are around 6-7 months apart in age. I am so glad that David will have a cousin his age to grow up with.

Here we are on our annual Christmas Eve picture. Don't I look all "teacher-y" in my snowman sweater!

Mike and Helen with Addy. Mike is my brother in law's (Steve Jr's) brother.

Nana Debbie, Grandpa Steve with their 4 grandchildren. All together for their first Christmas together!

On Sunday, December 21st, our little Church held it's annual youth Christmas play. This year was unique in that one of the youth, Billy H., wrote the play himself. He did a fine job and received many laughs for his comedic performance. This was Lauren's 2nd year to be in the Church's play. Although she played a background character with no speaking lines, we were just as proud of our little Christmas angel just like she was the star. Well, she is OUR star after all! Lauren played one of Katie's three daughters. The little girls all looked cute in their Santa hats. Afterwards, Santa himself paid us a visit while the church members enjoyed food, gifts, and fellowship in our church's basement. After that was over, the crowd retired to the sanctuary for our annual candlelight service. No one managed to burn the church down, which was especially nice! Ha. We actually let Lauren hold a candle for the 1st time this year and she did great! Now, if I could just pay attention like she did...hum!

Our little family had a lovely Christmas Eve as usual. Our annual Christmas Eve tradition of spending the afternoon and evening with the Piller Family in Sevierville was so much fun! OH my goodness...I can't even begin to name the oodles of delicious food there. The Piller's definitely love their fancy cheese assortment and I always look forward to that each year!

Lauren had a blast playing with Cannon (age 8), Amber, and baby Addy. I am amazed at how well she gets along with Cannon. He is an absolutely precious young man, and I feel lucky for Lauren to have such special honorary cousins! I can't get over how beautiful and grown up Amber is (9th grade.) She was in 1st grade when we first met her. I can't get over how fast all of the kids have grown...sob, sob, sob!

For those of you that don't know, that is Steve Piller's parents and his brother (Mike and Helen's) family. Steve Jr. is married to Julie, and Julie is my husband's (Philip's) sister. Did you all follow that? Anyway...they are my sister in law's in laws...so to speak. They "adopted" us several years ago and we have spend thanksgiving night and Christmas eve with them since 2000 I believe. With Philip and Julie's parents passing, it is so nice to have them in our lives. They even tell Lauren to call them Nana Debbie and Grandpa Steve. Now, isn't that precious? (not to mention special to me.)

We arrived home late that night (as usual) was an exhausted Ladybug. I don't think that she has even been awake to lay out the cookies and milk for Santa or the reindeer food. So, I do it for her each year while her Daddy is carrying her to bed. Maybe next year I'll get smart and have her lay out the reindeer food and get Santa's goodies together BEFORE heading off to the Pillers. Hum...that's not a half bad idea!

I'm creating a monster!!!

December, 2009

You know that you've definitely taken way too many photographs of your child when they pretend to take photographs of their dolls or toys and pose them or use photographer lingo! It's hilarious!

A Ride on the Three Rivers Rambler

Before Christmas, Lauren's Aunt "Ju Ju" was a guest reader on the Three Rivers Rambler. She was sweet enough to give 3 of her free tickets to Philip, Lauren, and me. Lauren LOVED riding on the "Polar Express, " which featured free cocoa, goodies, and a visit from Santa as well! David came home with us that evening and spent the night. He slept in a pack and play in our room and did great! Naturally, Lauren didn't wait to feel left out of all of the fun. So, she slept in a sleeping bag in our room as well. We were one big, happy family! Ha!

The next day at Church was our annual choir Christmas Cantata. David did really well sitting through the service, and I only had to stand with him in the back of the church about two times. It was so cute to see him clap and say "yeah' when a couple of songs were over. He loves music!

Lauren does so well interacting with David. She seems very patient and loving with him. However, she is realizing the sad fact that all Mommies of toddlers face...they grow more independent and want so desperately to do things on their own. He doesn't want her to hold him and do things for him as much as he use to. David wants to explore the world around him and learn about his surroundings. That is always a time of mixed feelings for a Mom. In a way, I think that Lauren is sad about this sometimes. She misses that baby stage I believe. You certainly want them to grow independent and confidant in their abilities, however you can't help but miss those times when they were so dependant on you for all of their needs.

David, we love you and can't wait for you to come spend the night with us again soon!