Small Group (or Life Group, Whatever) Christmas Party

Last night we had a Christmas dinner with our small group. We really do love these people and feel completely blessed to do life with them!

We put the kids in front of the tree, they all said one big collective "Cheeeeeese!" and smiled for the picture. When does that EVER happen?!?

* Trevor Nelson (4) * Jackson Torbert (2) * Aila Nelson (almost 2) * Reese Furr (3) *

* Kayleigh Kaiser (2) * Caroline Kaiser (6 mo) * Jadyn Villegas (3) *

Megan, Liz, Briahnna, Angie, Thea

Tim (with Isaiah), Scott, Craig, Andy, Justin

Liz & Craig Kaiser

Andy & Megan Torbert

Scott & Angie Furr

Justin & Thea Nelson

Jackson and Kayleigh were spinning Trevor and Jadyn in this chair...great action shot!

Angie & Liz

Craig & Caroline

Megan with a bunch of guys ;)

Imagine It!

The special event at the Atlanta Children's Museum right now is a Curious George exhibit. The kids had lots of fun, as always!

Aila's Turn

Trevor had me all to himself for 27 months. We did all kinds of fun stuff. But Aila really hadn't had me all to herself until Trevor started going to school 3 mornings a week this year. So I signed us up for Tiny Tots & Tunes at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church--a music class that is just wonderful. If we had time on our way to the class, we would stop in and grab a bagel at Einstein Bros. Bagels (a little gem I discovered while living in Boston) on our way--nothing like sharing an asiago bagel with veggie cream cheese with this sweet little girl.

Then off to music class. When I say that AILA LOVED MUSIC CLASS, I mean it! Trevor took the same class a few years back, and he was always a bit "meh" about the music part. He just spent the class time wanting to figure out the latch on a table in the classroom. But Aila was all about it. Can't wait to sign up for the next class!
Scarf time--Aila's favorite!

Couples' Night Out and Other North Star Fun

We love our small group! Last night we attended North Star's "Couples' Night Out" and managed to get a picture of all of us (first one in more than a year). Comedian Tim Hawkins performed--awesome, as always! Left to right: Justin & Thea Nelson, Tim & Briahnna Villegas, Scott & Angie Furr, Liz & Craig Kaiser, and Megan & Andy Torbert.

CHECK OUT TIM HAWKINS HERE. He's hilarious!

Last weekend was the Christmas at North Star Festival at our church. Lots of fun! Trevor was all about the cotton candy, and Aila loved the music.

Ephesians 3:20 Right in Front of Me

...immeasurably more than all I could ask or imagine.

One Boy, One Girl

We love them, we love them, we love them. Thank you, God, for these children You've given us!

Always nice to put your sister in a headlock next to the Christmas tree at church...

I saw them doing this and had to grab the camera.

2nd Annual Visit to the Credit Union Santa

Yesterday we went to Trevor's bank to visit the "Credit Union Santa." Good times. But Trevor was feeling sick and stayed in the car with Justin, so Aila and I visited Old Saint Nick. Aila Grace has gotten to the point where she "stares down" anyone she doesn't know really well, so I was wondering how this was going to go...

This picture cracks me up. This was right when I told her she was going to go sit on Santa's lap...she has this "You've-GOT-to-be-kidding-me" look on her face.

Then came the "Deer-in-the-headlights" look...

Ultimately, the candy cane helped.

* Ho Ho Ho! *

Then and Now

These pictures were taken a year apart in different (though similar) dresses
in front of the same wall.

Fun to compare then and now!

AAAAAAAAAAA!!!! Part 2 (Subtitled: That is NOT a Worm!)

So we were outside and Trevor ran up to me shouting, "Mommy, I found a HUGE worm!" And I was like, "Oh, that's cool, Trev. Wait...what....AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Wasn't a worm. The kid was holding a baby snake!

Made me think of last year when a lizard jumped down my shirt--you can find that post here.

Joy!

Oh. My. Goodness. Joy, indeed! I love this girl!!!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

Love him, love him, love him!

FUUUUN!

Yesterday I took the kids as their early Christmas present to an indoor playground with lots of fun things to do and a giant bubble machine. It was just FUN.

Lately I've had just not a lot of time with Trevor AND Aila. I have morning time with Trevor while Aila sleeps in, then we rush Trevor off to school and I have Aila time. Then we pick Trevor up and come home and Aila takes her nap. And each day except for Friday, we leave so I can tutor the moment Aila wakes up. But Wednesday mornings I have them both, so I was really excited to go do something fun with them both. It's awesome having individual time with the kids, but I really cherish having both of them, too.

It's fun to try to catch the bubbles...

...but it's only fun until you take a bubble to the eye.

Thanksgiving - Early December

For Thanksgiving we were with the Nelsons & Maddens in Nashville--it was an awesome time! I took over 100 pics but for some reason my computer and/or camera is protesting and will only upload a few of them. So here they are. As you can see, it was windy for this family shot...look at those pigtails fly!

I can't get over how tall Trevor looks in this one...

Apparently it wears you out watching your mom rake leaves.

They do this a lot. They sit by the fire, watch movies, whatever, sitting right next to each other. They certainly can throw down when they want, but a lot of the time they're really the best of friends.

Love this boy. Could gobble him up.

Her too.

Here we are at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. That place is amazing, especially at Christmas time.

A little "jump-in-the-leaves" fun

Vintage Video: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Okay, so this isn't TOO old--this was just last Christmas--but it still makes me smile. Here's an encore of Trevor singing along with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" while watching "Elf."

P.S. I love that song: "He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you're awake, he knows if you've been bad or good, so be good, for goodness sake!" -- Those words were SO written by some parent who wanted to get the kiddos to behave in December!