England Family Photos 2012

A little New Year FUN...

 This year for New Year's Eve we had some sweet friends over for a little surprise each hour as we counted down to the New Year.  Mommy hid a little paper with a task written on it inside of each balloon.  It was to keep you busy the next hour as you waited up so late for the ringing of the New Year.  And...it worked! You all stayed up till midnight!  One task was to make fun hats from the craft box downstairs.  You had some pretty cool hats!!!  I cannot wait for a new year of sweet memories and joyful experiences with each of you!  Happy 2013 precious girls!

sweet sisters~best friends!

My Most Cherished Tradition...

As a child, Christmas Eve was spent celebrating my Granny's brothers birthday as a huge family and then the immediate cousins and family would stay at Granny and Pop's together.  We would spend the night up in the attic in the bedroom with two twin beds and an old trunk in the middle that sat under the window.  Many of Christmas Eve nights, I would sit elbows propped up on that trunk just watching and listening for Santa's sleigh.  It was SO cold up there I remember.  And, Pop would cover us with so many of my great grandmother's handmade quilts that we would have to get the other person in our bed to lift them up so we could roll over.  It was such sweet memories in the making!!  Now, we make those same memories for you precious girls.  And, it is still my most favorite tradition.  I cherish each and every Christmas night spent with family sleeping together at Grandparents and enjoying all the gifts each other receives together.  Now, we stay at Mimi and Granddaddy's house and you cousins sleep in the "nest" there together.  I remember always wondering what the adults did while we had so much fun locked away upstairs together.  I must say...it is just as heartwarming and exciting being the parent as it is being the child.  Family, my sweet girls, is greater than any gift you will ever receive for the Holidays.  I know at your age now you take those nights at Mimi's for granted~unintentionally, of course.  But each and every Christmas, I long for a glimpse of Granny in the corner wearing her brown robe as she and Pop sip coffee while Matt Matt, Danielle, David and I dig into all the goodies we had been blessed with that year.  I am so thankful for the influence and love given by my amazing grandparents.  No Christmas will ever pass that I do not miss them deeper than the year before.  Merry Christmas, my sweet girls!! 

  

  

A candle shines in honor of each member of the family while the representing carolers look on from the entry table!!   Love Mimi and her special touches!!! 

 

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!! 

 Such a wonderful Christmas in SO many ways!! 

Christmas ALL around town...

 I love how Christmas time is a time to showcase your talents!!  It was such a blessing to see you all doing things you enjoy and doing them all so very well.  It's so obvious that you each put your heart in your activities.  Here are a few of my favorites caught on camera...

Violin recital 2012

 The Naviity... Anna Grace and Anna with all your little groupies!

 Ailee was in the nativity too this year.  And, Ailee, you did a fabulous job at showcase night too. Such serious barre work!

 And, you all love your schools!  Sing around the tree at FPP and playing games at Anna Grace's class party! 

 

Merry Merry Merry days!!!