Merry Christmas!!!

Elle awoke early this morning to run and tell us that Santa had indeed been there. All the evidence was there....presents, cookie crumbs, and a trail of reindeer food. She couldn't wait another second to go check it all out, so we woke Brooks up and went to see what Santa brought. Elle's favorite gift is probably the "Puppy that grows and knows your name". This is one she had requested thanks to a commercial (next year they can't watch TV in November or December!). It is really cute and is programmed to say Elle's name. She named it Scottie. She also loves her new pink kid's digital camera. It's hard to say what Brooks' favorite toy was, but he really likes his new set of golf clubs and Spiderman hop ball.
It's been a great morning, but now it's off to Tennessee. We'll stop briefly in SC tonight to break up the trip and will spend the rest of the week with Jay's family. We're looking forward to it and are sure to have more great stories and pictures to share when we return.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Cookies for Santa

As always, we hurry home from the Christmas Eve service at Church to prepare for Santa's arrival. Elle and Brooks had fun making cookies for Santa, a bowl of food for the reindeer, and you can't forget to leave Santa a key under the mat! (Had to think quick when we moved to Florida and no longer had a fireplace!). Elle could not wait to go to bed. Brooks would be excited one minute, then worried that Santa was going to try to hold him the next! Very cute! I'll try to get some Christmas morning pictures posted tomorrow before we head to Tennessee. Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas Pageant

Although most of the recent posts have revolved around Santa, we haven't forgotten the real "reason for the season"! Elle is starting to really understand and enjoy the true Christmas story. Unfortunately, we aren't allowed to take pictures inside the Cathedral, but I got a few as they prepared for their big Christmas Pageant this evening. Elle was a sheep again this year. Before the pageant they always meet to have a birthday party for Jesus and then get dressed. They were all so excited and did a great job. It will be fun next year, because Brooks will be old enough to be in it as well!

Santa

This year has been so busy, that we almost didn't even make it to the Mall to see Santa! Last Tuesday when I picked the kids up from school we made a quick stop to see him. It was kind of spontaneous, so no cute matching Christmas outfits or anything! Brooks did surprisingly well. He is still terrified of all of the Disney characters, so I wasn't sure how he'd do. They both did great and here are some cute pics.

Merry Christmas Eve!

The excitment is building around here as the kids anxiously await Christmas day! "Frisky", our family elf (see www.elfontheshelf.com to learn more about that tradition), made his last trip to see Santa last night and report as to whether Elle and Brooks have been naughty or nice. Today will be full of last minute errands, naps (hopefully), the church Christmas Pageant, making Santa's cookies, and more. I will try to post pictures of our Christmas Eve and morning activities before we leave for Tennessee tomorrow night.

Here are a few pictures of a Christmas party the kids had on Friday with friends. We have a great group of friends that try to get together at least monthly, although it gets harder as the kids get older. The kids drew names for Christmas this year and "Santa" came to hand out the gifts. Elle was onto him right away, whispering "Mom, that's not the real Santa!". I explained that Santa is so busy that sometimes he has people dress up to help him. She accepted that, and agreed to not tell the others that he wasn't the real one!

A cold day at Disney

I took the kids to Disney yesterday thinking I would beat the crowds that arrive next week for the holidays once school was out. Well....I was wrong about the crowds! They're already here. We still had a great time and amazingly the kids did well waiting in the long lines. Elle's good friends Madeline and Emma joined us for a little while as well.

It was unusually cold here in Florida yesterday, so on the way to Disney we had to stop into Target and pick up some gloves and hats to start out the day. That's right...we don't even own heavy coats, hats, and gloves anymore! I needed them anyway for our trip to Tennessee next week.

Merry Chirstmas everyone! There will be many more pictures to share after the next couple of weeks so stay tuned! I will try to keep up!

More SC pics

Our visit to South Carolina was nice, and as always too short! Sorry it's taken me so long to post more pictures. Easton's baptism went well. He wasn't too crazy about it at the time, but he looked adorable and it was special to the family! Kyle's family joined us at Mom's house for dinner afterwards. Here's a picture of the Kinney/Pena/Bloomer Clan (minus Jay).

We also got to go to Sumter and visit with Nana. It was great to see her as well as Aunt Gayle and Uncle Bobby. Wish we lived close enough to see everyone more often. We missed the rest of the gang, but here is a cute picture of Nana with three of her five Great-Grands!

Fun in the Leaves

The kids and I are in South Carolina for the weekend for my nephew's baptism. I had almost forgotten about the joy of jumping in a big pile of leaves until today. Living in Florida, this isn't something that we are able to do since the leaves never really fall. So the kids were in heaven. I'm a little disappointed that it's unusually mild here because I was looking forward to bundling up for a change. I guess we'll have to wait until Christmas in Tennessee for that. Here are a few cute pictures of the kids and one with me in it to get you used to the new hair-do! I've gone brunette for a while. Thought it was time for a change! It will take some getting used to, but it's growing on me! Once we're back home, we'll have lots more pictures to share of Easton's baptism and "Christmas" with my family. We head to Sumter on Monday to see my Grandmother and the rest of the gang.

School Pictures

Here are Elle and Brooks' school pictures for this year. For those of you who are blog veterans, you may remember last year's picture. I can't beleive how much Brooks has changed in a year! Our friend and very talented photographer, Katie Meehan, does the pictures at their school each year. It will be a sad day when Elle starts Kindergarten next year and has to go back to the traditional school pictures! There are a couple of them on Katie's website, also...www.katiemeehan.com.

Vol fans unite!

For those of you who could care less about college football, or who are sick of hearing me talk about the VOLS then feel free to quit reading! I got an email today, though, that I know a few of you will enjoy. Orlando has an awesome UT alumni association that always meets at JB's Sports Bar to watch games together...especially the small untelevised games that only a true Vol cares about. Last weekend's game was not one of those, however! Jay and I rarely go, simply to avoid the kids spending the day in a bar...but when we have made it out, it's always a good time! Here is an email that I received today regarding last weekend's game at JB's. Maybe some of you will find a bit of sympathy in your heart for the UT fans that are stuck in Florida!

"Jake Vest was correct when he said "BEING A V0L IN FLORIDA IS LIKE BEING A BAPTIST IN BAGHDAD". This was never more evident than last Saturday's game with Kentucky .

In a game to decide the SEC East Championship and in the closing minutes of one of the most thrilling games of the college season --- CBS leaves the Kentucky/Tennessee "barn burner" to show a Gator/FSU snooze fest. No wonder CBS ratings have been declining for years. In addition to blunders, i.e. Dan Rather & Katie Couric, their taste in sports entertainment is appalling.

However, never count out the spirit and ingenuity of VOL fans. After our crowd at JB's recovered from the initial shock of CBS stupidity (a split screen would have been nice), and after futile attempts by Bert & Tony Fortunado to find another TV channel, the VOL "can do" spirit took over. Cell phones were utilized to call out of state fans to get play by play information and updates were announced to the group.

Then someone discovered that radio station 1510 was broadcasting the game. TO THE PARKING LOT!!! Car doors open wide, radios blaring the game, fans anxiously listening as the station fades in and out, Kentucky scores -- silence, VOLS score -- horns start blowing, 4 OVERTIMES, VOLS WIN, TENNESSEE SEC EAST CHAMPIONS!!! ON TO ATLANTA !!!

Congratulations to the team and the coaches. It was a game to be remembered, especially if you were part of the UT Central FL Parking Lot Alumni Chapter."

We would like to personally thank Jason Hammonds for being our designated phone commentator for the end of the game. And thanks to Robin for letting him be on the phone with Jay for an hour and a half!!
GO VOLS!