Picture on The Stairs

The annual picture on the stairs!

Love it.

Love it.

Love it.

Best we could get it.

High Tea With Marmee

Marmee took the girls to the Tea Room for a special treat. We were refined, elegant, and accidentally hilarious.

Jumping and Climbing

The kids got to do some fun stuff together, like jumping in a trampoline fun house for an hour and spending stocking money at Toys R Us. One day we tried to go to Ruby Falls, a giant cave in the mountain with a gorgeous waterfall at the end of the hike. 

But El Niño has been bringing record setting rain, so the cave was flooded and closed. We decided to try indoor rock climbing instead.

It was sooo fun!

One part was really scary, but I just took deep breaths and shook my head to keep up my courage.

Keeley and I didn't want to leave!

The boys liked it, but would have liked it better if it wasn't happening during nap time with empty stomachs.

Christmas in Georgia

Our annual trip to Georgia after Christmas to see these awesome people was perfect. I love picking up with these girls right where we left off. The boys seemed to like bonding over their shared competitive natures and #payback. 

 We got to celebrate Keeley's birthday,

 and watch Marmee decorate a beautiful birthday cake. Nailed it.

Mom got a peek at the World Famous Apricot Cookie recipe.

Everyone was eager for Mom to take pictures to document the end of 2015.

Except the kids. They wanted her to GET OUT.

Christmas Morning

Best Christmas, ever. Santa brought an American Girl Doll that looks just like me! Her name shall be Charlotte Skywalker.  I love her so much!

Ryan got Star Wars stuff and Legos and books. He loved all of it.

We haven't played this contentedly in months.

The love I feel for my new doll has inspired a protective instinct.

I've warned her that the internet is a scary place for a sweet girl like her. You never know what cyberbully could be trolling.

Christmas Eve

I think we've settled into some good family traditions for Christmas Eve. Gingerbread houses in the morning. 

Church in the afternoon.

And Chinese food for dinner!

This was Dad's tradition growing up, and now we love it.

Ryan wasn't sold on it at first. He hates anything that is not cheese, bread, or ketchup.

Lately he is branching out with new foods.

Oh, and chocolate. He likes chocolate.

 Maybe Chinese food for Christmas Eve dinner is not so bad, after all.