It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Am I talking about Spring?!?  NOPE - Christmas...of course.  Just when the holidays have finally become a distant memory for you folks, and instead, you're thinking of Easter and gardens and Spring Break, here I am, just getting around to my December update!  As usual, this is more a photo dump than an actual update.  One day, friends...one day.

O Christmas Tree!

A new tradition for MP2 - hot cocoa and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Visiting Santa

Our sweet (and very crafty!) friend hosted a gingerbread house making party.  SO fun!

Working on earning that coal for their stockings.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Aunt Donna meets NC

Preparing cookies for Santa

Christmas Eve Dinner

Santa Came!

Bedhead

N+P with their babies.

Max in 2012 & 2014 - growing up so fast

New Year's Eve - Family-style at the Pharmacy :)

Living in Fast Forward

I think I am recycling a past blog post title, but am not even taking the time to search and confirm!  :)  I'd rather actually share some pictures and document a little bit about what we've been up to over the past couple of months.  

We are truly coming out of the new baby vortex.  I think it's safe to say that none of us is permanently scarred from the experience!  In fact, we are really enjoying life as a family of four.  NC has been turning into a much more cheerful baby, and there's no one that she loves more than her big brother.  I think she's got a special place in his heart too - one that grows with each smile she casts his way.

Further, NC is full of smiles for all of us.  She's super interactive and getting so much bigger!

(on her 4mo birthday!)

 MP2 continues to be a complete ham.  He loves life and is learning more and more all the time.  We have so much fun with him.

being a monster

wondering if it's Christmas since it snowed (it's not) :)

two snows in one month - what's the world coming to?!?

Thanksgiving 2013

Our little brood 

In mid-December, MP ran the Huntsville marathon.  He'd intended to do a quick trip there and back on his own, but on the day before the race, I started realizing that this would be his first big race that MP2 and I were not there to cheer him on and got really sad.  We took a chance on NC and decided to all three join him.  So glad we did!  We had a great time as a family, and it was so fun to watch him race.  He did a great job...and so did I, if I do say so myself, getting two kids in and out of the car for cheering at six different spots (GO ME!).  :)

Next up, Christmas season round up!  Coming soon.  (no promises :))

Ama, Grandpa, and All-You-Can-Eat Candy!

The day after cousins headed back to the big city, Ama & Grandpa made the trip south.  They arrived on Halloween.   It was great having them here to trick or treat with us - especially since Ama even brought a costume (she dressed as our very own Nora Cate!).  It was a very dark and stormy night, and we only were able to get out to a few homes on our street.  But our little shorty didn't know the difference.  Besides, that left less candy to have "disappear".  We did have a free-for-all on the night of Halloween and who knows how much chocolate the kid consumed!  

Welcome, Ama!

Our two Nora Cates

Heading out to trick or treat

  

Our little monster.

"Get this hat off of me!!!" says Nora Cate

Sharing candy with Grandpa

No need to stop eating candy for photos!

Feeling better once the costume is off.

Back to the library for a magic show.

The world's most annoyed bunny.

Lunch downtown

Ama and Grandpa both bonding with the newest grandbaby!!

Again, it was another lovely time.  We were so glad that family could come down and spend some time with us.  We can't wait to make it up there sometime in the spring!!