Christmas with the Bryans Pictures

I haven't updated my blog in awhile and I only have Christmas picture to share right now. Enjoy and be nostalgic for Christmas. :-)

These photos were from the gift exchange at Mom and Dad Bryan's house on Christmas Eve.

Dad got to open the photo book

They love the photo book with all ten grandchildren featured.

Carlie, Anna, Keith and Kylie representing four different families!

Carlie demonstrated the Christmas Look 2013

Merry Christmas!

We had a fun visit with Grandma and Grandpa Joyner and Aunt Becca. Becca did a photo shoot for us with her amazing camera.

Revolving tree + slow shutter speed = this!

The girls enjoyed Aunt Becca and their grandparents.

I have not gotten Rebecca's other pictures of the visit yet, but fun was had by all!

 Dad Joyner found out about a Christmas train display that we visited together. 

James and the girls got to ride the train!

The model train building was so neat!

The view from the stationmaster's chair was great.

Christmas Decorations

We put our Christmas decorations up the day after Thanksgiving and the girls love them. 

Anna  is especially enthralled with the tree lights.

Every time Anna comes in sight of the tree she points and says, "Oooh!" in the cutest way imaginable. She hasn't stopped admiring in these two weeks it has been up.

We got LED lights for the tree this year and they are super bright!

Lily adores the outside lights on our bushes. James put solid colors on the front bushes and each time we come home at night from anywhere Lily runs to them and points asking what color they are. She knows and could tell you herself, but the fun is in running back and forth across the front of the house calling out "What's dis one?"

It was warm for several days last week so James took the girls outside to play one morning. 

I am excited that I only have one more present to sew for Anna to be completely done with Christmas gifts! That is a very good thing because now I can prepare for Mom and Dad Joyner's visit the end of this week without stress or hurry.

Is it Christmas Yet?

I took the FlyLady challenge to cruise through Christmas. The idea is to prepare as many as possible of your Christmas gifts, cards, decorations and menu ahead of time. Pretend like you are going on a cruise during the month of December so everything has to be done before you leave. I caught the digital gifts up to the present and turned my attention to the gifts I have to purchase and sew.

Therefore I haven't had a lot of time to blog or take pictures. :-)

Anna crashed while she was chewing

Keep-your-hand-on-top game

Ring-around-the-rosies

Anna is walking barely enough to play with now!

I can't wait until Christmas because Lily will enjoy the lights and the tree so much this year.

Laundry

Lily was cold the other morning so we wrapped her up

Lily and Daddy eating bananas together.

I will leave that bonding moment for him - I hate bananas.

We enjoyed the TBC banquet on Friday night. Pastor gives awards for faithful service in your area of ministry. James has been a deacon for nine years and next year on his tenth anniversary he will get a plaque. This year he received two awards that weren't related to Christian service. He won the fishing contest at Family Camp in two categories! I forgot my camera so I missed a priceless picture of him. He got a very nice trophy with a fish on it for catching the largest bass, then he was called back up for a medal for catching the most fish. He had grinned the hugest grin on getting his trophy, so Pastor teased him about this medal. As James walked down from the stage he grinned and held his medal up by his ear and pumped his other fist in the air bringing down the house with laughter. I just wish I had a picture.

Saturday we went with the TBC bus ministry to Kangarooz Family Fun Center where they have nine different bouncing houses in a building. It was the end of the fall bus contest and the winners got to go on the outing. We went along for Lily's sake but she didn't really enjoy bouncing. She was terrified of it actually. She made it all the way through an obstacle course by clinging tightly to James' back, but she could not be convinced to bounce. She did like the toddler area slide though.

For extra credit, try to find James and I.

I have no idea who the boy is before you ask. :-)

Lily got to have a free face-painting done

This was mere minutes before it itched and was smeared. :-)

Clinging for dear life and giving James a workout!

Sunday was a normal but busy day with Children's Choir practice and a church fellowship to eat up the leftover banquet food.

Monday James was off of work so we went shopping to buy him some work boots. He gets an allowance from work each year for them and his current ones are worn out. After that we went to the mall for my wedding ring's bi-yeary check-up.

Today I was doing laundry, and I showed Lily how to fold the washcloths we use for washing up after meals. She learned how and loved folding it so much! She screamed with glee to find there was another washcloth to fold in the dryer. If only I responded to laundry so enthusiastically - I could learn from her!

I'm Free!

I spent 50 hours these past few weeks working on digital Christmas presents, but I am caught up and I'm free to live, free to move, free to... oh wait. There are more presents to prepare. Oh well!

To celebrate, I worked on the girl's closets last night changing summer clothing to winter attire. It is winter in Florida now. It is 50 degrees in the early morning! Of course by mid-day it has been warm again. I like living in Florida.

Mom Joyner bought the girls matching dresses from Alyssa's, and they wore them the other Sunday.

I got asked several times if I had made them and done the smocking. I haven't learned such an intimidating handicraft - yet. Maybe someday!

I babysat Carlie while Vanessa went to a Ladies' Retreat last week. It was only for a few hours but the girls had fun with each other.

Dad Bryan hosted a get-together for a bonfire at his house. Alyssa and Gavin took turns singing for the group. Gavin is singing "Jesus Loves Me" and getting his back scalding hot in the process!