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!

Grandparent's visit, Birthday Party, and the Naval Air Museum

We just had a great visit with Grandma and Grandpa Joyner and Mom's sisters - Aunt Danna and Aunt Diana. I will only be able to post the pictures I have on my phone because I don't yet have everyone else's photos of the week's events. 

Anna got a birthday card from the Baines in the mail. 

James and I took Lily and Aunt Danna and Aunt Diana to the lighthouse. The climb was a little too much for them to finish, but Aunt Diana kindly watched Lily while James and I climbed up. It was heavy going, but the view at the top is worth it!

The Navy Hospital where James works is on the horizon.

Grandpa played with Lily under the table.

Anna got to hit her birthday piñata.

Lily got a whack at it. Aunt Diana is in the background.

We filled some water balloons at the birthday party.

Kylie and Alyssa were waiting for more water balloon ammunition at the Navy Boat Docks birthday party.

I didn't get any more photos of the event with my phone, but much fun was had by all!

This picture was taken just to make Aunt Becca jealous that she couldn't be there with us. :-)

We got to take everyone to La Hacienda for lunch - it was yummy!

Grandma took great care of Anna - during the entire visit! I was spoiled with lots of childcare. Everyone left Thursday morning leaving me with a very quiet and slightly lonely house.

This weekend was wild with the TBC Sunday School picnic and field day. James and I were in charge of preparing 130 hotdogs and 130 hamburgers with assorted sides. We rented an 82 foot inflatable obstacle course and a dunk tank and another bouncer. It was crazy and so much fun! I didn't take any pictures though. 

This morning James needed me to bring him something important at work, and he had Anna's car seat in his car so she got to upgrade! Thankfully we had one already from a yard sale. She is getting so big!

Lily in her seat.

Since we were so close by, we drove on from James' work to the Naval Air Museum.

Note: I tried to publish this post Monday but just discovered that it didn't work then.

Family Camp

Lily and Laura Alexander enjoyed each other greatly.

Anna and her church twin - Becca Alexander

I helped the Stearlys set up their tent since it is very similar to ours. It was fun!

We went swimming in Krul Lake both Monday and Tuesday afternoon. Anna looked so grown up sitting by herself!

I enjoyed the messages so much. Bro. Roth preached about the family on Saturday night, all day Sunday, and Monday through Wednesday evening. We weren't able to camp this year.  James was off of work Monday and Tuesday so we spent most of those days at Bear Lake.