Happy Holidaaaaaays!

This is a photo montage (in no particular order) of our Christmas holiday with the Sanders side of the family. I'll spare all my attempt at wit for now and let you peruse our pics. I will say, though, that we had a blast getting to have a full house, eat lots of good food, and play games til we dropped every night (literally). We're so glad they all made the trip down here to spend Christmas with us!

Enjoy!

Brayden with AmyReading with Aunt HannyAunt C
Memaw
Smiling for Daddy after naptime

Pops makes a good pillow!

The kids Christmas morning
Ode to pictures past (Mommy had a picture like this her first Christmas)
Can I open my stocking now?!
Uncle Isaac
Happy with his Bear
All bundled up and ready to go!
Brayden loves his bike

Checking out his loot
Sampling his loot

Tis the Season

In addition to being delinquent in posting, we are a bit behind the 8 ball when it comes to putting up decorations. Well, for me anyway. I come from a very serious lot of Christmas decorators. My Grandpa was the Grand Poo Pa of decoration. Every Thanksgiving all the grandkids were called upon to help him decorate the tree. Now, this seems like a simple enough task, but it really wasnt. There was a precise method to the madness, and you quickly found out where ornaments were to go and how they were to be placed. It was comedic really...my Grandpa taking it all very seriously while all the grandkids looked around at the other adults like, "He's joking, right?" but their grinning would always confirm that he was indeed VERY serious so we usually all proceeded to laugh at the whole process...but more so at him...
I was reminded of this process as I applied our lights to the tree in a very willy nilly fashion (neither Luke or I have what you would all an eye for detail) and couldnt help but smile knowing that my kids will also be the recipients of the same tradition I was. Even though my own Grandpa isnt here anymore to pass this tradition on to my kids, my own father seems to have picked up where my Grandpa left off with the OCD Christmas tree decorating...and I cant wait to sit back, watch and laugh.
Here are the pictures of our tree...not fancy or Jack Holcomb decorated, but I bet he'd approve.

Give Thanks

This is an aptly named blog considering the time of year we are in and also because I'm sure all the grandparents are thankful I'm finally posting.

These are some pictures that have been taken since we last posted, most happening over the Thanksgiving holiday when my parents came down to visit along with my sister and Grandma (my Dad's mom). It was really nice to see family, but its hard when they have to leave. The house still seems empty, but with Christmas and Luke's family coming we will get a few more days of a full house. Its funny how you work hard to forget how far away you are from the ones you love. If I try really hard I can make myself believe they are just down the street, but sadly, they arent. And with each visit it takes just a bit longer to forget the distance. So Luke and I are grateful for many things, but today I feel overwhelming gratitude for my family that was just here as well as for Luke's family coming soon.

Oh...and of course there are two men in my life who I cant leave out, even if one is screaming for attention right now...you decide which one that is...he shall remain nameless.

Making my company prep go a little slower

"I think my present is bigger!"
"Do you need something? We're trying to read here."
Holcomb family picture