Settled for a snow mantle...

In my head I wanted to do a New Year's Mantle with lots of cool clocks, but since I didn't have any clocks and didn't want to buy anything I settled for a 'snow' theme. I think I like it...

Bring on 2013...

The New Year's Tree is ready!

Christmas Eve

We enjoyed Christmas Eve at mom and dad's house...A wonderful time was had by all!

Lily and Layne helping Nonna stuff our stockings!

  Molly and Grandma smile for the camera

 The Mullen Girls before Church

The reason for the season.  Happy Birthday Jesus!

 Lily wanted her picture with 'all of her presents!'

                                                   

I think Layne loved his boots...now if he could just find is jeans!

Emily and Grandma before Grandma went to bed

Lily telling Grandma good night!

Emily said they needed bath towels, so bath towels they got!

Layne put on his Christmas pajamas for their ride home!

Phone pics!

We had a wonderful, low key Christmas! I'll post from my camera soon, but for now here are a few of my favorite pics that I took (or people texted me) with my phone on Christmas Adam...

Mom making her delicious stuffed shells!
Ray and I picked up Grandma and I think she really enjoyed her time with us!
From Christmas Eve...Lily's hands and Layne's finger prints!
Lily's delicious Christmas cookies
Lily loved her horse jewelry box!
Layne loved his boots and vest!
Relaxing by mom and dad's tree with Ray (and Logan!)
And from Christmas morning before mom and dad took Grandma home (to beat the 'blizzard')
It got so cold, so Ray started our fire and that is were we stayed the rest of the day...well until dinner!
My new favorite appetizer...marinated cheese!
And December 26th...Snow Day!
Too bad we had to work and didn't get to stay home and enjoy it!

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Tis the night before Christmas...

And what a wonderful Night Before Christmas it has been! Molly and I even heard Santa as we were going to midnight church...now here's to visions of Sugarplums! Merry Christmas to all!

Waiting under the real...

Mistletoe at Nonna and Poppa's house for someone to come give her a kiss!

Oh how I love...

Christmas Cards (on my Holly Tree!)

The Christmas Spirit...

Has been all around me this week! Ray has been out of town this past week and I've been enjoying all things Christmas! I've addressed Christmas cards, wrapped presents, listened to way too much Christmas music and made some sweet treats. On Sunday after early church, I met Mom shopping. Monday I had some great friends over for a festive Holiday dinner (and a sneak peak at the new house). Last night I went to the 2nd annual I Love GROW Christmas party and what a fun time we had! Then tonight after work I rushed to More Than A Meal to help serve the annual Christmas dinner! MTAM is a weekly devotional/meal our church puts on for the needy and the homeless in the area and what a blessing it was to be at this event and hear their spoken prayer requests. Then in normal Thursday fashion, we went to wing night where we were greeted by carolers...as I sat there and listened to them I thought about what a wonderful neighborhood we live in and how happy December makes me...I just want to shout Merry Christmas to everyone! To me it is really all about spending time with the people you love, spreading cheer and hope to all around you and remembering Jesus is the reason for the season!

It was all laughter and smiles until...

Layne saw Santa!  Dad and I took the kids to the Enchanted Forest on Saturday.  They both LOVED it!  Lily is still trying to figure out why Santa trimmed his beard...I think it was because he was eating too many cookies and they kept getting caught in his beard!

Layne loved the adoption center tree!

 

Marvelous...

As soon as Lily woke up, she had to get out of bed and see if Marvelous knew they were spending the night at Uncle Rays and Aunt Brooke's house.  Marvelous found them all right...and Lily can't believe what Marvelous did especially since Marvelous is not usually mischievous!  I guess she knows Lily and Layne have Aunt Brooke wrapped around their little finger and she wouldn't get upset with her late night prank!  She also left Kit Kat bars (Lily's favorite) and a marshmallow pop with a elf size santa hat just in case there wasn't anything Lily liked for breakfast!

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Time

Gets away from me these days! We are loving our new house and getting more settled each day. This past weekend was the GROW Saturday Christmas party. All of the kid were excited to see Santa!


And super excited about him giving them each a gift!


I even got to talk to Santa a bit!


Then on Sunday, we stopped to check on Marvelous (and Lily and Layne) on our way to see Grandma. Marvelous was busy zip lining which Lily and Layne thought was so funny! I hear Monday was an easier day for Marvelous...she enjoyed a bubble bath in marshmallows!


Grandma seemed to be doing well. As an added bonus, we got to visit with Aunt Marca, Uncle Mike and Peyton!


Why do the weekends go by so fast?
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Location:Harbor Common Dr,Memphis,United States

Celebrating!

Sunday night we celebrated Emily's Birthday with a family party at our house! Sunday also happened to be the Harbor Town Christmas Parade and tree lighting...waiting for the parade to start!
I think everyone enjoyed themselves...Lily and Layne especially loved the horses!
I had a hot chocolate bar, but too bad it was 70 degrees!
Look at Emily's cute Christmas owl that Molly had made for her!  

Lily was very into helping her momma open her presents and 

 blow out and eat her cake!

Lily wanted to end the night was a dance party in what she calls the 'man dance room'!

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This weekend...

Was filled with a little unpacking and cleaning, some decorating and a lot of fun! Remember my cafe table I bought at a garage sale about 8 years ago? It was yellow and I painted it black...


Now, it 'Birthday Party' colors and I love it!


I could hang out in the sunroom all day and night! I think Ray might love this room even more...he just thinks we need to add a tv, but I'm not so sure just yet.
On Saturday night, we decorated our tree...


I always love our tree, but this year may just be my favorite yet. All of our ornaments are so special and many were ours when we were kids. Mom gave us this ornament this weekend and I love it!


Look at this beautiful rose that bloomed in our back yard. Plus, we have 3 different red berries growing that I enjoyed decorating with. I'm loving our new house and if it would just cool off a bit, I would be loving this Holiday Season!


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Our 2012 Christmas Tree

Once again we stopped at Mehaffey Tree Farm for our tree. Such nice people!


We had over 2,000 to choose from...


Can't wait to get it up in our new house! Now lets hope it makes it on the 8 hour drive home...


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