Christmas in Mississippi

Early in December, we traveled to Mississippi to see our cousins. We heard that Santa Claus was coming to Clinton a little bit early. Aunt Priss had a gingerbread party for us at their restaurant Lula's. It was a such a fun day!

Adam and Charlie were hard at work with their house.

Charlie loves to pay attention to detail.

Lily Kate and her Mimi had such fun!

Jackson loved just watching everyone and all of the festivities!

Price had fun with Jackson.

KK and Daddy celebrated with some cookies.

Lily Kate and a sweet friend decorated by each other.

KK helped ice the house.

Uncle Clint and Anderson were carefully building and icing each piece.

Santa arrived shortly after we got there. What a fun surprise!

Posing with Santa made everyone smile.

Take #2

Lily Kate and Jackson have such a bond. He reaches for her (over both Adam and me) each time we are together.

Aunt Cookie and Lily Kate are best buds.

Family pics are hard to come by with a three-year-old and a moving Jackson....here is our best effort!

Curious...."Can I touch, Mama?"

"Yes, I can!"

"Here I come!"

After the party, we all stayed and watched the Clinton Christmas parade. Thanks to Uncle Dean and Aunt Priss for hosting us. What a fun Christmas memory.

Crazy Hair a la Jackson

Our "after-a-good-nap" do along with "Ga-Ga" in our mouth. "Ga-Ga" is short for any kind of dog or any other animal in Jackson's language.

That same afternoon, our sweet friend, Lydia, brought reindeer antlers for the boys. Lydia's purse is always filled with surprises for the boys.

Rudolph

Silly boys

Family Advent Wreath Celebration

For the past few years, we have participated in our church's family advent wreath celebration. We gather at church the Sunday after Thanksgiving to make advent wreaths together. We bring the greenery and the church provides the candles and devotions to go along with Advent. It is a great beginning to the Christmas season. Plus, it is a great opportunity to start talking with our family and others about why we celebrate Christmas...celebrating Christ's birth. Charlie and Jackson had a great time with friends making wreaths and learning more about Christmas!

The North Pole Express

For part of our Christmas present, KK and Bubba treated all of us to the North Pole Express in Calera, Alabama. This is the same train museum and area where we have visited Thomas the Train. As you can tell the kiddos (and adults) loved it. (Charlie had fallen asleep on the way down, so that is why he looks exhausted in most of the pics.) The kids wore their Christmas pajamas and we had a great time celebrating Christmas early.

Conductor Price on the ABC train

Lily Kate and Price in the ABC train together

Price in his fun robe

The Farrar Family

Lily Kate and Charlie wait for the train

The Blair Family (best we could do)

Cousins waiting for the North Pole Express (or Polar Express)

We all had tickets that the conductor punched.

Aunt Priss and Uncle Dean

The little conductor and his mama...waiting for Santa

Merry Christmas from us all!

Thank you, KK and Bubba, for treating us to such a fun family event!

Adam and Karen

Lily Kate and I wait for the elves to come bring us some milk and cookies.

The grandkids with KK and Bubba!

Santa and Mrs. Claus (or Mary Claus as Charlie called her all throughout Christmas) boarded the train and took pictures with the kiddos.

Happy trails!