It's Christmas Time in the City

We had such a great Christmas this year. It was so much fun watching our kids open presents, equally excited for each other as they were for themselves! I'm not sure how long the magic of Christmas lasts with your kids, but for now I am soaking up all of it.

Here they were checking out everything Santa brought...and yes, the sun had not come up yet!

And later for dinner we went to the Ausdran's house. Avery LOVES Megan!

The Ausdrans with Holly's mom and dad.

Randall, Megan, Holly, and Randy

Our little family of five...and yes this was actually the best Avery face of all the ones taken.

Megan and her sweet boyfriend, Jacob. 

I feel so blessed when sweet friends start to just feel like family! We love u Ausdran family!



Christmas Eve

After the candle light service at North Shore, we had a friend snap a few pics. Merry Christmas everyone!

Christmas Lights

Finally, it was time to see the Christmas lights! And it was a beautifully, mild night for it. No jacket required!

 Anna's favorite was the Cinderella themed window.

 Anna in front of the Alice in Wonderland window...Noah and Avery move too fast for me to get any pictures of them in front of their favorites.

 And this is my attempt at getting a picture of all three looking and smiling...not a chance!

A Beautiful December Sunset

Maybe it's because I grew up on Florida's west coast...or maybe everyone is like this, but I am a sucker for a beautiful sunset!

Gingerbread Houses

We made foam ginger bread houses this year...last year our candy houses did not last very long, certain little ones found it too irresistible to eat! So we went with foam and Anna and Noah were able to make them all by themselves!! They were so proud of their little houses!

Avery made a gingerbread man ornament instead.

24xMain Southside Parade

Getting ready for our annual southside neighborhood parade!

There goes the girls...Patty, Keri, and Allison were running reindeers, and very cute ones too!

The Morrison's, sweet 'lil newly weds!

Our sweet friends, Roger and Mickey, were with us all day, enjoying all the 24x Main festivities!

Happy Thanksgiving in the country

it has become our tradition to go to Tim's dad's house in Monticello, FL for thanksgiving. He and Mimi live about 30 minutes outside of Tallahassee in the country on about 2 acres (or more, I'm very bad at judging these things). It was so fun for our city kids to get out and explore for a few days all the great outdoors has to offer! It was a wonderful feeling as a mom to finally relax and let them explore without having to remind them of their exact boundries...and having three sweet cousins to play with helped too!

lots of beautiful pine trees on papa and mimi's property

Thanksgiving 2011

3 generations of Hayse men

Thanksgiving with Nana

Nana surprised us with an entire Thanksgiving dinner on the day before Thanksgiving! And it was delicious!! We are so glad that she is feeling well! And here they are at Tom Brown park! It was a little difficult for me to go back there since that is the place Avery had her big accident and had to rushed by ambulance to the hospital...glad to have that first time back over with now.

our littlest monkey

making Christmas cookies with Nana on Black Friday

they loved being with her while Tim and I went on a date in Tallahassee, thanks nana!

Fall Leaves Hike

While Tim was in New Orleans with his southside guys investigating a church partnership with Saint Roch Church, the kids and I had a weekend together. The highlight was definintely this hike on a beautiful fall afternoon!

Battle Banzai

Heading to Battle Academy's fall festival, Battle Banzai! So much fun for the kids!

All Noah could talk about was getting to hold the snake!

They all wanted to do some artwork.

It was a great day...Avery was knocked out on the couch before I could even get her into bed.

Trick or Treat

Anna Ballerina, Mario, and Alice in Wonderland for Halloween!

first stop, Holly and Randy's house!