Merry Christmas 2013 and Happy New Year!

We had a fun Christmas with my family and visiting with all my cousins. We spent a nice day with Ben's parents at their house for New Years Day. We are so blessed to have our family close by!

Christmas outfits

Snuggles with Jude, Catherine & Abigail..and Yogi

Tea party with Grace's friend

New Year's Eve bonfire with marshmallow roast...yum!

My new year resolution...the girls like to join in my workout videos, too

Stopped by Goodwill and found these bathrobes...the girls love 'em

Do you see a four footed blanket in the pile?

My sweeties

This was taken in Hampton with the cousins the day after Christmas

November Fun

In November we enjoyed lots of time outdoors. We went to the park for a walk for life with our friends from church. The girls stay busy with school and children's choir as well as birthday parties. We visited Pageland for our last Thanksgiving there now that Ben's family has moved to town! Yeah!!

Picnic with friends at the walk for life

Children's choir friends join at the piano

birthday party at Rollie Pollies...the girls had a blast!

Our first meal with our new neighbors...look at Grace's hair!!!

Our last Thanksgiving dinner in Pageland

Grace Goes To Disney

Grace went to Disney World with Nana & Pappy and my brother Andrew's clan this past November. Although, this post is a little late, Grace has talked about it everyday since then. Ben and I plan to take Grace and Abigail in a couple of years when Abigail is old enough to remember (because we will only get Ben to Disney once!) Enjoy the pics...

Her favorite princess...Cinderella!

Lego lady

Grace and my niece Catherine

Happy Halloween

We enjoyed our evening visiting with neighbors and it was fun seeing all the kids dressed up and everyone outside enjoying this beautiful weather...sitting outside wearing shorts and t-shirt doesn't feel very much like fall! The girls dressed up as princesses and were escorted by their prince charming Daddy while I stayed home and passed out candy with our neighbors. The very talented Grandma Hough made the costumes for the girls!  

Grace did not enjoy carving pumpkins...even with gloves on!

Abigail didn't like it either...but only because Grace didn't. :)

Princess Grace, Princess Abigail & Prince Charming Daddy

Where's the carriage?!

Happy 13th Anniversary (post 1 of 2)

Ben and I celebrated our anniversary by visiting the church we were married in 13 years ago! It was fun to go back and reminisce and show our girls where we tied the knot.  So happy to spend life together. I am blessed!

Selfie in the cemetery garden of the neighboring church. It is a beautiful natural garden that has very little pruning except to clear the pathway. The girls had fun running through it.

Clearly a Unitarian Church garden. 

Same place we stood 13 years ago...Grace took this pic for us!

There's the pretty church in the background.

Grace turns 5! (post 2 of 2)

Happy Birthday to Grace! Hard to believe my first baby is 5 years old!! In true Grace fashion she wanted a princess tea party. Grace loves all things girly! It was a perfect, sweet party with just the girls (and Ben). We started out with a scavenger hunt and the treasures were these cute tiaras for everyone, then we ate brunch/had tea, then played BINGO (Grace's favorite), then we sang happy birthday and ate cake/opened presents and the girls enjoyed playing together before we headed to the pool. It was a good day!

Make a wish!

The princesses at the tea party.

I had fun making the princess doll cake. Grace picked out her cupcake wrappers.

The royal family.

Time to eat!

Somebody loves cake!

Puddles

*Warning: If you are not a cat lover, then you do not need to read this post* I love having a cat...Puddles is getting so big and he continues to amuse us with his curiosity. He loves to play with running water and always accompanies the girls with their bath...batting at the water or walking up and down the edge of the tub trying to get the courage to jump in. He enjoys being in the same room as the girls and I love that Puddles likes to be with us. Having said that, he can be very annoying at times...attacking your feet under the covers while you're sleeping, wiping his wet nose on your face while you are sleeping, attacking your feet as you walk across the room or running across the piano keys in the middle of the night. It is nonstop entertainment around here! Overall he is a good cat and we are still trying to tame him from his wild ways and remembering to put the lid down on the piano keys at night. Enjoy the pictures...

He loves to find that perfect nap spot.

Puddles even likes to play Barbies.

Thanks GGma for the new pet pillow.

He even slept there as I played the piano. 

He really likes the piano