A Very Gigi Christmas!

Picture overload...but it's hard to stop snapping when you just love the people in them so much! We made it to Gigi's around noon and were ready to celebrate with our family. Of course, Gigi had lots of yummy food. Thankfully we started with a formal sit down dinner...a yummy Christmas Ham, potatoes and more. While we took a breather, the kids were getting antsy. They wanted to open presents so that's just what we did.

For the first time ever, we did it in the Formal Living Room, and it worked. There was room with the dining room attached and the kids got all the things they wanted and more! About a week before our celebration Papa had seen a video for Pie Face Showdown. I told him to buy it. But then mom (Gigi) ended up buying it as a gift for him from the Grandkids! Boy was he excited to open it, and of course had to be one of the first to try it out! I wish I had snapped a picture of him playing with the kids. It was too funny. At one point Grandpa Merle chuckled and said he didn't want to get hit in the nose with that thing. It was a hit, for sure! An all around great day, and we are certainly blessed!

Arizona Cousins

They're here, they're here...Our Nat Nat and JO are in Illinois! There is always way too much time in between our visit with the Ianello's and so we get very excited when get a chance to catch up. They are in Illinois for a few days so we can celebrate Christmas, and we intend to get our fill! On Friday when the girls got out of school we headed straight to Charleston. Gigi made Italian Beef and soup for dinner. She had sugar cookies ready for the kids to ice and decorate...what a mess, but a lot of fun! 

For the most part it was just a lot of great cousin time! We got them in their matching jammies and snapped a few pictures. On Saturday, despite the crummy icy weather, Gigi, Papa, Aunt Laura, Uncle Jeff and the girls all headed to Decatur. Leah had a swim meet. We all watched her take 2nd place in the 25 backstroke, and then headed home for Pizza! Looking forward to a wonderful Christmas with my favorite Myerscoughs!

Leah's Christmas Concert

These moments are fleeting...Leah has very few Christmas concerts left. Or School concerts for that matter. And she was so excited about this one. Of course Gigi came...she had to drive to Mt. Zion three days in a row. But we love that she took the time to join us. Little sisters had dance and had to be picked up a bit early, but they made it.

Leah told us that she was on the left hand side of the stage...and she literally was as far left as you could get. Right there on the end of the aisle, front and center. The theme for the show was "Old Fashined Christmas" and some of the songs were so cute. "Turn off that nose" about Rudolph and his blinker, "Who's that?" With a boy dressed as Santa popping out of the chimney were my two favorites. And then of course, Deck the Halls and Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas. She did great! For the kids the best part was going to dinner afterwards. Now this weekend we kick off the first of our Christmas celebrations..."Tis the season!

Kiersten's Christmas Concert

On Monday night, Kiersten had her Christmas Concert. This girl was born to perform. I have a feeling in a few short years she will be wanting to do show choir! So Mt. Zion is a good fit! The kids did a great job. They did a song about wanting to be an Elf that was just too cute. She was thrilled that her Gigi came to watch!

Hattie's 1st Christmas Concert

Some how my sweet Hattie felt like it was okay to go ahead and grow up on me. She's been having a great time in 4 year old preschool this year, and this past Sunday got to have her first school concert. She was excited to wear a sparkly Christmas dress. She had been practicing her songs and knew them by heart. Gigi came to Mt. Zion for the day. We went and saw Moana, had dinner and then headed to school.

The entire class did great. There were lots of smiles, and they had so much fun. After the show their was a small reception. Lots of delicious cookie treats to enjoy. It was a success! No stage fright for my girl.

Anniversary Getaway

It's hard to believe that 9 years with my best friend have come and gone, and it sounds so cliche to say, but I really do love him more everyday!!! We had a little trip out West to Arizona planned so we could celebrate our anniversary, but with me down in the back, traveling that far and for that long was out of the question. So instead we took a quick trip North...back to where we began!

We went to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. We stayed at the Bella Vista Suites, and my how it had changed. You can't tell much from the pictures, but it seemed so different. The area where we wed, had transformed into a sitting area, and they added a spa!!!

I just love their little down town area. The shops are so great, and clean. We stuck around down town for a bit of the Christmas parade and then we headed to the Geneva Inn for an anniversary and job promotion celebration. In the summer...the view would have been AH.MAZING! Since it was winter it was a little dark. But the restaurant was great. And just like our anniversary weekend, Lake Geneva provided snow. Maybe we won't wait as long for our next return!