Saturday, December 25, 2021

Our Christmas day!

 Today was a beautiful Christmas day!

It was around 70 degrees....which is unheard of! Most people want cold and want snow....but I am not a cold weathered person. I would much rather it be like today where people can enjoy being outside together than freezing!

After we checked out alllll the Christmas goodies from...Santa...which is now known to be Momma and Daddy...we got cleaned up and headed to Nan and Pawpaw's for Christmas lunch with Brandi and Minnie. 

Nan made a ton of goodness that we enjoyed before opening gifts and playing Pawpaw's Christmas game!

 

We went to Nannie's to visit for a little bit before getting home and......TALK about madhouse packing! My goodness...I am a planner and I do not do things on the fly...so packing the night before a big trip...has thrown me! :) I am actually writing this post as I am thinking the 25 things I still need to do before I go to bed and we leave in the morning!........BUT....I will get it all done! :)

Our Christmas girls!

 Lily was pumped for her hammock!

Alexis opening gifts!

The crew!


 This was so fun! Pawpaw worked so hard and came up with this fun game on his own! Look at his homemade ornaments! Lily was SO excited!

Making sweet memories! Lily won.................then Alexis came away with the most money! ha!

Our full year still in a pandemic but a year through it all!

 2021 wasnt much different than 2020. 2021 actually had more sadness as there were more people that we knew that got sick from COVID and passed away. The world opened back up, for the most part, so the economy resumed more and the schools decided to not stay closed so that was better. As the year has gone on, we are now looking at a 3rd new strain that is developing so we shall see how this continues and how 2022 goes! Most everyone who wants/agrees to have the COVID vaccine has had it. There are still some that disagree, some that havent. To each their own. It has been some frustrating times we have been living in but, we have made it another year and thankful for that!

So, for a look back in time to the year of 2021!

January:

THIS! Just what we needed! We wanted to escape 2021 and have a fun fresh start to the new year so we took off to the beach with the Messers and the Rays for several days of THIS! A perfect way to ring in the new year and our first time getting to visit Chris and Emily's new beach house!

HAPPY New Year! We had the best trip and so much laughs and memories made!
Toward the end of January, we got a new President. President Biden was sworn in.

February:

We celebrated this girl making her 8th grade year cheer season! LOVE watching her cheer! That is her element!

We always love decorating for Valentine's day and wearing our pink and hearts!


March:

Baby Hank was born! OH he is the snuggliest baby ever and when he looks at you....he reminds me of my favorite Blake! I have loved watching him grow into a big boy!

Lily's soccer season CAME back! COVID really didnt hurt this season too bad...she LOVES playing and we love watching her!

Our Spring break consisted of doing fun day things and then popping over to our most favorite place, Auburn, for a couple of days and doing this! It's the girl's favorite!

April:

My first 5K Color Run! BOY...it was only my second 5K to run but I did it!...and I actually RAN! :)  Lily loved getting to come with me and throwing all the color on all the participants! 

Me finishing through the finish line! I was COVERED in color....it was in every part of my body too! ha! Lily....she was more than I was! I thought we both were going to have to take 1,000 showers to get it all off! :)
We celebrated Easter with family on both sides and then also with Cocky! JSU hosted a great Easter family day! It was fun and I hope they keep doing it!

BIG news! Alexis was inducted into the Honor Society! SO proud of her!

Sad but happy moment! Alexis has officially graduated out of being a flower girl several years ago. She spoke/read scripture for the first time in this wedding for Meg and Chase! Well....this marks Lily's last flower girl moment! She has officially outgrown being a flower girl! It was bittersweet! :)
Meg and Chase's wedding was beautiful and we loved getting to go to the beach for it too!


May:

Alexis' first Elite night dance! She looked beautiful!

Alot of babies in 2021! Baby Briggs! Oh so precious and big sister is so proud!

We GOT a volleyball player in May! Alexis' first year playing volleyball! Oh we loved watching her and watching her learn and love the sport during her season!

 Allll of Lily's awards to finish out her 3rd grade school year in a pandemic!

We conquered the pandemic!


June:

We could not WAIT for our trip to California to visit alllll the Hollywood things and see Blake, Margie and baby Hank!

We rented a car and it was the BEST! We went and drove wherever we wanted and it was fabulous!

I have always wanted to see the Hollywood sign!

One of my favorite pictures! We had the best trip!

Highlight was the people! Alexis and Blake did this HUGE roller coaster when we went to SeaWorld San Diego!.........it was scary...but they loved it!

Alexis' first All-American award! SO proud of her and so excited she got All-American at her Cheer camp!
Lily was PUMPED she got to bring a friend for the first time to our annual beach trip since Alexis couldnt come because of her Cheer camp! Ella and Lily had the best time and glad she got to go with us!

July:

Alexis turned 13!! SAY WHAT!?!?! Where has the time gone and I just cant believe it!

Alexis was so excited to get to bring a friend on a vacation trip for the 1st time so since she was turning 13, we let her! Savannah and her had so much fun!

Enjoying Pensacola for the 4th of July! The best trip visiting Britt and Mitchell...and Kennedy and baby Briggs!

4th of July babies!

Alexis had her very first week long camp away from home! She went to Winshape camp in TN and had the BEST time!
Lily and I went to pick her up at the end of the week and we all ......rode a 2 hour horse back adventure together. OH such a fun memory made and the girls LOVED riding! Sweet memory!

August:

Lex got a locker for the 1st time! Due to COVID, 7th grade she didnt get to have one but they decided to let them this year....even with COVID still around. Alexis was SO excited to finally have one....and decorate it! (Though I was the one to actually do it!) :)

Start of a new school year! 4th and 8th grade! since pandemic style! :)

Our favorite time started backing...watching football and our girl do her thing!

Back at wearing our blue and gold!
September:

Our 1st and only Auburn football game to make it to of the season. We always love going and always have a great time!

Lily turned 10!!! SAY WHAT! Big year for my girls! 13 and 10! Lily loved her party! These girls and I took off to Birmingham for a fun afternoon and night!

She is 10!

October:

Our 1st JSU football game of the season! We went to a couple more throughout the season and they all are always fun!

We had a Fall break for the first time and it was FABULOUS! We went to the beach with the Messers and had the best time!

The crew!

BIG moment! Tyler and I 'renewed' our vows! Special thanks to Madelyn for doing it for us! :)
Nannie turned the BIG 85 years young!

This crew finally got to be smores! They were supposed to be it last Halloween but since Caroline and Lily were both quarantined, they didnt get to! Arent they so cute!

Lex was 'aliens' with this crew!

November:

Basketball season started and talk about.....BUSY! :)

MORE babies! Sweet Maggie was born in November!
Over Thanksgiving break we had a great trip with this crew to Gatlinburg! It was the best weather and the best food!

Alexis and Lily rode the zipline roller coaster as well as did the rope challenge for the first time on our trip! They had a blast and are so brave!

Daddy and Lily ice skated for the first time and had so much fun!

December:

My LAST Ella Jingle ever! Lily has loved moving her and doing it since I dont anymore! It has been bittersweet!

Always a highlight! Lily's Dirty Santa, my Dirty Santa, and Lex's Dirty Santa with alllll our friends each Christmas!
Alexis and her Cheer competition team made it to State and competed so well! First time to go .....and first time in school history too! Talk about a BIG moment! So proud of them!
HUGE highlight! Alexis didnt get to have a choir concert last year due to COVID and we thought they werent going to this year....BUT they got to! We have been soooo excited to hear her sing and watch perform and we finally got to! She was beautiful up there!

Closing out our year with a wonderful Christmas to kick off the bright new year! Looking forward to our cruise, upcoming new year's eve and where 2022 takes us! We are ready!