The North Pole Train Ride

On December 3rd we traveled to the Chattanooga Depot to ride The Polar Express. We met up with some of our best friends, the Birds, minus Braden who was sick. While on the train, Santas helpers read The Polar Express to us and served up some cookies and Yoo-Hoos.

Brooks and Reagan
All the kids got to speak in the microphone and tell Santa what they wanted. Reagan held it and said Mommy.

Brooks was happy to see Santa but Reagan, not so much. She liked him from afar but that was it.

Christmas at Home

We arrived home around 8:45 Christmas day and were as excited as kids about opening presents. We couldn't wait for the nexy day. Justin spoiled me again this year but I suprised him by upping my game and I think I did better than ever this year!

Reagan likes being in the bathroom with me when I get ready every morning so we bought her a little vanity for her to use (maybe that will distract her from getting into ALL my drawers). She thinks she is big stuff, she has curled and blow dried all our hair.

Our little diva.

She got another baby doll and a diaper bag.

Loved opening all her presents!

We had such a wonderful Christmas. We are SO blessed to have such wonderful family and friends! We hope that you enjoy the rest of the holiday season.

Christmas in Arkansas

We enjoyed going to Arkansas for a week and getting to visit with my family. Reagan loved being around her Nana, Pawpaw, and especially her Aunt Laura. They are inseparable! We enjoyed some very last minute shopping, eating, and just visiting with everyone. We came home on Christmas day and by the time we got to Lebanon we were outrunning a big snow storm. Very scary stuff. But we made it home fine. While we were opening presents Christmas morning Luke was able to call us via Skype so we enjoyed getting to talk to him. He is settling into his work in Korea.

Mom got an Ipod and docking station and Reagan liked playing with that. She wanted to dance with me and Laura. Notice her new Skechers Twinkle Toe shoes that Laura insisted she had to have! Reagan like making them light up :)

This is when she first woke up, look at those sleepy eyes! She was the most patient kid I have ever seen on Christmas morning. She wanted to open presents so bad but she knew she had to wait her turn.

Laura got a special gift this year, Justin made her a tray/picture collage. It says I love my Aunt Laura and has Reagan's handprint on it. It brought Laura to tears!

We always have a party on Christmas Eve and mom thought Reagan needed a special glass for her punch. She loved doing "cheers" with everyone. Luckily, it did not break!

On Tuesday it was a beautiful day so we got to play outside. Laura and Reagan enjoyed riding the four-wheeler, fingerpainting, and playing on the playground.

Christmas Season

Christmas with the Jennings's.

We always enjoy our Christmas exchange with the family because Shirley always cooks a big meal and then Larry entertains us with a game he has made up. This year is was Deal or No Deal. With the money me and Justin won we may have to use it on marriage counseling because of the stress it caused. We learned that we could never go on a game show like that together! Reagan enjoyed playing with her cousins and unwrapping all her gifts.

For Christmas Justin bought me and Reagan this Learning Tower. It is the best thing ever!! Reagan loves helping me in the kitchen and watches everything I do so I found this tower and now she is at the right height to help me with cooking. The first thing we had to make were some Christmas cookies, she enjoyed sampling them when they were done!

She even helped me measure out all the ingredients.

Dressed for a party.

This year Reagan and Anniston were angels in the church Christmas program. I didn't know how Reagan would do because she is so shy and bashful but she loved being on stage. (Check out my facebook page for the video, so funny.)

Dancing angels.

Ready for church.

Fun with Family

This past weekend we met my family halfway near Jackson, TN at Natchez Trace State Park. My brother is in the Air Force and is on leave for a month and we haven't seen him in over a year so we were excited to get to visit. He leaves for Korea next month for a year and we are sad to see him go, but he really enjoys it so I am happy for him. The park was so beautiful and it was so nice to only have to drive 4 hours instead of 9!

We enjoyed riding horses through the woods. It was such a nice day, the weather couldn't have been more perfect.

Reagan has become quite the photographer lately! She loves it when she can get her hands on a camera. Here is a picture from her view.

Fun on the playground!

Saturday was Justins birthday and Luke and Laura suprised him with 2 cans of silly string.

Justin got to have his favorites, Pizza Hut pizza and ice cream cake. Reagan enjoyed it too!

What daredevils.

This was our view from our deck. It was so pretty, we hope to come back in the summer.

All Reagan wanted to do was go on the "porch". She loved hanging out here.

Happy Halloween!

My cute little ladybug. This costume might look familiar...it is the same one she wore last year! I had decided early on that she was going to be a bumblebee this year and when I pulled out the costume right before we were going to go trick-or-treating she decided she did not want to wear it. So I went to the attic and dug out this tutu and luckily it still fit! Note to self - never buy the bulky sweater type costumes again.

Holiday Cards from Shutterfly

Can you believe Christmas is right around the corner?? I am sooo excited and have already been thinking about our Christmas cards that we are going to send out this year. I just love opening the mailbox and finding Christmas cards from family and friends, especially photo cards. I love seeing our friends and how much their kids have grown over the year!

My all time favorite photo company is Shutterfly and I have used it for so many things: photo books, greeting cards, holiday cards, calendars, and so much more. It is definitely my go to site for pictures and gifts. I love Shutterfly's new holiday cards that they have this year. Here are a few of my favorites:

I like this one because you can incorporate your Christmas letter into them or your families Top 10.I love anything monogrammed so this card jumped out at me because you can put your initial on it. So cute!

I can just imagine a cute picture of Reagan on this card. I like how it is a full photo with writing through it.

This collage card is perfect for showing different poses and family members.

I guess you will have to wait to see which one we choose! Can't wait to see your cards.

Are you a blogger? Do you want 50 FREE holiday cards from Shutterfly? Click here to see how you can get your free cards this Christmas.

Squeaky Shoes

I found these shoes at a consignment sale for a dollar and Reagan LOVES them (Justin, not so much)!

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween!

Turks and Caicos

Over fall break we traveled to Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. When trying to decide where we wanted to go on vacation we thought well what does Reagan like best? The answer: water, sand, and Elmo. So we stayed at the Beaches All-Inclusive Resort that sponsors Sesame Street. We had a wonderful time and never left the resort. Each day we got up, went to breakfast, the beach, pool, and waterpark, ate lunch, took a nap, played some more, ate supper, and then watched a Sesame Street show. Needless to say I think we wore Reagan out. The second night there, we were at dinner and she crawled into Justins lap and said nap. She went right to sleep and stayed in her stroller while we ate. That night she felt really hot and I took her temperature and it was 102. 1. I called the nurse (also included) and she said give her Tylenol every 4 hours and give her a cold bath. Well she did not like being woke up and put in the bathtub. I was really worried because she has never run a high fever but when she woke up she was fine. We took her to the nurse the next day and she said she had probably picked up a virus on the plane. She also said she was cutting 2 teeth and was fine to go to the beach and pool. After that she was fine and had a great time!

Cheese!

The resort had 16 different restaurants and the ones we tried were sooo good! We especially liked the wood fired pizza, chocolate and banana calzones, and japanese food. Yummm!

This is what Reagan had for breakfast each morning. She loved the fresh fruit and pancakes.

Dressed for dinner.

Reagan got to bake cookies with Cookie Monster. I think that this was more of a dream come true for Justin then it was for Reagan. (If you didn't know Justin LOVES Cookie Monster, he has a huge collection of them)

Enjoying her cookie.

Each night they had a show or parade. It was so neat to see all the different characters. I loved it too since I grew up watching Sesame Street.

Reagan liked them from afar but not so much up close! She was really scared, but started to mellow out by the end of the week.

The Count felt bad because he upset her, so without thinking he reached out to touch her and she screamed some more. After that she kept saying touch, touch, pointed to her shoulder and said ah, ah, ah.

Reagan preferred the plastic Abby.

They had a huge waterpark along with a lazy river and surf simulator. This was Reagan's favorite slide.

Enjoying a popscicle.

Building sandcastles at the beach.