Celebrating with the Grandparents!

We have been celebrating and celebrating and we still have one more family Christmas tomorrow! We spent the Monday before Christmas with Mimi and Pop and Christmas Eve with Noonie and Papa J, then tomorrow it's on to Aunt Marilyn's to celebrate with Mimsy and Papaw.

About as good a family pic as we're going to get when presents are involved - the littles were just not into stopping for pictures!

So much activity as all the littles opened presents, it was hard to catch it all, but I love these sweet, excited smiles!

Checking out the flash pads that Aunt Tammie gave them...so fun!

Cutest littles!

All the grands!

We spent Christmas Eve with Noonie and Papa J. We went to Christmas Mass - my favorite! - then dinner at Macaroni Grill and home for presents. 

The littles ready to go to church...

With Noonie and Papa J...

There's nothing sweeter than seeing how excited they get over every little gift! I think the little pumpkin has been wanting this red sparkle dress ever since the first American Girl Christmas catalog came in the mail!

Disney's Frozen!

Spiderman!

Hudson wasn't too excited to stop and try on boring old clothes, but he was excited to get a sportscoat "just like Papa J" so he could talk to Papa J "man to man". Oh my, he cracks me up!! And isn't he the sweetest little thing!! The elbow patches - oh my! Be still my heart!

Noonie got Grace a stylish new coat that she couldn't wait to try on. So funny how different girls and boys are!

Hudson loved this Star Wars encyclopedia and he wouldn't put it down!!

Thank you Papa J for these fun bottlecap bracelets!

Loving on Noonie...

We had one of these sweet handprint plates made for both Noonie & Papa J and Mimi & Pop - I think they loved them!

Someone is super ticklish!!

A little birdie always tells us what Papa J would like. I feel like we have been giving Papa J these Bill O'Reilly books forever...Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, and now Killing Jesus. I'm not a fan of the title but I guess catchy is what O'Reilly goes for...and Papa J was super excited to receive it!

This year was very emotional for me with Noonie's journey through breast cancer. I don't have proper words to thank our mighty and merciful God for bringing her through this journey to the other side. Last December 27th when she was diagnosed, my heart sank. I couldn't imagine my sweet mom going through this, but she met the challenge head on. With grace, dignity, hope, and an unwavering faith that moved mountains.

Last January, just a week after her first surgery, I gave her James Avery dogwood earrings for her birthday. I loved that the petals of each flower form a cross with the center symbolizing the crown of thorns that Jesus bore on our behalf. This Christmas, I got her the matching necklace...with the even bigger cross and center and the chain symbolizing no beginning and no end...just like her faith.

The biggest gift I've received is her recovery and her recent 9 month post second surgery mammogram, which was 100% clear - thank you, Jesus!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6