The most wonderful time of the year!

What a blessed Christmas -- our first Christmas with our granddaughter! It was wonderful having everyone here for Christmas morning and getting to see Kate with all her presents! Of course she really liked the tags -- and books -- best!



She's so cute crawling around. It was fun to watch her learn to climb up the step into the dining room and kitchen and see how far she could go without getting stopped by an adult! And when she's told, "no, no," she sticks out her finger and shakes it! How wonderful it feels to have her stick out her arms to come to me!

Casey, John and Kate have moved on to the other grandparents' home now, and Anna will go back to Atlanta tomorrow. We'll see Gary and Carolyn tomorrow who are down from Birmingham, and Walker and his family will be in town on Wednesday! So, we'll be watching Tennessee (Walker's alma mater) play on New Year's Eve, and Auburn on New Year's Day!

We truly are blessed and very grateful for our wonderful family.

Merry Christmas to all!

Sometimes we get so caught up in the rush of Christmas, we forget the real reason we celebrate. This beautiful song was sent to me by my friend Terri Anderson in Minnesota, and it comes from St. Louis County in Missouri. My prayer for all is to focus on the real reason for this season . . . Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

CiCi, Anna and Kate's weekend!

This past weekend was Casey and John's fifth wedding anniversary, so Anna and I got to babysit while they took a short trip to Nashville to rest and relax. We decided it takes two to take care of Kate (and Cherokee, the dog -- but don't tell him he's a dog!). When she's awake, she's on the go and crawling everywhere and getting into everything!




We had so much fun feeding and playing. She loves her flower puff finger foods and beef and vegetables -- but she hates cereal and tries to push it away.

Kate really did good with us and didn't cry much. She loves playing with CiCi's glasses -- and cell phone -- and the TV remote. Forget the bright shiny toys that make noise -- she wants the grown-up toys!

It was a delight getting some time with her without her mom around -- because when Casey's around, she doesn't want anyone else! I can't wait to see her this week again for Christmas. But I know she's going to have more fun with the paper and bows than the toys!

Getting ready for Santa!

Casey took some photos of Kate with Santa and in the snow last week that I've meant to upload.
Doesn't Kate look so cute peering at Santa in wonder? Evidently, it wasn't long before she pitched a fit and wanted down! Casey said it was so funny to watch Kate's face change from wonder at Santa to screaming to get down! And now Kate hates every Santa -- even stuffed ones!

It's been so long since it snowed enough to get a snowball here that I can barely remember.

I think it was 1993 when we had the big ice storm. It was calf show weekend and we had a thunderstorm the night before and woke up to snow and ice everywhere. Anna was stuck at Camp Victory -- and I had to go to work. We had lines down everywhere! Kate got her first snow last week, and I love this little stocking cap!

Anna and I get to babysit next weekend while Casey and John take an anniversary trip! Yea! Can't wait!