reflections on 2011

I sit here on our comfy well loved couch in our little cottage of a rental home on New Year's Eve thinking of this past year and the future ahead.

This past year Owen turned into a little boy and not so much my baby, but I am still insisting he is a baby...at least for a little longer.

God has blessed us so much this year with a healthy son, the ability for me to stay home, for David to go to medical school and with so many special people in our life. We have been blessed with wonderful supportive neighbors. We are blessed to go to a church where we feel alive and God is speaking to us through our pastor, we have met wonderful people through are Sunday school class and feel we are growing in ways we have not before.

We have a lot to figure out in 2012. With residency on the horizon, we have big decisions in store. Which program will be the best fit for David and our little family, moving, graduating, etc. Owen is sure to grow and develop, use more words, defy us, challenge us, teach us and  make us grow individuals and parents.

 What did we do on New Year's Eve 2011? We woke up in our bed with Owen in between us. We played with Sam and Brittany and drank coffee in the morning, took down Christmas decorations, grocery shopped (since we have been gone for 2 weeks), cooked shrimp and grits, toasted to a New Year, and most importantly thanked God for all the blessings he bestowed on us in 2011.

This will be a big year. My prayer is that we grow as individuals in our relationship with God, as husband and wife, as parents,  that we put His desires first and look to him for answers in times of question or trouble. I know I have a lot to learn and I am working on that. We all do.

Happy New Year friends!

a pizza pie

We are closing in on the end of 2011. We have been busy traveling, visiting, spending lots of family time together.

My dad has a pizza business that he closed down this week with new business ventures ahead.

Before he shut the doors, he wanted his grandson to make one last pizza with him here.

So Granddaddy took him to make his very own sausage (Owen's favorite) pizza.

 Perks to knowing the owner of a pizza business, looking forward to what 2012 brings.

celebrating Christmas in Jackson

You see these two...

this is what 73 years of marriage looks like. 

Pop sure does love Grandmama

and it clearly shows to this day. We share our anniversary with my Grandparents, and I am honored to do so.

The day after Christmas we headed down to Jackson to celebrate with my dad and grandparents.

I don't think I have mentioned, but Owen is obsessed with baby Jesus.

and a little or a lot obsessed with climbing on things.

Grandmama's coffee table was perfect to climb on and jump off. (We later removed the coffee table from the room to prevent a trip to the ER)

The calendar we made Grandmama was a hit

as well as the golf set she gave Owen.

Grandmama's favorite gift...having Dock home for Christmas.

Owen racked up again with lots of goodies.

and ate lots of chocolate cake.

We had some good food at the camp courtesy of Jenny.

And even got in a game of Canasta.

Dock and I won...Daddy and David didn't stand a chance. 

Four red 3's never hurt in a game of Canasta either. Everyone knows Elizabeth is a good winner.

Christmas Day

We woke up at Meme's house Christmas morning, and Santa had found his way there to leave Owen some gifts.

Santa brought Owen his very own chair to climb, sit on and read books in. He also gave him a race car track, book and puzzle.

 Owen made some gifts for special people in his life.

birdseed ornaments to hang outside

After gifts Christmas morning, David and I had the pleasure of going to church and celebrating Jesus's birthday with his family and church friends. It was very special to go to church on Christmas day for the first time and sing songs and fellowship with others on Christ's birthday. 

After church, we headed over to Gammy's for lunch and family time at her house.

 We were so happy Uncle Dock was home with us this year.

It is always a fun time at Gammy's. Tom and Riley always come over Christmas Day, as well as John, Annette, Caroline, Matt and of course Meme and Dock and Gammy and Papa.

 Gammy gave him a Little People Noah's Ark set

equipped with all the animals...2 of each of course.

 with my beautiful cousin, Caroline

and my handsome husband

Our cousin Riley treated us with his piano playing....classic hymns, Christmas songs and even a little boogie woogie.

We were beyond blessed by the generosity of our family, but our favorite part of Christmas truly is just being together.

Christmas Eve at Nana's and Papa's

These cousins are beginning to have a little more fun now that Owen is getting a little bigger.

He is starting to hang in there with his big cousin Sarah.

All the grandkids had a BIG time at Christmas...and they weren't spoiled one bit.

kidding, of course

But how can these grandparents and uncles resist some cute kids like these.

Even Nana got excited about her gift.

Papa sure is proud of these grandyoungens too.

A good time had by all.