Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Advent, Christmas, Birthday

There's been something super special about this Christmas season. Maybe it's the way we incorporated Advent this year. It wasn't perfectly done. Or even fully done. But our efforts weren't in vain and God met us where we were at every time. I'm learning so much about what it means to wait for and rest in our King who came and will come again.

Or maybe it's the stage Nolan is in. Kev describes it perfectly as the most difficult but most fun stage so far. Difficult because A.) he's mobile and B.) he's human. But fun because Nolan has become SO social and his little personality is seriously the best. He's independent, yet careful, and learning more and more everyday.

It could have been the fact that we celebrated Christmas in my mom and dad's new home. They've settled in on land that has been at the heartbeat of our family for years and years and have made a life-long dream a reality. I think Mom is still pinching herself.

Either way, this Christmas was just...special.

Yesterday was my 28th birthday, and it was such a sweet day. I feel so loved and celebrated and so full of life. God is too gracious to let me celebrate another year with people I'm blessed to do life with and call friends and family.

We went to hometown for almost a week this Christmas. We spent the first half with Kev's side of the family and the second half with mine. It was a BLAST, and Nolan enjoyed himself to the fullest. I cherish the way he's loved. The nights were late, little man ate his weight in Christmas leftovers, and I think watching Nolan collect trash and throw it away was even more fun than the actual opening of gifts.
It's the little things.

Here are some pictures from throughout the week!





 Sitting on a bag of trash pretending like he knows what to do with a phone.

 Grandma Blile flew in all the way from Ohio!




 Two of my sis-in-loves





 That profile though.


 N helping Bub open his birthday present.
















Christmas morning selfie with Grandad and Papa? Yes. Please.

Kev shot his first deer on Christmas day!













Such. An. Awesome. Holiday.








Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Christmas Tree-ing

So we found our Christmas tree this past weekend! We hit the road with two of our favorite people and ventured out to Brewer's Christmas Tree Farm in Midway, GA to once again find the perfect tree suitable for our tree stand. Seriously, though, there are so many criteria that have to be met for that stinkin' thing! Nolan wasn't in the best of moods (probably from getting 3 shots the day before), but thank the good Lord for strollers, sunshine, and sawed-off pieces of stump. 
It was an eventful, laughable, but super enjoyable and memorable time. 
Picking out our tree has always been one of my favorite traditions. And this year was no exception.

Reading one of his favorite books...from a Wendy's kids meal.

These. Two. Gah.

And these two are super special to our family. 
So thankful they could Christmas "bush" hunt with us again this year!





     

The obligatory manly saw picture.

Found our tree!

Watching Daddy and taking in the technique.

It's ridiculously adorable how these little pieces of stump brought this boy to life.
Thanks, Auntie Paige!



We got our tree on Saturday and spent Sunday afternoon decorating.
Nolan adds a whole new element to the festivities. And we kind of LOVE it.


     


How precious is this ornament Nolan made in the church nursery?!