Christmas 2010

I love this time of year, all the Christmas lights, singing, eating, gathering together of family and friends. It makes for a fun time. This past month has flown by for me. However, it has been a very fun and exciting Christmas season for our family. We started the month by going to Nashville to see the SNOW and ICE exhibit at the Opryland Hotel. It was very nice to get away from home for a few days. Both girls and Dave loved swimming in the indoor pool at the hotel. Lydia thinks it is so neat to stay in a hotel. Layton slept both nights, all night, such a big girl! The exhibits were lots of fun and VERY cold. The ICE exhibit was 6 degrees! I, myself, enjoyed walking through the Opryland Hotel. It flooded back in May so it had to be renovated. It just opened back up in November. When we left Nashville it was snowing, that was the first snow we have seen this year, exciting!

Lydia had lots of fun things at school this month. Santa came for a visit, she was able to shop for some family members at a “gift” shop at her school and her class had a Christmas party on the last day of school. In regards to the shopping at school experience, I gave her $15 and she bought me a “grandma” necklace, Dave and Mawmaw a bouncy ball and Layton a Spongebob stuff animal. I found it all hilarious especially the necklace for me. She said she bought the necklace for me because it was the prettiest thing she saw and she knew I would like it! I will treasure it forever!

Lydia sang a solo in the Christmas program at church. I have to say she did a fabulous job! She was so excited that she was able to sing in a real microphone but a little disappointed that she couldn’t hold it and walk around while singing!


We have been to several family gatherings and ate lots of great food. Funny story about Layton, at one of our extended family events, Layton was being very shy. She didn’t want anything to do with anyone but me. When it was time for lunch someone came in the room where several people were and yelled “Let’s eat”, Layton wiggled out of my arms and immediately started walking with that person. She might be shy but she isn’t dumb!

And of course the presents! Both girls received lots of presents and new clothes. Dave and I bought ourselves a new camera and Santa dropped off new critters! We have had a blessed Christmas season and I am truly thankful for the special babe that was born so many years ago.

Now time for a NEW YEAR! I hope it is a fun as the last!

The Campbell Family


The Primo Family


The Smith Family


Christmas morning! Dave and Lydia reading Santa's letter.


I love the sleepy eyes!


Layton was super excited!






Lydia with her treats she made with her Easy Bake oven!

Thanksgiving and Santa!

During this time every year, I try and stop in all the chaos and remind myself how blessed I am. I try to look around at what all I have been given. Recently I have been so thankful for my job as a mother. Not everyone gets this job and not everyone is good at this job. I feel honored to be a mother and thank God everyday for allowing me to be a mother. There are so many times I get caught up in the chaos and routine of everyday activities that I try to remind myself to STOP and spend QUALITY time with my girls. Just the other night I was sitting in the living room, looking down at the rug. You couldn’t even see it because of all the toys on it. As I sat there thinking of how I needed to pick it all up, I stopped and remembered that one day the toys, baby dolls, balls and whatever else won’t be there. My girls mess will be somewhere else and I am sure I will want these days back. Although I am very tired most nights, I am truly grateful for my little messes! I am very grateful for my two healthy, beautiful girls. And of course our family would not be complete without my wonderful husband. He takes such good care of our family. I am so thankful for my family of 4.

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday. We went to Dave’s family for lunch and mine for dinner. All the food was wonderful. After lunch Lydia and I snuck out and seen the movie Tangled. It was a great movie and Lydia enjoyed every minute. As it was going off, she asked could we watch it again! The girls spent the night with Nannie and Langraddy Thursday night in order for Dave and I to go shopping Friday. We didn’t start real early but we were able to get most of our shopping done. Dave and I had a great time just the two of us. On the way home we stopped and watched a movie, a perfect end to OUR day! Saturday morning we took the girls to see Santa. Lydia jumped right up in his lap and started telling him all she wanted. She is not shy one bit and has always enjoyed the Santa experience. Layton was VERY hesitant. She wasn’t really sure if she wanted to sit in his lap. She did sit there long enough for a picture and that was it. I was proud that she didn’t cry!! We enjoyed a nice lunch with Aunt Chris and her girls and then headed home. On the way home we stopped and bought our Christmas tree. The rest of the afternoon and night was spent decorating the tree. I have been very pleased that Layton has not tried to climb the tree…YET! She does bring us an ornament about every 5 minutes. I am sure once it has been up for several days she will leave it alone. I am getting excited about Christmas. Lydia wants EVERYTHING and Layton doesn’t have a clue what’s going on!!

Layton looking at Santa!



WHO are you?







Layton was "talking" to some Fuzzy Chinese chickens.



Sweet girls!





So thankful for my family!



Such beautiful girls!!



Layton was talking back to me in this picture. You can see one of her many bruises on her head.

This time last year.

This was my girls this time last year. I love reflecting and looking back at ‘this time last year’ photos. It shows how much they have grown, matured and how prettier they have gotten! It makes me HAPPY and SAD. It makes me reminisce those days and think about the current ones. It makes me realize how much my Lord blesses me each day. It makes me grateful that I am their mama!

Layton 15 months

Layton’s 15 month checkup was yesterday. She is growing like a weed, changing every day. She weighed 23 pounds and is 31 inches tall. She is in the 50th percentile in weight and 75th percentile for height. She is perfectly healthy. Below are some things I want to remember about her at this age.
*She LOVES a ball. Just this morning while getting Lydia ready for school, Layton was in the living room kicking and chasing after a ball.
*She talks a lot but we can’t understand much! Sometimes it even sounds like she has conversations with herself!
*She eats anything you put in front of her. Funny story…Yesterday before the doctor, we ate at Chick Fil A. I bought each girl her own meal. Lydia ate all hers and Layton ate ALL (crumbs too) hers! She ate 4 chicken nuggets and a fruit cup! Sometimes her stomach is so tight I think you could pop it!
*She has gotten one more top tooth in the last month. She now has 2 on top and 2 on bottom.
*She is often mistaken for a little boy because of the hair situation! She has a couple little curls in the back but not much in front.
*She has started to throw tantrums when she doesn’t get her way. They aren’t too bad, she isn’t real loud and she mostly just melts to the floor! She quits as soon as we start ignoring her.
She is a very sweet girl. I want to say baby but she is not a baby anymore she is all toddler! I am looking forward to seeing her reactions with the Christmas trees this year. And can’t wait to see what all she does with her presents.

Happy Halloween!

My two little witches!


We have had a busy Halloween this year. I feel like we have been celebrating for a week! We started off last Wednesday with our church’s trunk or treat, Friday Lydia dressed up for school, Saturday we went to another church’s trunk or treat event and last night we went trick or treating! Someone told Lydia last week what “REAL” trick or treating was so she came home and asked if we could go trick or treating this year. Layton was a witch this year and Lydia was a witch Wednesday and Saturday and a bride Friday and Sunday! I realized last night when I uploaded pictures that I didn’t get a picture of the bride outfit but she did made a bootiful bride!!! She has had so much fun this year. Daddy was out of town this weekend so Lydia and I stayed up Saturday night and watched a scary movie! All in all we had a great Halloween this year.

Even mama dressed up this year!


Lydia and Riley


Riley wanted a picture with a cowboy!


A cowboy and his little girl!


Cousins!


Mamaw and Layton


Mamaw & Papaw with the girls


Cuteness...bruised forehead and all!

Fall Picture

We had some fall pictures made last weekend. I love fall, the colors are truly breathtaking. I don't know how you could look at all the colors of fall and not believe in God. The weather was great and Miss Cristi was able to do two things that are nearly impossible with Layton, sit and smile! I call her my 'serious' child and Lydia is my 'smiley' child! Poor Lydia had the stomach virus two days before and she will still real pale but she didn't want to miss a picture opportunity!

Lydia's field trip

Last week I was able to go on Lydia’s kindergarden field trip with her. I think I was more anxious than her. It was so fun getting to meet all her school friends. I even got to spend time with girls I went to school with that now have children in kindergarden!

Haunted Trail and a second Pumpkin Patch this year!

Last Friday night we took Lydia to her first Haunted Trail. I tried to prepare her before so that she would at least know what to expect. My mom and some friends of ours went with us. We rode on a hayride out to the trail and then we were set free to be scared! Lydia did great. She screamed and laughed the whole time. When we were done, she said she wanted to do it again.

This past Saturday we went to another local pumpkin patch. The weather was wonderful so we had a great time and Nanny got to go with us this time!

Layton painting a pumpkin or at least she was trying!



Layton and the mums.



Lydia getting her face painted.





The girls and I played corn toss.







Nanny & the girls.



Lydia feeding the animals until she seen a snake, then she ran back to the trailor and sat with me but she is NOT scared of snakes!



Candy-Corn Head!



My girls and I.