A Tender Tennessee Christmas...

Our Christmas was very merry & bright...we thoroughly enjoyed our families, presents were opened, and many goodies were baked (and eaten!)  

Eli had an off-and-on fever, so Chris and I alternated attending our Christmas Eve and Christmas Night festivities.  The extra snuggles and early bed-times seem to work, Eli bounced back and is back to his normal football-playin' and dinosaur-lovin' self! 

Lucy made gifts for each us, loved playing the "Elf" on Christmas night and has been thoroughly introduced to Barbie!  Mom and Dad's dog, Rusty, made things very fun...he gives the new backyard two enthusiastic paws up!  It is tough that we can't be with everyone we love on Christmas, but we are thankful for modern technology, a year of fun memories, and more good times ahead!  

A Jolly Good Time...

We've...

...hosted a party for our friends, complete with gingerbread cookie decorating and many smiles 

...laughed at Chris winning the "Tacky Christmas Sweater Contest" at work, thanks to Fred for the sweater, it was the moth holes that really clinched First Place!

...celebrated James' baptism, Clare and I are already planning playdates for him and our Sam 

...enjoyed dinner with friends and marveled at how the eight children (!) have grown and changed over this 3-year tradition

...bought a 9-ft. Christmas tree, I insisted, it is lovely!

...beamed while watching Lucy's second Christmas choir concert; she has practice every Wednesday night and it is such a fun part of our week to gather with friends for dinner, then go to church (older sibling to choir practice, younger siblings to the nursery, moms to Bible Study!)