Merry Christmas, part one

We had another wonderful Christmas! We were very busy but loved the chance to visit with family. We decided last year that Christmas Day will be spent at our house. Everyone is invited to join us for breakfast, brunch or lunch (depending on arrival time)!! It was not a time to expect anything fancy though- we served Brunswick stew and grilled cheese for lunch and everyone in the host family was still wearing pajamas at noon! The day was all about watching Cora soak up Christmas. We had nowhere to go and all day to get there! Nice!

Thursday (12/24): Christmas at my Mom's house

Thursday (12/24): The McKinney Christmas April, John and John Marshall

Jenny's boys, Jackson and Carson Cora stood right in front of Anna as she read from the Bible. All eyes were on Anna and the house was silent. Cora insisted on standing there. It was so sweet.
A dump truck from Will and Laurel-Ann All of the little ones were wearing pajamas by the end of the night.
Jenny and her marinated vegetables- ugh!Friday (12/25): Christmas Day at our house. Look at what Santa brought!Chef Bed Head serving grapes to Daisy Cars! Beep Beep! Coy's surprise gift- a farm! yay!My little Hungarian peasant girl. She loves hats and scarves.

Saturday (12/26): Christmas dinner with the Paschals and a house-warming for my aunt who lost her home to a fire back in the spring.

My Dad and all of his brothers and sisters

Merry Christmas, part deux

Christmas started early.

Saturday (12/19): We kicked off Christmas in Farmville. Cousins, cousins and more cousins!

Tuesday (12/22 morning): My Dad and Rhonda came to our house for Christmas and lunch. Cora got a tractor, bath toys, pajamas and a book with her name in it!Tuesday (12/22 evening): Christmas with the Allens

From the Cutting Room Floor...

Did anyone else have this much trouble getting a good Christmas card picture?!?!?! Geeezzz! We tried it all- food, toys, goofy faces... Guess next year we will try a PROFESSIONAL! I actually liked some of the silly ones the best. They show the real Cora. Enjoy these outtakes.
The winning shot is at the end.

Antlers were cute last year. We'll give them another try.

Nope. Never mind that big cut on my chin. That's my girl.

Cora decided that emptying the entire contents of her toy box was way more fun than taking pictures.

Just keepin' it real.Then I decided to get artsy with the lights. It didn't take...I love this one! And the winner is...

What a cutie!

New Kid on the Block!

Owen just got a new baby brother today! Owen is the boy who lives across the street. Cora calles him "Oh-wo". They are best buddies. Owen stayed over last night when his parents went to the hospital. They had the best time.

I have to warn you that I grabbed the first pajama top and bottom that I got to... I go to great lengths to make sure that Cora is always dressed very neatly... Except at night. Who cares what you sleep in, right? You might find yourself asking who that homeless kid is that Oh-wo is hanging out with? We didn't know that she was going to be having a slumber party! She is going to get me one day for these...

Again, with the boots

Dress-Up Fun

Cora likes to dress up. Some days when I get to her school she is dressed in a hat, jacket, princess skirt, scarf, jewelry and then some! She likes to dress at home too. She has been very attached to scarves for several months now. Sometimes she walks around wearing a scarf for hours. She has also become mildly obsessed with a pair of hand-me-down snow boots. Cora is the lucky recipient of clothes from Kimberly (Hackett) Nichols' twins' clothes. The boots were in our last shipment! Well, we were in her room goofing off on Saturday morning and we started accessorizing. Soon, she looked like she was ready for the snow, minus the pants. She cracks me up! Everyone gets excited about a good sale!

Cora enjoying some berry pancakes- We love weekend mornings!

Good Groceries!

My Little Ham playing in the leaves

Cora with Nicholas and Ryan

OK! I know it has been over a month since I've posted. I'm back! I completely skipped November but it was full! We have put our house on the market and that has completely consumed us. I have not gotten too many pictures but I'll share what I have.

We spent Thanksgiving in Apex with Gabby, Uncle Roger and the rest of the Allen family. We were so glad that Ben, Tori, Nicholas and Ryan came down from D.C. this year! Cora got to meet 2 more cousins! We are so thankful to have such special families.

Uncle Roger, Grandpa Irv, Gabby (Great Aunt Betsy), Cora and Coy- Of course, Coy is telling a story...

Cora has had so much fun in the leaves. We have had plenty and so have the McCains! With all of these huge oaks, there is an endless supply.