Christmas 2017

Once again this year Christmas came and went in the blink of an eye.  It seems like the days are shorter during the holiday season.  Even though we did not overbook ourselves with Christmas activities, it still just flew by.  We did do a bunch of shopping, and we enjoyed going to see Christmas lights a few times.  One of my favorite traditions is always our Church Christmas service.  The candle lighting gets me every time.  It is just SO BEAUTIFUL to be a part of.

My mom and her husband and my nephew came over on Christmas Eve to have dinner with us, visit, and exchange gifts.

On Christmas morning just the four of us slept in, and then opened our gifts from each other.

I snapped a couple of last minute photos of our decorations.

And before leaving to head to Bobby's family Christmas we took our yearly photo of all the "kids" in front of the tree.  This year we were missing Becklie in the photo, as she was being a diva and did not want to participate.  And she is in need of a trip to the doggy salon.

XoXo,

Tina

Let's Get Ugly

This year Gracyn hosted her first Ugly Christmas Sweater party.  She invited her closest girlfriends to come over for food, and a fun gift exchange.  They all did such a great job with their sweaters.  Most were handmade.  They had a great time on the "runway" modeling their creations.

We had Gray's aunt come in as a guest judge, and had to call in an older sister to vote on the Grand Prize of Ugliest Sweater.  The Ugliest Sweater award was a tie between Gracyn and her friend Phoenix.  

Ugliest Sweater winners with their trophy.

She really enjoyed the time with her girls and just getting dressed up silly.  I'm pretty sure she immediately started planning her 2nd annual Ugly Sweater Party.

XoXo,

Tina

Merry Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016. 

Before it gets too far gone, I need to recap Christmas Day.  We had a nice low key holiday season this year.  On Christmas Day the boys woke up early and went hunting while Gray and I slept in.  she had a little bit of trouble sleeping in and patiently waiting for presents.  I let her have her stocking and she was able to see one of her gifts that was not wrapped.

When the boys made it back, we made breakfast and opened gifts with our little family.  Later that night, we headed to my in-laws house to celebrate Christmas with Bobby's family.  As normal, the kids were spoiled by their Nana and PawPaw.

So far 2017 is going great for all of us.  We are coming to the end of basketball season for Tanner, and he will start training for Track & Field next.  I'm busy organizing and purging the house.  And am telling myself I'm going to start running tomorrow every day.  Maybe I just need to go try on a swimsuit to get myself in gear. :)

So we never forget Christmas 2016. . . . .

 

The 2016 Boothe family Christmas card.

 

Christmas morning Santa gifts with my tree that can't manage to stay entirely lit the whole season.

 

All four of my babies posed for me before we headed out to Nana's house.

Some of the grandkids with Nana.

 

We got together at our house with my mom and her husband Roger on New Years Day.  I got a quick picture of my mommy & me. 

And that's it 2016, it was fun!

XoXo,

Tina

Christmas Fun

This is the first year that I have taken my vacation the week leading up to Christmas rather than the week after.  It worked out okay, because we had not even started gift shopping until Monday.  But, I definitely prefer the week between Christmas and the new year for vacationing.  I get more time with the kids that week.  

So, Bobby and I headed out to town to start our Christmas shopping Monday after he was done with work.

Shopping Selfie. . .

 

We continued to shop throughout the week.  I went to watch Tanner play basketball on Tuesday night.  We took my car to the shop for a minor repair and oil change.  And I wrapped presents like nobodies business.   On Wednesday night we went to see the trees on the Tinsel Trail.  I was serving at church prepping candles for a Highlands Christmas candle light service, so I met the family after.  Gray had a friend over and Tanner also invited his girlfriend.

 

 

 

On Thursday night both kids were visiting with friends for the night.  So Bobby took me out to the Fayette Park to drive through the Christmas light display and then we had dinner.  That's two dates in one week, which is pretty phenomenal for us.

 

On Friday night we attended A Highlands Christmas at church and it did not disappoint.  The lighting of the candles at the end of the service is always so beautiful. 

 

 

 

They may annoy me and drive me insane most days, but I love this little family of mine.

 

XoXo,

Tina

December 2013

The month of December came and went just as fast as the rest of 2013 for us.  Like everyone else, we were so busy with activities that I could not keep up with the blog post.  I've decided to condense the entire month into this post of many pictures and few words.

We kicked the month off with a toy drive at my office organized by my friend Meredith.  She did a great job, and we raised enough money to provide some sweet Christmas gifts to two little girls that we adopted from the Angel Tree Program sponsored by the Salvation Army.

The Boothe family gained a new niece the first week of December as well.  She is only the second girl of the seven grandchildren on Bobby's side.  Gracyn is thrilled and loves her to pieces.

We had a "fun" time building gingerbread houses with friends.  I realize that the whole gingerbread house thing does not mesh well with my personality.  Next year we will buy the houses that are already assembled.  The decorating part really is fun!

Bobby and I were able to get away on a little date on the third Tuesday of December to celebrate at his work Christmas party.  We had dinner at the Dixie Fish Market.  The food and service was really good.  The Pecan Pie was the best part.

Gracyn had her first concert with the Music Makers.  The show included all the choir groups from the elementary, middle, and high school.  They put on a great show and my girl was super cute!

Gracyn and her music teacher. . . .

I attended my first conference at Church of the Highlands for the retreat at the end of my Life Group.  The small group has been going on for a while, and this was the finale.  It was an awesome experience with some great ladies!

We almost did not make it to see Santa this year.  We finally went the day before Christmas Eve.  Tanner did not want to have his picture made again this year.  He managed to pull it off with a smile and make this mom so happy.  It's the simple things.

I am just starting to take down the Christmas decor today.  Normally I like to put it all away the day after, but this year I have really enjoyed it.  We put the tree up earlier and have left it out later than ever.

On Christmas Eve we shared our gifts with the kids, and had a delicious steak dinner. 

On Christmas day the kids got up at 3:30 to check out what Santa brought, and did not even wake us!!  We slept in until about 9am and then hung out and relaxed for most of the day.  That night we headed to my mother in law and father in law's to celebrate with them and Bobby's siblings and their families.  

It was a great Christmas season for us in our home and I hope it was for everyone else as well.

Now, I'm looking forward to another new year.  Welcome 2014!

XOXO,

Tina

Saying Goodbye {Skipper}

I cannot believe today is the last day of the year.  Each year just goes faster and faster.  For my final post of the year, I thought I'd share my final Christmas post.  I've been meaning to post this for days!  Here it goes.

On Christmas Eve we always make cookies for Santa.  This  year we opened our present BEFORE making cookies, so we ended up with a total of four cookies for Santa.  We normally have a dozen atleast.  The kids were just too excited about their gifts to fool around with cookies for a man who obviously should not be eating sweets.

 Big10 ate almost all of his dough.  I didn't think he was going to make any cookies.

 BabyG's final product looked something like this.  She got a little sprinkle happy.

 Big10's creation was a little different.  He decided to use the sprinkles that came with the icing.

 G wrote her traditional letter to Santa and filled a glass with milk.

 And left a sweet goodbye letter for our friend Skipper.

 She was so sad to say goodbye to Skipper.  She loves waking up in the morning to see where he has been and if he has gotten  into any mischief.

Christmas morning was going well, and everyone was looking through the gifts that Santa had left.  All of the sudden, Big10 spotted something on top of the china cabinet that resembled Skipper's leg.  All I heard next was a bunch of screaming. . ."Skipper's here!!! Skipper's here!!! Skipper is STILL here!!!"  Wouldn't you know it, somehow he goofed around and got left behind by Santa.  He tried really hard to hide from the kids, but they are just too observant.  Or maybe he was tired, and didn't do a very good job of hiding?  Luckily he made it back home to the North Pole on Christmas night.  That silly elf.  Next year we will have to remind him to behave and make sure he gets in the sleigh with Santa the first time around. :)

I hope that all of you have a safe and happy start to your new year!