This season I am thankful again for my family and friends who help me get through each and every day even when things are rocky (Brinkley's cancer) and celebrate with me when life is good. I am so blessed to have a job that I LOVE to come to everyday and a wonderful school like Fayetteville Montessori for Emma to help nourish and love her when I am not there. I am thankful for a wonderful and loving husband who would literally do anything he could to protect me and our family from ever experiencing any pain. For my beautiful strong willed little angel! I can't even remember my life without you!! I am THANKFUL!! Everyday but even more so this time of the year. :-)
We had a great trip to Alabama to see Michael's side of the family this past week. We both took the entire week off so that we would have plenty of time to travel the 10 hour drive. I am thankful for my little brother who opens up his home to us both going and coming so Emma and the dog's don't have to try and make a 10 drive in a day!
We arrived on Monday and we were all so happy to get out of the car and even happier that we were at Grandmothers! On our first day we made out way to Tuscaloosa to visit Freddy in the nursing home. He was so happy to see Michael and Emma for the first time! (we weren't able to make it to see him last Thanksgiving)
Emma's Alabama dress and tall black boots were a hit with all the nurses!!
Though we have gone to Tuscaloosa every year since we have been married...this was the first time we went to the "other" UofA. We all enjoined walking around campus and seeing how much things had changed since Michael was there last. I mean he could not quit saying "man that is so different" and "that used to be apartments" and even "this one time..." It was a great walk down memory lane and I was able to catch some sweet Daddy daughter moments!
We were even able to squeeze in a date night with our besties! Got to see their new house, eat some yummy sushi and shake my booty with their oldest Lane! :-) It is so great that no matter how much time has passes we all just pick right back up as if it was yesterday. Hopefully this summer we will be able to plan a double family get together in FL!
This year Michael's mom Saundra had the family over to her house again. She is in Birmingham and it's a great meeting place and so much easier than us trying to drag Emma around to another location!!! We had a little photo shoot before the gang arrived and one thing is for sure...Emma is going to be able to wear this dress again next year!
While things were getting ready we needed some alone time with the leaves in the neighbors yard.
and we found a cat!!
With all the excitement someone didn't go down for a nap but I was pleasantly surprised that she seemed okay! :-) She slept well that night even if Daddy got home late since he braved the "grey Thursday" crowds. I just coined that phrase since it's the day before black Friday...feel free to use it! ;-P
Friday arrived far to soon for any of us but it was important to me to get back home by Saturday so we could have a day to recoup before the week started up again. We had some Christmas photos taken in the super cute outfit Grandmother got Emma.
For those of you who don't know Emma has 2 uncles...and they are both named Hunter! Confusing I know! ;-) Here is Hunter #2 (as we like to call him since he is the younger of the two) trying HARD not to show those pearly whites!
And the brothers even hugged for the camera!
Made a pit stop in Tupelo at Chic-fil-A to break up the trip!
Brinkley and Gabby are so ready to be home! They had a great time in Brinkley but there is NO place like home!!
Broke out our Christmas jammies...
And then went to the ER!!
Let me back track. On Friday after Thanksgiving we stopped by World Market to pick up a few Christmas presents for the family. Michael went to the back of the store while Emma and I looked at jewlery. After looking at that for a while I decided it was time to meet up with Daddy. We walked for a bit then Emma wanted to stop. We did and looked at some toys but it was a full store and I didn't want her to run off. I told her we had to meet up with Daddy and she started to walk while holding my hand then she went limp. Anyone with a 2 year old or one close to it knows what I am talking about. One second you are walking the next you are holding on to a child sized sack of potatoes. I felt 2 small "pops" which worried me...but she looked fine and didn't cry for more than 30 seconds so we were on our way. Now to the next day. Saturday was great but when it came to book time she decided she wouldn't get out of her toy box. I grabbed her hand and gave her a slight tug and she threw herself to the back of the toy box. That time I felt one pop and when I got her out her left arm was limp. I mean pick it up and it drops back to her side. We were freaking out...well Michael was freaking out verbally but I was almost silent. We put her coat on and wen to the ER. They got us in to triage within 30 minutes but by that time we already seeing that she was able to move her arm even though she still wouldn't squeeze Michael's finger. After an hour and a half she was running around the ER. Laughing and playing, climbing up on all the chairs in the room. I went back to the nurses station and they said it was going to be at least another 4 hours before we could see a doctor. We decided that since she was feeling good we would go to the Doctor 1st thing on Monday and if she had anything like this happen again we'd take her to the ER again on Sunday.
Sunday was great. She slept great that night and had a wonderful day. When she got up from her nap there was a new tree in both her room!!!
And the living room! :-)
That night Emma and Mommy made Aunt Donna's sugar cookies. I got Michael to stand in with helping for pictures sake.
She was such a great helper!
And even put the sprinkles on them!
I think out of everything the eating of the cookies was her favorite part!
We also adopted our very own Elf on the Shelf! Meet Chrissy. (we named her before we read the book...but Emma seems to like the name!)
Monday morning I took her right in and after only seconds with the doctor I now know that Emma had had nursemaids elbow Leaned how to fix it if it happens again but so happy that it wasn't anything more than that!
Monday night Michael shaved the beard he had been growing for Mo-vember and this was the winner!
Even got a cheesy one in honor of the birth of Pat and Elizabeth Sullivan's newest little girl.
Then on Friday he trimmed it up to this...since there was someone who donated to the cause and he really wanted the "undercover brother"!
Michael had drill that weekend so when Emma kept asking for him. I got him to send us a good pic in uniform so she would understand when I said Michael was at Army.
We went to visit Santa and while she wasn't pumped but she didn't cry!!
Then we visited with my good friend Jana and her family! She is such a great mommy and we even made ice cream cone christmas trees with M&M's and coconut!
On Sunday Daddy made it back in time for us to go to Elizabeth Burris's birthday party! She is such a Daddy's girl!
After pizza we went to see the lights on the square and we prepared for a great week!
Be blessed!!! And I will see y'all next week, to catch up on this past one!
Jill
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