Happy Birthday to Ella!

We had a great time celebrating Ella's birthday on Saturday, January 12 @ The Little Gym in Germantown w/ friends and family. The kids ran around like crazy for a/b an hour and a half and then we enjoyed pizza and cake. It was a blast and so nice to not have to worry about cleaning up anything. TLG did it all for us! Enjoy picts below.....

Ella hanging from the bar

Practicing blowing out her candles on her real birthday w/ Daddy 

Swinging w/ Jonathan & Elizabeth

Our BIG Jumper!

More jumping....

Cousins Charlie & Cami were there to help celebrate!

Everyone got in a circle & said their names and favorite colors :)

Parachuting

Ella LOVED this part :)

Our 2 Year Old TODDLER!

Cousin Robbye making Ella laugh ;) 

Birthday girls special seat w/ Abby 

Playing w/ Presleigh Parker

Getting ready to blow up the trampoline

Beautiful Cake by Katie Crenshaw (Matched the invitation)

Ready for some little appetites to eat up!

"Happy birthday to you..."

Best we could do ;)

Blowing out her candles

Jumpin w/ Robbye Roo

"Mama's Baby" turns 2!

I can't believe our baby is 2 today! Where has the time gone? This morning Tim got up early and went and got donuts for Ella and her friends at Molly's to celebrate the occasion. We gave Ella her birthday gift- a mini piano that she loves & we are celebrating at The Little Gym tomorrow in Germantown w/ friends and family. Pictures to come shortly thereafter!

Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013!

Well another year has come and gone. As always with each year, they all seem to go by faster and faster w/ age. 2012 was a year full of changes for our family- We put our house on the market in Jan. and by the end of Feb. (36 days to be exact) it was sold! In the next 4-5 months, we moved out of 2510 Kindlewood, moved in w/ Tim's grandparents for 3.5 months to the date, did many renovations on our new house, and finally moved in our house on July 11, 2012. All in the middle of this transitioning from one house/city/state to another, Tim was opening up his State Farm agency (June 2012) in east Memphis. I turned the big 3-0 in August and we traveled to Atlanta twice in the fall and went to Gatlinburg w/ my family the weekend before Thanksgiving. The holidays flew by w/ parties, shopping, wrapping, decorating, and cooking and before I knew it, it was New Years Eve. We rang the new year in w/ sweet friends and family at our house w/ our kiddo's over appetizers, wings, & pizza and everyone was gone by 10 p.m. Tim and I almost made it to midnight - falling asleep at 11:30 p.m. :) 

As I look back over the past year, I am grateful for the Lord getting us through all the changes. I know we couldn't have done it without his guidance and wisdom. It is so awesome to look back over this past year and see how His hand was in every move, change, and transition that took place. Watching all of the events of this year unfold and doors steadily opening and Tim and I walking through them all thinking "This has to be happening for a reason- God is in control and we trust HIM!" Our faith was most definitely tested at every angle. We were challenged, doubted, but yet persevered through it all! I have to take a moment to brag on my husband too. Since June, he has most definitely sacrificed many hours at the office and worked extremely hard. His time is precious these days and we are grateful for the time and effort he makes both at home and in the office. Looking forward to what 2013 brings for our family. Good, bad, happy, or sad, God will see us through as He does each day! Here's to you and your family....Have a blessed 2013! 

My NY Resolution: To let go of the "small things" that just don't matter! 

Christmas in Oxford/ Christmas w/ the Crosses

Yes, if you can't tell already, we had about 5-6 Christmases to attend this year. About 4 of them were w/ my family and the other 2 with the Crosses and at Tim's grandparents house (which conveniently is right around the corner from us- literally in the same neighborhood). We had a blast at all of our Christmas celebrations this year and are so thankful for family to spend it with. I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking.....

Cousins eating @ Noni & Ra-Ra's

She loved her light up Cinderella shoes!

Opening up the Dora talking Backpack from Noni & Ra-Ra!

Opening up a gift w/ Noni

Loving all the paper! She and Charlie would bury each other in it and thought that was hysterical!

Woo Hoo! Dirty Santa :)

Ra-Ra's little shadow :)

Every year after Christmas, we get together w/ all of Tim's extended family on Beth's side which equals usually around 35-40 people, at his grandparents house here in Collierville. There are 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren now. The great grands range in age from 7 on down to 2 months old. It's a fun time.....the kids each get one gift (we draw names) from another cousin and Maw Maw and Pop usually get them a gift or fill their stockings. Either way, the kiddos love it. 

Alex (7) & Cami (3)

Maw Maw reading "Away in a Manger" w/ Ella standing by her side :)

The kiddo's listening....

Sitting w/ Aunt Emmie and Sam (the newest member of the Cross Fam- LOL)

There's no telling what we are laughing about.....

Ella opening her gift from Ames