Sunday Brunch with the Marist Crew

Elizabeth, Libby, Stacey, Whitney, Sally, Jennifer, Me and Lilli-all Marist grads except Jenn and Me. Ryan and Jennifer Ingalls hosted the annual Christmas Brunch and it was just delightful. Beautiful home, great food, and good company made for an enjoyable gathering. Caroline had a ball with all the other little kids. The guys were too cool for pics I guess.

On the left we have an Ingalls boy and on the right we have an Eddy! I'm afraid trouble could await! Little Finn is just hanging out in the corner... All the babies! Anna Blair, Kinsley, Caroline, Finn, Jack, Wade, Brooks, Michael, and James....


Caroline and Kinsley are almost a year apart. Caroline will turn 3 this year and little Kinsley will be 2. Precious precious!



And this little munchkin is Anna Blair. She is Elizabeth's baby girl. Teeny tiny cuteness is what she is....a lightening rod of energy and fun! CCaroline enjoyed the fun so much! She played and ate alone like a big girl. She of course liked the older ones and went everywhere Jack and Brooks went. We had a ball getting together with everybody and committed to doing it more often! Next time with no kids:)

It's a PARTY Mom!

Here is the first look at the big PRE SCHOOL. We struggled at the beginning to like this little place but we eagerly get ready with no tears now and today was like every other except it was a Christmas celebration. She has 12 kids in her class with 3 teachers and they do a really great job!

Today was the Christmas PARTY! They had precious reindeer snacks earlier. I got there in time to see them dancing to Christmas music. Camille, Bea, and Josie are the most viewable in the below pic. I hear about these kids ALL the time.

Pictured below are four more I hear often about...Alexandria, Brick, Ryan, and Jordan on the back right.

This little guy, Jeffrey, well makes your heart just melt. Caroline talks about him quite often. He was the most out going of the group!!! Clearly you can see he's got some personality!!!!

Precious Bea!!!

They made this adorable book below I will blog about later.

And lastly, the precious gift they sent home...stuffed animal and candy cane! MERRY CHRISTMAS MBCA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas Dinner with Friends

Every year we get together with this rowdy group!! FUN FUN FUN. All the girls went to college together and look very forward to this evening of laughter. For starters, take a look at Jonathon's red sweater! Last year, Dave wore the now famous "red sweater". Every one gave him a hard time about the brightness of the sweater....compared it to a stop light, boys choir, you name it-they said it. So this year, much to our surprise, Jonathon shows up in a RED sweater! And then they sat next to each other.....you just couldn't pass the table without doing a double take. Chris and Nathan might wear green next year!

Best shot of a family pic....look at baby sister growing!

Is Santa really that Sweet Mommy?

BEFORE SANTA
And AFTER Santa!!!!! We love Santa!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy as can be with our stocking from Santa!! She did GREAT with Santa. He began talking to her right when we walked in for the visit. He asked her lots of questions and she quickly warmed up. Precious angel child from heaven indeed!!! I cried she was so sweet. She was scared to death initially when we first started talking about Santa months ago and even right until she walked in, but she wanted to be a "big girl" . In order to prepare for the big day we bought books, toys and lots of stuff to make her comfortable with the red fellow! And it paid off!!It was a REAL treat~


She told him she wanted an oven and American Girl Doll. I actually whispered baby doll and she said AG doll!! Too PRECIOUS!!!!!!

Even Daddy Boy was emotional...just too sweet!! Dave is a real Clark Griswald!

Enjoying a delicious brunch!

My parents were actually able to join in the fun this year and were so pleased to include them!! LOTS of beautiful decor and great food made for a very MERRY Sunday brunch!

The beautiful decor was just that beautiful!

Caroline was watching Frosty here....finger in mouth means...I'm scared a little Mom and Dad!!!!

Happy Birthday Olivia!

Caroline riding the luggage cart in the hotel!!!!!! She had a BALL in the hotel.
Little Olivia turns 1!!!!

Sweet Christy, Me, and Devin

Little Candace and Little Dev!!!

On Friday we took a quick and I mean quick trip to Birmingham to help little Olivia Pontarelli celebrate her 1st birthday party. It was so great seeing everybody! I love those people!!!!! And am so proud of the life of Olivia Pontarelli!

Thanksgiving and Gingerbread Houses!

The finished product~
Precious Angel having a little capri sun!

Gay Gay helped them make the lil Ginger Bread Houses. They worked so HARD!

Even Davie got in on the fun. Caroline was so sick, though. She coughed and coughed and coughed. I thought we were going to have to come back home the next day but she bounced right back. We took it easy Friday. I guess EK and Tay have a way of making her do that!!!

Giving Thanks with the Family!!!

Caroline is ready for some prime rib!!!
We all had the stomach virus and decided to forgo the traditional meal until the weekend at the Bensons. Dave instead cooked a nice prime rib!

So thankful Nana is better!!!

After watching the parade we headed down to AL!

Halloween Please

So, we had a FUN FUN FUN Halloween in our neighborhood. Here are a few pics! She was a LADY BUG!!!