Christmas 2016

So, because it's almost Christmas again and have lots to update on here - an all encompassing December post! 

The Christmas parade was actually postponed by one week due to rain but that was fine with us - because it meant that we could all go! 

Caleb loved the band the most at the parade and was excited about meeting Santa...until it came time to meet Santa.  Still crying!!!  He says he's going to smile this year...we'll see! 

Christmas Eve, Doc and Allie came and played in the leaves until it was time to make Christmas cookies.

 Caleb and Kate both enjoyed decorating but Caleb was a little more distracted by eating and was able to sneak more cookies than he was supposed to eat.

Oh, well! 

The next morning, we did Santa presents with the basketball

and American girl doll

being the presents that the kids had specifically asked for. However, I think that this animal puzzle David got for caleb was the winner.

After church and David working, we all came back for lunch and family presents.

Then that evening, Philip and Kenna came and we had brunch. 

Then we opened more presents.

I love that my family has been able to come each year for Christmas. 

Hope that this continues now that we have Eleanor and Abigail!  After David finished working, we went to Decatur. 

The kids LOVE playing with Nana and I think she was pleased with her gift!

Then we were able to go to Spring City this year to see GG.  So glad we got to go.  It even snowed some while we were there. 

A great Christmas season!

Nettles Thanksgiving

After Thanksgiving in Decatur, we traveled to my parents' house in TN for the big Nettles' Thanksgiving. 

We were the first there and set to work making refried beans.  Caleb helped and was so excited that he did it!

Then people began arriving.  They played games and Kate apparently won!

 and we had dinner.  Afterwards, the kids all ran off some energy outside with a very bright ball.  I believe Caleb was kicked in the face by Kate just after this picture was taken when he ran to grab the ball and she kicked it.  No damage!

That night was apparently climb on people night because Daddy played horse for Kate and Caleb and then they both piled on top of David as well!

Thanksgiving is pretty much just a BIG lunch with everyone doing whatever they want from games to puzzles to climbing to walks.  Caleb joined the big guys and Uncle Tony in a game of beanbags.

Kate, of course, climbed her tree but Caleb refused!

Later that day, Kate rode her bike and then took a LONG walk with me and Aunt Margaret where she collected several treasures.  When she got back home, she worked HARD on a craft with Aunt Margaret, which was a big secret and I was reprimanded several times for looking (even though I wasnt! Ha!).

Caleb dreamed of riding the motorcycle while everyone else just visited.

The next day, everyone comes back over for gumbo and then heads in their own directions.  We stay for a few more days.  Thankfully, Philip, Kenna and Ms. Rita stayed as well, so we got some extra visiting in.

The big excitement was getting ready for Christmas now that Thanksgiving was over.  We started with Christmas PJ's and books. 

Then the kids, Mama and I worked on another candy house.

 Caleb mostly ate icing - until I told him to stop and he got VERY upset!  He eventually joined back in the decorating and we all had fun.

Gilliam Thanksgiving

We began our annual Thanksgiving week at David's parents' house. 

The kids are always excited to be there and got a little extra time with his folks since David and I had to stay at a hotel due to some extra guests.

 They loved it.  The time there was spent outside a lot. 

Kate loved doing flips

and Caleb still played a lot on the swing. 

Of course, he got to snuggle with Grammy...

while Kate REALLY got the hang of riding her bike! 

We were so proud.  It's always fun to play with Nana in her bathroom,

spend time with Grandmommie,

and get snuggles and tickles from GG. 

Of course the highlight is making the candy house. 

Caleb took a little while to warm up to it but he eventually figured it all out.

 He was feeding GG by the end.  We were so happy that Nana and GG both joined in the fun.

We were also thankful for Ms. Lois who came with GG.  She made a joyful addition to everyone there and enabled GG to be there!  What a great bunch of thankful friends and family.