My best friend Stephanie and her family were going to be in Birmingham because they had tickets to the Polar Express. We had planned to meet up with them for a late lunch / early dinner. They ended up having 2 extra tickets, so after our meal, Jake & I got to go with them. I was so happy they invited us, we had such a great time!
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| Grant & Jake |
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| Grant & his little sister Elizabeth |
Is she not the most precious thing?!?! Those curls, that sweet little voice. She is my girl crush.
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| Elizabeth & her dad |
Stephanie & I have been friends since we met as Phi Mu freshman pledges at Troy University (pledge class '97!). We both lived in the sorority house all throughout college. (At that time, Troy offered a great deal, if you lived on campus for 2 years, your last 2 years were free. Sorority houses counted as on campus living. It is probably the only time in my life I saved my parents money.) We shared a room one quarter and almost killed each other. That is when we agreed we loved living in the same house together, just not the same room. We also lived together our last 3 summers of college. Graduation, moves, marriages, and babies later, she is still my best friend. Other than Robbie, she knows me better than anyone else in this world. It was even more exciting when we both found out we were pregnant and our due dates were 2 days apart! (Jake ended up coming a few weeks early.) She is my best friend, and every time we get to hang out, it is the best present I could ask for. And to see our children playing together just melts my heart.
One of my favorite bloggers, Melanie Shankle of the Big Mama blog, wrote a description about friendship when recapping one of her books. And it explains mine & Stephanie's friendship perfectly...
There are probably only a handful of times in our life when someone walks in who will change us forever, when we find someone we can love with our whole heart, who will challenge us and shape us and make us feel like the world is safer and brighter just because they are in it. A person who loves you for exactly who you are, yet teachers you to be better because of who they are and how they live their life. A person who will listen to your stories and hold your hand as you go through heartbreak and joy and figure out all that life throws your way.
Stephanie & Me - 18 years of friendship
Waiting for the train ride to start
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| Stephanie, Jonathan & Elizabeth |
Picture with Santa & Paula Dean Mrs. Claus
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| Ornaments for earrings |
They spent the night with us. Elizabeth & Hollon played like sweet little girls. Quite and gentle. Jake & Grant played like rough little boys. Loud and rowdy. I hope these 4 will always be friends. We just have to get Hollon & Elizabeth caught up!
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| Jake & Grant through the years |
And bless our dear friends. At 6:00 AM, our fire alarms went off. Not the "your battery is going dead" beep. But actually going off loud siren. We all of course jump up and start looking around. Then they go off. Then they come back on. Then back off. Then back on. Back and forth. It was horrible. We checked all throughout the house, outside and in the attic. No fire, just crazy fire alarms.
Ready for our last week of school before Christmas break!
Hollon found Jake's camera (our old camera we gave him)
And she would not give it back
Jake of course got upset (and that is why we warn him not to leave things out within Hollon's reach!)
Finally she gave it back
Mad because I would not let her have my phone
I am so scared of the terrible two's. Because this already happens at 15 months.
Much happier because she is sitting in her chair
Usually I can't take pictures of Hollon sleeping, because she will wake up. One afternoon, I was going to have to wake her up from her nap, so I used that opportunity to snap a few pictures. I love that she holds her ear when she sleeps.
Jake had his class Christmas party on Thursday. They made reindeer food.
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| One of the talented moms made the cutest menu cards and wraps |
Jake making his reindeer food
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| Jake and his amazing teacher Mrs. Prater |
Meanwhile, sister was enjoying the Christmas festivities at her school as well.
Brother gave her his old toy camera
This provided an hour of entertainment for her. Putting these books in the little case.
Sunday we went to church, out to eat and then had a visit with Santa. This was Hollon's first time to get her own meal at a food place. She ate almost the entire sandwich!
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