The Holidays

Our holiday celebration began when Sarai and I went with my close friend Andrea to the local Botanical Gardens. The entire gardens were decorated with lights and decorations. There was a huge tree in the welcome area covered with lilies. It was beautiful! The night was cold but the holiday spirit was in full bloom.

Sarai trying to keep her nose warm.

Sarai wasn't too sure what to think of Santa but she finally warmed up to him and she particularly liked his walking stick. And yes, Santa's beard was real!

We took three weeks over Christmas and visited both of our families and several friends in between. But before we left on our holiday adventure, we had Christmas at home in North Carolina.

Sarai playing with her toy cell phone that she got from mommy and daddy. "Hello, hello? Is anybody there?"

Opening presents. She got really good at this after celebrating four Christmas!

Good morning Sarai! It's Christmas! First stop on our adventure was at my parent's house in Longview, Texas. We spent a week there and had a great time celebrating Christmas with Nanna, Pawpaw, Uncle John, Uncle Pip and Mimi.

Opening the Fridge Farm she got from Mawgaw and Pawgaw. They sent a package to her in Texas so she would have something to open from them on Christmas day.

Sarai got a new baby and a baby stroller from Nanna and Pawpaw. She liked to walk a few steps, take baby out, walk a few more steps and put baby back in. Silly girl!

Uncle John gave Sarai the Fisher Price nativity set. Is is so adorable! Everyone enjoyed checking out all the fun people and animals. Thanks to her uncles, Sarai learned what a camel does. Spits! Now when you ask her, she makes a spitting sound. It really is pretty cute.

Kissing baby Jesus

Eating cookies with Nanna. Yum, yum!

My best friend from high school, Carrie Pevey, drove over from Arlington one day to visit. We hadn't seen each other since her wedding two and half years ago so she hadn't met Sarai yet! Needless to say, we enjoyed our visit and our chance to catch up.

After leaving Texas, we headed to Pink, OK to visit my college roomie, Lori Hancock and her family, John, her husband, and their two boys, Brayden and Tyler. They serve as the directors for Camp Sooner. It was a rather eventful visit given all three of our kids were sick and all the adults were trying to avoid whatever the kiddos had. We actually ended up spending 3 hours in the Urgent Care with Sarai to find out that she had an ear infection! Ugh! But at least we knew why she felt so crummy. But despite all the runny noses, coughing, antibiotics and disappointing football games (Illinois and Oklahoma both lost), we enjoyed our time with the Hancocks and wished we didn't have to leave.

All the kiddos in the bath together! Someday they are going to kill us!

We drove up to Edmond, OK one evening to have dinner with our friends the Wakefields. We met them in North Carolina and they moved to Oklahoma over a year ago now. We enjoyed visiting with them for a couple of hours and catching up with their family.

After spending a few days in Oklahoma, we headed to Joplin to catch up with the our close friends, Shawn and Jody Lindsay and their two kiddos, Brittany and Levi. If you ever run into Shawn or Mike, you need to ask them about marshmallow baseball :-) We enjoyed our time with them so much. Their friendship is such an encouragement to Mike and I and we hated to leave but there were grandparents in St. Louis waiting to see their granddaughter!

Sarai lounging in Brittany's pink papasan chair.

Opening presents with Mawgaw. She got a play vacuum for Christmas and we are hoping this helps her get over her fear of the real thing.

Opening presents with Pawgaw.

For some reason, Sarai calls Mike's brother Brian, Puppy. So accordingly, he purchased her a puppy bib for Christmas and Sarai loves it! Good gift Uncle Puppy!

Pawgaw, Mawgaw and Sarai.

Our three week adventure went by in what seemed like a moment but it was well worth it. One thing we have learned over the past few months is how precious time with family and friends is and we are so thankful we spent some extra time over the holidays doing just that.