Lucy, we are coming to see you!!!!!!!!!

So I am really behind on my blogs with all the business that comes with Christmas......... I promise to catch up when we get back from NC!!!  However, I wanted to take the time to write our dear Lucy a little note:)

Dear Lucy,

Mommy and Daddy told us tonight that we were getting up in the morning and going to NC. First we are going to Nana & Granddaddy's house and then we are coming to yours!!  We can hardly wait to play with you and your cousin William.  We know that we will have the best time and we hope you are ready to give us your famous "choke hold" hugs:)  Mommy bought us hats to wear for New Year's Eve again so we are ready for our annual party.  Be good and we will be there soon.

Love,

Ava & Bryce

 
Lucy's famous hugs

the girls this summer

New Year's Eve (2007)

St. Marys Live Nativity

Tonight we had a busy family night that started at Chick fil a.  It was kids night and Santa was there to see & visit with everyone.  After eating dinner with our friends we headed downtown for the live nativity.  Our friends the McNeils were the holy family so we definitely had to see them.  Their baby Jackson who is 7 months old was baby Jesus and he did a great job!!  The nativity was complete with live animals that the girls really enjoyed watching.  They told the whole nativity story and played beautiful Christmas music in between each showing.  It was really special and I am so glad that we live in a town that proudly displays its Christian heritage.

Orange Hall at Christmas (future sight of Ava or Bryce's wedding reception, ha ha!!)

The girls bundled up for the show.

Mary, Joseph, & baby Jesus  (April, John, & Jackson)

Ava & her daddy

Nicole & Emma practicing her sorority picture pose!!

The nativity with the animals

Merry Christmas!!!!!

This is random, I know, but I just got so cracked up at Brycie.  After her bath she just had to have her purse to carry around while she was naked.  And who says accessories aren't important!!!!!!! 

Santa Brunch at Osprey

Today we went to our annual Santa brunch at our neighborhood clubhouse.  Mimi & Papa met us there for a great meal and once again we tried to get a Santa picture.  This is what we ended up with..................

Ava was at first interested, but once she got in his lap she wanted down quickly.

This is as good as it gets this year for our Santa picture.  (Notice how Brycie is still hanging on for dear life!!!!)

Ava enjoying her bacon.

Brycie eating her cookie.  We had a very nutritious meal, as you can tell:)

Ava playing with the Christmas tree.

Hanging out with Papa!!

The Scary Santa Visit

Tonight we had a visit from Santa.  He came to our home and as you will see below it went really well...............

Ava being tortured by Santa

Brycie clinging on to Mommy for dear life.  She decided that she wasn't getting anywhere near that crazy bearded man!!!!

I am trying to make the best of this situation.  

This was the best we could do.

Oh well, there's always next year!  Hopefully Santa will still visit us on Christmas Eve and the girls will be all tucked in for a long winter's nap.  Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!

Emma's Birthday Party

Later on in the day we went to Emma's 3rd birthday party.  Needless to say, we had quite a busy day!!  Emma's party had a snowman/Christmas theme and all the kids wore their holiday pajamas.  The kids had a ball decorating cookies, making crafts, and playing together.  Brycie especially enjoyed Miss Nicole's cookies.  Miss Jennifer caught her hoarding them with about five or six of them in her hand:)  Happy, Happy Birthday, Emma, we love you!!!!!!! (Good job on the party, Nicole, even the parents had a good time)

  

The boys (Griff, Grayson, & Walker)

Gabe, Madeline & Ava playing house

Daddy & the his girls taking a break from the party

Brycie and one of her favorite people (Miss Nicole)

Ava playing with balloons

making reindeer food

Sweet baby Collins.  Isn't he adorable?!?!?!!!

Best buddies (Ava, Bryce & Emma)

Most of the playgroup girls

Going to our first wedding

Today Ava & Bryce attended their first wedding.  Our cousin Brooke got married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony.  It was such a lovely wedding and the girls throughly enjoyed themselves. Uncle Gary & Aunt Teresa's fountain was their favorite thing to play in and they really loved the food!!  Brooke was a beautiful bride and we are so thrilled that she found the right person to spend her life with.  Congratulations, Brooke & Billy, we wish you all the best!!

  

Going to the wedding with Papa & Mimi

Brooke & her dad

Brooke & Billy cutting the cake

The girls chowing down with Grandma & Grandpa Kriner

Playing in the fountain

Ava thinks this is the most fun she has had in awhile

Our family

Madeline's First Birthday Tea Party

Today we celebrated Madeline's first birthday at the Mad Hatter Tea Room.  All of the "little ones" from the playgroup came and helped Madeline enjoy her big day.  We played dress up, ate lunch and had cupcakes.  Madeline was such a cutie especially when she went to town on her pink cupcake!!  A good time was had by all and we so enjoyed being apart of her birthday since we didn't make her party on Saturday.  Happy First Birthday, Madeline!!!!!  We are so glad that you are our friend......

Madeline, the birthday girl

Brycie enjoying her lollipop

Eating lollipops so we will make it through lunch quietly.

Cupcake time!!  Ava says "no, thank you!"

The playgroup

Madeline's sweet Daddy bringing her flowers.

Mommy and her girls

Stephanie & "little" Emma

Madeline and the famous cupcake fiasco!!!!!!!

Elmo slippers

Today was a much better day in the Kriner household.  The girls and I headed off to Jacksonville to do some shopping and we picked up something that made us happy..........Elmo slippers!!!!!!!  It is definitely "Elmo's World" at our house and we decided that we had to have these to keep our feet warm.  Brycie wasn't so sure at first but Ava loved them from the get go!! Jonathan and I thought they were hilarious on their little feet so we had to share!!

  

Santa Claus Came to Downtown St. Marys

Santa Claus visited St. Marys tonight to light all of the downtown trees.  Our playgroup met downtown to view and take part in the festivities, but Ava & Bryce decided that they didn't really want to participate.  We made it long enough to see Santa & Mrs. Claus but then we decided (due to the meltdowns) to head home.  Oh well, not all nights go as planned:) Hopefully Santa wasn't watching Ava & Bryce too closely tonight or he will not be visiting the Kriner home!!!!!

   

The start of the evening.........all bundled up!!

The girls and "little" Emma

Daddy & Ava

The lovebirds (Griffin & Emma)

What the girls enjoyed doing most, climbing up and down on the curb.

The guests of honor

On our way home!!!!!!  Downtown St. Marys sure is beautiful at Christmas.........