Thanksgiving Day

My family on Thanksgiving. Too bad we didn't get ALL of us out there for a picture! :(

Our newest Holiday tradition... we move all the furniture back while the parade is on and the kids are IN the parade. SOOO much fun!

My football playersCarving the turkey

JT had to work :(. But we did add Jesse and Reina to the family!
My two moms!
The kids table... funny I can still remember when I had to sit at it!No that is not a little Johnson... that is Zion Santoyo :)
Uncle Phil and Aunt Marcela
Going for 2nds... gorgeous night outside!

My little Christmas tree

Ten years ago for the first Christmas that Travis and I were married we lived in a very tiny one bedroom apartment right across the street from Lee University. It was a very cute and cozy place and we loved living there. It was so small that a large tree wouldn't quite fit so we went out and bought a 4 foot tree and decorated it. It was very exciting being married and decorating our first little place. It felt so magical. Two years later we when we bought our first house in Romeoville, IL we bought a beautiful 9 foot artificial tree (if you know my history with "real" trees you understand my preference). We have put that tree up every Christmas since (except the ONE time I tried a real tree), along with the smaller one (so yes, I always had 2 trees up in my house). Until this year.

This is a year Christmas I will always remember. We moved to the keys because of the Chinese drywall in our home in Homestead. The house we are in is much smaller than the one in Homestead. There is no room for a 9 foot tree. But there is room for that really special tree we bought 10 years ago for our first Christmas. At first I felt a little sad that not all of my Christmas decorations will be pulled out this year. But then I experienced the joy of watching my kids put up their tree today. Kourtney kept saying, "this is so much fun!" They didn't care that the tree was only 4 feet tall. We had a blast.

I have learned so much this year. So much about priorities, family, and the important things in life. What wonderful lessons. I am happier than I have ever been. I love where I am. I love my family. I love my little Christmas tree. This will definitely be an unforgettable Christmas.

We also had fun relaxing outside today. What a gorgeous, perfect weekend.

My parents came in town

My parents drove from Robert, LA to Tavernier, FL for Thanksgiving! I'm thankful for young, healthy parents who can do that! They got in Monday afternoon and surprised the girls (who thought they would be in Tuesday) at school. It was fun. We then ate at Marker 88 on the water. That night my mom got out a little Christmas tree she brought and the kids decorated it and we put it in the girls' room. It was so nice having my mom and dad here. They babysat for us on Tuesday and we spent the day in Homestead working and then out on a date. LOVE date nights!

Wednesday it rained and poured in the keys so we decided to head to Dolphin Mall. It was crowded but oh so fun. I love mall time :). We made a stop by Bass Pro Shop for a picture with Santa. We bribed McKenna and we got lucky that Blake was sleeping so he could get in the picture with no freak outs! LOL.
Thanks mom and dad, we loved having you down here!

Island Christian School Christmas Festival

I was sick leading up to the Christmas Festival... pneumonia and strep throat (though the urgent care doctor said I had H1N1, whatever - he didn't test me for it). Anyways, I was on antibiotics and tamiflu and praying I was well enough to make it out! I felt great Saturday morning when I woke up and I was so happy. Kourtney and McKenna could not wait to go! We worked their classroom booths and they had so much fun. I didn't get a picture of me and McKenna working the booth though, :(. If only it had been a little cooler that day. I never thought about getting a sunburn at a Christmas Festival, lol!

The parade!

Go Eagles!!!On the Ferris Wheel

View from the Ferris Wheel in the Florida Keys!

Stuffed Animals

Here we are trying to get a handle on our baby dolls and stuffed animals... 3 mesh bags full. I told the girls they could each fill one bag and the rest we would give to the rummage sale at Island Christian. We made "keep it" and "give it away" piles. There were tears, bargaining, wheeling and dealing. In the end, we accomplished our goal. The sad part? We probably have another 2 bag fulls at our "sick house."

Brisk morning in the Florida keys