aunt Law-rah and uncle David

I think I have lied to the blogging world.... I said that the church christmas party officially started christmas. Well, really it was Tuesday December 16th. Emery's favorite 2 people arrived at BNA on flight #2267. I made that flight number up, but in all seriousness, Emery has been in heaven these last few weeks! Aunt Law-rah,Uncle David, and Uncle Bud mean the world to our little girl! We had so much fun living it up while they were here- everyday playdates, GREAT eating, and I could just keep going! Major hats off to my mom who hasn't had a break from lots of activities, well in 29 years!!! Mom made this such a fun holiday too!

I'm sure I will get a scolding for this picture...... emery almost doesn't even see or hear Jim and I when Laura or David are around! I have felt like I only have one child because she's always with one of them!

We were going to make gingerbread houses. But, it turned into the Byerlys watching Laura and David in a gingerbread construction competition!

at least Emery got to color on a marshmellow! teasing guys.....

My mom hit 3 stores for all the candy before we even got to her house that morning. She baked the gingerbread too!! Talk about productive!

this photo is completely staged!

as is this one!

a Byerly Christmas

So, none of these pictures are of great quality! But, I just have to give a shout out to Nana and Poppy Byerly. They came up the second weekend in december for merrill's party and then 6 days later they come right back up to nashville to do christmas with us! We are spoiled rotten! They arrived saturday morning and then we rushed (along with EVERY other nashvillian) to Opryland to see the rockettes. What a treat! I loved watching emery while we were there.... It was so very fun for me and Jim to watch Christmas through Emery's eyes this year!

We then came home and had christmas dinner and opened presents. Emery was very tired but held it together long enough to collect all her loot!

kissing chocolate lab/yellow lab salt shakers! (that was for Jim and I- not Emery)

nana, poppy, & emery

Christmas Program

Emery's preschool put on an adorable little christmas program! Pictures don't do it justice- we've watched the video several times and get so tickled. I can't say it enough.... Kids are too funny! Emery wasn't the most lively on stage, but did move her lips some. I think Emery was most excited about who was in the audience-kiki, pop, grandmother, aunt Law-rah and uncle David! (more on those last two a little later!)

pre-program

daddy and his girls (do you think emery was nervous?)

merrill & grandmother

Preschool Christmas Party

I love that I get to go to everything up at Emery's school. I have this fear that I'm going to miss something, and I know that someday I'm sure I will. But for now, I want to be that parent that she can't get rid of!!! Mia & Emery (Emery is pouting because I told her she had to take 1 bite of her lunch-what a mean and embarrassing mom!)

waiting for her present

me & Em (yes, I realize what my hair looks like!)

we have had the best little class this year!

THE christmas party

Okay..... I can see the floor of our house again, so its time to start catching up on all the blogging!

Last year I pitched a royal hissy fit because I wanted to go to our church christmas party so bad! Merrill was 6 days old and my (smart) husband said absolutely not. I even bought a sling because I just knew Jim would let me go if I hid merrill in it. Anyway, I got over it..... So, here are so pictures from the party this year. This really kicks of christmas for me!!! hard to believe how much can happen in just a year!

the girls and snow white

okay, will I be doing this at a christmas party 50+years from now? So funny.... My grandma is the 3rd from the right, so it wasn't totally weird I took this picture. I don't think....

matching cousins on the legate side

girls with santa

proof the 2 of us were there

merrill wanted to take a quick cat nap on Ms. Claus

merrill birthday pictures

We had a fun family birthday party for Merrill!





for comparison..... Merrill @ 1 year; Emery @ 1 year (at right)

I love how blogger gets to decide the layout





tasting the cake

not enjoying the cake

settling for a peppermint patty

opening presents (yes, my children are always naked)

cousin tori & merrill are just 1 year apart

her wedding cake, I mean birthday cake (note to self: find out what serving size publix uses when it comes to cake. This cake could have served 60, rather than 30. The idea of cake is not to send people into diabetic shock, but rather a normal size serving of dessert!)

nana & poppy made it for the party

most of the kids

new trick- the fake cough

emery insisted merrill needed pom poms for her birthday. I believe it was Emery that needed them!

a look back....

I was uploading pictures from merrill's party and then wanted to compare pictures of the girls at 1 year old. Came across this top picture which was on our christmas card- emery's first christmas. So, I then got REALLY distracted and went looking for each year's christmas picture....


2005

2006

2007

2008

She's 1!

One year ago tonight, Jim and I were frantically cleaning our house and packing our bags for the hospital. It's crazy to think that Merrill has been with us for a year now. It's funny... I almost can't remember life without her. She is such a blessing to us. She's funny, fast, sneaky, curious, sweet, cuddly, so tiny, and I could just keep going. We love you precious baby girl!

I wish I was organized enough with my pictures to have a better overview of the last year, but I don't. So, here's a few from her birth and few from the last few days!

ornament making party

Last week the girls and I had several friends over for an ornament making party! It was lots of fun and lots of kids.... everywhere! I even lost track of both of mine at some point. I'm glad my mom came to help me with merrill- she keeps me busy! I got to take just a few pictures! We had a great time! And, thanks to Amy for making the adorable cupcakes!