Happy New Year!

2013 was full of some great moments, some sad moments, and some challenges. The biggest change for us was the arrival of sweet Susie. She has blessed our lives so much.

To celebrate new years we went to a friend's house to do another shrimp boil. There were SO many people, and it was hot and crowded. Cam loved cooking for everyone, but the introvert in me wanted to be at home in pajamas so badly. We stayed until about 11:00, and then rang in the new year at home.

Our annual Emmett and Amy picture!

Susie and Mikhael having fun scooting around on the floor

Shrimp Boil

This cracked me up - Iron Emmett

Early in the evening - before the crowd

Thank goodness Susie is happy with anyone - she got passed around a lot

Later in the night - we're winding down!

Christmas Traditions - Christmas Dinner

We got together with our NC family for Christmas dinner. Emmett loves playing with "Papa Steve" and kept begging him to come play. He got a remote control car and a truck, so the boys all had fun playing with that! Susie was perfect as usual, and kept everybody smiling.

Christmas Traditions - Christmas Breakfast

We always get together with our friends for Christmas breakfast. We had a great time sitting around talking for hours.

Christmas Traditions - Christmas Morning

Emmett surprised us all and slept in until 7am! That was a great Christmas present for us! We had so much fun opening presents and watching the joy and excitement he showed. He wanted to play with everything!

One of Cam's favorite traditions from his family is that everyone gets a box of cereal

 

The room is ready for the kids to wake up!

 Santa Came!

Let the fun begin!

Family Pictures

Getting our family picture this year was a bit.... challenging. But we did manage this great shot.

Tent

Emmett got a bed tent from Gigi, and he LOVES it. It's Jake and the Neverland Pirates, which he loves. It also came with a light, so it pretty much is a perfect present all around.

I didn't think he'd actually take his nap after we set it up, but I went to check on him and he had the light turned on, sitting on his stomach, and was sound asleep!

Christmas Traditions - Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, the kids open Christmas pajamas. This is my new favorite picture,  because I rarely get them sitting still and both of them smiling at the same time!

We leave cookies and milk for Santa.

After that, we read the nativity story and put Emmett to bed. About twenty minutes later, he called me and I went into his room. I asked him what was wrong, and he said "Ho Ho is COMING!" I didn't think he really understood what was going on, but he did and he was VERY excited.