Christmas Pics, Finally!

Sorry it's taken so long to post pictures! Sara Kate was sick over New Year's and I haven't felt too good for the past two days. But, Sara Kate's Mom's Morning Out program started back today so I figured now was a good time to post pictures. Sara Kate always thinks she's supposed to "check her email" while I'm on the computer so it makes it hard to get anything done!

We had a great Christmas, we stayed here since we just went home for Thanksgiving. I actually cooked Christmas Eve dinner for Eric's residents at work. He had to work over Christmas so I took everyone supper that night. I thought I was being smart by preparing the food the night before and ordering a turkey and dressing. Well, I went to pick up the turkey two hrs. before I was supposed to take the food and it was frozen!! I didn't know what to do. I called my neighbor next door and she came rushing over to help. She took the turkey and dressing while I cooked the other food. Eric was supposed to come home, help me load up all the food, and then we were going to drive back home together. Well, he was unable to come since they admitted so many patients. I had tons of food, a 3 yr. old and I had no idea how I would get it all done. Thankfully my neighbor Kathy came to the rescue again. She came over helped me get Sara Kate dressed and loaded up my car. Well, right before we were about to leave, Sara Kate pooped on the potty (which I was proud she did) but she slid off the potty and got poop all over the toilet and herself. The food was in the car but now I had a poopy child. I could've cried. So, I did what every good mother does, I wiped her off the best I could and threw her clothes on and put her in the car, no bath needed! :) On my way to the car, I dropped one of my pecan pies. That was about my breaking point. So, I put it in the car and hoped for the best! I prayed the turkey was done, my food was good, and that my child didn't smell like poop! Luckily Eric was able to help me get the food out of my car and the food tasted pretty good, or the residents felt sorry for Eric's pregnant wife and told me it was good! :)
Here is a picture of Sara Kate opening up her jewelry box. About 2 weeks before Christmas I was in my bedrm when I heard Sara Kate say, "Oh, I love it! It's beautiful!" I came running around the corner and this is what I found. She had unwrapped her Christmas present. I thought it was cute the first time and took this picture. Well, she did it again a couple of days later and unwrapped about 7 presents! That was not so cute!

Sara Kate on her last day of school before Christmas break.

That night we went out with our friends the Gowder's to Cracker Barrel. That always makes us feel like we're back home in GA!

The weekend before Christmas, Sara Kate's friend Zoe had her 3rd birthday party. Santa came and gave out presents to all the kids. Here's Sara Kate and Naomi playing with Zoe's baby dolls.

Playing play-doh. I told SK not to eat it so she gets it as close to her mouth and looks at me and smiles. She must get that from Eric! :)

waiting patiently for Santa to arrive

Sara Kate actually walked up to Santa and got her present. This was a really big deal for her!

singing happy birthday to Zoe

Sara Kate and the birthday girl

That night Eric had to work so SK and I went to Petco to get Abby some Christmas presents. They have buggies that are child's size and SK had the best time! We could've stayed in there for hours. When we went to check out, Sara Kate told the cashier, "I'm ready, let me get my money!" It was so cute!

Christmas Eve morning. SK was watching Mickey Mouse Christmas with Kitty.

Christmas Eve morning we met our friends Naomi and Abby at the park. The weather was nice and Abby & SK had a great time. It was nice having something to do that morning since Eric had to work and we couldn't be at home with family. We later went and had Christmas Eve lunch at McDonald's!

Here we go!

Abby being very brave and sliding down the pole all by herself! SK stood back and cheered her on!

That night after we got back from eating my gourmet meal at the hospital with Eric and his residents, SK opened up her presents. We weren't quite sure how we were going to do it since Eric had to be back up at the hospital Christmas morning around 6:00. So, when Eric got home that night, he put SK in the bath tub and Santa came. We kept telling her that we thought we heard something in the living room. She came running out of the bathroom so excited. She loved all her new toys!

She loved her new baby boy doll and stroller!

Sara Kate LOVES her strollers so I thought Santa did good with this one! She pushes her baby which she named Sam all around the house. (Sam was one of the names that we liked for our baby boy but Sara Kate named him Sheperd instead.) So, we officially have a name for this little one, Sheperd Taylor Flynt! It's a little different but since SK named him, we love it.

SK has a dr. coat just like daddy.

Daddy playing with SK in her new doll house.

checking out her stocking

I posted this pic. because you can see Abby playing with her Rudolph that Santa left her in the background.

She loves her Sleeping Beauty d.v.d. that Granddaddy and Bebe gave her. Thank you!

Look at all those presents!

She loved her baby diaper bags!

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Sara Kate had her little friends Chloe, Abby & Naomi over to play for a Christmas play date

Abby, SK & Naomi

Playing with friends is so much fun!

The girls decorating Christmas cookies

my sweet girl

Our neighborhood did it's annual breakfast with Santa this past Sat. As you can tell, SK & Naomi wore their p.j.'s with their Cinderella dress up shoes! Here they are waiting for Santa to call their name to go and get their present.

Here's Naomi walking up to Santa and getting her present.

When Santa called SK, this was the face she made. Let's just say she did NOT go up to Santa. She screamed & cried in front of everyone until I promised her she did not have to go and see him. :)

And here's the face she made AFTER I told her she didn't have to see Santa!

She did however get her present so she couldn't have been happier!

opening up their presents

On Wednesday the girls had their Kindermusik Christmas party. Their teacher had all the students over to her house for cookie decorating. They had a great time eating all the icing!

happy faces

grumpy faces

silly faces

playing with Ellie

cooking up some yummy food!

After the Kindermusik party, we headed to Chloe's to celebrate her 2nd birthday!

Sara Kate watching Chloe open up all her presents

Birthday hugs!

Chloe was so sweet and shared her new baby with SK

Sara Kate and Naomi posing for the camera. Aren't they cute? :)

We've had a great couple of weeks filled with lots of fun Christmas activities. We've tried to stay busy since Eric is on a busy rotation. Sara Kate has enjoyed wearing all her Christmas outfits she got from GA. She'll be wearing them everyday up until Christmas! :) She can still wear a few of them from last year though, I guess it's a good thing she hasn't grown too much since then.

Oh, one cute little story. The other day Sara Kate and I were shopping and a sales lady came up to SK and asked her if she was ready for Christmas. Sara Kate looked at her and said, "that's Jesus' birthday." I was so proud of her! I wasn't sure if she quite understood why she was getting presents and why it was a special time of the year. It just made my heart melt to hear her say it.

ALOT of pics. from our trip to GA

Big cousin Aubrey holding Sara Kate like "a tiny baby". Sara Kate was so excited about seeing her cousins. Sara Kate and I flew into GA on Monday and Tuesday the girls came over. They spent the night and SK couldn't have been happier!

Sara Kate meeting cousin Greysen for the first time.

Pa with his two grandchildren.

Greysen wasn't too happy about a 3 yr. old holding him! :)

Helping Gigi feed Greysen. She's practicing on being a big sis.

SK trying to sit Greysen up. I'm not sure if she was helping him or choking him! :)

Meeting cousin Daniel for the first time! We were so thankful that Daniel got to come home from the hospital the day after Sara Kate and I arrived in GA. We had a lot to be thankful for!

Nana & Daniel

Holding my precious nephew for the first time.

Uncle Ronnie showing the girls Christmas lights on the computer.

Sara Kate getting ready for Gigi. Gigi came and took SK on a trip, just the two of them. Sara Kate was so excited! Can you tell by the way she was waiting at the door?

Fixing the wheel of her car that she rode ALL through Nana & Papa's house.

sweet!

Can you tell that these two love chocolate? ;)

Sara Kate asked me to take these pictures of her. I think she was killing time until her cousins Aubrey, Anna & Daniel came over. It was so nice because we were there to help Nana & Papa put up the Christmas tree. The girls especially loved putting the ornaments on the tree. I think they only broke about a dozen of them!

Not the best pic. of me but really good of Tara & Daniel.

Papa & Daniel. Daniel had on the cutest little Christmas outfit that you can't see in the pic!

Granny holding Daniel for the first time.

The girls posing for us after they decorated the tree.

I love this picture of the girls dancing to Kenny Rogers and Dolly Partin's Christmas c.d. Tara & I have always loved that c.d. because it reminds us of the many Christmas' that we danced to it when we were little. Those were some of the best memories. Now our girls are dancing to the same songs that we used to dance to. Can you tell Sara Kate is having fun?

More dancing. Look at that crazy hair!

Hanging out with Papa while the girls danced and ran around the house.

SK, Papa & Daniel. Soon Papa will have another little boy sitting on his lap!

Tara and her best friend Jordan. Jordan, her mom, and Jordan's daughter, Lilly, stopped by and met Daniel for the first time. It was so great seeing her!

Jordan with all the girls.

Sara Kate and Nana posing by the Christmas tree. We were on our way to go shopping!

Papa even went with us! We were glad he did because he pushed SK around while Nana and Mama got to look and shop.

Sara Kate and I were able to spend some time with Meredith and her daughter Gracie. Isn't it funny that we dressed the girls alike, not intentionally either? I have a feeling many days these two are dressed alike and we don't even know it!

Too cute!

Katie came to Nashville to see us the day before Thanksgiving. We laughed so hard b/c we were both dressed alike. Even though I don't get to see my best friends a lot, we still think the same! :)

me, Elizabeth (my newly married friend) and M. This is an awful pic. of me but good of Liz and M!

Daddy's here! Eric holding his brand new nephew and SK. Eric flew into GA the day before Thanksgiving. We were so happy that we got to spend Thanksgiving with our family and meet our two new nephews.

SK & Greysen

Gigi and her two grandbabies looking at the Christmas lights.

Thanksgiving Day infront of the Christmas tree.

Aunt Elisa & SK

Eric & his mom

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, full of wonderful food! My parents had Eric's family over for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to be able to stay at one place and not be rushed around. We had a great time together. We definitely missed my grandparents and the rest of the family who were sick and couldn't come. It wasn't the same without y'all!

Uncle Eric and his two new nephews. Greysen Wayne Strickland was born Sept. 11 and Daniel Wayne Hurst was born Oct. 23. Greysen is Taylor's son, Eric's baby brother, and Daniel is my sister Tara's baby.

I just love this picture. Greysen looks like he could be Eric's son!

The Strickland's with their two grandbabies.

Uncle Taylor, Gig, Pa, Greysen, SK & Eric

The girls changed into their matching outfits and posed for us!

Papa & Nana and their girls

too sweet!

Gigi & SK admiring the Christmas tree that the girls helped decorate

Tired after a day of eating!

me, my mom & sis

The day after Thanksgiving we went and visited Eric's dad, Ms. Betsy (Bebe), & Bebe's granddaughter, Gracie. Sara Kate had the best time and fell in love with one of Gracie's baby dolls. Thank you for giving the baby to Sara Kate, she still loves on it and wants her with her all the time!

Aunt Charlotte, SK & Gracie. Look at that grin on SK's face! Can you tell she's holding some money in her hand? :)

Eric and his dad

Sara Kate enjoyed seeing her family so much!

Papa, Eric, and Nana all asleep! They were pretty pooped after a long but great weekend!

Gracie, M, Leigh & me. I miss you girls!

Random pictures of Sara Kate taken the Sunday before we left. It was rainy and yucky but we still managed to get some pretty good pics.

My sweet girl! She enjoyed her trip to GA so much. She always enjoys seeing her grandparents, cousins, and friends. We wish Texas was closer to Georgia! Thank you to all of our parents for such a great time. We miss you all already!

Pa, Taylor, Greysen & Daddy the Sunday before we left. We had a great visit!

Sara Kate giving Gigi kisses.

Sara Kate "loving" on Dakoyta one more time before we had to leave. :)

I hope you enjoyed all 65 pictures! It took me a couple of days to post these. It's hard when you have over 100 pics. to choose from! We really enjoyed our visit home. It just never seems quite long enough. We love & miss you all!