Christmas Times Three

Callie had the joy of experiencing Christmas three times this year!  We went to Hartsville to have Christmas with Big Daddy, Gigi, and Aunt Jamie the weekend before Christmas.  Callie loved opening all of her presents...

She especially loved her Disney Princess jeep.  She figured out very quickly how to push the gas petal and she is a speeder!  However, she still does not know how to steer, so her Daddy has to run along beside her and turn the wheel before she runs into bushes or out into the street!

 All of the Coker families and the Nelson families each got together for a big meal.  Callie got to play with lots of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents.  

We then headed back to Bluffton to be home for Christmas.  We went to the Christmas Eve service at church...

and then headed out for our annual Christmas Eve dinner...

Callie woke up at her house on Christmas morning and was so excited to see that Santa had come!

The $14 grocery buggy was probably the biggest hit of all the Christmas presents!  You got to love what she decided was her favorite.  Even now (3 months later) she still plays with her buggy several times a day.

Bryan and I got her a tricycle with a handle so we can push her.  She didn't really like it at first, but now she loves to ride her bike to the park.  

After we opened presents at our house, we headed to the Island for Paw Paw's french toast and more presents!  By this point, Callie had figured out what was going on and was very excited to open her presents!

Callie loves her Keds....

She got lots of new clothes...

Had some snuggle time with Paw Paw...

And had a great time pushing this toy that Aunt LaLa and Auntie Em gave her!

Merry Christmas!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The tree is decorated!  Callie loves the lights on the tree and always asks me to turn them on.  Thankfully, she has not tried to take the ornaments off the tree!  

Callie and Aunt Debbie made a gingerbread man, but it didn't last long before Daddy had to have a bite.  Aunt Debbie said Callie had a great time decorating the gingerbread man and even sneaked a few gumdrops!

Callie had a great time at Donna's house with lots of other kiddos decorating cookies.  By the end of the hour, the floor was covered with sprinkles!  She did not really like the feeling of icing on her fingers, but she loved the taste!

As far as Santa goes, Callie is not a fan!  She did not like meeting Santa and the visit did not last long!  Hopefully she is not scarred for life!

Can't wait for Christmas!

Thanksgiving

We started our Thanksgiving morning very early with a chilly walk at the Berkeley Hall Turkey Trot.  Callie was all bundled up for the 3 mile loop but her little fingers were freezing by the end!  

Love this picture that Auntie Em took of Callie Grace at the race.

We hurried home to get warm and take a nap before lunch.  Mama D cooked a delicious Thanksgiving lunch and we had a great time hanging out with the family.  Callie and her Daddy played some football in the backyard...

and actually took a family picture!

After a delicious dinner in Hartsville with all of the Cokers (Callie's first Lowcountry Boil), we headed to Clemson on Friday morning to spend the weekend with both families and go to the USC game.  We had a great time hanging out on the lake on Saturday morning, having PawPaw's french toast, visiting with Aunt Hef and Scott, and playing games with everyone.

Callie wore her tiger suit to tailgate to try to keep warm.

After lots of fun time at tailgate...

Mama D took Callie back to the house for bedtime and the rest of us went to the game.  This was the first game I was able to watch in its entirety!  Even though the Tigers didn't win, we had a great time!

Our Tigers had a great season and we are headed to the Chick-fil-A Bowl to play LSU after Christmas.

5 Reasons Why I Love My Husband

Today is Day 5 of Bryan's 12 Days of Christmas...

5 Reasons Why I Love My Husband

(in no particular order)

1.  He loves me unconditionally.  No matter what craziness I do or say, he still loves me.  I could not ask for a better husband.

2.  He is the father of my children.  I would not choose anyone else in the world that I want to have kids with.  I love Callie Grace and the wonderful combination of us that makes her special.  I can't wait to meet the new baby and see his/her personality!

3.  Every single day he comes home excited to see me and Callie.  No matter what happened in his day, he sets that aside and is a wonderful husband and father.  He wants to engage with us, talk to us, play with us, and be present - physically, mentally, and emotionally.  He is active and involved in every aspect of our family and in raising Callie.

4.  He still makes me laugh.  He sings loudly without caring what anyone thinks just because a song popped into his head.  He tells completely ridiculous jokes.  He laughs so loud while he is watching TV and even at the movie theater.

5.  He is the spiritual leader of our family and he takes that role very seriously.  I am so proud to have a husband who wants to step up and lead our family in a Godly way.  He loves the Lord more than anything else, and is always wanting his relationship with Christ to grow and working on that relationship.  He studies and learns how to be a better husband, father, and man, and that means the world to me.  

I love you, Bryan!

 

Fall in Clemson

Game 5: NC State

November 17

Fall in Clemson is such a beautiful time of year!  The leaves are so colorful, and the temperatures are lovely...during the day.  We had a great time at the lake house with the whole Cranston clan (minus Aunt Lauren who had to work), the Pages, Pattersons, and Shorts.  

Callie had a great time at tailgate hanging out with Paw Paw (don't you love her hat?!)

and getting lots of kisses from Auntie Em.

Callie watched the entire game in the stadium - which was a new record!  She sleep in Gigi's lap for most of the second quarter.  Who can sleep in the middle of 86,000 screaming fans?

Homecoming in Clemson

Game 4: Maryland
November 10

This year for Clemson's homecoming weekend, Mama D and I drove up early on Friday morning to take Callie to see all of the floats.  We also were motivated to make it to Monterrey's for lunch.  We got to see Auntie Em and walk around Bowman to look at all of the floats. 

This one was Callie's favorite.  The Tiger was enormous!  (Sorry his head is cut off.)

Tailgate was as much fun as always.  Callie hung out in her little chair and had some lunch.

Got lots of love from all the family, including Uncle Danny and Aunt Lauren.

And we took an "old timers" picture.  How sad is that - we are the "old timers"!  I do not think I appreciate being called that.  :)  It was great too see everyone!

Auntie Em officially has a boyfriend - Devin - and Callie is in love!  

After the game, Callie celebrated the Tigers win!

Little Tiger

Trick or Treat!

Who wouldn't want to give candy to this sweet face?

Callie Grace was a tiger (what else would we dress her up as?) for her first experience with Trick or Treating.

She was so excited to walk around the neighborhood and was talking to everyone.

She walked half way down the street yelling for Brantley (which really sounds like Baabbaa).

We stopped at Billy and Amanda's house to pick up her friend Brantley, and of course get some candy.

By the end of the night, she was a happy girl as long as she was holding on to her bucket!