Christmas Day {December 25, 2012}

So sweet waking her sister up Chrsitmas morning~ The video is priceless

 

My favorite gift for Reagan... My grandmother's locket.  Kaki wore it for years with a picture of me and my sister in it, and now Reagan has her whole family in her 'dolden watet' as she calls it.

She was so excited for Daddy to open the ornament she painted for him. 

"He likes it Mommy, he likes it!!"

After our little Christmas morning at our house, we head over to Pete's parents for gifts with the whole Hawkes clan.  Aaron and his family were able to come this year, which makes it so fun for all the cousins. 

 

In the Hawkes house, Christmas presents are opened one at a time.  The first year we were dating I thought it was kinda strange to take 2 hours to open presents, but soon realized I would NEVER do it any other way.  The joy in Christmas is being able to give, and this way we can all enjoy in each person's excitement.  This was the main event for Reagan!  She LOVED knowing she made someone happy, when she put so much time into presents-

even wrapped every single one under our tree but hers ; ) 

Have I mentioned Christmas is my favorite?  Yep.  Hard to tell I'm sure.

The most exciting gift for us this year was for Pete's sister Dawn.  She has 4 girls and hasn't done a real family picture in I don't know how long.  So early December I took her and the kids out for a shoot (already had the frames for them to go in!) and now she finally has portraits of her gorgeous girls to decorate her new place... What else would anyone want to look at on their walls but family?!

Makes me smile : )

We finished up gifts a little after lunch and headed home to relax and clean up before dinner.  My Mom, brother and sister came over that afternoon to open presents with my Mom, and then the Hawkes crew came over a little later to join for dinner.  I've started a tradition for my Mom's Christmas present by giving her a blog book, or I call our 'Family Yearbook.'   With Scarlett being so little and things so busy I just didn't have time to finish it (and still haven't!) but she got a new surprise this year.  I have been Instagraming all my favorite shots from my iPhone for the last year and decided there are too many memories not to put on paper.  So I've started a new series of 'Everyday Life' albums in paperback from those shots.  I LOVE the books, and Mom... You will still be getting the Yearbook- just little late, don't worry! ; )

Well... I made it before March!  With 30 minutes to spare! 

Now I'm feeling like some spring pictures!  I have some random pictures of the girls to share next, and our COMPLETELY AWESOME Georgia Aquarium visit from last week.  Yeah, I SERIOUSLY swam with Whale Sharks!  It was the most incredible experience, and so glad to have shared it with my brother and sister.  

Love them so much... don't know what would I do without them : )  

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Christmas Eve {December 24, 2012}

Christmas Eve. 

I told you I wouldn't give up! 

This year we had so much fun making presents, and for the first time Reagan was REALLY into helping and surely got me in the spirit.  My favorite gift this year was our picture magnets.  I found the idea on pinterest, and went to 6 stores in town to find the supplies... so worth it.  We had an assembly line going and I think made a total of 178, whew!  Another favorite we made at a local pottery shop Artsy Me.  Reagan choose and painted ornaments for Alden, Ashton, Nana, and her Daddy, then a big gecko for PawPaw.  I picked out a spoon rest for Ashton and put 'Scarlett Fairchild' across the top {since she shares Fairchild : )} and her footprint in pink.  I liked it so much I did one for myself too : )  Reagan did great keeping secrets and not telling people their gifts, but I could tell it was hard.  She was sooo excited!    

We are usually seriously busy on Christmas Eve and Day. 

Our first stop is my Dad's house on Christmas Eve for dinner and gifts.

Some December crafting and presents...



After Dad's house we head over to the Hawkes house for another dinner.  Presents with them and all Reagan's cousins are on Christmas morning : ) 





One more Christmas post and we'll be set ; )  I will NOT let this go into March if it kills me!

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Lights of the South. {December 4, 2012}

We take this trip every year, perfect place to get in the holiday spirit, and have a family picture in the same spot under the castle.  We started this tradition my accident, when I noticed we just happened to take 2009 and 2010's pic in the same place.  So we've tried to keep it up : )

Now there's 4!

Getting ready was kind of hectic for me that day, and I forgot to pack a new battery for my camera.  Boo.  So we can pretend by looking back at other pics from 2011.  This place is so pretty, we love making a family trip out of it : )   







Okay, now I think I'm almost caught up through the holidays~ Just Christmas Day left to post! 
I won't give up like last year : )

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Easter {April 8, 2012}

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Halloween. {October 31, 2011}

The plan was to make a real jack-o-lantern.  Drew the face and all, but someone changed the plan.  Reagan had seen some painted at the store so she grabbed her paints and said we couldn't cut him.  Oh well, she was happy, and a lot less mess to clean up for us ; )



We took Reagan to church to trunk-or-treat with Ella and she was super excited.  I had talked to "Ehwah's mommy" before hand and we were going to have them wear they're Snow White costumes.  Well the week before, Reagan got this 'magical' wedding dress for her birthday and she literally put it on every morning.  I knew I wouldn't win that one.  At least Ella wasn't heartbroken.  They were so cute together : )

Trick-or-treating in Aunt TT's neighborhood : )

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