Christmas Pictures with a quick update

Hope everyone had a great Christmas and enjoyed spending time with their families. I know we sure have.

It has been such a busy holiday season for us (especially Mike). We went to Valdosta to have Christmas early with Mikes family the week before Christmas, and then drove to Pensacola to have Christmas with my family. A few days after Christmas, Mike had to drive back up for a youth retreat, then returned for a few days, and then went back up for a staff retreat, and is coming back Thursday to get me and the boys. We will go back home Saturday. It has been so nice to spend this time with my parents - they are always a joy to be around.

The boys had a good first Christmas (They slept through half of it) Everyone was able to make it except for my brother and his children. Ryan is still in Afghanistan and we missed him and the kids greatly! (We love you Ryan!!!) It was a great time - every Christmas we have a huge breakfast (Everything you could imagine) and then we spend the next few hours opening gifts. We open the presents one by one, instead of a free-for-all. We really enjoy doing it that way, because it gives you an opportunity to acknowledge the giver and the person can explain the gift, etc... I think especially for Children it is a good teaching time for expressing thankfulness and gratitude. Also, I think it takes the focus off of "getting" presents. (everyone has their own way and tradition of doing it, and this is just ours) Because we do it this way it can take HOURS! There have been years that we have had to take several breaks for snacks and bathroom. But we really enjoy spending that time as a family.

Well, a quick update on the babies:
- They are both sitting up unassisted!!! Whoo Hoo! They haven't been able to get to the position by themselves yet, but they are able to sit there for a very long time! They are adorable and absolutely love it.
- Jeremiah is scooting, and both babies are beginning to express an interest in wanting to crawl - it seems to be a long ways off, but we see the interest.
- We are starting more foods and have even introduced puffs to them. They are doing really well, and I am beginning to feel like I have a grasp on this whole solids thing. The cutest thing is that Jeremiah has started to make this "neighing" sound when he enjoys what he is eating. It is rather cute!

Be on the lookout this week for some catch up posts - I have a lot of pictures of them sitting up, pictures with the family, and some new things we have introduced to them. So, I will be trying to post those the next few days - so keep checking! :)

Here are some pictures from Christmas with both families:

Enjoy!
All of the grandkids on the Spivey side (Magen, Michael, Holly, Madison, Jeremiah, and Dylan)
Michael and Papa
The boys with Santa, thanks to their Aunt Deanna (The "real" one, not a bass pro shop one!)
Our family at the Christmas Eve Eve Service
This is Brad, our Worship Pastor. We call him "Pappy"
Jeremiah LOVES Pappy! He is very fascinated with him.


Our Little Santas!



The boys with Katie's kids, Melanie and Andrew

Melanie with the cookies for Santa
Isn't he just so cute?
Laughing at the dinner table
The boys with their first Christmas gift from Mommy and Daddy
They love it!

Granddaddy and Dad with their gifts from Mike (They like to shoot squirrels, so Mike got them targets for it)

Mike and I got Andrew a Pirate book that came with these Pirate accessories. The sword even made a swooshing sound. He loved it! (I found it at Winn Dixie - of all places)
The whole family, except Ryan and the kiddos
Granddaddy and Jeremiah