Lalee, Uncle John and Ella

Tummy time...

Look at that neck action!!!!

Grandpa Gilmore

On the way back to Austin from George West we stopped in Three Rivers to visit Grandpa Gilmore's grave. I wish Ella and I would have known him.

Our Christmas happenings...

Scott, Ella, Walker (our dog), and I loaded up the Tuesday afternoon before Christmas and headed down to South Texas. Our first stop was at grandma LaLee's house for Ella to meet Scott's sister Carol Ann, her husband Brett, their kids Sullivan and Carrigan, and Scott's brother John. Carol and her family were down from North Carolina and John was down from Utah. This was the first time Ella had met them. Scott's dad, Pops, joined us the next day from the valley for Christmas Eve dinner, and we all met my family that night for church and to remember what Christmas is really all about. Christmas morning Santa surprised the kids with lots of great gifts, and later that day we took the kids out to my family's place to pet the horses and cows. Carrigan got right in there and fed Buster the horse and many of the cows. Sullivan was a little bit more reluctant. My dad loved it! Throughout the three days we spent at LaLee's house many visitors came by to say hello and meet our little girl! It was definitely a special time! We absolutely loved seeing everyone but missed having Scott's brother David and his girlfriend Pamela there with us!!!

Then off we went to my parent's house (Nani and Popi) to spend the rest of our time in South Texas with my family. Everyone was there this year - Shannon, Doug, Addie, Brent and Lauren. The guys hunted and the girls relaxed! Mom fed us all too well, and she and I decorated Christmas cookies. Saturday we all went over to my grandparent's (Nana & Papa) house for Christmas with my dad's side of the family...which is always good times! Christmas was wonderful with all the new babies, but still there was something very special missing....our Paw Paw! It was a little bitter sweet this year! Yes, Christmas is about the birth of Christ and that is the biggest thing, but for me the holiday is also about spending it with the people I love so deary, and without Paw Paw there it was hard! However, we had so much to celebrate with Ella, Addie, Nate, Sophia, and Fiora being born! What true and amazing blessings the Lord has given our family!

Here is a slide show of our Christmas events....

Ella's first bath

Look at that belly and those rolls!

4 weeks

A great loss...

On December 9, 2008 our family lost a great man...my grandfather, who we called Paw Paw, went home to be with Jesus! He was 92 years old and we have been so blessed to feel his love, enjoy his hugs and kisses, and learn from his actions for this long... it is just hard to let him go. Our family knows where he is and that he is no longer hurting, but our selfishness never wants to let people go, especially a man like this man was! Paw Paw had a lot to do with why I love people the way I do! He taught me to love everyone and to treat everyone equally!

I am happy that Ella got to meet her great grandfather, but I am sad that she will never know him. I will tell her all about him though! Our family will never be the same without this wonderful man's presence!