Progressive Dinner in PJs

To kick off the holidays, a few of us joined together and had our first annual progressive dinner. It was a great evening and I hope it can become a tradition. Here's the night in pictures...

6:30 Appetizers at the Moore's....

Dan making a delicious beverage that unfortunately I couldn't have!

Oh yea...forgot to mention that a requirement was to

come in Christmas PJs...thus the reason I'm dressed like this.

Each couple had to come up with a game for us to play...

a friendly round of corn hole started us off...Boys 1/Girls 0

We were all a bit cold since it was one of the two nights

it has actually been cold in Orlando!

7:30 departing in our sleigh...

matthew & ash did a great job sprucing up their truck...

we road through the neighborhood singing Christmas songs!

7:45~ Salads at our house

We played the game called big booty and unfortunately didn't

get to take any other pictures...bummer. Score: Boys 2/Girls 0

9:00~ over to the Downs for some lasagna

Zach read each of our names from the Big Book of Names.

We learned the origin and meanings of each of our names.

Amazing how they fit us all just right!

After dinner we all took the stage in 'American Idol'

Matthew got us started...

What a fun crowd! haha

Boys barely won: score Boys 3/Girls 0

10:30~ it was time for dessert at the Van Dykes...

a little family portrait time...

Kelly served delicious cupcakes and her speciality coffee/hot chocolate

To end the night we played 'holiday' pictionary...with the final score

Boys 3/Girls 1 (we finally won!!)

By this time it was around 12:30 and it was time to say goodnight...

Merry Christmas to all!

*A couple of new posts below-check them out*

Christmas Party

Thursday Adam and I had about 30 or so of our friends over to celebrate Christmas! It was such a fun time getting together before the rush of the Christmas holidays. As I look at these pictures, I'm reminded of how blessed we are because of the community of relationships that surround us! God has richly blessed us beyond all measure! As a very wise man said, "Relationships are the currency of life." Here are a few pictures of our night...

Avery with the girls!

Dear friends! (on left-is Jamie who blesses all of us

pregnant ladies with free sonograms-she's an ultra sound tech

and told us we were having a girl. )

Adam with our new friends Keith & Kristi

Some of the guys plus Adam's little brother William.

Me, Carey, Tiffany & Hayley

No party is complete without playing the 'white elephant' gift exchange...

Matthew opening a bag filled with ornaments...we were

going to make him unwrap everyone but it was a week night

Jim's excited about his new plant!

Avery LOVED carrying around this little puppy dog!

*new post below*

Christmas at our house

I LOVE decorating our house for Christmas and I wanted to share it with you...

Entry table

Dining room

table decor

stockings...still looking for just the right ones but these

will work for now

living room

kitchen

side table

kitchen looking into living room

Amazing..Beauty Will Rise

http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=9329590

Drum Roll Please.....

So over Thanksgiving I thought it would be a fun idea to let the family know whether we were having a girl or a boy. A friend of mind gave me the idea to have a cake made and have the inside be either blue for boy or pink for girl. Since my parents were going to be in town for Thanksgiving I thought why not give it a try. (Everyone thought we were finding out over Christmas so this was a complete shock...)

So I had this 'fall' cake made as a dessert for the yummy feast....

but little did they know that when they cut into it....

they would realize....

we are having a GIRL!!!!!

Thrilled that our surprise worked...

now our world is colored PINK!!!

17 weeks

Ok so this is my first progression picture. I haven't been too good documenting the process but I'm trying to get better. So here's my start...we will see if I keep it up!

*New post below*

Thanksgiving 2009

This year was my first thanksgiving in Orlando. Usually Adam and I travel to Alabama to spend time with my family or we go up to Montana with the Mikkelson's but not this year. My parents decided to come here. I LOVED not having to travel although my only disappointment was that the weather was so warm. I need a break from this heat...good thing we will be heading to Montana the day after Christmas...can't wait for snow!! Here are a few pictures from our turkey day. I'm so thankful for our family. We are so blessed!

Turkey carving!

Mom & Judy

Judy and her mom 'mama jewel'

Bart, Adam, & Dad relaxing before the feast!

Becca & Becca

Grandbeeb (Melissa's mom) & Becca

William

Way too much food on that plate!!

*Ashley, Matthew & Avery were in Birmingham with Matthew's family but we will all be together for Christmas this year. *

I think my favorite part about being home this year was decorating the house the day after Thanksgiving. I LOVE Christmas! Pictures to follow...