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For My Chattanooga Family

PERSONAL

Dear In-Laws,

I finally got around to downloading our christmas photos.  I know this is January 10th and after December 31st, all christmas posts are considered late and irrelevant by Facebook standards…forgive me.  Hopefully seeing 89 photos of Will can make up for it 🙂

xo – k

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Dear Non-In-Laws,

Please forgive me for posting the following as it is just one beast of an ode to Christmas and Will.  Eighty-nine photos is a lot to bear.  Just consider it part of your New Year’s weight loss resolution…your index finger is getting one heck of a workout 🙂

xo – kb

 

Now on to the commentary…

Before we left to visit family in Chattanooga, I went into CHRISTMAS MONSTER MODE.  You may know it.  My eyes turned red.  My hands were a tornado of wrapping presents, cleaning counters, transferring laundry, packing bags and setting tables.  I was not leaving home unless every SINGLE thing was ready for us to celebrate christmas when we returned.  Every gift had to be wrapped and under the tree.  Every bed had to be made.  Every dish in it’s spot.  Every. thing. had. to. be. perfect.

And then I realized that that was impossible to do it all.  and do it all on time.

Our 4 pm leave time got pushed back to 6 pm…then to 8 pm…then finally we left around 9:30pm.  I assumed that Will would sleep in the car.  Wrong.  He stayed up the entire 3 hour drive.  So that really taught me a lesson about becoming the Christmas Monster.

Will likes to fake cough.  It’s because Jer sounds like he is coughing when he clears his throat….so now Will fake coughs all the time.  At least he covers his mouth…except for that one time when I was making muffins 🙂

Jeremy turned 35 this past year.  He didn’t want any big-to-do about it…mostly because next year is the BIG ONE.  I say that with as much emphasis as humanly possible writing with all caps…next year he turns 36.  On 12-12-12.  See all that craziness?  Yeah.  I’ve been calling it the trifecta year.  We are gonna party like its 1999.  Except not – because that would ruin the trifecta business.  I need to start party planning, like, um, right now.

Anyhoo.  Nurse Vicki (Jer’s stepmom) made him this cake.  Personal note – this icing took a ridiculous amount of effort and was well worth it in the end.  Another personal note – this is Jer’s embarrassed face…he makes it when people are paying a lot of attention to him.  I love this face.  The one with the hand – not the attacking cake face 🙂

 

Nurse Vicki had these adorable snowman ornaments that lit up…Will was obsessed.  He would take them off the tree and then put it back on in a better spot.  I like to think he was redecorating…a la mini Nate Berkus.

Next year crafting will be more fun…this year, it’s more like don’t-eat-the-glue-toddler-time.

I brought a bunch of stuff with us to make cookies with Will.  He loves to cook.  I’ve mentioned that before.  And he was all about it.

  

Sugar cookies were the wrong choice.  They were way too hard to manipulate.

 

Thankfully Vicki had some gingerbread.  Those ones turned out adorable.

Sugar cookies?  Not so much.  They burned a little and turned into parallelograms…or quadrilaterals…or whatever.  Either way – total fail.

Decorating was the funnest part.  I love making holiday memories like these.  I feel like creating Christmas – well, it’s important.  Christmas can be just another day to adults…but to children, it can be pure magic….and as a parent, I feel like it’s part of my job to create opportunities for Will to feel that magic.  I want him to know that this holiday is special…and when things are special, we celebrate.  And sometimes celebration means SUGAR!  or cookies with sprinkles.

 

Peanut butter cookies with dark chocolate kisses….seriously addictive.

 

My reindeer cookie looks obscene.  He makes it very awkward for the gingerbread men.

 

Will helping put presents under the tree….loves to help…

 

Also loves to pull off your socks…which can be quite annoying…and cold.

 

 

I love this little outfit.  The too-small little-man cardigan with tie…so cute.  I swear that toddler girls have all the luck when it comes to clothing – soo many options – soo much cuteness….but when it comes to boys threads, it’s hard…and then there will be that one sparkling diamond in all that rough…and this is my little Christmas gem.

 

Pastor Dad – another sparkling christmas gem 🙂

This photo cracks me up.  He got the hunting gear as gifts and we made him pose…we are good kids like that 🙂

The next morning we did Will’s Christmas….after teaching him how to operate Angry Birds.

and after an amazing breakfast – that included BACON!

Sometimes stepping on the gift is as much fun as opening it 🙂

Will was so excited about getting this truck from Uncle Torrey that he just pushed it around in the box.

  

So proud of his tool belt.  He walked around checking his pager.  I swear at one point he looked at it and went “UHRooo!” – you know…Tim the toolman Taylor style 🙂

Fixing the box where he stepped on it.

This truck cracked us up – it talked and launched balls. and danced.  because that is what trucks do these days.

 

We always seem to take too many photos.  It’s funny how it’s part of us now as a society.  Everything documented.  Everything captured.  I admit – I am the worst culprit…I’ve been drinkin that camera-kool-aid.

Oh did I mention that I made chocolate mustaches for us?  Yeah.  Because every family needs a stache.  I love how Will knew what to do…and Torrey looks good…kinda like a dectective 🙂

After we finished our marathon of photo-taking, we packed up and headed to Jer’s mom’s house for lunch and more christmas!

Will loved the birds on the tree.  Now that I think about it…it might have something to do with Angry Birds.

Torrey gave Jer a watch.  He had been walking around with a broken watch for about two years now…but it was habit to put it on and I never thought to have it fixed or replace it.  Duh.

 

Jer also got this cool mask and cape.

Not really – that was Wills…but he was a little scared of it 🙂

 

Will also got this suitcase on rollers for all his cars.  The kid is obsessed with cars.  I took it as a personal mission this Christmas to find him the coolest Matchbox cars made…which is really quite hard when it comes down to it.  Grand B went with the more-the-merrier approach….Willl totally approved 🙂

 

Will also got a Lightening McQueen and Francesco…he has yet to see that movie but I don’t think he cares.

 

Will was helping Uncle Torrey.  Actually he outright stole that sucker.

  

Sweet I’m sorry I stole your present kisses 🙂

Then it was time to go.  Too much to do and too little time…as always, right?

So we said our goodbyes and gave lots more hugs and kisses.

 

We loaded him in and ten minutes of driving later, he was out.  He hadn’t slept well the nights we were there…so I’m sure it was all catching up to him.  But that was our Christmas in Chattanooga…a whirlwind of fun….and memories…and family…and friends…I didn’t even mention the friends…and just plain goodness.

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Comments

  2. Fantastic! Gorgeous! I honestly thought that I was so “over” Christmas, but this was wonderful. I am so glad you posted these!! Your son is so darn adorable!!
    Many blessings!!

  3. A www! Looks like a FUN and very busy Christmas :> love all the pics!

    …..seriously though….how many calories do you reckon one burns after scrolling thru this post? 100? I heart long picture packed posts!

  4. I especially liked the photos of you and Will decorating the cookies. I have such fond memories of cookie decorating when I was a little girl; it’s one of my favorite Christmas activities. Last year, I tried to continue the tradition for my fiance and his teenaged son, hoping to create some beautiful memories. I baked a bunch of sugar cookies and assembled quite the array of colored icing, jimmies, sprinkles, and sanding sugar. I was just so pleased with myself, thinking, “Martha Stewart ain’t got nothin’ on me!” Yeah, well, Martha doesn’t have my “helpers”, either. My first clue that something wasn’t quite right? The maniacal laughter coming from the kitchen. I walked in to find transvestite reindeer, naughty Catholic schoolgirl angels wearing plaid skirts and white kneesocks, and big bear leather daddy gingerbread boys complete with licorice whips. Guess who decorated her own damned cookies THIS year?

  5. Will’s outfit with the tie…Oh my goodness. Absolutely adorable!

    You are truly blessed Katie.

    Thank you for being such an open person. About your faith, family, feelings…you know all those good f’s LOL.

    You are a beautiful person and have a beautiful family.

    God bless.

  6. I love his clothes! Before you even mentioned girls getting all the cute ones (since I have a girl), I thought that the boys clothes Will always wears were super cute and had lots of options. I’d like to think that if I ever have a boy, he’d dress like Will. My little girl is 2 1/2 and all about the PINK. And matching. Thankfully there are pant suits for 2 year olds so she can have matching pants and jackets. One day she was pink head to toe.

    Looks like you had a lot of fun! I hadn’t seen the car suitcase before. I may have to buy that for my 2 year old nephew next year.

  7. I love all of your Christmas pictures! Seeing Will’s face light up is adorable. And I love the cardigan/tie outfit.

    And I got weirdly excited about your giant blue IKEA because I have one too and LOVE it. Haha!

  11. I love the delayed holiday post! Keep Christmas with you all through the year right? 😉 I did a few late posts this year so I am perhaps biased. These pictures all made me smile though! Also, I laughed out loud when reading that Jeremy wore his watch while it wasn’t working because my hubs did that for months too until I got him a new one. =)

  13. Before you mentioned Will’s adorable outfit I was sitting here thinking that you find the cutest boy clothes for him. I’m all about “little man” clothes on babies. So stinkin cute. If I have a boy I hope to find clothes like the ones he wears! The tie and cardi? oh my. Adorable!

  15. Where did you get that Matchbox cars rolling carrier?! We have been looking for one like crazy for our little man Wes and haven’t had any luck. Wills is way cooler than I even imagined one to be. Please share…

  17. I must be feeling super emotional today, I totally teared up at the pictures of Will hugging Jeremy’s brother and Mom goodbye!

  18. Katie

    How long is your hair?!? Wow, I would give anything if I could grow mine longer than my shoulders! Looks beautiful! Have you thought about donating it to Locks of Love?

    Thanks for sharing!
    Brittany

  19. Love the pictures of your precious boy. He is so sweet! Mustache pictures so much nicer than last pics. Glad your holiday was so filled with family. That is what it is all about.

    Still one of my favs!

    B.

  20. I love that you still obviously see this blog as a way to keep your family updated! If I were them, I’d definitely hope for this many pictures of a cutie like Will!

  21. I love all of Will’s little Christmas outfits!! I have an 18 month old boy and I totally get the “finding a gem” when it comes to their clothes but you put it all together so nicely! Will got some really neat stuff and I will have to find us one of those Matchbox car holders. If Will is into trains and matchbox cars you should check out the Step 2 plastic train table. We got our son one for Christmas and it is so cool it has several different levels of roads and bridges and you can run the trains or cars on it. Amazon has them.

  23. Awww I loved looking at these pix! I’m almost due to have a baby boy (February 26th) and this is like looking at the future for me. I can’t wait to do this stuff with my baby boy! 🙂 You take amazing pix btw. I usually just sit back and chill and let everyone else take the pix, but now I’ll definitely be like you because I need to document every second of my little one’s life. lol

  24. You take phenomenal pictures!! What a beautiful family you all are!! It seems like we have as many Christmases as you all do! I adore Will’s Christmas outfit- adorable!

  25. I love the green and red polka dot wrapping paper! Where did you find that?? Also loved Will’s outfit, so adorable!

  27. OK, I’ll say it too because I WAS taking a mental photo of Will’s outfit in case I have a boy one day. But, someone up there said to pin it….your son is going to be all over Pinterest. Oh boy…it starts now. 🙂 Also, don’t hate on yourself for the post Christmas Christmas posts (haha I didn’t know that would come out like that until after I wrote it, but I like it). Anyway, I still have every single Christmas decoration up because no one came to our house this year and because I’m having a dinner party this weekend, I warned all of our guests that it would be an “After the Holidays Christmas Party” because I didn’t get to show off my stuff to anyone. Makes total sense to me….who wants to put a time limit on the magic of Christmas anyway?? Not me…if Christmas music was still on the radio….I’d still be listening.

    Thank for the uber cute photos! 🙂 Chrissy

  28. I loved this post! An “overload” of photos is always the best. You are blessed to have such a wonderful family of in-laws! Will is the cutest (2nd only to my Canon of course!).

    Oh, and you are ahead of the Christmas post curve from where I’m standing. I haven’t even edited all of my Halloween and Thanksgiving pictures! At this rate, I will be finishing up Christmas 2011 right about the time Christmas 2012 comes around.

  31. I love seeing all your photos!! My DH gets a little impatient with me when I whip out the camera…you’re lucky Jeremy is good about all the photos!! Do you photoshop a lot of them, or are they always terrific after 1 shot? I LOVE Will’s outfit too!! I’ve got a little man myself, and after 2 girls it’s much harder to find adorable boy stuff – thanks for the inspiration!!

  33. Hi! Maybe you did this when you visiited but just in case you don’t know about it..The Chattanooga Choo-Choo (hotel on Market St, former RR station) is great place to take little boys. We go there every Christmas for Santa pics and our 3 yr old loves it. Not much of a wait, real trains you can climb in at the back and a small model train museum (sort of). It’s a really neat place. Happy New Year!

  35. Never too late to post Christmas pics! My confession: Christmas tree is still up! Looks like you all had a wonderful Christmas celebration. I love Will’s little outfits — I have a little 13 month old boy and find it difficult to find clothes that are not “overly cutesy”. Where do you shop for Will’s clothes?? Do tell….

  39. Will’s cardigan outfit is ADORABLE!!!

    Boys and their cars! I recently stayed with friends with a 28 month old who has a toooon of construction vehicles. Legit replicas of the real things, like backhoes and steamrollers and other names I don’t know…

  40. Jeremy’s “attacking cake face” picture looks more like Jeremy’s “ribbons shooting from eye socket” picture.

    Such a talented man you’ve got there. Such talent indeed.

  43. I agree! While Will is adorable – I think we should focus on Torrey – ya know – for us single girls in Chattanooga!!!

  45. Will is probably the cutest child ever. You have my absolute blessing (not that you need it) to have more adorable posts like this. My fiance laughs at me when I read your blog because I always squeak when there’s an adorable Will post.

  53. Cute pics and adorable outfits on Will!
    However, your hair is BEGGING to be donated! You only need ten inches to donate to Locks of Love!

  57. Hobby Lobby – some was old and some was from this year…anytime I see some polka dots, I can no resist 🙂
    xo – kb

  58. Hey, Katie! Great post, of course! My sons would love that truck Will got from Uncle Torrey! Can you share the brand? Thank you! Keep up the great photo taking! My family always gives me the hardest time for bringing my camera everywhere, but I’m all about memories and capturing them! Merry…January:)

  59. All our polka dot paper is from Hobby Lobby – they have great collections and each year I get a few more rolls to add to our collection… I didn’t realize till later that it was all polka dotted 🙂
    xo – kb

  60. No worries, no granny panty links in this comment.

    My favorite photo? The nose-picking one.

    If my 4 month old is anything like her grandpa, we’ll have to have a nose-picking-booger-rolling-finger-flicking family photo series.

    You guys are much classier.

  66. They are from all over….I have a lot of luck at Gap (40% off sales racks are the only time I shop!) and Children’s Place – especially the outlet, but even places like Target, Walmart and thrift stores are sometimes the place we score little man duds 🙂
    xo – kb

  69. Yup – it will be…just like it has been four times in the past 🙂 Just a matter of setting that dang hair appointment.
    xo – kb

  71. Thanks, Katie! My Gunner boy is obsessed with hotwheel/matchbox cars. It’s a wonder we haven’t broken our necks stepping on cars around here, but it seems his little broseph, Nash (Potato:) is definitely following in his footsteps playing with cars and he’s only 9 months! I need a girl!

  72. Cute pics! We just gave the same cape and mask to our three year old – he wore it for like 5 seconds – not too thrilled about it either I guess. Love those last pics of Will bidding farewell to his family – so precious 🙂

  73. Will in that tie! I’m dying! No gagging here — I enjoyed every second of this post… well, except for that “reindeer” cookie and Pastor Dad’s mustache… HA xo

  77. I love your polka dotted sweater! (Old Navy, right?)

    And the picture of Will on the floor in the blue car pj’s with the paci … his side profile is so handsome! Looks like the boyfriend, a ton.

    I liked your Home Improvement reference too btw. 🙂

    <3

  79. omg i die for will!!! he is too precious =) you are such a good mom… taking notes from you on how you seem to make every holiday for your family SPECTACULAR!!

  81. My DH and I celebrate our anniversary on 12/12/12 too! I told him he better be planning to take me somewhere REALLY cool since we never went on a honeymoon! Once in a lifetime CRAZY date to celebrate!

  82. Pictures like that, never are enough. They are so nice and lovely! I like how looks your hair, so long and shiny, how do you care of it? What kind of shampoo or traetment do you use?

  87. Will’s outfit is really cute, Katie. Also, I am interested in what you got for Christmas?
    Did the boyfriend get you some jewelry from Old Navy?
    I bet your Mom gives creative presents. Please let us know.
    Thanks,
    -Kathy

  88. awesome pics!
    joy – i get a lot of my 15-month-old son’s clothes at old navy – SO cheap! i’m not a fan of the cartoony/cutesy stuff either!

  89. I have to ask; for the side-by-side-by-side shots of Will in front of the Christmas tree, what camera settings did you use? You appear to have a fast enough shutter speed to avoid motion blur on Will, while keeping the shots bright in a dimly lit room. Was there a flash involved?

    The one on the left looks like he’s kneeling in prayer in front of the tree — Happy birthday Jesus. Love it. 🙂

  90. Sweet, huh? And no flash.
    I used my 24-70mm lens…so basically I put my aperature as low as it would go…at this it was 2.8, and my ISO as high as it could go – 6400…I also had it metered at a +2…and then just prayed that the camera and Will didn’t move too fast to capture the image. In the end the shutter was 1/50 (which definitely was slow enough for a big motion blur) and I had to lighten the image in post-processing…so there was some darkness…but it was the best I could do with the lens I had.
    Also, here’s a trick, sit on the floor and put the camera on your knee to steady it – that way you are eliminating some of the shake from your hand at least…
    happy shooting!
    xo – kb

  91. Awesome! but I really think you need to ‘take a picture of the picture’ on the stairway wall so we can see Jeremy back in the day,

  92. Awesome, thanks for the details. Using the couch to steady the camera I got some ok shots on Christmas morning with similar settings, though I think I capped my ISO at 3200. Once the little blurs – I mean kids – woke up though… just wasn’t working! Too bad our tree is gone – I want to experiment a little more now.

    Thanks again!

  94. Umm… how adorable is Will with all of his little outfits?! TOO CUTE! and I couldn’t agree more that little boy outfits are about 10x harder to find than little girl. We are expecting a boy any day now and can’t wait to put him in few cute things we have managed to find!

  95. love all the pics and never too late for Christmas posts! i may just get to mine next week, in blog world its not like white after labor day is it?
    love will’s Christmas tie, i will be scrounging up one of those for my little nugget next holiday season! will is my sons ryan fashion icon!

  96. I just thin your little family is too cute!! I love your pictures and so glad that you are sharing. Looks like you had a great great Christmas!

  97. LOVED this post! Will’s outfit? – a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. My little guy thinks he’s too cool for cute outfits like that at this point in life…pssshhh…he’s only 5. ;-(. It is all about the under armour and whatever the big boys/athletes are wearing. And let me also say, I used to think that the girls had all of the luck with clothing…that was until I had one. Sure, there are lots of cute things for girls, but I find myself drawn to more of a “classic” look for her. I want her to look wholesome, sweet, pure, and innocent for as long as possible and that can be difficult to find. I used to think the little short shorts, halter dresses, etc… ( you know, big girl clothes in tiny girl sizes ) were to die for, but they don’t really match the look I’m going for now that I actually have a real baby girl to put in them! 😉

  98. Rule #1: Always assume a gun is loaded!

    My dad really drilled that into my head. A good rule everyone should know, gun-owners and non-gun-owners alike!

  99. I have one questions…is Uncle Torrey single? haha! (seriously though). I’m always on the look out for a great guy for my awesome sister, and your family seems like it would be such a fun one to join! 🙂 My sister is a teacher and one of the best people I know!! We love reading your blog and I told her that I was going to totally write you and see if this Uncle Torrey guy was single.

  101. Will’s tool belt is too frickin’ cute! And I love little boys with ties! My nephew who is just about 18 months got a tool bench and it’s so amazing how kids know exactly what to do with it! He grabbed the screw driver and started screwing all the screws! Looks like you had a good Christmas with the in-laws!

  102. Oops, sorry about that…they almost look like twins to me! But then again I am a new reader 🙂

  103. Love love your blog! We live in Ooltewah – just outside of Chatt, did not know you came here often! Your family (and home!) is beautiful and I am getting so much inspiration for things I will do when I have time, sigh….:) Just welcomed baby #2 into the world so home DIY is on hold for more important things like 8 x day nursing sessions! Oh how I forgot about those! 🙂

  105. Yeah – it was totally a joke. And I’m sure he’s super excited that I posted it for all to see…(sarcasm).
    xo – kb

  106. oh my gosh could Will’s outfits be any cuter!!! I can’t get over the striped cardigan, jeans and tie look- what dapper little man! He has a great stylist 🙂

  107. Hi Katie, I was just on Pinterest because I am in search of an outfit for my son for his holiday pics coming up in a few weeks. I absolutely LOVE the outfit your son is wearing…the striped cardigan and tie with jeans is the exact look I was hoping for. My problem now is I can’t find a cardigan anywhere to replicate the cuteness. I know this was last year so the chances of me finding in the store would be difficult so I know this is an odd request/question but do you still have the sweater? If so, would you be willing to sell it to me? I know, crazy that I would ask but I just love it. My son Drew is 19 months old and he is on the small side so he can wear 12-18 or 18-24 months. Please let me know…thanks again.

    And great blog by the way 🙂

    Thanks, Stacie

  108. Hi Stacie! Thanks so much for the sweet question but we are actually saving Will’s clothing for Weston! I do know that this little cardigan was from Gap but lots of places have cute ones now. Here’s some links to ones I found that I love: Target, Gap, H&M, another H&M 🙂
    http://www.target.com/p/genuine-kids-from-oshkosh-infant-toddler-boys-argyle-sweater/-/A-14664844#prodSlot=large_2_7
    http://www.hm.com/us/product/19422?article=19422-B#article=19422-B
    http://www.gap.com/browse/product.do?cid=8776&vid=1&pid=666464002
    http://www.hm.com/us/product/09313?article=09313-B
    xo – kb

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