The Night Before Christmas

We hosted Christmas Eve this year at our house with gumbo and good cheer. I am hopeful that this was the first of a tradition that will be looked forward to by all of our families and friends every holiday season. I loved the planning and preparation of the food and sharing the company of people we love on one of the most special, magical nights of the year.

"I have how long until the party starts?!?! Better get in gear!"


Ready to party!


"I love your festive sweater, Nana."


GrandPattie has fur on her vest...



Through the years we all (plus a few more) will be together...


"And I told Santa EXACTLY what I wanted..."


I hope you had yourself a Merry Little Christmas as well! And here's to a prosperous New Year, cheers!

I Believe!

Santa Claus came to our house last night! He arrived at approximately 7:10pm and Brantley was great! He had to come this early in the month so that he could get the toy orders in to the elves at the North Pole to ensure shipping by the 24th...GrandPattie was in attendance for the event and we were all really impressed with how well Santa Claus was received. Of course, we have been looking at different pictures of him and she has a little Santa doll (but he has on a robe and carries a miniature Christmas tree, not your typical red suit with a sack) and in the last couple of days we have gotten her to say "Ho Ho Ho". And she lowers her voice to say it, adding to the hilarity. But here is our evening in pictures...
"Well, well, well who do we have here?"

"Santa Claus this is Brantley. Brantley, Santa Claus."

Santa produces a treat from his sack of goodies...

Santa produces a bigger treat from his sack of goodies...Mysteriously wrapped in the same paper that she has not been allowed to touch for a few days now.

Santa Claus lets Brantley ring the magic bell...

"Okay, time for you to go now Santa. Good bye! Thank you!"

Let's see what we have here...

'Twas the Night Before Christmas! With illustrations by Mary Engelbreit! How does Santa know these things?!!

Inscription reads "To Brantley Katherine Powell, From Santa Claus, December 2010"


Merry Christmas to All and to All a GOOD NIGHT!

Welcome to December!

We had a GREAT kick off weekend to December 2010! It started on Saturday morning with our dear friend Andrew's first birthday party at Main Street Books. His mother really outdid herself and it was an event enjoyed by young and old alike. Here is a picture of Brantley and me...


Later that day we met Andrew and his parents and his visiting grandparents Downtown for the Hattiesburg Christmas Parade. Then we all strolled over to the park for more Christmas festivities. It was a GREAT day!



We love spending our time with our family and friends and our friends' families! And December looks to be full of those opportunities this year! Life is good!

Brantley's First Football Game

Brantley has done a lot of tailgating this football season and on Saturday we actually took her into the game! We were fortunate to be in my former employer's skybox so it was really more like going to someone's apartment that happened to overlook the stadium. It was a morning game (11am) so we thought that would be perfect as she would be able to get her morning nap (9 'til 10) and then go in fresh for the game. Our friends arrived around 8:30am to pack up the tailgating supplies and head out to campus and I put Brantley down promptly after they left. But she decided that she wanted to play in her crib for a while. So she happily played until dozing off at...oh...9:45. Well, I had planned on leaving the house to meet everyone at the tailgate around 10am. This was also the day before Halloween so I knew there would be characters running about and that Brantley would love the people watching even more than she usually does. So I let her sleep until about 10:20 then we were on our way. She was still a little groggy when we got there but she really livened up as the game went on. And left no one uncharmed. She made it through the entire game plus two overtimes with relatively little protest...And considering she missed her morning nap and didn't get to take her afternoon nap until we got home around 3:30 I would say she was a real trooper!

Here are some pictures from the day...




This is a picture of our friends from New Orleans who won the opportunity to do the coin toss at a charity auction...They are dressed as a Pretty Witch (with black & gold stockings) and a beer mug...

When we were outside on the balcony during the beginning of the game, Brantley was mesmerized by the band, flags, and dancers. And she eagerly joined in with clapping. She enjoyed a few items off the buffet and a lot of ice. Her teeth are killing me, ummm I mean her, lately. She still only has four that we can see but tomorrow I expect to wake up to find her mouth full if there is a correlation to the pain she's going through. But it was a great day, we had a great time and look forward to trying it again soon!

Mommy & Me- Halloween Dress Up Party

Today was our Halloween Party with our Mommy & Me friends. It was one of my most favorite classes that we have had so far! The kids were SO incredibly cute in their costumes, and real troopers considering it was at least 80 degrees outside. But it was cool inside. And I really regret not getting a picture of the "adult snacks" that everyone brought. All of the food was delicious & since this was also one of the most well attended classes we have had, there was a LOT of it! I took guaca"moldy" with creature chips and everyone seemed to enjoy them. Here are some pictures from our ghoulishly good morning...

Me and Brantley the Lovely Bumble Bee..

With our friends, Erin and Andrew...

Cutest Bee on the Block and a Smashingly Handsome Sailor

Brantley's FIRST Birthday Party!

The day finally arrived, Brantley's FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY!




Kris hung all the decorations, I made the food, and Grandma Sally strolled and entertained Brantley while all the preparation was going on. The menu consisted of Spankopita, petite quiches, blue cheese rolled grapes, Antipasto dip, cupcakes, and AppleBerry Punch. The task I took on with the most excitement was making a video with pictures from Brantley's first year of life and setting them to special music to be played during the party. I'm glad I worked on it the week before the party so that I had watched it at least 100 times by Sunday and had gotten most of the "emotion" out of my system...And there was "emotion". This has been both the fastest and slowest year of my life at the same time. I never knew what the next day would bring. And just when I thought I had figured out what the next day would bring, she changed it up on me! No doubt the biggest transitional period of my life and I am all the better for it. But back to our party...
Sweet Birthday Girl...

"Nana's here! Let the party begin!"

Brantley & GrandPattie...

Brantley & Grandma Sally

"Surely we have a little time before presents and cake, let's play!"



"WHERE is Brantley?!"

Present Time!!!







The Loftuses weren't sure they would have time to stop for gift wrap...

The "Pony Saga"...




"Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday to You, Happy Birthday DEAR BRANTLEY..."

Sneaky GrandPattie...

"Why don't we have this more often?"

"Let's PLAY!"




Party's over. Time to relax...