Happy New Year!!!

Well, it's 13 days into the New Year! Life got busy as we started to prepare to go back to work, get the Christmas decorations down, and bring in the New Year.

I do hope everyone has a happy, blessed, healthy New Year.

Patrick and I are praying and believing that 2012 will be a great year for us. My motto for this year is "I Surrender All." In other words, I need to let it go and give it to the Lord. I'm working on this everyday.

We have been enjoying a few laid back weekends because we know they won't happen as often as we get further into the new year. It's been nice to get things done around the house and spend quality time together.

So even though I'm a little late. Here's to a New Year!

Christmas With the Family

Patrick and I are happy to say we had a wonderful Christmas with our families. I love spending time with everyone, and remembering the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas Eve Patrick and I exchanged some of our presents (Patrick was very good to me with smell good things, jewelry, an iPhone case, and a purse!) that morning then we headed over to my parent's for a Christmas dinner before church. Once again we all gathered together and enjoyed a delicious meal prepared my mom. Soon after dinner, we headed to Christmas Eve service. One of my favorite services of the year. It was a special time to worship with everyone, and to reflect on the birth of Christ and what it means for us. At the end of the service the lights go out and everyone has a candle as we sing "Silent Night." The image and words get me every time especially as I reflected on two angels that we lost this year, my great-aunt Geet, and Patrick's precious Maw-Maw. They both loved Christmas, but I know they were singing with the angels this Christmas. 

After church, we headed home to exchange gifts with the family. I'm not going to lie I enjoy getting gifts, but I really do enjoy giving just as much. After all, that is what it is all about right? We took turn opening gifts. Cameron did so well. He enjoyed the paper just as much, but we know he is enjoying all those new toys now. Also, USM was playing in the bowl game in Hawaii so of course that was playing in the background. And, I am happy to say they got the win. 12 wins=GREAT season. 

Back to Christmas, Patrick and I made it home Christmas Eve to hang our stockings and get a good night's sleep. Christmas Day would start bright and early. We were up early to head over to my parent's house to leave for Birmingham. First, we found what "santa" brought us, and reflected on our 2nd married Christmas together, but first in our new house. We are looking forward to starting our own Christmas traditions. Anyways, after seeing what "santa" brought us at Mom and Dad's house and spending some time with Adam, Amy, and Cameron (and also seeing Mimi and Pops) it was time to head to Birmingham to see the Beard family. Mom, Dad, Lori, Patrick, and I all loaded up in ONE vehicle for our travels. It was a little cramped, but worth it for us all to be together.

We had a great visit with everyone in Birmingham. We were able to spend time with my grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins. We enjoyed eating, relaxing, and playing cards. We were also able to get down grandma's Christmas, so that was a big help to her. I know these trips may not always be possible right at Christmas, so it was a true blessing to be able to hug them on Christmas Day.

We loaded up and headed back to Hattiesburg on Tuesday. It was time to get ready for the BIG Knight Christmas on Wednesday. It was a beautiful day, and it was fun to have almost everyone together. It was extra exciting to see my dad and his four brothers together. Everyone is growing up, and the family is growing bigger too. I very much enjoyed loving on the little ones. It was a really great day had by all.

Wow, what a Christmas we had. It was wonderful in so many ways. We are beyond blessed, and I am so thankful for all the opportunities we had to spend time with family. Now, it's onto to the New Year.

We hope your Christmas was Merry and Bright.

Cameron's First Christmas

G-Ma and G-Pa with Cameron

Christmas Breakfast

The Friday before Christmas (23rd), Patrick and I were able to have a Christmas breakfast at our house with my family. It was such a special treat for our family to gather in our home. I have to say, it turned out very nicely.

Mom, Dad, Adam, Amy, Cameron, Lori, and James were all able to come. It was nice for everyone to be together and to enjoy each other's company. As always, Cameron was the center of attention. Of course none of us would have it any other way.

The menu included: sausage and cream cheese in crescent rolls, coffee cake, chocolate chip muffins, and cheese and bacon biscuits (my dad use to make them all the time growing up). There was not much left, so I would say the food turned out pretty well. It was a bit of a challenge to get everything ready at the same time, but I think Patrick and I conquered it very well. It was very fun to use all my Christmas platters.

Patrick and I always want our home to be a place where our family and friends come. We thoroughly enjoyed having everyone over for a Christmas breakfast. We hope it will be something we can do for many years to come, even as the family grows!


***Note: I think this would be a good time to add that Patrick's parents were out of town over Christmas, but in the future hopefully we will be able to have his family over as well!