Update

I was doing so well with keeping up this blog but here we are and it's almost the middle of December and I haven't posted in a month. Here's a look at what we've been up to:

Abigail celebrated her 2nd birthday on November 21. She had a Dora and friends party. We had a great turn out and she got some great gifts. Now she is obssessed with presents. I have a hard time keeping her away from the presents under the Christmas tree. She thinks they are all hers and can be opened whenever she wants! :)

A few days later we traveled to Georgia to be with family there for Thanksgiving. It was an unusual Thanksgiving due to the fact that my aunt and uncle and their family were gone to Ohio to be with relatives up there. And my cousin Kyle was getting married the day after Thanksgiving so several members of the family didn't make it due to traveling Thanksgiving day or the next for the wedding. I was sad that I wasn't able to go but I heard it was a beautiful wedding and I wish them all the best.

The following week after we got back our family passed around the stomach bug. Apparently Abigail got it from a kid in the nursery and passed it on to me. Ryan got it a little later. It was not a fun week in our house. We had to cancel the youth Christmas party/progressive dinner. But to make the day better, the Gators lost to Alabama. Woohoo! :) I'm a Georgia girl but I cheer for whatever team Florida is playing against!

This week has started out slow. We've been getting over being sick last week. The house work has piled up but I've had no energy to do it. I was able to to buy a few more Christmas presents on Monday and yesterday Ryan and I watched Christmas movies while I wrapped presents while Abigail took a nap. December is really flying by and I don't want to rush Christmas. I absolutely LOVE this time of year but I'm a giver and once the presents are bought and wrapped I get ansy. I am so ready to give everyone the gifts I picked out for them and see their reactions. The only downfall is that we wont be seeing my brother and his family this year for Christmas. The invention of web cams and Skype makes it easier to be away from the ones you love. We'll open our gifts from each other via web cam so that we can see each other and their reactions!

The holiday's are so busy. We have the church Christmas party on Saturday. On Monday we are going to Ryan's work Christmas party at the Ritz Carlton. The invitation says "cocktail attire"! I have no clue what I'm going to wear. I don't own any "cocktail attire" at least not that still fits! :) Later on over the next couple of weeks we have the choir Christmas cantata and various other holiday obligations. I am looking forward to them. I just want to make sure that we don't lose our focus. It's not about presents or parties but about JESUS CHRIST! He left all the splendor and glory of heaven to be born as a lowly infant in a stinky manger all because He LOVED us! I am always reminded that Jesus was born in the shadow of the cross. He paid a debt He didn't owe for a crime He didn't commit! The greatest gift of all is His death on the cross for our sins!!! So this Christmas let's remember to celebrate His birth because without His birth there wouldn't have been a death! JESUS is the REASON for the season! Merry Christmas everybody!