Maryland Christmas {Some of the Middle}

Christmas morning Cole was the first one up.
She had no idea that the day was special, she's just an early riser.
Like every year, we slept at my mom's house.
After coffee and a gift exchange,  we headed over to my dad's. 

Over at my dad's house, Cole took a short nap while we ate breakfast.
We had our tradition Christmas morning casserole, which tastes like the holidays. 
After she woke up, Cole was keen to play in the doorway with her Pop Pop. Who needs gifts when there are doors on hinges?!

Cole was getting and giving loads of kisses Christmas morning.  

No one complained. 

Farewell Open House

Our dear friends Stacey and Tim are moving away from Memphis. It is so hard to believe.
I'm excited for the next adventure in their lives but still a bit sad and absolutely in denial about their absence from this city. 
I met Stacey through our church in 2008. We've been through a lot of life together since then: two marriages, four children, five dogs...
Back when we met, I was a teacher, engaged to Peter and she was a single lady with two pups.
Now as she follows her wonderful husband to Arkansas, it's easy to see how far we've come.

On New Year's Day, Peter and I opened our house for a going away party that I co-hosted.
After a few weeks of planning and a joint shopping trip with the other host, I felt like we were prepared.
When my poor co-host got sick the day before the party, I knew everything would be just fine since we'd planned it out so well. Phew!  

We used a book of Memphis photography, past and present, as a guest book.

I ventured into dangerous territory when I decided to use recipes I hadn't before for the party.
Luckily, all of the new  recipes were successful: ham and cheese sliders, cucumber finger sandwiches, Oreo cookie balls.
We did get some fruit and doughnut holes just in case.

Since the party was on New Year's Day, I decided an open house would be best so people could come and go as they liked.
You know, with no pressure to arrive on time or stay for hours. Looking back, I think that was the way to go!
It worked out that at one point there were seven little girls under four years old at our house.
Three under one. Basically just a whole lot of cuteness.
I could hardly stand it.

I don't worry about losing touch with Stacey and Tim.
If anything, they'll give me a reason to go to Arkansas.
Hot Springs here we come! 

Maryland Christmas {The Beginning}

After my family got over the initial shock of our presence, we spent our time hanging out and visiting.
We saw family and old friends. Just the kind of thing that make you believe you really can go home.
We also spent time doing nothing, laying back and resting.

 

On Christmas Eve we took Cole to visit her Great Grandmother Brooks. 

Mrs. Brooks loved Cole, "the baby," and it was important to us that she get to see her. 

Sadly, that was Cole's last visit with her. She passed suddenly in the days after Christmas.

While my heart aches, I have confidence she is in a better place.

For Christmas Eve dinner this year, we took a step up from Wendy's and went to Piv's. 
My ma decorated the room we dined in. You can see her work on the wall.
Peter, Cole and I were in and out in a flash. We were on borrowed time, hours passed bed time. 
Every year after dinner with my mom, we go to our Uncle Buzz's Christmas Eve Party. This year was no exception.
We were so focused on getting in and out of Uncle Buzz's with a happy baby I forgot to take my camera inside.