Christmas Day!

We had a great time today! We spent it with the Hoggard's, it is always a blast when the cousins get together. Emery Jai and Guice love it because they are the center of attention :)! Emery Jai got two baby dolls, one from NoNo the other from Anette, she has not put them down! She also has read the book Aunt Mimi got her about 10 times. Guice loves his gifts also. The highlight of the day is the dirty Santa game, we almost came to blows over a gift!
NoNo & Guice in his Baby's First Christmas outfit (I had such a hard time finding one that would fit him) Such a precious Christmas baby!
Kristen & Blake!

Enola's most eligible bachelor! Hurry ladies he wont be for long :)!
Marcus made the blog!

Matthew & Guice!

Emery Jai playing football!
Emery Jai with her baby doll!
Aunt Mimi & Guice!
Josh & Jess!

Christmas Celebration!

We did our "big Christmas" on Christmas Eve. Pop and NeNa have to go into work in the morning and they did not want to miss the big event. Because we do not worry with the whole Santa thing it was not a big deal at all. We had so so much fun! Emery Jai was great and Guice woke up just in time to unwrap gifts! This year I had the best of both worlds a baby's first Christmas and a child who was very excited to open gifts! The big gift was a pony! Emery Jai was elated to say the least! She had been asking for one for a long time. It was so funny, when we took her and Guice out to see him she said "You brought my pony out, my pony come out!" The video is hilarious! Emery Jai was very happy to have him but not at all surprised that she got one, she is a mess! This is a gift Guice will have to grow into, but he will in no time! The pony's name is Levi, he is a haflinger. He is broke to ride and to pull a buggy. He is very gentle yet spirited. Levi is 6 years old. It was so amazing to see the excitement in E.J.'s eyes, the look was priceless. First Christmas' are very special but I have to admit now that Emery Jai can actually participate it is truly magical!
The Anderson's Christmas 2008! Emery Jai opted out of this one but it was so cute I still posted it!

Best Present EVER!!!! Emery Jai handing out gifts!

Emery Jai working her puzzle she just opened!
Guice, Emery Jai, and Mommy!

Daddy's little present opening his gift!
Emery Jai and Guice's pony, Levi!
Emery Jai riding him for the first time! She loved it! Guice's first pony ride!
Emery Jai giving him sugars!

Christmas Past!

Josh and I are celebrating our 4th Christmas together! I wanted to take a quick look at Christmas past!

Although I do not have access to a picture of first Christmas, we look very young and very thin :). Our first Christmas as a couple would have also been our first one married (when you know you know) but my Grandmother got very ill and we postponed the wedding. Our first Christmas was spent in Mena with Josh's family. We were not going to make the trip because of the ice storm that year. Josh was very upset about not spending Christmas with his family so at the very last moment we made the decision to go. Josie (my German Shepard) made the trip with us, she loved it. A few days before Christmas we had gone "window shopping", Josh bought me EVERYTHING I said I liked. As most of you know just because I say I like something does not necessarily mean I actually want it, but it was still very sweet. Josh has learned his lesson! We left very early Christmas morning to head to my Grandmothers house. Because of the road conditions we did not make it in time to celebrate with the family, it was my Granny's last Christmas.

Our Second Christmas was a double whammy, our first married Christmas and we were expecting Emery Jai! It was a great Christmas but I was disappointed that I was not cradling a newborn in my arms. There was not a single soul that thought I would make it past Christmas! I heard all of the time how there was noway I would make it to January 14th (I went all the way to the 24 to be induced). I even bought a newborn first Christmas outfit! Even without a special bundle we had a great time!
The Anderson's Christmas 2005! I was HUGE and still went 4 more weeks!The third Anderson Christmas was, again, very eventful. Christmas 2006 was Emery Jai 's first Christmas and I was expecting baby #2! I will always remember this Christmas! Emery Jai was scared of her gift, and that is allot considering she had never been of anything scared before! I had found a rocking horse that I thought would be prefect. When Josh and Pop started pulling it out of the box it was huge! We call it a Clydesdale. E.J. wanted nothing to do with it! She cried when I put her on it. Josh still gives me a hard time!
The Anderson's 2006! Emery Jai has changed so much in a year, but I think Guice takes home the trophy for most growth :)!

2007, our 4th Christmas together! It was a wonderful time! We consider ourselves blessed in so many ways! We really enjoyed watching Emery Jai this year. It being Guice's first Christmas made it so very special. Emery Jai loved her gift and Guice will grow to love it! I fear the bar has been set a little high. I do not know what we will get them next year!

The Anderson's 2007

We are looking forward to the next 50 or so!!

23 Months Old!

WOW UNBELIEVABLE Emery Jai will be 2 in just a month! I am not sure I am old enough to have a 2 year old :)! I am just doing a very short 23 month update: she is wonderful beyond words and we are beyond blessed to have her in our world!

Christmas Eve Gift!

One of the Herring/Hoggard family traditions is to yell Christmas Eve Gift at anyone and everyone in the family Christmas Eve morning. We all take part in the tradition, but no one knows why we yell it. Other than to "get" the other person. We take it to extremes and other holidays, Easter Gift for example. This morning I have gotten Josh, Emery Jai, Guice, and Erica (via blackberry). I am planing on getting my Mom and a few others. I am sure Christmas Eve Gift has already been shouted in the homes of my aunts and uncles. I should mention in order to get the full effect, Christmas Eve Gift must be repeated numerously and at a higher than normal pitch. I googled the meaning and found who ever says it first gets a gift from the other person! I never knew the origin of the tradition but from what I found out by doing a very basic search it is a long standing Christmas tradition. I honestly thought that my Granny's family had invented it, apparently not. I am so thankful for a family rich in love, history, and tradition! Thanks Granny & PaPa!

and............

CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT! CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT! CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT! CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT!

Christmas With The Brewers!

Last night we celebrated Christmas with the Brewers, we had a wonderful time. It would have been better if Josh had gotten to attend, he will be here late tonight and I am very much looking forward to it. Emery Jai had a blast! We started talking about the Christmas party earlier in the week and discussed it all day. When anyone would ask E.J. what she was getting she would say a pony. I had to keep telling her she might not get a pony, she might get a doll or some clothes or maybe a book but probably not a pony. I made a point of telling her that no matter what she got she was to say thank you very much after each gift. The highlight of my night (week) was after she opened her first gift she looked up and said "Thank you so much!". It was so sweet. I wasn't entirely sure she would get the whole opening gifts thing but she most certainly did! She even opened Guice's! Emery Jai, Guice, and I had a great time visiting with family. I am sure Emery Jai is counting down until it is time to open more gifts!
My little penguins! Emery Jai & Christmas Tree

Allison & Anna Lee
Opening a gift (it was from NoNo, she got the kids outfits and a book a piece. NoNo gets them a book each year, I think it is so sweet) Still opening
Emery Jai talking on NoNo's blackberry. E.J. was taking care of an urgent scheduling issue :)!
Such cute little penguins (it is a good thing Guice is not delicate)!

Here is Josh a sneak peek at his loot :)!