Christmas with the Cranes

It's Christmastime at the Cranes! What a wonderful season it has been. There's nothing more special than sharing this time with a 17 month old. I just know it's going to get better and better each year. This year Dusty and I decided not to exchange gifts, and as he put it last night, it has been the best Christmas ever, watching Emma run all over with joy.


Emma has really gotten in to all the lights and music of the season. Her favorite CD that has been playing for the last month in the house is Muppets Christmas. She especially loves Miss Piggy's singing and the Little Saint Nick song. She loves Christmas lights. When we drive down the road we hear lots of "ooohs" when she sees the lights, and "ho ho" for Santa.


We kicked off the season with the annual Nutcracker performance. I returned to dancing this year, dancing in the corps for snow and waltz. Emma came to the dress rehearsal and LOVED it (other than the house lights being turned off and the curtain closing). She wouldn't sit - she just stood and bounced along as the girls danced and said...(of course) "mowre, mowre". Dusty was in the sound booth and I was on stage and she kept saying to Dusty - "Daddy!" and to me on stage "Mommy!" - looking for both of us each time.


Last weekend, we headed to Nashville for the 2nd Annual UTC Gang Christmas party. My how our gatherings have changed, but in a wonderful way. I just love all of our little ones. We missed the Straits at our gathering, but we still had lots of kiddos running about. The next day, we headed to the North Georgia mountains for Dusty's family gathering.

Emma looking for "moos!" (aka cows) on the way to the Whitakers


The UTC Gang - two newest additions - Gabbie and Melina
Emma and Owen in deep conversation.
Snowy mountain on the way to the Denise and Michael's
Aunt Robin

Grammy Natalie crawling around

We always spend Christmas Eve with Dusty's family. We attended the early candle lighting service at Christ United and then headed to Dusty's mom's for a breakfast dinner. Emma had a blast with her Grammy, Papa, Uncle Spence, Aunt Lish, Mamaw, Audge, and Nat. We lost count at how many times she flew around the house. Audrey got a kick out of watching Emma pass by her while she was crawling around. We opened lots of presents at the end of the evening. I think Emma's favorite was her pink ride on from Papa and the cars from Grammy. Once she figured out the seat of the ride on had a storage compartment for her cars, she was set!

"It's Christmas!!"
Audrey wiped out from the excitement of the day.

Emma has been picking up cameras and saying "Cheese"
Emma and Audrey discussing their new presents.

Dusty and I got to experience the joys of parenthood at Christmas once we got home. After Emma was in bed, we hurried back downstairs to put together Emma's special Christmas morning!

Emma's toys waiting for Christmas morning.


Christmas morning, Emma slept in, as usual, unaware of the excitement that was about to take place. We left most of her presents unwrapped, so she could hop around and play with everything. First she ran to the new table and chairs, until she realized the gate was no longer around the tree. It immediately became the excitement - all of those ornaments!

Exploring her new tent
Trying out her new cookware

Do you think we can fit more stuff in here?
Maybe a mommy....


Mom and dad came over for breakfast and of course had gifts for the Divine Miss Em. Here's her favorite - need I say more? She is our daughter!

To wrap up the day, we headed to mom and dad's for dinner with Omi and Poppop. My brother's old room is Emma's play room. Whenever she walks into their house, she makes a b-line to that room!


Hanging out with Omi and Poppo


What a wonderful Christmas season. I am so thankful and blessed for my wonderful and loving husband, my sweet daughter, and all of our family and friends. God is good.