Christmas at the Biltmore

The Biltmore House was absolutely stunning with all of it's beautiful Christmas decorations. My mom, Aunt Brenda and Emma-Caroline and I toured the house together while Howie stayed with Sophie as she napped. The estate had opened more newly renovated rooms since I had been there last so it was a real treat to see all of the new additions to the Biltmore Estate "Visit." We managed to take a few photos of the inside of the house before we realize that no photography was permitted on the inside.

Inside Biltmore House
Emma-Caroline in the Billiard Room of Biltmore House

On the side porch of Biltmore House. The snow was so beautiful!

Gingerbread Biltmore House in the main kitchen

Standing with one of the Lions at the entrance of Biltmore House

A Visit with Nana and Great Aunt Brenda

Nana and Great Aunt Brenda were able to spend some time with us before Christmas. They arrived last Monday and left on Christmas Eve to go home to Memphis. While they were here we traveled to Asheville and stayed at the Grove Park Inn, saw the Biltmore all decked out in Christmas finery and of course dined at Tupelo Honey, one of our most favorite restaurants anywhere. We had a wonderful visit and enjoyed spending quality time with Nana and Great Aunt Brenda.

All of us in the lobby of the Grove Park Inn
Nana and Sophie on the porch of the Grove Park Inn

Great Aunt Brenda and Emma Caroline

The girls with their Great Aunt Brenda

Nana and her granddaughters

The Candy Man (or Girls) Can!

The week before Christmas, Emma-Caroline and Sophie invited two of their very good friends Andie and Janie over to make Christmas Tree Chocolate Lollipops. None of the girls or mommy's had ever made chocolate from a mold so it was a great time for all. The girls did a wonderful job making their lollipops and we all enjoyed eating them as well.

Preparing to make chocolate with Andie and Janie

Making Candy Lollipops together. I'm so glad Miss Nancy was there to help. It was a lot more involved than I had expected with melting the chocolate and keeping it warm.

Janie, making her candy Christmas tree lollipops.

Sampling their work.

The finished product!

Christmas Caroling

Emma-Caroline and Sophie had their Christmas Concert at Sacred Heart Preschool on December 15th. Beforehand the girls also sung Christmas carols at our church with their music teacher Miss Kathleen and all of their friends. It was a wonderful evening of Christmas Caroling!

Caroling with Miss Kathleen at our church.

Sophie (far left) was a little reindeer for the Preschool Christmas Concert.

Emma-Caroline singing with her classmates. She turned to the side so everyone could see her Christmas tree on her dress. That's my girl!

Harrison and Emma-Caroline. They have been at the preschool together since they were babies. Harrison's dad is one of my high school friends from Memphis. Small world!

A Visit with Santa!

On Tuesday, Emma-Caroline, Sophie and I made a venture to the North Pole at the West Towne Mall to visit Santa Claus. Santa knew the girls' names and sat for a long while with each of them as they told them what they wanted for Christmas. Emma-Caroline told me that she even told Santa what I wanted for Christmas. Such a thoughtful little girl. I wonder what I will be getting this year in my stocking? I guess we'll see on Christmas Day!

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

Emma-Caroline had her December ballet presentation last Monday at her dance studio, Studio Arts. She really has learned so much this year and is becoming quite the ballerina! Howie, Sophie and I sure enjoyed watching our little "Sugar Plum Fairy" dance!

Chasses

Dancing in the hoop

Demi Pointe

Emma-Caroline and Lydia

Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk for Arthritis

On Tuesday, a friend of mine said she was going to do the Jingle Bell Fun Run/Walk for Arthritis. Having myself just being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I thought after she told me about the event, "I need to do that!"
So Team Avery was created with 2 team members, myself and Barkley the Cocker Spaniel. Between Tuesday and today, race day, Team Avery raised over $1200 for the Arthritis Foundation from friends and family who so generously made pledges in support of me.

I am humbled and inspired and feel so loved and supported in my new relationship with Rheumatoid Arthritis. I am blessed to have been diagnosed so quickly and that I live in the year 2009 where medications can help to control the rapid debilitating and deforming effects of RA.

This will be the first of many future Jingle Bell Run/Walks that I participate in. There are many people who are not as fortunate as I am and deal with horrible deformities and disabilities because of arthritis in all of it's many forms.

I hope to always use my experience with arthritis to help others. Thank you so much for your support of me and the Arthritis Foundation. I am ever grateful!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

On Saturday, we received an early Christmas present of snow. It was a small snow with an accumulation of a little over an inch, but just the right amount to make a snowman and snow angels, and to have a little winter wonderland fun!

Winter Wonderland!

Making a Snow Angel

Emma-Caroline's Snow/Grass Angel

Sophie doesn't quite get how to make a Snow Angel yet.

Making Snow Angels together

Sophie and the Snow Girl are the same height!

My little Snow Girls

Some leftover Halloween candy made nice eyes and a mouth along

with a carrot nose for Miss Snow Girl

Decking the Halls

Last Monday while the girls were at preschool and Howie was at work, I spent the day unpacking the Christmas decorations and placing them carefully through out the house. I wanted to surprise everyone while they were away by "decking the halls." All that was left to be done was to adorn the tree with our family Christmas ornaments. The girls and Howie were so excited to see the house decorated and we all had a wonderful time putting the the ornaments on the tree. Now the Avery's are all ready for the Christmas Season!

Placing the first ornament.
Sophie loves her Pooh ornament!

Sophie inspects what Emma-Caroline and Daddy have done.

Hanging a favorite musical ornament together.

Sophie just LOVES this musical ornament. Emma-Caroline shows off her new cheesy grin.

Fantasy of Trees

The Avery House had a very wonderful Thanksgiving celebration with lots of family in Cookeville, TN. G-Daddy, Mimi, Aunt Katie and Aunt Kelly were with us and we had a nice long visit. During the Thanksgiving holiday we ventured out to the Knoxville Convention Center for our annual visit to the Fantasy of Trees. All proceeds for the sale of the trees, wreaths and gingerbread house go to benefit the Children's Hospital of East TN. This year we made it out with a small tree entitled "If You Give a Mouse a Cookie" made by Smart Toys and Books of Knoxville. We placed it in the kitchen where it reminds me, or shall I say entices me, to bake cookies each day. The Fantasy of Trees certainly got us in to the Christmas spirit.

Emma-Caroline and our cousin Nicole. Look at how tall EC is. Nicole is 10 and EC is 4!

Aunt Kelly and Emma-Caroline

One of the 100's of beautiful trees!

G-Daddy and Sophie

Daddy and Sophie





Sophie and Emma-Caroline. Emma-Caroline is in the fake smile phase.

Riding the carousel with the girls.