A Day I Never Thought Would Happen & Another Round of Christmas

JOHN FRANKS GOT A CELL PHONE!!! JOHN FRANKS GOT A CELL PHONE!!! For those of you who know my dad, you know this is big news! My dad has never shown interest in owning a cell phone or anything else that is not considered necessity for the most part. I don't know what came over him, or why his mind changed, but yesterday, December 29, 2011, John Franks got a cell phone. It's even bright blue & has a data plan. I don't even have a data plan with my phone. I guess when he comitted to getting a phone, he decided to go all out. Bright blue & high-tech. The running joke used to be that Dad would get a cell phone when Tillman got one too. Well, that didn't last long, b/c the child now has a running count of at least 3 cell phones. So, I guess it was about time he lived up to his end of the joke. Congratulations, Dad & welcome to the 21st century. :)

TALKING!

& TEXTING!!

We are loving the Tiny TOMS.  A-dor-a-ble.

Last night we celebrated Christmas with Josh's parents, KC & Joe Joe. Tillman thoroughly enjoyed all her gifts and getting to explore another Christmas tree. 

Checking out the ornaments.

Getting a head start on the gifts.

Tillman sharing her puffs w/ Moe.

Dancing to Yo Gabba Gabba

Tillman opening her gift from Aunt Leigh-Anne & Alex

Look at that face. She loves it.

Awesome sock monkey from KC & Joe Joe

She loves it too.

Merry Christmas 2011

I'm Running Out of Clever Titles

Yesterday we stayed busy visting Grandma Gray at the Presbyterian Home, walking around downtown Summerville, trying to spend a gift certificate at the Carousel Boutique, going to Boundary Park w/ Laura, Ruth, & Karen, and hanging out at home w/ everybody enjoying dinner & the two girls (Tillman & Chiefa) playing together.

Today our plans are to maybe squeeze in some thrifting, go to the doggy park w/ Danica, Chiefa, Ana, & Abby, & spend the later half of the day at Joe & Karen's celebrating Christmas.

And, the pictures:

Danica & Dad - twins after a run together

Such a cutie! Thank you, Ana & Jade for the adorable owl outfit!

Great Grandma Gray, Tillman, & Josh

Tillman was squirmy so this was the best I could capture.

Great Grandma Gray reading Tillman a book.

Bundled up at the park

Josh & Tillman

Playing at the tire tunnel

Tillman & me

I love this little hat! It's so cute.

Cousins - Ruth & Tillman on the slide. They were both looking at Laura instead of me.

On the swings

Cousins - Laura & Josh, Ruth & Tillman

Ruth was a pro at crawling through the tunnel.

Laura & Ruth. I love this picture.



It Keeps Going...

and going....and going....

She is nonstop. I have to snap pictures as quick as I can to get a halfway decent one. I just liked the outfit with the bow and I knew the bow wouldn't stay in long so I started snapping away and this was the best I could get.

We went and visited with Laura, Adam, & Ruth yesterday. It was neat to see how much the two girls had grown since the last time they were together.

They were both in their own little worlds. I love the trunk/toychest idea.

Playing with the nativity pieces.

I couldn't get either one to stop playing and look up at me for a picture.

Mom - in the kitchen doing what she does best - cooking/baking - We've been doing some good eating the past few days & it's starting to catch up with our waistlines.

Tillman playing with her Great-Grandpa Franks - It looks likes she's talking his ear off.

playmates

Tillman's new t-ball set that she likes to use a basketball with

My best friend.

Act natural. I love Chiefa in this picture!

The whole gang for Christmas!! Pictured left to right: Great Uncle Dan, Tillman, Me, Mom, Dad, Great Grandpa Franks, Tony, Danica, Josh

Great Grandpa Franks with all the grandkids

Josh & Danica - troopers for putting up with me & Tony

All the gang in their Clemson gear - even Chiefa

orange pop

Chiefa sporting her new Clemson dress from Mom & Dad

My dollbaby

She's a mess. She kept laying her head down on Tony & Danica's pile of blankets, etc.

I love boxes!!

And this will keep her entertained for quite a while. (It will also keep her contained so I don't have to chase her around.)  ;)

She was cleaning out the box of all her toys so she would have more room to spread out.

Other non-documented events: dinner downtown at Andolini's Pizza with long-lost friends. a great way to spend the evening.



Merry Christmas 2011

The fun just keeps coming! The family is in town and we're having a blast spending the holiday season together. I'm trying to keep up with everything that is going on and documenting as much as I can, but I'm bound to miss something at some point. For instance, Dad, Dan, Grandpa, and Josh just got back from a trip down to the tennis courts. I would have loved to go down there and take pictures, but Mom, Danica, Tillman, and I were on a walk and Tillman fell asleep in the stroller before we got back to the house. So I put her down for a nap and Mom and I made our second batch of puppy chow. Yes, I said second batch.

So here's a quick recap of the last 72 hours, since the last post:
And just a little FYI: the pictures are not in order b/c they came from several different sources.

brothers & cousins

Chiefa (Beef) loves laying under the tree.

spoiled rotten

Chiefa (Beef) & Tony (Tiger)

Beefy! <3

LOVE this! Tillman giving Daddy kisses

My family before the Christmas Eve service at church

Grandma, Tillman, & Grandpa before the Christmas Eve service

Moustaches!

We added a little Christmas morning humor with all the kids coming down the stairs (Christmas tradition) with a set of fake moustaches on. It was a big hit. & fun.

Tiger & Danica

Family moustache picture - and there's Chiefa perfectly posed

Grandpa didn't need a moustache. He's got his own.

Merry Christmas, Tillman Brantley!

She's now a pro at opening gifts.

Family photo - TOMS

Grandma & Tillman reading a new Christmas book

She seems to get the hang of it.

The orange bag!!

I finally got an orange bag!!

Dad doing the passing of the bag. (If you don't know the orange bag story, you'll have to search a little bit for the post that explains it all.) This is a big deal in our family.

Chiefa under the tree (again) in her new Clemson dress.

Tillman loves her new basketball goal!! I think we need to adjust the height already. Thank you, Tiger & Danica.

Oh, and she loves boxes too. Silly girl.

Family love.

Opening gifts at Nanny Christopher's house - more baskets, books, dolls, and a really cool ladybug nightlite.

Tillman & Tiger

Tillman loves playing with Chiefa and touching her. She tends to squeal about it.

She even plays with Chiefa's toys when Chiefa isn't around.

Great-Grandpa Franks came to town! Tillman is quite interested in him right now.

Great-Grandpa Franks is highly entertained.

We got on the phone and talked with our extended family members. They were trying to get Tillman to chat.

Christmas dinner. One.Big.Happy.Family.

We are so blessed that this child is so loved!

Tillman sharing her books with Grandpa

Tillman brushing her teeth on Chiefa's bed. I think she would sleep there if we let her.

Admiring the tree.

Christmas morning - Franks family style.

The kids Christmas morning after coming down the stairs.  A new moustache tradition??

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!