Christmas in Crossville

Christmas morning we left Tuscaloosa and drove to Derek's parents in Crossville. Luke slept the entire trip up.

Once we hit Birmingham it started snowing and the farther north we went the heavier it got. Growing up we spent Christmas in Illinois so it was rare that we didn't have a white Christmas. However, this was my first white Alabama Christmas.

As soon as we got to Grana and Papa's house we played in the snow.

We didn't bring Luke's snow gear so we had to improvise a little bit.

Ready to attack somebody with his snowball.

We opened gifts Christmas night. Luke's favorite part was tearing open the gifts and handing the paper to whoever had the trash bag.

Excited about his Bama baseball bat.

Papa, Luke and Grana

This is the best family picture we took.

Uncle Deron and Luke

Derek's Uncle, Aunt and cousin came from Texas for a few days after Christmas.

Our Christmas vacation was wonderful. As much fun as we had with our families it was nice to be home. It's exhausting traveling with a little one but totally worth it! I hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas in Tuscaloosa

We spent the 21st through Christmas morning in Tuscaloosa at my Dad's house.  My grandmother came down from Illinois and it was wonderful to get to visit with her.  Luke had a big time playing with his cousin Riley. 

Luke and Riley in front of the tree

My little reindeer

Luke loved exploring the neighborhood with his daddy

Luke and his great grandmother.  He gave her lots of kisses.

He fell and cut his lip.  Poor baby.

It is Giglotto family tradition to eat stewed chicken, polenta and bunyet for Christmas.  Everybody has to take a turn stirring the polenta. 

the chef (my dad)

Luke's first experience with stewed chicken and polenta.

We also celebrated mine and my grandmother's birthday. I always think I have it bad with a Christmas Eve birthday but hers is Christmas day!






Grandma and I cutting our birthday cake.  She is very short; that is why I look like a giant in this picture.



Merry Christmas

Truck Bowl

Derek and I went to New Orleans last weekend with some friends for the Troy bowl game.  Luke stayed back in Troy with Grana.  Friday night we arrived late and walked through the French Quarter and ate beignets at Cafe Du Monde.  Saturday we ate lunch in the French Quarter, walked around the Shops at Canal Street, Jackson Square and rode the trolley into the garden district.  We ate dinner Saturday night at the Acme Oyster House.  For all of you Man vs Food fans this is where Adam Richman did his oyster challenge.  It was delicious!  That night we went to to the Troy game at the Super Dome.  It was definitely a different bowl game atmosphere than we are used to but it was a lot of fun to run into tons of people we know from Troy.   We headed home Sunday and got home just in time to see Luke before bed time.  I'm pretty sure he would have been just fine if we had left him with Grana for a few more days.  Can you blame him?  I left my camera in the car when the valet took it Friday night so I was left with my IPhone the whole trip.

French Quarter

St. Louis Cathederal

Jackson Square

Acme Oyster House

Daddy and Me

This little boy LOVES his daddy.  These two pictures are just a little snapshot of what our house looks like when Derek is home.  Luke has to be right beside him.  It makes my heart so incredibly grateful that this little boy that I adore has been blessed with an amazing earthly father.   I can not think of many things that delight my soul more than Luke's adoration of his daddy.   

Praise the LORD!  How blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous. It is well with the man who is gracious and lends; He will maintain his cause in judgment. For he will never be shaken; the righteous will be remembered forever.  Psalm 112: 1-6

Good friends in Gardendale

One of my very best friends/roommates from college lives in Chattanooga, TN.  Fortunately her parents live in Gardendale and we get to meet up there from time to time.  I lived with her parents in Gardendale when I interned in Birmingham my Senior year of college.  They are like second parents to me.  Jessica was in town last week visiting her parents so Luke and I drove up for a few days.  Leah and Luke had a big time sharing toys and taking baths together. 

One of our many attempts to get a good picture

This is as close as we got to everyone looking at the camera

One year ago. 

Welcome baby Reese!

Holly had baby Reese on December 9th.  She was due the 31st but little Reese decided to come a little early.  What a wise little girl to avoid that Christmas birthday.  If only someone had advised me on that 29 years ago ;)  We drove down to Dothan to visit Holly, Dax and Reese while they were still in the hospital.

Holly and Luke...can you believe she just had her THIRD baby?  Incredibly beautiful!

Luke meeting Reese

Me, Reese, Holly, Megan. 

Look who got to hold Reese the longest.

The destroyer

I found him after his nap sans pants:


I was impressed:



He loves to make messes:



Destroying Grana and Papa's kitchen:



Spaghetti up to his eyeballs:




Tearing up the shaker:

Deeper Still

Last weekend I attended Deeper Still in Birmingham. Deeper Still is a Lifeway event for women with Kay Arthur, Priscilla Shirer, and Beth Moore. It was a great time with good friends and my sweet mother-in-law.

When it kicked off Friday night Priscilla Shirer praised the Lord that only he could take three messages and divide them amongst the 14,000 ladies in attendance. It really is proof that His word is living and active!

The Lord really ministered to my heart through each speaker. It was a joy and privilege to sit under the teachings of those three amazing women.

Back home, Derek and Luke got a little wild and crazy. Travis Cottrell (Beth Moore's worship leader) tweeted earlier in the week that rather than using #deeperstill to tweet about the event we should use #praisetheLordfordaddieswhoarewillingtowatchmycrazychildrenwhileIPTLwithBeth. I thought it was funny and it reminded me how many sweet daddies were watching kids for the weekend!






This picture is for Uncle Ronnie and Aunt Cheryl. Luke is loving his drum! Thanks so much!

Learning to sew

While in Crossville for the Thanksgiving holidays my wonderful mother-in-law taught me to sew. My first project was these blue corduroy pants:

Next I sewed these brown corduroy pants and the Christmas tree applique.  I have some green corduroy but I think I'll save those for next year.  It's probably not necessary to have pants in every color of corduroy...

 And then bed pillows...

My current project is a baby blanket.  We'll see how it turns out. Thanks Grana for the awesome lessons!