Merry Christmas Newsletter

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!! We hope and pray that this season truly is the best one yet! This year I got overwhelmed with the thought of writing out each Christmas card or just sending a picture with “Merry Christmas” on it! Our year has been the biggest one yet of our marriage and an adventure we didn’t see coming! Let me just say that it was the quickest year jam packed with traveling and settling into being a family of 5! As most of you know Charlie lost his job right after Thanksgiving last year. Wasn’t really the thing that anyone wants to hear before the holidays season. We had plans to travel for the holidays, (which we did anyways) a baby on the way, and like everyone else bills to pay. The God Lord didn’t allow us to wait to long before Charlie got his wonderful job down here in Chattanooga TN! (Yes, Aunt Marie we are very close to Chattanooga) It is almost a year since we’ve moved down here, and we both will tell you it was the best move ever! The people are incredibly friendly, his job is amazing, the weather is a joke in the winter and delightful in the Summer! Chattanooga is the most family friendly city we have ever visited. There is a ton to do and it’s so clean! We are so grateful for all our family and friends who made the trip to see us. (some of them made the trip A LOT!) Grandpa & Grandma Paparella, A. Laurie, A. Lonnie, Grandma Colleen, U.Ed, A.Kellie, Lisa, A. Kim, U.Vinnie, Paul, the Beckwith family, A. Carolyn and the kids, Grandma Ann, and everyone else that I may have missed. You made our transition down here easier. As for travel this year. The kids and I spent a lot of time traveling back in forth up north helping my parents and siblings make the move down here. We didn’t really take a family vacation, but that is ok because all our traveling that we did (or I did) was together. Sometimes, Charlie would meet us to whatever destination we ended up calling home. (Yes, I made the trip to NY 8 months pregnant, and if you haven’t heard Greyson’s birth story come visit and be entertained.) We also traveled to Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to see family and close friends! How are the children you may ask?? Titus Anthony is almost 4 years old! Oh my word! He is super tall and has energy that could light a city! He is an outdoorsy kid and any chance he gets to play in the dirt, wrestle with the dog, ride his bike….he is THERE! He is pretty smart and when he gets stuck on a subject it is like someone hit repeat all day long. It was bees and how they make honey! Right now he is in to dentists. (probably because he had some teeth issues) This summer Titus learned how to swim in our inground pool. He was leery the beginning of Summer but by the end and with the help of Mona he was swimming under water! Titus is also a great big brother. He has been seen holding Greyson under the arms and walking him around, or hugging Amelia when she might be blue. For the most part he makes sure he always knows where his sister is; even if its to annoy. (yes, they have occasional differences) They are the best of friends and it is sweet to watch! Amelia Mary Rose is now 2! She is my little mini me. My calm amongst the chaos of Titus running circles around us and Greyson figuring out where he fits in. Amelia is working on spelling her name and her abc’s. Which she has just about learned. She is a champion snuggler and loves to cuddle up with baby dolls and play quietly by herself. Don’t get me wrong she is feisty! She stands her ground when Titus is being mischievous and annoying. She is also almost potty trained. When she feels like it of course. She has days when she “wants to be like a baby”, but for the most part she knows when she needs to go. Notice I didn’t say “and tells me”. Amelia loves to hold baby Greyson whenever she can, but Greyson no longer appreciates it. (he is as big as she is) She is a wonderful sister to both boys, and she has daddy wrapped around her finger. Greyson Edward is now 7 months old! He is my little sunshine. He FINALLY cut 2 teeth, and is off the charts long! He is crawling and I am trouble! 3 mobile! Ahhhh….He hops up on his knees and rocks till he does the worm! It’s very comical. Greyson loves to smile and be talked to. He really enjoys Aunt Autum, but only from a distance so he can smile at her. He is a super cuddlier under his conditions, but most of the time he won’t hold still. And of course, like all the Gilmore children he loves to EAT! I can’t keep any of their bellies full! Charlie and I celebrated our 5th anniversary this year. WOW! Wow! Wow! It has been a very fast 5 year for us. We can’t believe it! We have been in 3 different homes, 3 kids, new state, 2 jobs, a few cats, and 1 dog. We are doing well. The children occupy a lot of our time..hahaha who am I kidding ALL of our time. We are thankful to have wonderful neighbors and now my parents down here so we can have irregular regular date nights. (yes, you read that right..) In March, we will get to take our first long vacation without kids since…umm…we had them. Charlie and I are going on a cruise! I am so excited as this is my 1st cruise EVER!! Wohoo! So, what does 2018 look like for the Gilmore’s?? Well, honestly, we can’t say; except that we are investing in some land this next year, and hopefully we will get to build a house. At least that is what is on our hearts. We shall see…. We love you all very much!!