Getting our Christmas Tree!

Tis the season to be Jolly! and in the spirit of Jolly Team Oakley went out to get our tree! 

We started with a cozy morning in bed at home as a Team Oakley family. We got a package in the mail the day before, so we opened it in bed. It was two matching beanies from Grandma Caroline! She had made a hat when she was in TN about a month ago, and Michael gave her some yarn when she was out here to take back with her to make for him and Emery (if you want one of your own, please visit  http://www.etsy.com/people/Myfriendcaroline). 

Here is handsome Emery Rockin his new hat

And here is father and son showing off the matching handmade goodness! 

After our little fashion show and shoot, when we were just hanging out, Emery discovered the kitty tail! 

Once Silver made his great escape, we had a few more snuggles, then we bundled up to go out in the FREEZING cold and get our tree. 

Here is team Oakley!

And here is Emery, just waiting for us to stop taking picture of him and take him out of the car. 

Emery loves lights, and in this holiday season, he is always wide eyed with excitement! 

Michael, or shall we say Dad of the year, put Emery on a flat bed to take him around and look at the Christmas trees. Safety first my blogger friends! 

We first looked for the tree in this tent, but they did not have small ones, which is more our style. 

Then we went inside to warm up before heading back out to find a small tree. It was so cold outside!!

Michael wanted to scare Emery with a Jack in the box, so he slowly turned the handle of doom, and waited.....and the stupid toy made both Michael and Beka jump while Emery looked at us like "what's the big deal guys...?"

After that we braved the cold again to get our small Christmas Tree. Beka loves the smell of the rosemary trees, so that is what we were looking for.

Here is the winner!

Emery likes the smell of it too. 

So there you have it! Our tree is bought and the season is started. Merry Christmas everyone!

Love,

Team Oakley

Christmas fun day and Franklin Parade!

Oh how Beka LOVES parades! Michael thinks it's hilarious how she turns into a little kid every time she sees one! So you can only imagine how thrilled she was to be IN the franklin Christmas parade for the third year in a row. And this time Emery got to be in it too! 

The 'Christmas fun day' as we Team Oakley named it, began with a drive into Franklin to see Elf. The Franklin Theatre has five dollar tickets and plays older movies. On Saturday mornings they have family friendly films. There were lots of kids there and it wasn't weird if a baby cried or you had to get up to change a diaper. It was so fun!

Emery thoroughly enjoyed himself! He watched most of the movie, but then got hungry and passed out after his bottle. So overall, successful movie on baby or adult standards :)

Michael's parents went with us to get some Emery snuggle time in.

After the movie we got pizza at Mellow Mushroom in downtown Franklin. The restaurant is in what was the old post office. The decor is very cool, the environment is super laid back, and the food is amazing! This is the super veggie pizza (yes there are chucks of tofu and broccoli! Beka went nuts! She always says that the purpose of pizza, soup, and sandwiches are to fit as many veggies in one place as possible!)

At lunch Beka and Michael thought of a fun idea; we should decorate Emery's stroller for the parade! So they headed off to Franklin while Josie and Craig took Emery to the parade to get ready. We met them there and got to see all the floats before the parade started. 

The reason why we can be in the parade each year is because Josie, Michael's mom, works at Mercy Children's clinic, and they have a place in the parade each year. This is their float:

It is a flatbed pulled by a vintage fire true. There are staffers and kids who ride on it each year. The staffers buy hollowed candy at sale price and let the kids throw it to other children during the parade. It is so fun! 

When we caught up to our float, we dressed Emery in his santa suit (because it was a Christmas parade, so, duh) and decorated his stroller with the garland that we had just bought. We did it all in about two minuetes flat before the parade started. Whew! 

This is Michael walking mid dressing. Now that is some Dad skills, ladies and gentlemen. 

And TA DA! Santa baby is ready to rock this parade!

whoops, except his hat...

And now Team Oakley is ready for Emery's debut parade! 

We fed him mid march so he would be happy the rest of the parade. It works for Beka and Michael, and it worked for Emery too. 

And we are off! And yes those are dogs behind us. It was a dog rescue group, and they were so adorable! Between Emery in a santa suit and those pups, the folks watching the parade almost died at all the cuteness! 

And we walked and walked and walked and waved and waved and waved. It was so fun! Emery made so many people smile! 

After the parade we rode back to our cars on the float, and Beka took the time to get some Emery snuggles in and let him know how good of a job he did in the parade. 

When we got to the car we did a quick change, and we were on our way home. Yes it was a change in the trunk of the car, and no it was not the first time we have done this. You do what you can where you can when you are parents :)

It was a great day, and we were all VERY sore and tired when we got him from walking so much. It was worth it though. Emery brought so much joy, and we will all remember this very special Christmas fun day!

Thanks for sharing it with us!

Love Team Oakley