Mine and Jay's first married Christmas together was in 2006, we had been married 4 months and were living in our first home together. I remember what the decorations looked like, where the tree was placed and how I set the dining room table, however, I cannot find the pictures from this Christmas! They were on my first digital camera memory card, which I am now on the hunt for. Anyway, that first Christmas together I bought 3 beautiful ornaments that were little capsule type things and planned to write something about the year at Christmas time. I am so happy that I did and that I have kept up with it (with the exception of 2009, guess I was busy with 2 business and a 13 month old), but I am going to try and remember as much as I can about 2009 and do one for it also. It was very emotional for me reading through these, and I know that they probably won't mean much to ya'll, but I want to document them here so that I can have them. Here goes:
Christmas 2006
Our first married Christmas!
We bought our first home together with the help of my grandfather in June and renovated it together! Jay and I were married on August 19 in Scottsboro, Alabama, it was a HOT day, but the most wonderful day ever! We spent the wedding weekend surrounded by our closest friends and family and could not be happier. I left my job that I loved at Heartstrings in June to start work on opening my own business, Simply Charming, a high end women's clothing boutique. After a lot of planning and hard work, Simply Charming opened it's doors on September 23! This was our second Christmas with our dogs Tucker and Riley, and our third Christmas with our dog Duncan. This year we spent Thanksgiving with my family in Winfield, Alabama and Christmas with Jay's family in Scottsboro, Alabama.
This year was Jay's first Christmas without his Grandfather who passed away in November. Jay also lost one of his best friends this year, Jeremy Johnson. He went to be with the Lord in October after a plane crash, he was a wonderful person and a great friend to Jay and he will truly be missed everyday.
My best friend Jana married her husband John this year on September 3 in Pensacola, Florida. My best friend Ginger gave birth to her first child (and my first niece) on December 22, Kenlie James Hitchler, who is a beautiful baby and we are all so excited for Ginger and Jon.
Jay and I spent New years together at our home.
Haley 25, Jay 24
Christmas 2007
Our 2nd Christmas together!
This year was very exciting for us, Jay started planning to open his own business, Southern Outdoors! Southern Outdoors is a hunting and fishing outfitter on Shug Jordan Parkway in Auburn, Alabama, the doors opened to the public on November 1st. With the help of my Grandfather I was able to buy Simply Charming 100% on August 1st, it was a great year for the store!
Ginger and Jon were married in June this year in Birmingham, Alabama, it was a beautiful day! I am so thankful I have such a wonderful friend in my life!
My great grandmother, Gran Gran, passed away in July. This was my first Christmas without her, I will always miss her. She was beautiful and kind and I know she loved me as much as I loved her, which was a lot. She is home now with the Lord and I can't wait to see her again one day.
Jay and I spent Thanksgiving in Auburn this year, together in our home. We had Christmas with his family in Montgomery on December 23, and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my family in Winfield, Alabama.
We spent New Years in Atlanta with our friends Laura, Ginger, Jon, Jana and John. We were there to watch the Auburn Tigers play (and win) in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl! Our dogs Duncan, Tucker and Riley are all doing good and we celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary this year!
Haley 26, Jay 25
Christmas 2008
Our 3rd Christmas together!
We found out we were pregnant on Easter Day! What a wonderful blessing! We sold our first home and bought another one with a little more room to make space for baby!
Isabella Grace Penney was born on November 12, 2008, 7 lbs 2 ozs and 18 inches long! She is absolutely perfect, a true gift from God!
Simply Charming is good, things seem to be slowing down because of the economy but I'm sure over time things will pick back up and everything will be okay. Southern Outdoors closed 3 weeks after Isabella was born. This is very sad, but I guess it just wasn't in God's plan for us. A large retail superstore opened in Auburn and we were unable to compete, but I am staying positive and know that when one door closes another one opens.
Our 4th Christmas with Tucker and Riley, and 5th Christmas with Duncan. We spent Thanksgiving and Christmas at home together this year as a family with baby Isabella. We also celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary this year!
Haley 27, Jay 26, Isabella 1 month
Christmas 2009
Our 4th Christmas together!
We celebrated Isabella's 1st Birthday this year! It is amazing the difference a year makes, last Christmas we had a tiny infant and this Christmas we have a walking toddler!!
Simply Charming celebrated its 3rd Birthday this year and I have reopened my small bakery Simply Charming Cakes (previously know as Sweetcakes by Haley). Things are busy with work and Isabella but I have never felt more blessed!
Jana and John found out they were expecting their first child, who is due February 2010.
Ginger and Jon welcomed their second child (also my second niece), Maddie Klaire Hitchler in August!
The Iron Bowl was on Friday this year, the day after Thanksgiving. Therefore, we celebrated Thanksgiving in Auburn as a family of three! Simply Charming was open on Thanksgiving night for the huge block party that was being held downtown, so I had to work.
We spent the third weekend in December in Winfield, Alabama with my grandparents to celebrate Christmas, and then we celebrated with Jay's family right after the first of the year in Montgomery. We also visited Jay's grandmother in Huntsville for Christmas.
Our 5th Christmas with Tucker and Riley, and 6th with Duncan. The dogs have sort of taken a backseat with me so I can focus on Isabella, but Jay makes sure they still get plenty of attention.
Haley 28, Jay 27, Isabella 25 months old
Ready to go exploring!
Isabella and Kenlie had a ball on the beach! The water was freezing, but they did not mind getting their feet wet!
She is a beach kid for sure!
We drove over to Sandestin one night for dinner and shopping.
Swimming at the indoor heated pool. The water was very warm, and the girls loved swimming!
Playing on the playground before our drive home. Isabella got sick on the ride home, it was bad! Guess she is my kid for sure, never fails I get car sick!
My best friend Ginger and I decided to take a last minute girls beach trip one beautiful weekend in February! We packed up all the girls and drove her mini van down to beautiful Seaside, Florida! Ginger has two girls, Kenlie - 4 and Maddie Klaire 18 months. The girls had a blast, and so did we, the weather was amazing and it was a perfect weekend! 
Ready to go exploring!
Isabella and Kenlie had a ball on the beach! The water was freezing, but they did not mind getting their feet wet!
She is a beach kid for sure!
We drove over to Sandestin one night for dinner and shopping.
Swimming at the indoor heated pool. The water was very warm, and the girls loved swimming!
Playing on the playground before our drive home. Isabella got sick on the ride home, it was bad! Guess she is my kid for sure, never fails I get car sick!
My best friend Ginger and I decided to take a last minute girls beach trip one beautiful weekend in February! We packed up all the girls and drove her mini van down to beautiful Seaside, Florida! Ginger has two girls, Kenlie - 4 and Maddie Klaire 18 months. The girls had a blast, and so did we, the weather was amazing and it was a perfect weekend! 
