Christmas 2011

This time last year, this post was entitled "White Christmas".  This year, "Wet Christmas" would be an appropriate title.  The big, red sled Santa left under our tree in anticipation of round two of a white Christmas didn't get put to good use.  With this Alabama weather it might very well be in March, but I have a feeling we'll eventually log some hours on that sled.  I always think that our Christmas couldn't possibly be any better than the year before, and then it happens.  It's better.  Not so much in the "bigger is better" department, but more in the "we're blessed better than we ever deserve" department.  If that even makes sense.  We have a healthy family and more than we could ever need.  I consider that blessed!  It seems like we were reminded in several different ways this season that we're never promised tomorrow.  I have been very much convicted that sweating the small stuff is hardly ever worth it, it's the little things in life that really make me happy, and it's not what you have but who you have that makes my world go 'round.  That said, let's dive in head first into Christmas 2011...

The fun started Christmas Eve with a baking session with jolly ol' St. Nicholas in mind...
We didn't have big plans on Christmas Eve, therefore the day seemed to last forever.  I remember that feeling when I was the girls' age.  I had to fill their time with fun projects.  Otherwise they'd ask me if it was "time" over and over and over again!  We made peanut butter and Hershey kiss cookies along with a new cookie brownie recipe I found.  We love cookies, and we love brownies.  It was a win/win!  My dad rolled into town to spend the night with us.  After a warm dinner on a cold night, we hit the road to look at Christmas lights and see if we could spot Rudolph's bright red nose.  That always makes getting in the bed a quick process once we get home.  Everyone knows that Santa doesn't come until all the kids are asleep!  That's when the fun begins...This year we had a conversation with Santa about keeping it practical and reasonable.  In years past, it has looked like Toys R Us blew up in our living room.  And truth be told, the girls end up not playing with half of what they get.  So we did things a little differently this time.  Towns is a big time reader these days and got lots of new reading material...
Peace signs are the name of the game at her age.  So a new peace sign dance bag filled with new dance clothes was a must...

Buggy's really into trying to do everything her sister does which includes writing and spelling.  She also loves to try to read.  Santa totally delivered...
A last minute decision at the pet store was the real winner on Christmas morning...
Meet Cate's new male beta fish named Britney...
I suppose the girly name is fitting regardless of the fact that it's a boy.  After all, he's orange, pink and purple and has the girliest home a fish could ever have!

 Christmas morning came early.  I always get up before daylight because I just can't help it.  Towns was an early riser, too.  She tiptoed into our bedroom, told me she'd waited as long as she possibly could, and asked if it was ok that she was up so early.  God love her.  I gave her a huge Merry Christmas hug and told her that I was wondering why she'd slept so late!  We quickly woke Buggy up and they hit the ground running to see just what Santa had left for them...

They checked out a few things that Santa left out...


 Cate was so happy to find a new arts and crafts box that was all hers...

The jury is still out on the pink electric scooter...

Towns is a little gun shy of going fast since her bike wreck a few months ago!
 And cue the major smile when the fish was discovered...
Would Christmas be complete without owls?  Hardly!

Little did we know, Grandmommy had a few owl treats waiting on the girls, too!
A quick picture before the wrapping paper explosion...

 Commence operation destroy the living room...
We loved every minute of it, too!!
Even Cate got into opening gifts this year.  Usually she'll open a few and then leave her daddy to finish the rest for her.  Notice who was under the tree looking for more boxes with C-a-t-e on the nametag, though...
She knew she was caught in the act...
Towns told me when she woke up that morning that she had a dream about what it would be like to open a Kindle Fire on Christmas.  I was glad it was hidden in the very back so that it was the last thing that she'd open...

 She couldn't believe her eyes!

Besides Britney the fish, Cate's absolute favorite gift was her Baby Alive that she affectionately named Eloise.  So far she hasn't let Eloise out of her sight...
I'm starting to feel like we have a newborn with the way Eloise is eating, drinking, and using up boat loads of diapers.  But for now, it's cured Cate's longing for a real baby.  Between taking care of Britney and Eloise, she's got her hands full.  The baby thrives on being a mama of some sort!
Daddy and two of his three girls on Christmas morning...
And it wouldn't be complete without a picture with Paw Paw...

While I cooked a big breakfast, the girls played with their most favorite new toys...
This has been the scene around here ever since!
After our bellies were full, we made our way to Selma to meet Bethany at Grandmommy and Pop's house.  Usually we pick her up on our way, but since she's a licensed driver things have changed.  Last year we talked about how we couldn't believe that in 365 days she'd be driving herself to Selma on Christmas day.  And here we are.  It just wasn't the same, Bebby!  But some things never change.  Like her not being able to wait to dive into what Santa left for her at our house...

 I dare not try to pick out clothes for her anymore, so she got but one article of clothing...

Other than a few things she'd specifically asked for, it was gift card central!  She wouldn't have it any other way, though.  What new driver wouldn't be excited about driving herself to the mall armed with lots of prepaid plastic?!
Sweet sisters...

We were so excited to see our cousin Keaton on Christmas day...

Although, I think we should have given him a new sweatshirt of the Auburn variety instead of a remote controlled helicopter!

The girls had a blast seeing what Grandmommy and Pop had given them...

Vera Bradley for Towns, and new Pottery Barn Kids doll treasures for Cate...

Bethany got a huge surprise when she opened the formal dress she's been drooling over for a couple of months.  I can't wait for that post, trust me!
J looked on while carrying out the task Buggy put him in charge of...

Now that's a good man.  And he's mine, all mine!

I think these two grandparents were in heaven having all their grandbabies under one roof...

We spent the rest of Christmas day visiting family we don't get to see nearly enough.  It always comes too quickly and ends too soon.  What a wonderful day spent celebrating the birth of our Savior!
Hope your Christmas was merry and bright!

Christmas Partying

The past couple of days have full of parties, sweets, and good times.  And quite honestly, after yesterday's festivities ended (the last day of school until next year) I thought I would drop.  This time of the year is always so busy, but I don't ever remember it being like this.  Regardless, the girls had a blast Monday and Tuesday at their PJ days and class parties.  Cate's came first which was a treat because she feels like she's always last in everything.  She took great pride in sporting her fleece jammies to school even though it was sixty-something degrees outside.  These kiddos move too quick for me to ever snap a good picture, and this was the best I came away with...

Between pizza, cupcakes, Little Debbies, candy, chips, and Kool-Aid...well, you can only imagine what a sight it was!  Afterwards, we headed straight to Ben Davis to help Towns' class make some special ornaments...

Those little boxes contain their Christmas wish lists.  Emma's mom came up with the idea, I tried to do my part to help execute it.  It's a treasure that's now hanging on our tree!  Every child got three strips of paper to write their wishes on, and somehow my child swiped extras.  She had so many wishes that her box would barely close.  That girl is a mess!

Did I mention they spent the day in their PJs, too?  There's just something about wearing pajamas to school that makes it light years better than any normal day.  Why is that?

Usually getting Towns up in the mornings is a chore, but she hopped up with bright eyes yesterday because it was Christmas Extravaganza day.  Before their big show, the kids took turns handing out stocking stuffers to all their friends.  Emma, Towns, Mary Reese and Eliza were patiently waiting to fill their stockings...

Such a cute bunch of chickadees!

Here's hoping that our salt dough peace sign ornaments made it home with everyone in one piece.  Probably should have given that a little more thought, but it was a fun project!

Group shot...

I didn't take nearly the amount of pictures I wanted to.  Now is the time I start getting sentimental that the first half of the year is gone.  Towns is going to have a hard time leaving Mrs. Propst's class behind.  So am I.  She's beyond phenomenal, and we might be a tad bit spoiled by her!  Ok, ok.  We're way spoiled.

 After lunch, it was Christmas Extravaganza time which included some new twists on some old favorites.  These 1st and 2nd graders sang like little song birds, shook what their mama gave them, and put on a great show...

Towns had a little part to say which was a whopping four words, but with the way she practiced you would think she had the lead role...

They all were great, and I must confess I had to watch it though a few tears in my eye!

We went back to the classroom after the big show to finish up the party.  These two will likely be on a sugar high for the next few days...

Today has been a day already.  Merry first day of Christmas break to me.  Before I knew what was happening I caught Towns in my sewing box, Cate in my make up (after she'd drawn all over her shirt with purple marker), and they confessed to each eating three leftover party cupcakes while I wasn't looking.  As if their faces covered in chocolate didn't give that one away.  The cherry on top was Buggy's explanation. "We becided (or decided) that afteh thwee we wasn't gonna eat anymore." That's all it took to remind me that keeping them busy with organized projects is the key to survival.

Merry, merry y'all!

Toby & The Nutcracker

The orphaned pooch is still a happy resident at our house, as is evidenced by these pictures...

 

 

 

There's no shortage of love where Toby (or Ears as J calls him) is concerned.  I definitely wouldn't mind him staying around after he showed us what a good little puppy he is.  Any dog that can tolerate being carried around like a baby 24/7 is a champ in my book.  Cate eats, sleeps, and breathes playing mama to him.  And a fine one she's been.  If you'll notice, there's not a picture of the dog where she's not trying to get her hands on him if she's not the one holding him.  But Santa's elves have put in a request to make someone's Christmas a little merrier by surprising them with Toby.  We'll be sad to see him go, but he's sort of staying in family!

It was a whirlwind weekend with it being Towns' first ever appearance in The Nutcracker at the Princess...

She lives for the stage, so she was naturally loving life.  Friday night dress rehearsal was long and we were all delirious by the time it was over and done with.  Seriously.  This is proof...

 

Buggy wasn't about to be outdone by her sister being decked out in ballet attire, so I pulled out my ballet costume from 1984 and she was ready to roll.  Most days I wouldn't let her leave the house like this, but you know, sometimes you just don't fight it.  It made her feel so special.

The four of us were there to watch Towns in the 2 o'clock performance Saturday afternoon.  She nailed her role as a fluffy white sheep...

 

 

Of course, before the show started flowers had to be purchased.  Little sisters don't quite understand why they don't get to do everything big sisters get to do.  Which is why these two little sisters ended up with their own flowers too...

 

Remember that whole "not worth fighting" thing?  That principle applies here.

Towns was so happy to see her daddy and Bebby after the show...

 

 

And after another show at 7 o'clock, the ballerina was ready to hang up her ballet shoes and call it a night.  It's been a while since I've seen her that tired.  There's no rest for the weary, though.  We'll be Christmas partying all day Monday and Tuesday.  Once that's under our belt, school will be out and we fully intend to enjoy the last few days before Christmas to the fullest.  It's so hard to believe it's almost here!