Christmas 2012

What an amazing holiday we had this past year.  We really packed it in.  Sylvie is at that perfect age where she understands what's going on and really enjoys new things.  Her excitement is contagious and her viewpoint about what's happening around her is so refreshing.  There's nothing like a child to change your perspective on what's previously become routine and ordinary.  There is nothing ordinary about my girl, I'll tell you that.

This picture just cracks me up.

I'm sure I won't be able to capture here what a great month we had, but some pictures will have to suffice.  Christmas was at the lake this year with JJ & Ferg.

ADG Christmas Party...Nanie has been at every one since the beginning.

My pitiful attempt at a designer cookie...think I'll be keeping Chrissy Schubert in business for many seasons to come.

Christmas program at Mother's Day Out...Nana came to watch.

Making the nativity scene is intense work, especially when the munchkin is directing.

Treats for Mother's Day Out.  I didn't take a photo of the ones for Little Friends, but they wer e a super cute way to explain the Christmas story using M&Ms.  I also made homemade lavender lotion and bath salts for teacher gifts.

Fell fast asleep on the way to get our Christmas nails done...I waited an hour in the car before waking her up. Nails are a big deal around here!

Getting pampered in the panda chair.  The staff loves her and the feeling is definitely mutual.

Sparkly candy cane toes.  I got red sparkles to match.

Santa at the library story time.

Fun night at Mellow Mushroom with the Ralls before looking at lights in Enterprise. They were great as always!

Lacey & Sylvie playing at church.

Learning about the Advent wreath.  Love Grover's red pants and jacket.

Special Christmas with Nana & Papa before heading to the lake. Bitty Baby is our new favorite.

Shopping cart gets filled on a daily basis.

Merry Christmas!

Being spoiled by Nana.

Fun trip to Bellingrath Gardens in Mobile with Mimi and Poppy after a birthday dinner for Mimi at Felix's. I think she's mistreating her transportation here.

Little Friends party...Santa brought her a new ornament for her tree.

Talking with Santa at Little Friends.

Best cousin Bailey.  Sylvie begged to be able to decorate a tree at JJ & Ferg's house. As usual, the cousins ADD kicked in a JJ ended up decorating it herself.  Twerps.

Lucy & Ferg.

Love this baby.  So good.  Gotta be since she's the second child like me.

Christmas drama 2012:  lice prevention.  Oh the stress.

Nice tat, PKing.  Hello Kitty never looked so dangerous.

Best Pinterest success:  snowball fight.  Biggest fail:  snowglobes. Just don't even try it.  

Trying to clean up after the chaos.

Pummeled.

Still trying to clean up.  Bless her OCD heart.

Bailey and Ma's Rudolph.

Parrish's homemade deer.  Mom now wants a herd.

Me & my mommy.

Cousins on Christmas Eve.

Sweet girls, matching.

Crazy-eyed sisters.

Cutest bootie.

Pretending to be sweet.

Sylvie loved JJ's tree.

Making cookies for Santa.  Bailey mainly ate icing.

Parents getting in on the action.  Nate made one that looked like him or Where's Waldo. Look at Parrish's face, like he's really evaluating Carey's work.

Carey's portrait of Parrish.

The aftermath.  Coooooookiiiiieeeesss.

Putting out reindeer food and carrots.

Loves her own digital camera.

Hanky Doodle.

Spent her first Christmas morning in the exersaucer since she hasn't discovered the joy of presents quite yet. She'll soon learn.

Tent from Mimi.

Why am I so excited about this puppet?  Don't you wish I were your mom?

Christmas morning pancakes.

Christmas Day activity...trying on Mary Kay samples.

Eats like a champ.

Sweet angel.

Riding the carousel at Eastdale.  They had to get out of the house and the weather was terrible! To the mall they went. Genius.

Merry Christmas!!!

We are so blessed to have parents that so obviously love us and our children so much.  They provided a wonderful holiday for us.  Besides the barrage of gifts and treats, JJ & Ferg kept our kids a few days longer to let us go home to clean and recuperate.  They truly understand our needs and meet them at every turn.  Try not to be jealous...God has provided us with the gift of an amazing family and we try our very best not to take it for granted.

God Bless,

Katie