The P families reunion

Still catching up...

The second weekend in December we were back on the road to Nashville.

Always trying to stuff as much into one weekend as possible, we stopped along our way to celebrate Christmas with our precious friends, The Pylants.

It certainly wasn't long enough but it was so great to be with them!

A) Bibby & Lillianna are so excited to see eachother

B) Virginia tries on her Mommy's new earrings and knows she looks adorable!

C) Ellenie tries out the tunnel she just gave Virginia for Christmas

D) Lillianna hugs Bibby so tight that Bibby loses consciousness. (just kidding!)

E) The whole gang (including Caroline) makes it in the same picture!

Such a great Christmas treat to see you all!

Two Sugar Plums

If there is one thing that makes me smile more than anything else in life right now,

it is the sweet relationship between my girls.

Having Lillianna home from school this Christmas break has been so great because the two of them have so much fun together.

I have to give Lillianna much of the credit because she is so patient with her little sister and works hard to involve Ellenie and to make her happy.

In turn, Ellenie adores her big sister and always wants to be with her.

After Lillianna's Christmas ballet program, Lillianna taught Ellenie how to plie but Ellenie thought she was teaching her how to hike the football.

This is one of the last days of school before break...but it could have been any morning.
When LaLa gets her coat and backpack, Ellenie gets her coat and "ackback" too.


All bundled up to go cut down the ol' Christmas tree...
yea right.
But it was a cold night in the store parking lot.
Even though this year's tree was hysterically wimpy to me and Brad, it didn't matter at all because it didn't matter to these two...they thought it was perfect.

Snow, good friends, and LOTS of dolls

After seeing Santa and riding the Polar Express, we didn't think we could pack any more fun into one weekend...but we decided to try!

Lillianna and I woke up to SNOW in Birmingham and drove to Atlanta for a super fun, super special, super duper weekend!

As a last minute bonus, we called our dearest friends who live in Atlanta and they came and met us for hugs and kisses and a cup of soup too...

A) Lillianna sleeping in the car...she once was our most difficult sleeper,

now she sleeps on command! Yea being 4!

B) Our precious friend Liam who had the funniest case of the Super Silly Closed Eye - itis. His eyes wouldn't open anytime a camera appeared...Lillianna didn't get the joke.

C) Lillianna did love Liam's little brother John who was so snuggly and sweet.

Thank You Harveys for our early Christmas present of seeing you!

After that pit stop, we were on to our destination. Lillianna couldn't hardly wait and

I must admit I was very excited too. Afterall, we were going to the

AMERICAN GIRL STORE

for cousin Ella's 7th birthday!

A) Daisy, Leah, Lillianna & Ella proudly pose with their dolls when we arrive.

B) Lillianna hugs her dolls - finally Felicity has her best friend Elizabeth!

C) Two of our old dolls have their hair done at the in-store salon

D) Cousin Christopher does what any man would do in this situation - sleep!

A) Birthday girl Ella with her dolls

B) Daisy and the dolls sit in the cafe waiting for our lovely food to be served.

C) Singing Happy Birthday to the most beautiful 7 year old neice I know

D) A truly magical, memorable, marvelous day!

All Aboard to the North Pole

Is it January yet?

December was so full that I didn't have a minute to blog...and I do want to catch up.

The girls will treasure all of these pictures one day and I know I won't remember all the precious, special, "unforgettable" moments if I don't write them down now.

So...

Our first weekend we headed to Birmingham on Friday to catch a ride on The Polar Express with our good friends, The Sumralls.

Bes, Lillianna, and Ellenie had a great time (in their pajamas) listening to Christmas carols, eating cookies, looking out the train windows, and of course, meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus.

My favorite moment was when Lillianna asked Santa's elf if she had made any "Lily Anna" dolls (the first item on her list to Santa and the real name of a doll a Target!) The elf replied,"I think we've made a few." I got Lillianna's expression in the picture above...she was so excited!

It was a GREAT way to kick-off our month of Christmas celebrations!

Oh Christmas Tree!

While Brad and I straightened and decorated the rest of the house Sunday night,

we thought the girls were playing in Lillianna's room with toys.

Then Brad walked by and saw what they were up to and told me to grab the camera.

They were SO proud of their own tree they had decorated together.

I think they've started a new tradition of the "Jewelry Box Tree"

Thanksgiving Part Deux

The Story of the First Thanksgiving

(or some version of it)

Some time ago, there were some Pilgrims who had come to America.

They loved their new country but couldn't figure out how to grow any food.

(Even their cookies tasted horrible!)

So some Indians...specifically one very cute one named Squanto...taught them how to plant and harvest many crops.

Squanto: uhhh, this isn't my usual hat.

Squanto: This is much better!

The Pilgrims were very happy and appreciative!

Many of them did happy dances to say Thank you to Squanto and his friends.

Then the Pilgrims invited the Indians to a feast (of goldfish crackers) where they all thanked God for all their many blessings!

Then they all played piano, danced, sang songs,

and played with their dolls for the rest of the day.

Oh, and they said good-bye with lots of hugs and kisses....

which, judging by Squanto's face, must have been more of a pilgrim tradition.

Thanksgiving Part Uno

We spent the weekend before Thanksgiving with our family on Brad's side.

We got to play with cousin Kylen, visit with everyone, and eat lots (and lots!) of great food!

We are so thankful to have time together!

Leave it to Lillianna to find the most unique leaf in the yard!

Can you tell we don't have boys around?

Kylen knew he had an audience with dramatic La La.

I think Kylen enjoyed having sweet girls around!

Such a good time!