The month of December was very full.
Full of gifts and parties, food and decorations.
More importantly, it was full of friends and family, full of laughter and excitement,
full of traditions new and old.
It was full of wonderful moments that I hope will always be precious memories.
Here's a few:
+ Attending the lighting ceremony of the hometown Christmas tree.
+ Making and baking ornaments with friends
+ Listening to "Do You Hear What I Hear?" 1,000 times in the car.
+ Making and baking ornaments with friends
+ Listening to "Do You Hear What I Hear?" 1,000 times in the car.
+ As 3rd place winner of the Fire Prevention Poster Contest,
Lillianna rode on TOP of the ladder fire truck with none other than...SANTA!
(Gotta love a small town!)
+Posing with Santa at the elementary school's Christmas carnival.
+ Then telling him everything on their lists.
+Attempted Christmas card pictures one afternoon...
after nap, after some tears, after a few shoves off the chair.
+ Made cookies for neighbors and delivered them as a family.
+Decided hot chocolate makes almost everything better.
+ Cheered on Ellenie and classmates during her first Christmas concert for a community benefit.
+ Last year, she made the front page of the paper for crying hystercially during this same concert.
This year, she was the first one out and the most proud child up there.
Which made me the most proud Momma.
+ Celebrated Christmas at E's preschool with some festive attire,
+ Loved seeing Miss E's official list to Santa that she recited to her teacher.
(Make-up, "Real" baby hamster, "Real" puppy)
I love the picture on the left so much. She was so excited to see Santa again.
This was her probably 9th sighting but he never lost his appeal....especially since she got to talk to him again.
This time, I took the opportunity to ask Santa if he allowed "real" pets on his sleigh.
Guess what?! His answer was NO.
"It's too cold on my sleigh and if you want a real pet, Mom and Dad will have to help me."
Talk about passing the buck! ha!
+ Enjoyed getting dressed up for some holiday parties.
+ Didn't enjoy managing the girls as they crashed from party sugar highs.
+ Loved reading our Advent devotionals each night
+ Opening Christmas cards each day...one of my FAVORITE things in the world!
+Couldn't help but join in and sing with Lillianna and her classmates during their Christmas concert.
+ Wrapped presents and then realized the girls were old enough to help! waa hoo!
+ Loved teaching and explaining the girls the words to "Christmas is Coming" by the Muppets.
+ Making cards and treats with the girls for their wonderful teachers.
+ Headed down to Alabama to have Christmas with family and took in Zoo lights.
+ Spotted the cutest two headed giraffe ever!
+This is the first year the girls have watched (and loved) the Grinch movie.
+ Think they liked listening to the song/story in the car even more. Ellenie can recite huge chunks of it.
+ Driving past all the "Bravo" houses in our neighborhood on the way home.
(Someone said "Bravo" to a house decked out in lights and it stuck as the term for any well decorated house)
+ Played with precious cousins.
+ Then played Dirty Santa with the adults in Brad's fam - a real hoot!
+ Loved seeing them all together!
+ Bathing and holidng our new daughter for the first time. :)
+ Keeping her quiet, content, and most of all hidden on Christmas Eve.
+ Taking mental pictures of the girls holding candles and singing Silent Night at church.
+ Watching Christmas Vacation and getting ready for Santa.
+ Having my sweet Mom stay with us.
+Eating too much peppermint bark all month
+Eating too much candy cane Oreos all month
+Eating too much all month
+ Feeling excited nervousness before the girls ran out to see their gifts.
+ Loving how much they loved every single detail of Christmas.
+ Moment on the left: Remebering how I too always wanted to know what my sisters got more than knowing what I got. Guess the grass is ALWAYS greener.
+ Moment on the right: Following the girls around the house as they followed string around the house that led them to their new REAL pet...Jingle BELLE Parsons
+ Moment on the right: Following the girls around the house as they followed string around the house that led them to their new REAL pet...Jingle BELLE Parsons
+ Watching their complete disbelief that a puppy was in that box.
+ Ellenie asking us a hundred questions to make sure this puppy thing was really real,
"Is she going to spend the night? Will she still be here in the morning? Is she really our dog? How is she so little? Will be be here tomorrow?"
+ Grateful for our many, many, undeserved blessings
+ Enjoying one of the most memorable Christmas's ever!
