Merry Christmas!

Christmas Morning!  Despite all the threats,Santa came:)  

Santa got Amelia's letter and she received her very own Vera Bradley purse.  She promptly filled it with lip gloss, hand lotion and hand sanitizer and has not taken the purse off since.  She wears it everywhere!   

Luke's world is still happy when he has new light sabers.  Ironically, Daddy was bummed Santa didn't get him this light saber so he is using his Christmas money to buy one.  Like father, like son.

Addison loved that Santa got her Care Bears!  

But her best smile and most excitement was for her new Dora and Christmas books that she asked Santa for.  She promptly sat on the couch and read them the rest of the day.  

SURPRISE!  We are going to Disneyworld!!!

Can't wait for January when we get to wear our ears to the most magical place on earth:)

Amelia received this microphone for Christmas and has not stopped singing and dancing ever since.  She loves it, she dances around to her CD's and makes us all join in.  Note the Vera Bradley slung over the hip.  Seriously, hasn't come off except to shower and sleep.

Random picture of mommy and daddy that Amelia took.  So glad we have these little blessings to wake us up on Christmas morning and to fill our hearts up with love.  

Valpo Crusader and Green Bay Packer Tervis cups.  Our favorite cups and my favorite teams:)  

Yes, we surprised the kids with Disneyworld but you know what got the best Christmas morning reaction.  Scotch tape!  Auntie Sue, among other things, got them a giant bag of craft supplies.  When they saw the scotch tape they both jumped up and down and yelled, "Scotch Tape!!!"   Had we known Scotch tape would have been the big winner, we could have saved a lot of money on Disneyworld...

Stephen had to head to work on Christmas Day after presents so the kids and I met some family friends to have an early dinner.  The big girls booth, coincidentally, also the Amelia booth as both girls are named Amelia.

Luke taking full advantage of it being Christmas day, made a giant sundae.  

Amelia and I in coordinated outfits.  At least I am not wearing a matching smocked reindeer dress, it could be worse.    When we got home from the restaurant, I was so exhausted I fell into bed, just like this.  I looked at the clock and it was 6pm, I thought to myself, "I will just close my eyes for a second."  At 6:30 Amelia came into my room and tapped me and said, "Mom, don't we have another party to go to at 6:30?"  So glad the kids didn't burn the house down, I threw on some lipstick, wiped the eyeliner off of my lids and out the door to our neighborhood Christmas party.  Merry Christmas to all!   Whew, I'm wiped out until next year.  

Christmas Eve 2011

Christmas Eve afternoon.  The girls in their curls:)  

We decided to host a party for some of our church family before Christmas Eve church.  My sweet friend Nell agreed to help...Nell is the ultimate Southern hostess (I mean look at those pearls, she means business!) so she can cook up a storm and did so making stew,soup and chili.  Delicious!     We had just under 60 people and loads of kids.  Thankfully God knew rain would have been more than I could handle and blessed us with a beautiful day.  Everyone enjoyed chili, snacks and treats before church.  What a treasure it is to have friends so dear we all consider each other family.

Addison and her Tommy.  Love, love, love.

Addison and Pastor Jon getting a little dance on before church.  Addison has become quite comfortable with our pastors and now calls our other pastor, Pastor Scott, "Pastor Scotty."  We are working on teaching her the whole respect your elder thing.

The kids all having a blast outside, the giant tree swing is always a big hit. 

Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus with Jesus' Birthday cake.  So sweet.  I love watching all these kids grow up.  I have taught or will teach Sunday School to all these kids at some point and it tugs at your heart seeing them grow together.

Merry Christmas Eve!

LOVE!

Spirit of Christmas

A big group of us decided to go see the Christmas show, "A Spirit of Christmas."  We went a little early to hang out and look at decorations and the kids got to meet with Santa and have cookies and milk.  My kids refused to see Santa again.  They told me he already knows what they want.  Geesh.  

Getting excited for the show to start.

The only picture I took because of course flash photography is prohibited.  This was the last bow.  The show is kind of like a Rockette show,all singing and dancing.  It was really fun and the kids enjoyed it.  We couldn't believe all the costume changes, it was unbelievable.  So many fun things to enjoy at Christmas time!

Tacky Christmas Sweater Party 2011

The Browns.  Love the matching WOMENS turtlenecks and sweater vests.  So funny.

KK and I striking a pose in front of the photo wall.  My sweater was a full family effort.  We hot glued every Christmas felt item from the craft store that we could find.

Me and the hubs:)  Sadly, we walked through Walmart for an hour dressed like this before the party.  We had to take advantage of having a babysitter and get some Christmas shopping done.  Some people commented they loved my outfit but most averted their eyes and tried to figure out if I was really dressed this jolly on purpose.  I don't know what they thought of Steve.  

The supper club guys all decked out in tacky.  Chris won the prize for the boys and I won the prize for the girls.  My trophy...a Bumpit!  I can't wait to try it.  

More Santa, more Santa, more Santa

We found the real Ocean Springs Santa!!  After we went to the OS tree lighting and saw the impostor Santa, we heard the "real" OS Santa was hired full time by the Beau Rivage Casino.  We decided to eat there the other night and enjoy the decorations and have a visit with Santa.  Look, Addison is getting closer to saying hi.  I figure if we visit about five more Santas before Christmas, I will finally get a good picture.  Although both Luke and Amelia said, "Do we really have to see Santa again?"  Ba Humbug you two, mommy is on the search for the perfect Santa picture!  Buck up!

I always love the decorations.

The next day we went to our tennis club for the kids tennis Christmas party.  Bouncy houses, cookie decorating, ornament making and playing tennis with Santa filled the day.  The kids had an awesome time!  I loved these pictures of the kids on the slide, pure joy:)

Amelia and Luke in line to play the game.  If you hit Santa with your groundstroke, you won a prize!

Christmas with Ashley!  We had a little early Christmas with our Ashley.  The kids were so excited to exchange presents and Ashley sure knew our kids well.  She got them exactly what they love, Addison got Dora books, Amelia got a Barnes and Noble gift card and Lukey got Star Wars books and puzzles!  Thank you Ashley, we love you:)

Amelia was so excited to have Ashley open the gifts we got her that she blurted them out before Ashley got the chance to open them.  

Lights, lights and more lights

Merry, merry!

The other night was beautiful so we decided to go walk through Bellingrath gardens.  They cover the beautiful grounds with millions and millions and millions of lights.  Including lit crocodiles, pelicans, rainbows, pointsettias and jumping dolphins.  It is really spectacular.

The kids in front of one of the displays.  We brought Addison's stroller but she was a big girl and walked the entire garden by herself.  Luke is officially a 6 year old boy now because 90% of the pictures I take include him making a silly face.  

Under the sea lights.  It is so much cooler without the flash on but then the kids didn't show up in the picture :(

I love Addison checking out what Amelia is doing.

No visit is complete this time of year without Santa!  Addison is off to the left hiding.  Santa asked her to come sit on his lap and she shouted at him, "No way Jose!"  Santa got a big laugh out of her.