Christmas Card Picture Attempt #1 (and a tour of my Christmas tree!)

These were taken on a random night before Christmas, and I love them, but just wanted AK to be in the dress that I made her for our Christmas card. So, these are precious, but aren't what ended up on our card! Regardless, since this is my journal for my girl and our family, I had to include her sweet little face!

Our tree - I bought us a 9.5 foot Christmas tree when we lived in the house we built, with like 2o-something foot ceilings. It still didn't even fill up the space it needed. Then we moved and Tommy refused to buy another house with a two story living room. So luckily, we have a two story foyer, and kind of push the tree half into the dining room and half into the foyer, and it works!

This is the one ornament she was allowed to touch - it's Rudolph and Santa and if you push Santa's belt, Rudolph's nose lights up.

This is one she is NOT supposed to touch!

This is a wreath made of yo-yo's by my Aunt Sharon. You'll see a lot of her ornaments on my tree - she graciously hand-makes all of us one each year, and gives it to us early so we can enjoy it. I think this wreath is my favorite!

The ornament Addie is holding is the Hallmark series "Santa's Sweet Ride" which I started for her the year she was born. To the right of her right hand is another Hallmark series started the year she was born by my mom. It's the doors of Christmas or something to that effect and features doors all over the world and their Christmas traditions. Right above her bow is a little church that Aunt Sharon made. Directly to the right of her bow is (one of her MANY) first Christmas ornaments - this one also started by me - and is the Hallmark collection that goes until their 5th Christmas. To the left of her little behind is another Aunt Sharon ornament - a snowman. To the left of the little church is a gorgeous Christopher Radko First Christmas ornament. She received two of these, and Radko oranments are some of my favorite. She is so lucky - it took me years to start my collection! You may notice the obsene amount of violin ornaments - also kind of started as a collection. Can you tell that I have a LOVE for Christmas ornaments?

Right to the right of AK's ear is a Chrismon ornament. I have a few of these, all made by my Great Aunt Mary. I think they are the most GORGEOUS ornaments and I wish I had an entire tree of them. I love the symbolism and the beauty - and the fact that they are all handmade. I have made two myself - for my home church's tree - they both took me weeks to make. I have a huge respect and love for these. I guess the only way I'll get more is for my mom to give them up. And even then, I don't think Aunt Mary had the entire collection - I think that's close to impossible if you are making them yourself.

To the right of Addie again are two more of Aunt Sharon's ornaments - an icile (that I have no clue how she made) and a schoolhouse.

Just a'dancing!

My mom made AK's adorable outfit. She had one for summer too. I absolutely love it. I think this may be the last one she has - due to potty training. I think by the time she's old enough to handle the buttons to get it off herself, she'll look silly in it. I'm trying not to cry!

To the far right of Addie are a picture frame ornament (of our neice Tori) and then above them are two more Chrismons - one is the Star of David, and I can't tell from the picture what the other is - but I think it's the symbol for Christ.

To the left of Addie, on the bottom is an angel that my mom made years ago. To the right of Addie's ear is another ornament made by my mom - a neat clear ball that she painted on the inside with green, red, and white - they turned out adorable. To the far, far left is Addie's 2nd Christmas ornament - I had to buy number 3 this year and nearly had a panic attack.

I think my little pumpkin was singing here. I had her start singing because she loves it so much I knew I'd catch a smile - instead of that awful "cheeeese" face! So, I also caught some other singing faces too!

And dancing!

LOVE this one - it was hard not to put it on the card! That is just SO Addie!

Sing it, my sweet girl! (Now that I did this, I wish I had moved her around to other parts of my tree, so I could show you all of it. I miss it so much when we take it down!)

Elmo Live!

(after the show - passed out! for some reason Blogger won't let me move this picture.)

Right before Christmas, Sesame Street Live came to Spartanburg. Shannon and I took Addie and Cody, and just like before, they had a blast. It was a different show, 1-2-3 Imagine, and it was cute, but the one we saw in October was better. There is a third one out, but I don't think it'll come close to us this year. I'm so glad we took them. I just adore her innocence and love for these things, instead of some of the horribly trashy ideas of children's entertainment that exsists!

Before the show we ate dinner at Wade's in Spartanburg - I had heard people talk about it dozens of times and it's been written up in several magazines, including Southern Living. It was good, but I didn't think it was good enough for the line that was there when we left. It filled up a huge atrium and was out the door. And the restaurant was huge- I wish I could understand what all the fuss was about. It was cheap - maybe that was it?

The kids relaxing during intermission. (Addie wanted to take her shoes off?)

And when the show started back!

And it was here that I learned not to take our big camera to places like this when it's 1 child per adult - entirely too much to handle!

A Christmas Funny...

I wish I could remember and immediately document every single one of the things that my Addie does to make me laugh. I need to write them down or something. Regardless, here's one of my favorite:

Tommy and I decided to take Addie to the Christmas Cantata at church. She is always in the nursery unless we are at St. Peter's, but we thought she'd enjoy the music at this service. Before it started the pastor was talking about Mary and Joseph. Addie immediately perked up and said, "Where? Where are they? I can't see them!"

So sweet! I'm so glad she knows who they are, but understanding how long ago that was is a completely different story!

(Note - these pictures are completely unrelated and were taken on a different day, I just thought she was as cute as can be sitting in the rocking chair reading books!)

Merry Christmas to Googa!

We went to one of our favorite stores downtown to try to find my dad a Christmas gift. He is SO hard to buy for, and if there is anywhere I can find something for him - it's at Mast General Store. Sure enough, we weren't in there 5 minutes and I found these hats and knew he'd love one (why, I don't know, but I knew he would - I knew my mom would probably kill me too, so that was half the fun in buying it!). Well, Miss Priss loved them too! She tried on just about every single one (luckily, I didn't think lice was a concern there or she would NOT be putting one on - ugh!). And also lucky, we happened to have our little camera with us - I couldn't miss her prancing around the store with these hats on!

I went to Lexington the next day for a short little trip to celebrate baby Landon being born. We surprised my mom at work and then called my dad from there for him to meet us for dinner. Well, that little stinker, as soon as she got on the phone with him, she told him she was bringing him a hat! Ha! Then, again at dinner, she asked where his hat was. What a nut! I guess my Christmas shopping with her with me is coming to a close, at least until she can keep a secret! Luckily, my dad had NO CLUE what she was talking about!

Tigers vs. CofC

Before Christmas, we went with friends Jill and Eric to see the Tigers play College of Charleston. In the past, CofC has been really good, and they still are this year, but the Tigers did beat them and it was great! Even better because CofC turned around and beat the TAR out of the Tarheels a few days later! It was also Teacher Appreciation Day, so I got in for free and Tommy got in for $10. Can't beat a deal!

Addie had a great time, as usual. She's been to several Tiger basketball games by now, but she still enjoys the "cheeries," the dancers, and the lights. She's also getting where she likes all sports more and more, which her daddy loves! Still no luck on the Tiger. She still pretty much cannot stand him (or any other dressed up character). Looks like that trip to Disney will be postponed to the fall instead of this spring! We'll see.

We were able to sit right across the aisle from Jill and Eric, so when Addie needed to walk around, she went over and spent some time with them! And we ate before the game at our standard and favorite, TD's. With all the rainy football games, Addie's become pretty familiar with that place too.

Addie got to wear her super-cute new outfit from Mrs. Jaime. Jaime saw this brand of clothing, Chatti Patti, at the Southern Christmas Show in Charlotte, and somewhere else, and just HAD to get it for Addie. She's always so sweet to her. Jaime and Kaylin have a fondness for horses, and Kaylin has several of them, so they had to get her the horsey outfit (there is a precious horse with a long mane appliqued on the side of the pants- can't see it in pictures). Plus, it was orange. That's just a given! I'm excited because the pants will definitely fit her next year, and hopefully the shirt will too!

Clemson was having Santa come to the game a few days later and at halftime kids could go on the court and talk to him. Too bad Tommy and I had a Christmas party that night that we just could not miss (plus it was to Ruth's Chris - didn't really want to miss it - mmm!), but we know that would have been quite an experience - Santa in Clemson! Oh well - we'll plan for it next year!

(Eric, Jill, and my girl - not such a great picture of them, but we only brought the little camera, and all the other pictures I took didn't turn out so well!)

(intently watching the game! ha!)

The Rockets

No, I did NOT misspell that title... keep reading!

Since there were so many events in town for the Christmas season, I forwent our annual Nutcracker performance and took AK to the other performances in town. I think I planned well. Not to say that she wouldn't grow to love The Nutracker as much as I, but last year didn't fare so well. I think giving it another year was probably a good decision.

I dearly love The Rockettes, and was so excited to hear they were coming to Greenville. I have seen them two other times. Once when I was younger, in Vegas, and another, actually at Radio City and at Christmas-time. I was worried, because I am not a fan of traveling shows, especially when you have seen the real deal, that it would stink, but it did not disappoint. My sweet Addie-girl loved, loved, loved it too, so my heart was full.

When I told her we were going to see The Rockettes, not that I expected her to understand, but she did recall them as "The Rockets." So naturally, when the dancers came out, she was confused! She kept asking me where the rocket was until she finally either gave up or figured it out. She still calls them "The Rockets" to this day!

Santa first came out to introduce the show, and AK so sweetly looks up at me and asks, "Ho Ho not get me Mommy?" How can your heart and mind feel so many emotions all at once? I felt bad for her fear of him, and thought it was so cute and sweet at the same time. I also felt my typical mommy sadness because I'm sure she won't have a fear of him at all next year.

Her favorite was the toy soldiers - mine too! She continues to tell people that the "soldiers fall down." The strength of those women to do that is amazing. (And a big thank you goes out to them for their kid-friendly cannon that did not make any loud sounds!) If you ask her how they dance, she'll kick her sweet little chunky legs in the air too. It's precious! I think she also liked the dancing Santas, even though she's personally not a fan of Santa himself, the sheer numbers of them in the show intrigued her.

Because she was sitting on my lap and I was pretty well occupied with her, I didn't get many pictures (plus, I'm sure you aren't supposed to take pictures in there). Luckily, my friend Jill that went with us, did get a quick picture of my girl and me with her phone. I only brought our little camera, and it was acting up a little.

I promised Addie that I would take her to NYC to see the Rockettes at Radio City! The more Tommy goes to NY, the more he loves it, and is starting to think maybe she can go younger than her teen years! I'm thinking maybe when she's 6!

Roper Mountain Holiday Lights

My school was having their Christmas concert, so I thought it'd be fun to take AK. Once we got there, I realized it was not a requirement for me to be there, and I was worried about Addie getting kind of grumpy (it was right at her bedtime), so we said our "hellos" and left! I called Tommy, who was at a friend's house nearby, and asked if he wanted to meet me at Roper Mountain Science Center (which is right by my school) to take Addie to see the lights and go ahead and tackled sitting on Santa's lap (notice the thrill in my voice as I was not looking forward to it!). It was a clear night, and had been rainy for so long, and it was a weeknight (so half the traffic), so I thought we should maybe just go for it. Good plan, because we all had a great time!

Beforehand, she and I had a little dinner at ChickFilA - her favorite - [and what is starting to be my favorite because they are just so darn polite and helpful - I mean, seriously, they are a fast food restaurant that brings you your food (when you have a kid with you at least) and comes around to refill your drinks!]. She was just acting so sweet and cute that I busted out my camera right there in ChickFilA! (I was also trying to get a good picture of her super cute dress. I smocked it and my mom made it. We were trying a new pattern that we still have to perfect. Actually, we like everything about it - except the dinky collar. I think we can get another year's worth of wear out of it though, so my mom is going to make a new collar that is bigger. Also, it's smocked on the back with Santa Claus, which I think is precious to smock something different on the back. And that darn Santa was one of the hardest things I've ever smocked - and wouldn't you know it, I don't think I got a single picture of the back of this dress the whole Christmas season?)

(Please excuse the stamps on her hands - she had been to Little Gym that day (love that place and the fact that she and her friends have a private class, but seriously, they stamp her hands, feet, and even sometimes her legs!), and excuse the bruise on her face - can't remember what that's from!)

Here she was waiting on Daddy after we had already been to school. She dearly loves to play in the car, when she's not in her car seat. I mean, look at the joy on that face!

And finally at Roper Mountain Lights. These pictures are all taken in the part where you can walk around. I didn't get any decent pictures in the drive through part, mostly because AK was sitting on my lap, and also because it had started drizzling and the pictures just didnt' turn out good.

And in here was where they have a little gift shop, naturally! But also where Santa was! They have these beautiful balloon structures. This was only one of them (I was entirely too occupied keeping AK from freaking out to take many pictures.), and this picture does them no justice.

And here he is! Notice who got to sit with him this year? Thank heavens he was in a sleigh instead of just a chair, or I would have had to sit on his lap! Once I convinced Addie that everything was ok, which was no small feat, she was able to tell Santa that she wanted 2 pink babies and 5 books. I think this was news to Santa, who had to frantically run around to add to her already huge Christmas stash, two babies. (Specifically because Santa is quite picky in the type of babies Addie needs!) The books were no problem, as Santa knows how much Addie loves them.

Check out that ear-rubbing! She was not happy, but it was 100x better than last year, and like I said, she did at least talk to him!

No smile for Addie!