Ice Skating!

Since Addie Blaire got out of school on Tuesday before Christmas I still had a little work to do so I decided to have a little mommy and me day in Little Rock while I got a little work done. She got to see a little of what mommy does every day and I got to show her off to everyone.  After making a few calls we headed over to the rivermarket to do a little ice skating.  My aunt Bettye who works downtown met us there to watch the skaters in action.  This was Addie Blaire's first time to ice skate and it might as well have been mine as well cause I felt lost on the ice.  I wasn't sure what Addie Blaire would think about it but she loved every second of it.  I must admit I had a hard time walking the next day after skating around trying to hold her up for an hour!  I think we have to make this an annual trip!

I was so excited when I found out that my cousin Lindsey and the little boy she babysits Spencer were in town.  They met us at the rink and we did lots of laughing and stumbling around together.

This is Brit's favorite toy.  I have to go to the store at least once a week to help keep her supplied with items to play with while we cook dinner.  She has officially rearranged my entire kitchen and bathroom for that matter!  That little stinker you can't take your eyes off of her for a second cause you never know what she will find!

We went to the church for the "Jesus Birthday party" and the girls had so much fun.  They had come up with some "minute to win it" games and it was really fun to watch all the kiddos.  This was Addie trying to shake the balls out of the present box. Thanks to everyone who spent so much time setting it all up. 

Singing happy birthday to Jesus!

Darby and Addie Blaire had to move the ornament across the wire til all the ornaments made it across.  Super cute idea by the way, they could only use their noses not hands!

The girls helped daddy open his presents (well actually I never really wrapped them) from all of us.  How sweet is this picture though.  In case I haven't mentioned this before my girls LOVE their daddy.  I mean they run for him as soon as he comes through the door and until they go to bed at night.  I can tell you that is warms my heart to see how much they love their daddy about as much as it does to see the look he gives them in return!  He is wrapped around all twenty little fingers!

Our lovely little gingerbread house!

I also have may not have mentioned my complete obsession with cherry vanilla diet Dr. pepper's from Sonic.  So much so that my 4 year old can order it for me now because she knows it by heart.  She has since grown a major obsession with Sonic herself.  She wants to go everyday after school now (which is okay most of the time because it's happy hour, my favorite time of the day!) Well I decided one day to let Brit try her own slush. She loved it, I mean lovvved it!  I could not pry it from her hands.  I now have discovered the only problem with that was that now anytime I have a Sonic cup in the car she is screaming for it.  I have officially created a new generation of Sonic fans.

The Littlest Angel

I was so excited when Ms. Rose came to FUMC to be our children's minister because she promised to start a children's choir.  This is something we had been asking for and now it was really going to happen.  We started up an M&M's group on Wednesday nights and the kids have a lesson, craft, snack and choir.  Mrs. Bitsy has been so kind to lend her angel voice to teaching the kids and they are loving it.  This year they decided on a play for the kids to put on for the church one Sunday night.  It was great with costumes and all.  Pretty impressive on such short notice.  Addie Blaire was one of the "littlest angels"  and boy did she fit the part.  She looked precious (i know mom's opinion of course)  in her costume!  She did a good job and tried her best to follow along to all the songs.

 The group saying a little prayer beforehand.

 Cousin Lila came to watch and these two were quite the audience.  Nana, Pop, Aunt T, Bobo, Ms. Sharon, Nicki and Pop were all there to cheer her on.

 Afterwards we attempted, that being the key word to get a picture of the 3 girls for mom and dad's Christmas card.  If you are friends of the family you will notice that you never got that card and with good reason the picture just never quite happened!!  But here are some really cute attempts, so mom in a sorta kinda way everyone can see what could have been as far as your cards go.

 The next Tuesday was Addie Blaire's last day at school.  She was having a Christmas party so I made sure to leave work early to be back so I wouldn't miss out.  Unfortunately that morning Mrs. Nations, Addie's wonderful, angelic teacher was not able to attend because her mother passed away.  She was definitely missed by all.  The two classes combined in one room for some pizza and snacks.  Before the meal though Addie Blaire was asked to say the prayer.  I can tell you I have been proud of my child on many occasions over the years but none more so than at that moment.  She did such a wonderful job of praying for everyone, including Mrs. Nations and blessing the meal.  There is something to be said for the understanding, teachings and blessings that she is receiving this year at a Christian school.  I can say with certainty that there is no where I would rather her be than right where she is and that is the best feeling of all.  She is even finding time to teach her daddy and I a thing or two about the Bible.  I am certainly glad to have her to refresh our memory every now and again, it keeps us accountable.

 Leading the prayer!

 Yum, yum girlie

After the meal the kids all had brought a book for a book exchange and Addie loved the book she received a girl's little Bible.

 The birthday party for Jesus wouldn't be complete with out singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and letting him know exactly how thankful we all should be that he had that first birthday.  A reminder of the season's blessings on all of us.

 Since Mrs. Nations was out poor ms. Emily, the substitute was forced to be decorated like a Christmas tree.  The kids had lots of fun wrapping her up and decorating her.  She deserved whatever she got for work that day!

 I can never get a good picture of my Christmas tree that really does it any justice in my opinion once again.  I know someone told me once the setting it should be on, but this was the best I got.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

This will be the post that begins the countdown to Christmas at the Bobo's which usually involves non stop activities and craziness!  I know everyone understands because for most as much as I love love Christmas time, it flies by each year because it seems like nonstop chaos for three weeks straight!  I must say this year has been my favorite so far because the girls both got to enjoy the season this year and Addie Blaire seemed to really understand what it was all about more so this year which really seems to make Christmas more special hearing the stories of Jesus birth and remembering all over again what the season is all about.  On a not so serious but very relevant note I have a funny Addie Blaire story.  The two of us were out for a day of Christmas shopping the week before and we just so happened to be shopping for Daddy some (let's just say new undies) at the time.  We were in my fav TJ Maxx and we had already made a few stops prior and Addie looks up at me and with the most serious expressions says" Mommy you know Christmas is not all about the presents, it's about giving"  I laughed so hard and all the women standing around us did as well because of course all of us were rushing around doing the same thing.  I replied " well that is what we are trying to do is "give" daddy some underwear and since it's not about presents I will just take back the ones I got you.  Boy it didn't take long for her to change her tune, she said she thought she might still want those after all! What a girl will do to get out of some shopping!!  She'll learn one day!!

These are a few pictures from Addie Blaire's dance Christmas party.  She had so much fun and the teacher surprised us all with several fun games and activities as well as a visit from the main man Santa himself!  Fun times, and little sis enjoyed herself as you can tell by her chocolate covered face as well.

 finger lickin good, that girl loves some cheese dip just like momma!

 Unfortunately I forgot my camera the weekend before Christmas when we got together with Bobo and Mrs. Sharon and Nicki and Pop.  I hate it so much because my phone just didn't do the trick that day.  These are a few of the ones I captured but not my best photography skills sad to say.  Nicki and Pop is one of our favorites of Christmas because that is where the Santa sack goes down.  Each year we get several trash bags filled with all the best stuff, you know, toilet paper, Kleenex's, paper towels, dish liquid!  I know probably not what you thought I would say but it is the best to not have to by that stuff for months!!  The kiddos always get a stocking full of goodies each year and Nicki always comes up with something to surprise us all.  One year she even gave me a paper weight with Mitch's baby picture on it!!  Priceless!!  We love our Nicki and Pop!

 That same night we went over to Bobo's for dinner.  Ms Sharon cooked for us all and we ate good then opened some presents. Mamaw Bobo was able to join us and it was so nice to get some quality time with her as well that night. She is the sweetest lady and I hope she really liked our gift this year, it was a giant Razorback that can be hung on the door.  Actually, Bobo and G and Pop all got one, hey who can resist a Razorback not this family for sure.  Big hit with everyone this year! Addie was excited because she got a trunk full of dress up clothes which is right up her alley these days.

 I know little Brit is quite the blur in this picture, well actually alot of my pictures these days now that she is walking or running more like it.  The reason I had to post is simply Mamaw.  She loves these great grands and what makes her happiest is to rock them or bounce them on her knee.  As you can tell her expression speaks for itself!

 Once again my camera wasn't the best but I don't think this picture has to be any clearer to see the excitement on Addie B's face when she opened this mecca for markers.

 Thanks Mason for the new wheels.

 Just like everyone always says the box is always the best present of the night.  It sure was in little Brit's case that night!

 cuties, these two love each other!!

 Earlier in the season Addie Blaire had been talking to me about all the parties we had at Christmas time (we did our Sunday School at our house as well) and she said why couldn't she have a Christmas party for her friends too.  Well I hated to argue so we decided to ask a couple of her school buddies to come over on a Sunday afternoon for an hour or so and have a cookie exchange.  It was a lot of fun.  I had made up some gingerbread houses and men for them to decorate as they liked and then the girls all got to sample each other's cookies.  We even made bags to take home each other's goodies as well.  I also made up some Reindeer food, for those that don't know this is oatmeal and lots of sprinkles for the reindeer to put out on Christmas eve so the reindeer don't get hungry on their long journey that night.  The girls all put there on spin on the decorating and then it was off to play dress up the rest of the time!

 Aunt T and Lila came down for the party and the church play afterwards. So good to have them around for all the festivities.

 Addie B's gingerbread girl and house, yummy! I had good intentions of doing a gingerbread hunt but we a busy schedule that day headed straight to church for play it was a little too much.  I guess there is always next year because something tells me she will want to continue this little tradition.

This was one of my creations, they look a little rough, I think these reindeer had a rough night apparently!

 Love that kid!

 Mommy and her two little helpers, we need to get Britann an apron for next year cause I am sure she will be ready to dive in and do some baking too.

 Girls will be girls!  Merry Christmas sweet Addie Blaire!