Christmas 2009

Yea, nice original title to what else, Christmas!! I love Christmas, always have but now that I'm a mom the "festivities" of Christmas have gotten so fun. We did Elf on a Shelf, we made gingerbread houses, we went to look at lights 3-4 nights a week, we ran here and there and exhausted ourselves to the max. The end result was one spoiled rotten but ecstatic little girl at each and every place we were. I'm so thankful that I got to spend the time with family and friends that I did during Christmas but my heart was heavy, and well to be honesty still is. But that is another post worthy of its own. To recap Christmas.....

12/23 Office Party Luncheon at Public House - 12:30 PM

12/23 Drive to Knoxville

12/24 Christmas Eve in Knoxville with my family 6:00 - 9:00 (drive home and arrive by 11:30)

12/24 Santa needed a little help from us putting together some things that he'd left Addi. But here is the thing - Santa doesn't deliver until Christmas Eve night so that left daddy putting together a My 1st Kenmore Refrigerator and Stove until 3:00 AM!

12/25 6:30 AM (Yeah...we got an extra 30 minutes sleep from the typical 6AM'er) Addi was in awe of her refrigerator and stove and all the utencils, food prep, vegetables, fruits, pots and pans that she just didn't really know what to say. She just stood there looking and said - "Is this for ME?" and then it was on! She made more cakes in 30 minutes than Rachel Ray can make a meal.

12/25 Lewis Family Lunch - 1:00. Robin & Eric were kind enough to host this year and its always a good time with the Lewis'. You never know what we'll be talking about or who we'll be laughing at....this year it was Campbell and his leather jacket Zoolander immitations.

12/26 Christmas with Grammy & Papaw & the Coffelts. And of course Addi is spoiled rotten even more. She got the cutest, (gulp.....,) cheerleader doll from Anne, Allen and the boys. Its hilarious with doing its cheers and all, Addi even got an (EVEN BIGGER GULP) adorable cheerlearder outfit to wear and cheer with her doll. They are really trying to turn my girl into a "girly girl" aren't they? :)

We were busy non-stop for days but it was nice to be with family and friends and celebrate the true meaning of CHRISTmas. I hate that my heart was sad b/c I feel like I barely muddled through and just got by although I was very thankful for everyone, for the gifts they got for Addi and for us. We are truly blessed.

It's the most Wonderful (BUSY) time of the Year!!

Addi with Chanda Bell, author of Elf on a Shelf, at the book signing.

Santa & Addi 2009, she didn't want to leave him!

Attempts at a Christmas Card for Grammy & Papaw

Trying to be JUST like her cousins

Gingerbread House making '09

What??? How did that Efl-ette get on there?


Ready for Nana's

Being reminded that her "elf" is still watching the 'tude!!

Early Birds....

Its no secret that in our home sleeping past 6:30, if you're lucky is unheard of. In fact, I'm usually greated at 6am with two questions...."What are we going to do pun (fun) today momma" & "May I have some milk please." So after the initial search for Cat, our elf that is still being called Cat, I'm hoping we move past that name soon. Anyway, we bundled up in long johns, golashesh, 'boggans, gloves and puffy coats and we headed out to play. It was so fun playing with Addi in her first snow. Daddy was gone on a 4wheeling tree to Brimstone, AND from what he has said its not any reference to Shrek or the smell as they are looking for the dragon while rescuing the princess. So back to the point....we had a little incident with the snowman. Of course it was the tiniest of snowmen anyway but we were attempting to put him on the back porch in hopes to save him for a few more hours well it didnt make it - well it did make a huge mess as it splattered on the floor. Needless to say we got a little laugh out of it. So we cleaned up our mess, came in to change into warm, dry clothes and began making soup, cornbread & a cake. We even attempted home made icing which we made purple with a little learning involved as well in mixing colors...a little red & blue make purple. Never miss those teaching moments, right?! It ended up looking like a huge donut with all the sprinkles we had on it but it was still yummy!