Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

At our house Christmas Eve is just as important as Christmas day. We start out the evening by getting dressed up in our most beautiful Christmas dresses and going to church. I managed to sneak a couple of pictures in during the excitement, and this was the only good one.

After church (where Mimi and David joined us this year) we head over to IHOP for some yummy pancakes and hot chocolate (or coffee) for dinner. Apparently the rest of the city had the same idea this year...it was crazy! After filling our tummies with lots of yummies we drive around to look at all the wonderful Christmas lights. Highland Park has some pretty amazing displays! You should check it out sometime if you haven't before! The girls ooh'd and ahh'd quite a bit and really enjoyed talking about all the different displays. They discovered some new words at some point over the past few weeks and used them quite a bit during our drive- "magnificent" and "ooh-la-la". They were pretty cute!

After the family time and well after bed time, we finally made it home to get ready for bed and for Santa's stop. It's a tradition for us to give the girls one package to open before bed that night and it always seems to have pajamas inside. I think it's really fun to start the big day off feeling great in new PJ's, so I hope the girls feel the same. They seem to look forward to the pajamas as much as what they will get from Santa!

Addison was starting to get the hang of opening gifts

Emory was so excited to see princesses and sparkles on her nightgown

Trinity was so happy with her new sleepwear!!

All ready for bed!

After getting on their new pajamas they put the reindeer food on the lawn and Santa's treats and letters out so he would enjoy his stay at our house and remember to come back next year. Trinity decided it would be a good idea to leave a healthy treat for him this year since everyone else leaves sugary snacks. He got yogurt, carrots, one piece of yummy fudge and a glass of milk. He said he really, really enjoyed his feast! Good job Trinity!

Dressed up!

I dressed Addison in Trinity's old Santa dress for church on Sunday and tried to get a picture of her along with her Bunbun, also in a Santa dress, here are the results.

Emory's Christmas Party

Emory's Christmas party was the last day of school (an off-day for Emory) so I took her to play with her friends. She has three girls in her class she plays with all the time and she was excited to see them an extra day during the week. She enjoys them so much she made special Christmas necklaces for each of them! Here are the only three pictures from her party that turned out.

Emory got all fixed up for her party- don't you love the pink lipstick?!

Savannah, Emory and Maddie. Emory was too busy talking on the phone to take the picture, but at least she stood still. You can see Emory and Maddie have on the necklaces Emory made.

Addison made it to Emory's party too. I kept finding her stealing food off of different plates.

Trinity's Christmas Party

This year I was fortunate enough to assist with Trinity's Christmas Party at school. I took a few pictures to remember the fun times she has had this year.

As you can see, Addison had the pleasure of joining us and she pretty much stole the show!

Who knew Christmas Sweaters could be so UGLY!

Every year some of our good friends from college organize a party to benefit Toys for Tots and every year the theme is UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATERS. It is so great to see what all people find or make! The best is seeing the guys in their sweaters made for women. Some people spend days making their attire, or adding to something they bought (which Greg and I did last year), while other people are lucky enough to find horribly ugly sweaters at the store (usually thrift stores). I didn't take too many pictures, so I will be borrowing pictures from a few of my friends to add to this post so make sure you check back, but here are some of the pictures I did take.

Greg and I find ourselves noticing Christmas sweaters every time we're out in public during the season and picturing them on our friends. We always feel so guilty! One of my favorite parts of the party is listening to the stories behind the sweaters; so many of the folks get them from their mom's, aunt's or grandmother's closets. I wonder if they realize the sweaters are to be worn in a way of making fun of them...hmmm...

This party is always a great time and we love catching up with our friends we only see a couple of times a year. It is well organized and an awesome contribution to Toys for Tots! There were a lot of smiling faces out there on Christmas morning because of the efforts of this party!

Trinity's great friends

Trinity is blessed this year with a handful of wonderful girl friends in her class. I don't think I've ever met such kind, wonderful, well-mannered and well-behaved kindergarteners in all my life! All the girls in her class are good friends and have play-dates all the time, usually several times a week. A couple of weeks ago she had Jenna Green (there's two Jennas in her class) over and they got kind silly so I had to take some pictures for her to remember these good times.

My poor baby girl!

After several days of a yucky cough Greg and I feared Addison had some serious congestion in her chest so I took her into the doctor today. He said her lungs were clear today, her fever was gone and she seemed to be turning the corner on getting over this round of stuff. He thought is sounded like it had been RSV instead of just a standard issue cold, but there was no way of telling at this point. Unfortunately all of the congestion did leave her with a double ear infection! Poor little girl! She hasn't complained about her ears since last weekend and then it was just a couple of times. We got her antibiotics and she will hopefully be feeling better in a few days. Now if we can just get Greg over all his junk!

I really did it!

I finally did it! I actually got a hair cut! It had been a year since I even had a trim and my hair was a little unruley, so I decided it was time. I'm so tired of throwing it up in a pony tail every day and decided a change would be welcome. Since I was going for a change, I thought why not just chop it off and donate it to one of the many charities out there making wigs for children and gown ups who are not able to afford to buy wigs even though they have lost their hair due to illness or treatment for an illness. I really did it!

This picture was taken after the girls had been playing with it and messing it up, so it doesn't look as good as it did when I left the hair place, but I'd guess it looks much better than it will on the average day. The longest pieces are between thirteen and fourteen inches and that's not straightened! Wow! I feel so much lighter! I think I really like it too, but time will tell.

Emory says she really likes it short, but that's just how she is- sweet! Trinity can't stand it and is extremely mad at me! She grabbed my pony tail and tried to hide it from me so I couldn't donate it. Addison didn't really seem to care one way or the other.

Weekends are wonderful!

We don't ever let a single minute of weekend time go to waste around here! It started out Friday, late morning, when Greg came home from the office sick- ugh! He stayed in bed the rest of the day, but that didn't slow us down at all! Trinity had a friend over to play Friday afternoon and boy were we busy! We did arts and crafts galore! When her friend left we enjoyed a fairly quiet evening at home together, we were all five in bed fast asleep by 8:30!

Saturday we started out the morning with incredible weather- nearly 80 degrees at 8am! The girls and Greg spent the morning raking leaves and jumping in the piles and making leaf angels. This is a tradition we have been looking forward to continuing this year and we finally had enough leaves and dry weather to enjoy it!

Trinity making a leaf angel

Halo trying to join in the fun

Having a great time together!

Addison preparing for her future in botany

Addison trying to escape the madness

part of our precious family

After Greg sneaked a nap in he took Emory to the North Texas Basketball game, leaving Trinity, Addison and me home to enjoy each others company. Trinity discovered her love of jewelery making and spent the entire day making Christmas bracelets and necklaces for various family members and friends.

Emory soliciting the assistance of her Daddy in jewelery making, notice he is already wearing one Trinity made on his wrist. Seriously Greg, what's up with the hat? Can we blame it on you being sick that you're still wearing a hat you got when Tom Landry was coach?

While we were home alone Trinity developed an incredible urge to take care of Addison. She couldn't let her stay in her room by herself to take a nap out of fear she might need something, this resulted in not much napping for Addison, but some great bonding time for she and Trinity. Trinity sure does love her baby sister and Addison sure does adore her big sister! At one point I could hear Trinity calling my name but I couldn't find her. I looked in Addison's room and Addison was standing in her crib, staring at her dirty clothes hamper, trying to reach it, then I realized Trinity was hiding in it!

This is how I found the girls

It really is Trinity in there!

Addison was so excited to play with Trinity! I think Addison looks just like my sister and mom in this picture, like Emory did too!

Saturday evening Greg's mom and his sister and her family came over for dinner and to visit. Our entertainment for the evening (other than playing with the kids) was old videos of Greg's musical and show choir days in middle school! The girls were a little confused on how THAT could be their Daddy!

Sunday Greg was still sick and so was Addison, so Trinity, Emory and I braved the White Rock Marathon traffic to get to church (I was teaching Sunday School) and what a mess that turned out to be! After an hour of trying different routes (it's normally 10 minutes tops) and dodging all of the pedestrians walking down the MIDDLE of the road we finally made it there! I have no earthly idea how we got there, I got lost more than once on different residential streets in the neighborhood, but all that matters is we made it!

Sunday evening was Trinity's annual Christmas Program at school, so we had an early dinner with my parents, then headed to school to enjoy the service! Trinity did a fantastic job! Their class was a part of every single bit of the program. They had worked so hard to memorize all their songs and verses, we were all so proud! Trinity looked beautiful in her new Christmas dress and her hair curled, but the look of pride on her face when she noticed all six of her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousin were there to see her was priceless! She is such an amazing little girl and loved by so many people! I had a mom stop me today in Target and tell me how she and another mom were talking during the program about how beautiful Trinity looked:) Sorry bout all the proud mama stuff, but I just can't help myself!

Emory and Gommy sharing some dinner time sugars

Greg is still sick today and he finally went to the doctor to get some medicine. Addison is feeling better and the other two seem to be just fine. I can't wait for his medicine to kick in and he starts feeling better!

Find your inner grinch

My grinch name is Crabbygrinch Scoundrelfinger what's yours? Find out below:
http://www.yourgeekfriend.com/GrinchName/GrinchName.php

Reading isn't all it's cracked up to be

This afternoon I was sitting on the sofa putting Trinity's hair in rollers to get her ready for her Christmas program this evening and she decided to help me. She wanted to hold the spray I was putting in her hair between rollers. In her boredom (or maybe new found talent) she decided to read the bottle of spray. So I start hearing, "Ssss...eeee....x x x....yyy" and I immediately turned to Greg, both of us were horrified by what she's just read! We were able to start talking about something and distract her from her new reading word in time to avoid the conversation about and what it means.

Whew! That was a close call! I didn't realize we would need to censor our hair products when Trinity started reading!

Christmas Tree Time

We finally got the tree inside and ready to decorate! I can't tell you how much time I spent on the lights, I think there's 1,700 little twinkle lights all aglow on that beauty! Tuesday evening we reserved for family tree decorating, and we all had a great time! The girls loved hearing the stories about each ornament and the ones that didn't have stories they weren't interested in hanging- pretty cute! Trinity graciously let Emory put the angel on top since she is the one who had the honors last year. It looks beautiful! Addison entertained herself quite well during the decorating, and as soon as it was done she was THRILLED with the result! She was kicking and screaming, giggling and smiling- just staring at the tree! What a great time of the year!

Trinity hanging the first ornament, a candy cane she made at school when she was 3.

Emory hanging an ornament of Greg's from when he was little (you'll notice she's hanging it on the same branch as another ornament- spacing them out is a concept we're working on)

Addison putting an angel on the tree

Emory putting the angel on top!

I am so grateful to have such wonderful memories with such incredible little girls (and husband too)! I am truly blessed!

Trinity's journal

Trinity has just made the first entry in her journal, "Billy is so cute I want to marry him" and drew a picture of him. UGH! I'm in way over my head! I open to any suggestions out there on how to convince her that boys are YUCKY!

Trains, trains, trains!!!!!

Monday after picking Trinity up from school we went to Northpark to enjoy the holiday festivities. Greg joined us after he was finished with work and we had a wonderful evening as a family! We visited the Trains and listened to Santa's story time. If you haven't taken the opportunity to visit the trains at Northpark, I highly recommend it! The scenery they set up for these things is wonderful! Trinity and Emory kept seeing things they would yell and scream about and they learned a lot about several other US cities as well (Trinity learned a Subway was more than just a yummy sandwich shop) and Addison got a real kick out of watching the trains go round the room and all the lights go on and off and all the scenery move!

Trinity and Emory were so excited to see the trains moving they ran inside!

Addison trying to figure out what's going on

Addison as a train conductor

Greg the conductor

Spinning Around Ball!!!!!

Trinity the conductor

Santa at Northpark is AMAZING! He told the best story and all the kids participated in it! A truly magical experience!

Cookies, Crafts and Parades with Nana and Pops

Saturday was our second annual Cookies and Crafts at Nana and Pop's house and what a great time it was! We started out the day by all going to the Adolphus Children's Parade downtown. We had never gone before and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the floats! The girls loves every part of it! Addison was really excited to see all of the fun balloons and people dressed up, she loved the music too. She got so excited she wore herself out and fell asleep less than half way through!

After the parade we headed over to Nana and Pops' house to make Christmas cookies and Gingerbread houses. The girls had a great time participating in the baking, designing and decorating- it was right up their alley!

Ali and Aiden making cookies

Aiden decorating cookies

Sheridan, Trinity and Emory making cookies

Clark enjoying the gingerbread house he was supposed to be building

Trinity and Nana decorating her gingerbread house

Aiden, Clark, Trinity and Emory with their masterpieces!

Aiden enjoying the taste of his masterpiece

After a day of baking we had to play a little. Oh, I think I forgot to mention all the boys (Greg, his dad and brother) left to go shooting while the girls were taking care of and entertaining the kids. One of these days we're going to get the day off while they entertain!

Nana teaching Aiden to play the flute

Nana teaching Trinity to play the flute

Our nephew, Clark. He is always smiling like this! Aren't his dimples precious?!

Pops with Aiden's light saber. He was having way too much fun!

Nana and most of her kiddos

Here is Nana playing her flute with Trinity and Aiden sing. Couldn't not include this one