Christmas Eve Tradtions

We actually cheated a little this year and celebrated Christmas Eve a little early at our house. We wanted to be able to spend "Christmas Day" playing and being together, instead of traveling to different Christmases. We knew Addison would want to enjoy her toys this year!
As posted earlier, Addison has been terrified of Santa for a couple of years now. She came with me to work on Wednesday, and this sweet Santa was able to coax her into his lap! She stood next to him at first and said "I want a Barbie house please!"

When we got home, we started our Christmas Eve Eve tradition. Grant, Addison and I exchanged presents. One of Addison's favorite presents was a doctor kit. She remembered that she had dress up scrubs and went and put them on to finish opening gifts! It was pretty cute!

She loved her FurReal kitty. She named it Sarah!

I got a deviled egg server I had on my wish list. I was impressed that Grant got this, and then he brought in my other gift- UGGs! I didn't get a picture, but I was thrilled. We were suppose to do only little gifts because we bought a new KING bed, but I gladly accepted them and they are awesome!

I got Grant a shirt, and felt guilty after opening my UGGs. I then remembered he had just bought himself a PS3 so I didn't feel as bad!

Playing doctor.


After gifts, we started getting ready for Santa!

We baked cookies, put on Christmas gown, and put Santa's cookies by the fireplace!

We all sat in front of the fireplace and read "The Night Before Christmas" and "The Christmas Story" We want to have fun with Santa, but also remember the real meaning of Christmas!

Since we don't have a chimney, we put a key out so Santa could come in. (Thanks Aunt Anna and Kane for this a couple of years ago!)

Then off to bed!

Gifts from Santa!

We spent the real Christmas Eve day playing! Christmas Eve night, Gigi and Michael came over and we had a nice dinner of Lasagna, Salad, and Bruschetta.

Love this picture! She put on her new Snow boots with her dress and wanted to dance with her daddy!

Ornament Party!

I had an ornament party on Thursday night. There was a good turn out and I think everyone had a great time! I love hosting parties!

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The food table..

The punch! I put this beverage dispenser on my Christmas wish list on Target.com. Someone had purchased it, but I didn't know who. I really wanted it for the party, and was so excited when I got this from Gigi at our Christmas weekend at the Golden's! It has a separate piece at the bottom for decorations or ice. I put ornaments in it! It turned out really neat!

A jolly time at Jolly Time!

On Thursday, Addison had her Preschool Christmas Party. I switched my days this week so I could go and help at the party and then Addison could come home with me afterwards. I had an ornament party at the house that night so it helped not working to prepare for it, too!

They had several activity stations set up at the party. They made reindeer food...


Decorated sugar cookies...



And made reindeer antlers!

Then they ate! You should have seen the spread that was set up for 3 year olds! We had fun! Addison loves going to Jolly Time!

Christmas with the Goldens

Last weekend we spent the weekend with Grant's parents in DeQueen to celebrate Christmas with them. We had a great weekend!

Gigi took some pictures of us and I uploaded them straight to my Wal Mart account. I tried to copy and paste them on here, but they turned out small!

Addison got a Beast doll that turns into the prince!

Shug remembers reading "Where the Wild Things Are" as a child. Gi and Michael had bought the book for Luke, but I found it on DVD so that was part of Michael's present from us!

Gaywyn got Grant's cars out of the attic and Grant and Addison enjoyed playing with them!

Saturday night was Gary's bank work party so Shug cooked dinner for Gigi and himself, Grant, Addison and me. It was wonderful as always. Grant helped of course!

Addison loved her new light up paint set!

Gi and Michael brought their Wii and everyone enjoyed playing!

One of those days...

Today was just one of those days where I seriously DID NOT want to get out of bed. I was up off and on all night coughing. Not a deep, productive cough, just one of those annoying coughs that is a result of the little itchy feeling in the back of your throat. I tend to get a sinus infection every year around this time, and I think it is coming on- UGH! I drank (ate?) honey by the tablespoons to help throughout the night, but I'm not sure it worked. I had to rush to get Addison and me out the door this morning and we ate breakfast in the car. I then got more information about a doctor who did not want to sign a prescription for therapy for a child I had tested because he did not agree with some of the issues. Unfortunately, this kind of stuff really upsets me! I want to justify my recommendations while screaming in his face- no just kidding, just would like to explain myself! But anyway, I then had a couple of rough sessions, ending with a normally compliant child that yelled at me to be quiet and then threatened me if I said "one more ting!" Yes I mean ting- remember I am a speech therapist! When I was done seeing children, and was working on the tons of paper work I have, I called Grant and he put me on speaker phone. He was sitting on the tub while Addison pooped- isn't he a good daddy??!! I told them we had 2 choices for dinner. Spaghetti or Cracker Barrel. They chose Cracker Barrel so when I got home we went and ate. We had a good dinner then decided to go get hot chocolate and look at lights. What a way to end the day! No matter how frustrating moments can be, making memories with my family makes me so happy! So today was one of those days- I made some memories with my two favorite people! It was a great day!

Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning we got ready to go to Breakfast with Santa at Arkansas Children's Hospital. We heard that this is the only day that there are more healthy children than sick children on the campus. I took Addison's picture before we left with her tree. We talked about Santa and she said she would take one picture with Santa. We tried to be very upbeat about Santa...how nice he is...only takes 5 seconds for the picture...and on and on. Well, it didn't work. We got up there for our turn and the tears came on. The picture is pitiful!


One of the volunteers offered to take a family picture since Addison freaked out with Santa!



They had several activities for the children to do besides seeing Santa. They had a long craft table set up where Addison made a Santa face...




A place where you could call an elf at the North Pole...





Write a letter to Santa...




And put the finished letter in a mail box. Here is Addison's finished letter that she "wrote." We are working on her name- you can see it at the bottom! I dot it and she traces it. She is getting really good at this!

The firemen cooked a large breakfast that was pretty good. The whole event was neat, and we will definitely go back next year. 100% of the proceeds went to benefit ACH. It is amazing the amount of volunteers that were there!

And Baby Makes THREE...

GIRLS for our house!!! We had an ultrasound appointment on Thursday, and got to see our baby. Everything looked great, and we found out she was going to be a girl! We are thrilled. If you had asked me, I probably would have said it was going to be a boy. I think everyone else (besides Addison) thought it was a boy, therefore convincing me. But, every since we had Addison, I could just see us with two girls. This may explain the next 2 pictures...

I bought this tutu a couple of months ago, because it was just too cute!



When we were in Branson this summer, I bought this sweet little outfit to match Addison's that I bought for next summer! I thought with both I could give as gifts if I needed to, but I am so glad we will get to use them!!



Here is Addison looking at pictures of her soon to be baby sister!


Here is Addison showing Granny Sue the ultrasound picture and telling her that the baby will be named after her...Ansley Sue!

Thursday, Addison and I went to Murfreesboro for my Aunt Susan's 50th birthday. Happy Birthday Aunt Susan! Addison also told me we were naming Ansley Sue after Aunt Susan! That is fine by me! We love you!

Christmas Parade

The Christmas parade was held this week. We went and ate pizza, then went to the church to watch the parade. We bundled up, but still we froze!

I tried to take a picture of us, but Addison looks like an Eskimo!


Grant took this one! We were sitting on a blanket, trying to stay warm, wishing we had another blanket to cover us!


The court house was lit up before the parade began


Addison loved the little ponies!

Finally, Santa Clause!