December 2011

I'm getting closer and closer to "catching up" on blog posts. Pretend like it's December 31st instead of January 31st.  Just like you we had a very busy December. Here are a few of our highlights...

Matt and Adelyn took a trip to Kentucky to visit Mimi and Grandpa at the beginning of the month. They were suppossed to go in August but then you know who showed up ahead of schedule. They had an early flight and I think we took these pictures at 5:45 am. Adelyn was too excited to be tired!

They had a great time making cookies, visiting with Aunt Janie and Uncle Jewel, seeing the train exhibit at the children's museum and more. Adelyn did really well on both flights and overall it was a huge success!

While Matt and Adelyn were in Kentucky, Caiden and I were at home getting ready for the Christmas party I agreed to host. Our Life Group has a progressive dinner and hay ride each year and the dinner portion was at our house. It was a lot of work but I really enjoyed using my Christmas china and other pieces that I was given when we got married. What I didn't have I was able to borrow from my mom. After giving 3 weddings she has quite the treasure trove of table decor!

I was so happy with how pretty and festive the blue and white china looked with a red plaid ribbon. I had planned to use the pinecones as place card holders but ran out of time and never got the place cards made.

we also enjoyed...

The Preschool Christmas Program

Adelyn's preschool put on a Christmas program and it was kind of hilarious. We were surprised that Adelyn had a little stage fright in the beginning.

But once they started singing about Santa Claus she got into it!

Caiden was very impressed by her performance!

The Preschool had a not very authentic looking Santa come to visit the kids. Adelyn thought he was great and I did too! Saved me a trip to the mall.

This is where she's telling him that she wants a Princess trampoline for Christmas.

Unfortunately Santa did not hear of her request until after all the Princess trampolines were sold out. He was able to find a Princess Scooter though and that was pretty good too!

and finally...

The Christmas Card

You may remember my post from last year about how Christmas cards and I don't really get along. This year I didn't even start attempting to put something together until about 2.5 weeks before Christmas. Amazingly enough I mailed them out on the 21st. One whole day earlier than last year. (If I keep this up it'll only take 20 more years before I can say I mail my Christmas cards on December 1st.) I'm not holding my breath...

I told Matt - all we need is one good picture of each of them. If we can get a good one of them together, it'll be a Christmas miracle! One child was increasingly easier to work with than the other. Can you guess who?

Both of them together was a little tricky...

But in the end I was a happy mommy. One great individual picture of each kiddo...

And a good one of both of them together.

I tried to save a copy of the actual card so that I could post it, but was not successful. I was really happy with how it turned out though!

Christmas Cards...I'll see you next year.

The Pizza & Princess Party

I'm still trying to play catch up with this whole blog thing and a Pizza & Princess Party is definitely something I don't want to miss! Adelyn was beyond excited about turning 3 years old. She started talking about her "October 5th Birfday" in April after seeing the most beautiful, multi-tiered Princess Birthday cake in the Publix Bakery. I was really tempted to have a friends party for her this year but in the end my better judgement won out and we went with a small family party and served pizza with our princess cake. She had a blast and was thrilled so everyone was happy!

The Cinderella Cake that Adelyn picked out

Singing Happy Birthday

The look on her face said it all - it was everything she had imagined and more!

"Don't worry Adelyn, I'll handle all the birthday text messages!"

This was the best and closest thing we got to a family picture. Sleepy head Caiden was taking a nap and missed out on all the fun (just like mommy hoped). I'm sure things will be different next year. :)

If I could only use one word to describe Adelyn right now it would be enthusiastic. She loves her life and loves to tell anyone who will listen all about it. I continue to be amazed by how smart she is, her eye for detail and ability to communicate. She uses words like similar, reluctant, necessarily, nocturnal, disappointed and lots more I can't think of right now. She knows that both the Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower are landmarks and located in New York and Paris. When she grows up she wants to be a mommy and baby nurse. Possibly a decorator as well. She wants to go to California so that she can be in an earthquake and after seeing a picture of a high ropes course at Chick-fil-A thinks she'd like to do that too when she's bigger. Her favorite thing to watch right now is Cat in the Hat. She loves to do crafts and is surprisingly good at puzzles. She's certainly not perfect though. She can be pretty emotional. I'm actually really concerned that she's going to be a hoarder. She cried today over a broken brush I threw away. She also still uses a paci at nap and bedtime. I'm not sure when we'll get rid of that. I value my sleep too much right now to make anymore drastic changes.

"Happy 3rd Birthday" Adelyn!