Christmas Eve

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas Eve celebration with Bill's side of the family here at our house for dinner.   After the family left, we got the girls ready for bed and read our traditional, Twas the Night Before Christmas and then our Bible Story downstairs by the Christmas tree.  We snapped this picture of the girls before taking them up and tucking them in.

Here are the girls nestled, all snug in their beds.  Both girls went right off to sleep.  Here's hoping Allison can sleep through the night without coughing.

Wow!  We must have been on Santa's early route, because has stopped by our house and dropped off a few things for the girls!

       

Lauren's presents from Santa

Allison's presents from Santa

Lauren's Basketball Debut

Lauren's Upward basketball league had a Jamboree today, so we got to see Lauren play in her first game.  As predicted, it was so much fun to watch.  Lauren was very focused and really did what her coaches asked her to do.  I was so proud of her.  She had quite a little cheering section with my parents and brother and Bill's step-dad.  We are looking forward to more games after the first of the year. 

Lauren inbounding the ball



Lauren waiting for her turn to play




Lauren playing defence, she's in the black jersey with her hands up!



A proud Mommy with her little basketball player



A Special Gift

During this special time of giving, Lauren decided it was time for her to give the gift of her hair to Locks of Love.  Yesterday we went to get the girls haircuts.  I usually take them to Great Clips just to get their hair trimmed (because I usually can get it trimmed without spending a fortune) so I headed there after school not thinking I might want to get someone else to cut Lauren's hair when she gets a big cut like that.  But Lauren was sure she wanted to get it cut and we were there, so she did it.  I did have my camera but didn't get a lot of good shots. 

Lauren's hair before her haircut

When the stylist asked if Allison wanted to cut her sister's hair, I gasped and said no.  I told the gentleman that Allison had cut her own hair when she was 3 and that I didn't want her getting any ideas.  But Allison loved getting to snip her sister's hair.  I also cut one of the ponytails!



A shot from the back of her new 'do!  She loves it!




A profile of her new 'do. 

I did not get any clear pictures of her from the front.  I'm still getting used to our new camera.  I'll try to post another picture soon.

I'm very proud of Lauren for doing this.  When I first mentioned it to her over a year ago, she was excited to do it.  She told the stylist she wanted to cut her hair to give it to someone who didn't have hair.  It was a wonderful experience that made me a very proud mommy!  I love you Lauren!

Wonderful, Wild and Wacky Weekend

This first weekend in December has been exactly like the title of this post!  It started out Friday morning with a phone call on my cell phone from my dearest husband waking me (and Allison) up at 6:24 a.m..  He was calling to inform me that my debit card had been put on hold because of suspicious activity on it.  After an entire morning on the phone with the my bank and the debit card people we closed out my debit card with only three purchases placed on it at a Kroger store in Atlanta totaling just over $250.  The crazy thing about it is, I did not lose my debit card.  I guess someone got my number and actually made a card with my number on it.  I spoke with the manager at the Kroger in Atlanta telling him what happened and he said that someone had to have had a card in order to make a purchase at the store.  That's kind of scary to me that someone actually made a card with my number.  The store manager there suggested that I fill out a police report, but the people at my bank said it wasn't necessary to fill out a report if they didn't actually have my card.  I'm a little confused about that.  I did speak to KPD and they said to come fill out a report.  I'll have to double check on that again tomorrow.  I am just praying that I haven't had any other information compromised like that number.

My Friday certainly improved when we went to Dollywood.  My parents were supposed to go with us, but Mom was sick, so it was just the four of us and my brother.  It was an absolute perfect day for Dollywood.  We picked Lauren up from school a little early, ate a late lunch at the Olive Garden before going to the park.  The girls enjoyed riding some rides, we saw the show Christmas on Ice and watched the light show over the lake.  The temperature dropped very quickly once the sun went down, but we were bundled up and enjoyed some steaming hot chocolate.  It was great fun.

Allison, Lauren and Uncle Bill on the swings (you can't see Daddy sitting beside Allison)

Lauren & Allison kissing a reindeer

Lauren & Allison posing 

Lauren & Allison in front of the lake

This picture was so cute of Allison, I couldn't resist posting it even though Lauren's eyes are closed

Daddy, Lauren, Uncle Bill and Allison during the light show

Lauren & Allison and their favorite Uncle Bill

After a late night getting to bed, I hoped my little angels might sleep in on Saturday, but Allison was up right before 7:00 and Lauren slept until about 7:25.  Bill and the girls had to take his Mom and Step-dad to the airport and I got to go shopping.  It was a wonderfully successful shopping excursion.  Brother came over for his usual Saturday visit and we ordered pizza for supper and then went to Froyoz for dessert.  It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.  I even got all my Christmas presents wrapped before bed.

Today was our Christmas brunch at church with the Christ-myth Busters play.  I also had to sing at church this morning so it was crazy trying to get the girls and I bathed, cook my Cream Cheese Danish to take for the brunch and get to church on time!   We were only about 5 minutes late getting there!  The play was terrific and despite the North Pole like temperature in the Fellowship hall, we had a wonderful time!

Christ-myth Busters Cast

Lauren & Mackenzie

Santa visited the brunch

Lauren & Allison in front of our fireplace

Wow, that has made me tired, just typing all this stuff that has happened in the last 72 hours.  Now it's time to get in bed and get ready for another week!  I love the holiday season!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Lauren brought this letter home from school on Tuesday!  What a sweet letter from a sweet angel.  I am truly thankful for my husband who treats me so wonderfully and two beautiful daughters who bring me so much joy and happiness.   I'm thankful for being able to spend time with Bill's family at lunch today and then heading on up to spend time with my family.  Thanksgiving couldn't be any more perfect!

The Week's Events

We had our Thanksgiving lunch at WEK on Thursday.  Bill was able to come and eat with Allison.  She was so excited to have Daddy with her at school.  Her class sang a couple of songs in the church auditorium before the lunch.  Bill got a couple of pictures of her standing up front ready to sing.

Allison's preschool class

4 year old Native Americans

Our little Native American smiling at her Daddy

Allison

My 3 year old kiddos

This was Lauren's story she wrote in school this week. 

I love reading her writing. She has many things she wants to be when she grows up, a doctor (Pediatrician), an Artist, a wife, a Mommy, a Teacher.....the list can be longer on any given day.

This week I got a little note in Lauren's Kid Book (a notebook that comes home daily with homework, finished work, class schedule, behavior chart, etc.) yesterday.  Lauren had a green day all day, as she calls it, but her teacher still wrote a note.  It said she was having trouble with Lauren telling the other kids what to do.  Well, we who know and love Lauren, know how she likes to tell her sister, and a few others what to do.  (Must be that first child syndrome, something I'm not personally familiar with.)  I had a talk with Lauren about how she feels when friends (or her sister) try to tell he what to do.  I told her she needed to make sure she was doing what she was supposed to do and not worry about what anyone else was doing.  

I helped out in Lauren's classroom today with a Thanksgiving craft, so I told her teacher that we had talked about the problem at home.  Her teacher teacher told me that when she was talking to Lauren about telling others what to do, Lauren told her, "Well, I'm going to be a teacher, you know...."  Guess she thinks she needs to get started early preparing to be a teacher! 

Random Stuff

  This week has been Spirit Week for Lauren at her school.  Each day has been a different dress-up day.  I remember I never really enjoyed those times when I was in school.  Lauren, however, LOVES the idea!  Wish I had taken pictures of her all week.  Guess I was a little slow to get on the band wagon with it.  Monday, they wore their school T-shirts, Tuesday was dress in their favorite sport attire.  (That goes along with their AR theme this year, which is Sports).  Wednesday was Mismatch day.  Today was Pajama day and Crazy Hair day.  Here's a picture of Lauren in her jammies and her crazy hair.  She wanted me to put lots of ponytails with some braided and some not braided.


Spirit Week---Pajama Day/Crazy Hair Day



Lauren's Crazy Hair



Driving to School....my how big my girl looks!

Allison is really enjoying school!  She continually amazes us with her vocabulary, writing and language skills.  Her favorite thing to say these days is, "Oh, my!"  She loves cooking with me and is a great helper in the kitchen putting away dishes and cleaning the table after meals.  She writes and colors so well.  She is even sounding out words occasionally trying to read.  I found her in Lauren's room one day "reading" the book, Chicken of the Family.  I love hearing her version a story.  She is also interested in the computer.  The other day she asked me to let her type her name on the computer.  Here's a picture of her hunting and pecking!


Allison typing on the computer



Checking her spelling!



We signed Lauren up for Upward Basketball.  Tonight was her first practice.  She was so excited.  We can't wait to watch her play.  Games don't start until January, so we have a while to wait.  She got her uniform at tonight's practice.  I think she would have slept in it if we would have let her.



Lauren, our little basketball girl.....watch out Lady Vols, she's getting ready early!

So many wonderful memories to enjoy with these little ladies.  Love you sweet girls! 

Halloween Fun

Another year of multiple Halloween celebrations is over and now we can move on and begin thinking about Thanksgiving.  I certainly wish the retail world would allow us to enjoy one holiday at a time.  I HATE seeing Christmas decorations up before Halloween is even over.  We haven't ever decorated our home for Halloween or Thanksgiving, but I must admit that there are more and more decorations available that make me reconsider my feelings on decorating.  

Our first celebration was Lauren's class party.  I somehow managed to agree to be room mom for her class and plan this fall party.  I think it turned out pretty well and the kids seemed to enjoy the festivities.  I made these "Spooky Spiders" with the kids.  My wonderfully, sweet husband spray painted all the mini-pumpkins ahead of time.  This was the one I made to show the kids.  They turned out pretty cute...well as cute as a spider can be.                                     

The next celebration was our neighborhood Halloween party at Cole's house.  That was Saturday evening and we had a fun time with our neighbors.  This next picture is of the neighborhood kids together.



Allison, Lauren, Carissa, ?? Jaycee, ?? Kenleigh, Alexa, Reagan, Chloe

Then it was on to Trunk-or-Treating at our church.  I was so happy that they moved the date for that to Sunday evening rather than Wednesday.  We had a devotional on the lawn and then games and crafts in the parking lot, followed by Trunk-or-Treating.  The best part was the fact that it was over at 6:00 instead of 8:30 or 9:00. 

April, David, Mackenzie, Josiah and Lauren

Allison, Mike, Julia, Lauren and Mackenzie

Mackenzie and Lauren.....sweet friends, sweet girls!

Allison, Lauren, Mackenzie and Josiah


Finally, it was Halloween night.  Our sweet little Allison informed me on Saturday that Mackenzie and Josiah were going Trick-or-Treating with us.  Well, in my mind I had hoped they would join us, but I had failed to ask them to come over.  Luckily, the kids, I think all four of them decided they wanted to Trick-or-Treat together.  I'm glad they want to be together, because I sure enjoy the grown up time together with our sweet friends.  It was a most perfect evening for strolling through the neighborhood.  The kids got so much candy they had me carrying their pumpkins at the end of the time and they would just go up to the house and get the treat in their hands.  I don't know what we are going to do with ALL that candy.

Chloe (our neighbor) and Allison before going Trick-or-Treating

Allison and Lauren

The Watsons arrive

Mackenzie, Lauren and Allison

The neighborhood crew, Josiah, Allison, Mackenzie, Lauren, Carissa, Jackston, Jaycee, Cole, Chloe and Matthew

Trick-or-Treating

Allison, Lauren and Mackenzie