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!