Christmas round one...

We celebrated Christmas a little early at the lake.  It is always fun.  Lots of people and lots of cousins all together for a before Christmas celebration.  It is like a pre-party!  Gearing up for the big day.

 There was sledding at the lake...sledding with and without snow gear.  This was without.

And from the porch...

Sledding with snow gear came later.  And boy did we get wet but it was so fun.

 

Next, celebration was Christmas at Grandpa and Catherine's....Oliver is always there but sleeping most of the time so here is a picture to prove he is around.

 Presents all around...

Smiles for a good night with family.

 And mommy's very favorite photo from all of Christmas...taken on her iphone but still captured three perfect smiles.

Celebrating the season.

We have a lot to catch up on...always seems like we do.  Towards the end of the holiday season things get busy and I forget to keep my loyal followers up to speed.
Here are our letters to Santa...and this year he even had time to write back.  Oliver even got a letter.

 Then Hady had a Christmas program for preschool.  She got a brand new sparkly dress.  Of course, she had to have some pink on too.  I think she would wear this dress every day if she could.

 She knew the arm motions and everything.

 Brought back memories of my first music program at Faith....ahhhh.

 And a few of her admirers.

 Later that week, we were off for our adventure on the Polar Express.  We boarded the train in French Lick on a cold, snowy night.  I got to leave school early so we could make the train departure on time.  Of course, we had to wear pjs...new Christmas pjs that mommy picked out special.  Oliver even had a pair with Santa.

 All aboard.

 The elves were Hady's favorite.  The dancing kept her busy on our long trek north.

 Then, Santa appeared.

 Ho. Ho. Ho.

 Every train has a conductor.

 And at least three elves.

 After going to the North Pole, we went back to our room and got room service.  Only thing missing was a root beer.  The next morning, we got to walk around the hotel and saw the biggest tree ever!

 A gingerbread house.

 And the reindeer stable.

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We are definitely gearing up for Christmas!

one month of goodness.

 

Little Oliver has been a part of our family for one month and it has been great.  Clearly, he hasn't figured out mommy loves to take pictures and lots of them.



first snow of the season.

There is pretty much nothing like the first big snow of the season.  And this one was big...about 12 inches fell and I had my first snow day from kindergarten.  We definitely took advantage of it.  Stayed in pjs most of the morning, had a hot breakfast, went out to play in the snow more times than I can think to count, drank hot chocolate, made a craft and just relaxed.  We haven't went to a big sledding hill yet but we sledded down the side of our house and off the dirt pile that should be our driveway (don't ask!)

Hooray for snow days!

I will hate to admit it when I am 13 but I love having Hady around...she is really my best bud.

 Just laying around.

This was before she chipped her front tooth a little more on the sled.  Who doesn't love a crooked smile?

Fun!  plain and simple.



                                      

See...a pretty good sled run.

Thanksgiving in Georgia

We just got back from my favorite place on Earth...it has to be!  We went to visit daddy's aunt and uncle's house for Thanksgiving in Georgia.  They had dogs, a pond, quail hunting, horses, deer antlers, new toys, and lots and lots of family.  It was the best trip I have ever been on and I have been to Disney World!  I want to go back, I want to go back, I want to go back!
Daddy and I went on four hunts while we were there.  We only missed one and if it were up to me I would have went on that one too.  I got to ride horses.  Big horses all by myself.  I caught huge fish first thing in the morning.  There were deer antlers on the table that I got to bring home because I am the oldest of the little cousins!  I ate quail and I liked it.  There was a four wheeler to ride.  I could go on and on.  The pictures do not tell the whole story...not even close.  Well probably because daddy didn't take any pictures with this camera and mommy (the picture taker) stayed home with Oliver and Hady.

First day...I didn't even know how awesome it would be.

 The horses...

 Told you they were huge...and I even got to ride one on the hunt.

 The buggy and a few dogs.

 Hady loved the four wheeler most of all.  She rode until her cheeks were wind burned.

 I got to be in charge of button on the shooting range.  It is kind of hard to hear "pull" with ear plugs in.

 Oh and there was plenty of cuteness.  Brittany puppies!

 Mommy thought Hady was full of cuteness in her hat.

 And what Thanksgiving is all about...FAMILY.

Oliver's first Thanksgiving.

 And not a bad ride home...I even got to sit in the pilot's seat.

 Thank you Jenny and Tom for having the coolest place on Earth for me to visit.