Until Next Year

I'm sad to say the Christmas season is over with all of the decorations and ornaments packed away, all the gifts have been wrapped and unwrapped, no more Christmas songs on the radio.  However, we do still have the nearly dead evergreen in our living room and 3/4 of it's needles on the floor, but we will say goodbye to that tomorrow. 

We had a great Christmas!  Lots of fun and even some surprises.  I had big plans at the beginning of the month to make some new traditions, give plenty of service to others and focus my little one on the real reason we celebrate Christmas...

most of which I did accomplish but not to the degree or in the grand ways

I had originally imagined. 

Sometimes I need to remind myself

we are all doing the best we can which includes myself.

Let's let the pictures tell the story: 

 Sorry about these first few which are copies...

cousins!!

the whole gang

sisters

 the 3 of us

Daddy and Adelyn at the Wise Avenue Train Garden

2nd Annual "Christmas Eve" at my house and wear your ugly

Christmas sweater or shirt... or elf outfit if your name is Alyssa

who's idea was this?

Christmas morning opening her stocking stuffers

Eating cotton candy from Santa in her Belle dress-up outfit

Jesus' Birthday Cake

Ok, this one probably needs a little explanation...

it is a tradition my Grandmother passed down.  We have a cake with a little nativity scene on the top, light some candles and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus on Christmas Eve.  That still probably doesn't clear things up but what can I say? It's tradition.

Train Set... thanks Nana and Grandudes!

The real reaction

Christmas dress

looks pretty done with pictures

Adelyn was so excited to see Santa!  She ran up to him and sat right on his lap which really surprised me since she'd been saying for days she didn't want to sit on his lap.  She told him she wanted a Barbie and a train set for Christmas.  Then, as we were leaving she told Santa she really wanted a new winter coat and hat for Christmas... really?!  Way to sound like a poor orphan girl and make your parents sound terrible.  I was sure to say loud enough for everyone to hear, "Come on Addie, let's get your NEW coat and hat on."  Where does she come up with this stuff??

We hope you had a great Christmas

spending time with family and loved ones

and wish you a blessed and joyous New Year!

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I love this time of year- the days and weeks from Thanksgiving to New Year's.  I love that there is no other time during the year that makes you feel like Christmastime does.  I love our family traditions and the new traditions our little family has started.  I love watching Adelyn light up everytime we pass a house decorated with lights and shout, "Christmas!".  I love that she helped decorate the tree this year, and most of all that she is old enough to start learning why we really celebrate Christmas.

I decorated earlier than I usually do this year but it still didn't feel like Christmas until after Thanksgiving. 

We tried a new tree farm this year, picked out our tree, Kyle cut it down and we drove it home. 

Helping Daddy navigate

Of course Miss Independent had to push the wagon too

Yes, we really do cut it down  :)



Adelyn loved putting the gingerbread house together.  It's no surprise that some candies went missing during the construction.  I was surprised at how into the decorating she was... Why am I shocked?  She's 2 and there is candy involved!

I can't wait for all of the other fun things we have planned in the upcoming weeks!  And here's hoping I won't be a blog slacker and will post about it in a timely fashion.

Merry Christmas!

Back to reality

At the end of August we went to Myrtle Beach, SC for a week long vacation.  I'm not sure why it has taken me this long to post about it... maybe it has something to do with the fact that it was great and it always stinks coming back from vacation.  It was pretty great to spend the whole week together, lounging by the pool, playing with Adelyn at the beach, taking a morning walk on the beach, eating some fabulous seafood and treats... ok, I'm sure you get the point. 

Unfortunately we had to travel home a day early because of that crazy Irene but we didn't want to get stuck there and didn't want to be driving through it on the way home. 

We left on Saturday morning to drive down at about 3am to beat any traffic and we made great time!  I was pretty anxious about the 8+ hour car ride with a 2 year old but we had plenty of movies and toys and Adelyn even slept part of the way.  I stress part of the way since I thought she would sleep right through getting her up and putting her in the car at 3am but she stayed awake for a few hours.  Ms. Inquisitive had a lot of questions early on and I'm pretty sure before we had even left our street she was asking how far it was and if we were there yet. 

I didn't get as many pictures as I would've liked

but there are still a few that captured the fun we had!

Kyle showing Adelyn the big ocean

Lifeguard girl!

This was the biggest snowball ever and only $1! 

At this point she had already eaten about 2/3 of it, hence that face she is making.

1-2-3 JUMP!

Beach Baby

Worn out baby, and yes that is Cheetos stain on her face

We took one family picture and it turned out great!

Funny, right?! 

Windy + sun quickly setting + active 2 year old = 1 amusing photo shoot!

This is what it was really like!

Picture Post...

...because that's all I can do this week with preparing and packing for... VACATION!  Yay!

Adelyn's 2nd Birthday Party

 This is my favorite. 

Taking a rest to watch her new Tangled movie after friends and family had gone home.