Alabama-like Christmas or The Griswolds?

Not the state, the band.

We had our first family Christmas get-together of the year yesterday at my parents’ house. There is just something about a log home with a big fire burning in the fireplace at Christmas time that makes me feel all warm & fuzzy inside. Alabama’s Christmas album makes the perfect sound track to Christmas at their house. All that’s missing is the mountains covered in snow! I love being home for Christmas. Even though I love the house that TAG & I have made a home, there is just nothing like Christmas at the house you grew up in. I especially love seeing my babies enjoy it so much.



They always have the most beautiful, as close-to-perfect as a real tree can get. I know my dad wouldn’t have it any other way after having the Christmas Tree Farm for so long. However…it’s just not Christmas at my parents’ house until at least one tree falls over! I seriously can’t even remember a year that one hasn’t! We are worse than the Griswolds & I love it!

 

This year it wasn’t the main tree that fell, but the fun “little” project that I put up for them. My mom wanted an old fashioned Charlie Brown Cedar tree for their sunroom. So my dad went out back & cut one down. First of all, it was huge-like 9 or 10 feet huge. It took forever just to get that sucker in the tree stand & once we did, it was totally leaning. My dad was too tired to deal with it anymore & TAG was at work, so mom & I decided we could just prop it up against the wall for support. Bad idea. I got halfway through putting the lights on & it fell. On me. The is the 2nd year the tree has fallen on me. Grrreeeaat.

Anyway we decided the theme for this tree was going to be “Rustic Retro” & we put all of my dad’s fishing ornaments on it. Keeping with the “retro” theme I wanted to put some big old timey lights on it. It just so happened that my mom dug out a strand that was at least 25 years old! Half the bulbs were missing, but we figured what could just get some replacements at WalMart. I plugged them in to see if they would work & Riley pointed at them saying “oooh colors!” As soon as he started to touch a bulb, it blew. And it blew big time. It looked like a lightning bolt hit & sparks flew up 2 feet high. I thought my child had been electrocuted! I screamed & jumped for him but once we got over the shock of what happened, Riley said “I make fire!!” He thought it was hilarious. So. We threw those lights in the trash & got some new ones at WalMart.

I really love how the tree turned out after all of the mishaps! I love the simplicity of it. I felt like I was back in 1975. This picture doesn’t do it justice but the kid on the rocking horse sure is cute!



My dad’s brother & his family came over yesterday for the Christmas party & it was so much fun with these 3!



Riley & Dada watching football.



April & Will at the {big} kid’s table! :0)



All of the Riley grandkids. Plus Riley. (He wanted in the picture & we couldn’t say no!)



I managed to get a picture of all of their side (even if it was a goofy one) but didn’t get our side.



I adore this picture! April gave Riley a Woody & Jessie doll & he LOVED them!



Checking out Ruby Clare’s loot.

     

That was a splattered Coke on Averly’s tights. Lovely, I know. But she's still cute as a button loving on her ViVi!



Also, we woke up to snow Saturday morning! It was literally a dusting, but Riley had a blast playing in it! Poor guy kept wanting to build a snowman, but there was not nearly enough snow for that. I know Northerners laugh at how crazy we act when we get the least amount of snow down here, but we get so excited just to see any!

{Don’t judge his get-up! He was wearing one of my old sweatshirts because we couldn’t find his coat & we were trying to make it outside to play before all the snow melted!}

We’re Getting There

Riley & Averly are finally starting to feel a little better. After 4 nights of no sleep. Literally. I slept from 5 to 7:30 am Saturday morning. But last night was wonderful. I got to sleep a full 7 hours & so did both kids! Averly even slept until 9 this morning! Now I just pray those yucky colds go away & stay away for good!

 

And I wish I could just take a nap to catch back up on my sleep. Don’t see that happening though. Mainly due to a combo of this…



and this…



Let’s just say a 2 year old high on chocolate + drums = a not-so-silent night. Or day. Or anytime for that matter.

Santa Loves Me

 

Yes he does, Baby Girl!

You Better Not Pout, I’m Telling You Why

Someone did not want to have their picture taken by their tree. It was right after nap time, which you can tell by his hair. But still…Santa is watching!!

Aren’t those the cutest little snowflakes?! My sweet boy made those to go on his tree. He loves pointing them out to anyone that enters our house. He’s proud of his work. And so is his Mama.



These pictures were taken last week, but now BOTH of my babies are sick. It all happened Friday evening & none of us have slept the past 3 nights. The good news is the test results for the flu & strep were both negative, so I guess it’s just a cold. But little feverish bodies coughing & sneezing 24/7 is still no fun. TAG & I took the kids riding around looking at Christmas lights Saturday night hoping it would make them feel better. Averly fell asleep as soon as we started moving & Riley was excited for about 15 minutes. Then he kept saying “I want go home.” I’m so ready for them to feel better!

9 Months and WALKING!!!

Something else that has been keeping us busy is that my baby girl has started walking! She took her first steps on Thursday, December 2, just a week shy of 9 months old. She was so brave & determined to take those steps. She held on to her highchair & took as many steps out as she could to still reach, then let go & took 4 steps to me! I was so excited! I pulled out the video camera (which I still haven’t figured out how to upload from because I am completely illiterate when it comes to that camera) and caught her *almost* first steps. She is so proud of herself, too. She will clap & dance when we cheer her on. I really wish I could share it on here.


Averly turned 9 months old on Wednesday, December 8th & has been doing some other big girl things lately too. She has actually been “brushing” her teeth for a while now, but I am just now getting around to documenting it. She loves to chew on her toothbrush & cries when it’s time to put it up. Speaking of teeth, she is getting 3 more in at one time! Two more on top & another on bottom for a total of 6 teeth!



She is really holding her own nowadays. Whereas she used to just put up with Riley messing with her, she now makes it known if he is bothering her. She will start crying as if he had hurt her, even when he didn’t, so that I will come to her rescue. Now, that’s not to say that she doesn’t adore her big brother because she still follows him constantly & watches every move he makes. They are so sweet laughing & playing together.

She used to be my laid back, quiet baby but not so much anymore. Little Miss babbles & talks the days away! She also lets me know when she is ready to wake up in the mornings. I guess since she can’t say Mama yet she just hollers at the top of her lungs until I come get her. Not crying. Just yelling. It actually kinda makes me laugh. I think she is going to be a tough toddler throwing some little tantrums. I can just see her stomping her feet & crossing her arms someday! Ha!



She is still nursing & showing no signs of weaning. Riley weaned himself at about 8.5 months, so I passed my time with him. She, just the opposite of Riley, is a wonderful eater! She has been eating more & more finger foods like diced carrots, peas, green beans & chopped up grilled chicken. I just pray she keeps that up because the last thing I need is 2 picky eaters!

She is wearing anywhere from 9 months to 18 months in clothes & size 4 diaper. Still my chunky monkey! Happy 9 Months sweet girl! We love you so much!

Christmas Activities & Big Things Happening

We have had lots & lots going on since I last posted over.a.week.ago. A really BIG thing and lots other fun things have been keeping us extra busy. I will get to the big thing eventually, but for now here’s a re-cap of our week. {I LOVE that it all revolves around Christmas!}

We re-decorated the big tree at least 17 times. At first I tried to stop Riley & Averly from messing with the ornaments, but then I figured since all my breakable ornaments are out of their reach, I may as well let them play. My tree may be bare in some spots & way too cluttered in others with 4 ornaments on the same branch but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Someone said it just means it was decorated with love & that is totally true.

By the way, Riley hung the huge “Merry Christmas To All” sign on the tree (that normally goes outside) & I am so leaving it there! It actually doesn’t look half bad!



My sweet, sweet babies.

 

We visited Santa. It’s pretty obvious how Averly felt about him. I love these priceless pictures though. One day she cherish this…one day. Riley was a little unsure about the whole situation as well. He did go right to him & sat on his lap, but got really quiet & started playing with his fingers like he was nervous or something. I never could get him to tell Santa what he wanted, but when Santa gave him a candy cane & told him to be a good boy, he said “Ok, yes sir, thank you.” So polite. :0)



We also watched our city’s parade with Hartley. These 2 are so cute together!



Averly & I sat in the truck most of the night because it was so cold, but we got out to watch every now & then.



Riley was saying that the bands were too loud!



Then Hartley came back to play at our house for a little while before bedtime.

      

I do have more to share that is pretty exciting, but I just want to wait until the unclear becomes clear.