Trimming the Tree

Mom, Amy, and Abby came over to help us decorate the tree this year. It actually took several nights but they were here for the big kickoff. Emily loves to unwrap the ornaments and look at each one before putting it on the tree. She likes to know where they all came from. This is actually the first year since she was born that we put real ornaments on the tree - we've only had unbreakable things like silk poinsettias and ribbons in the past. I figure that she's old enough now now to pull it over on herself. Now if we could just say the same for the cat....

Abby helped Emily make sure that the dining room tree is covered in ornaments - not just the bottom part!

Who needs fancy toys when you have a gigantic cardboard box?

What a cupcake!

No ornaments at the top - only the bottom! Remind me why we got this tall tree?

Polar Express Ride

Donald and I took Abby and Emily to Chattanooga for a ride on the legendary Polar Express this year! It was so much fun to see how excited the girls were about this trip. We set them up in the car in the very backseat so that they could spread out all of their snacks, animals, sleeping bags, DVD players, and other riffraff. It was a long ride to the train station but well worth it to see the looks on their faces. And for an added surprise...Santa Don made an appearance on our train! Of course, Emily clammed up and wouldn't talk to him when he came through. She told me later that she "just didn't know him so well in that suit." The little girl across the aisle actually climbed behind her mother shrieking, "He's gonna get me!" when Santa came through. I told her Mom not to feel bad - Emily wouldn't speak to Santa either and it's her own grandfather! At any rate, it was a great experience and lots of fun to see Santa Don all spiffed up in his red suit! We won't even discuss the fact that my little streaker took off all of her clothes in the backseat during the trip home....

Here we go!

Emily called this "the toy train"

Looking around

Waiting in the station

Great look on Emily's face

All of Abby's friends came along for the ride!

Emily's getting some ear love from Abby

When will he get here?

Funny faces for the camera

Here he comes!

Trying out her jingle bell

Matching PJs!

Getting tired

At least Abby would let me take her picture with Santa!

We made it to the North Pole!

LOVE this picture of Abby!

Funny Face

This is a little girl who loves all kinds of fruit. She's been on an orange kick lately - as long as you peel them, scrape off the white part, pick out the seeds, cut them into pieces, etc. Lots of prep work! I'll be happy when she gets back to bananas. Less in the way of photo opportunities but also less labor intensive!

Thanksgiving at the White House

Thanksgiving was held at the White House this year and it was a BLAST! Donald and I have always loved to have company and we especially enjoy hosting a family holiday. Emily is loads of fun to have around during these times, as well. She provided plenty of entertainment throughout the day. Donald's Uncle Tom came to visit and was apparently wearing some type of special pheromone cologne because Emily couldn't get enough of him all day. She corralled him in the play room and put him through all kinds of tea parties and dress-up indignities before he could escape downstairs to be with the grownups. I didn't get to take very many pictures on Thanksgiving - too busy with other things! After everyone went home, we all took a long "roll up" and then settled down on the couch to watch the lighting of the Macy's tree. Emily really enjoyed this, as well as the showing of Beyonce's Vegas show which came on later in the evening. At one point she disappeared into her room and then reappeared wearing hot pink Crocs and a swimsuit singing "Single Ladies." A diva is born! Happy Thanksgiving from the White House!

Getting the yard ready for company. We are overloaded with leaves!

T.C. looks thrilled at the prospect of so many people in the house at one point. However, there was turkey so that made it a little better.

Snagging some homemade pimento cheese - Yum!

Real cranberry sauce - Double Yum! I can eat this by the bowlful.

Snuggling during the tree lighting. What a great way to end the evening!

Thanksgiving Program

Donald and I attended a Thanksgiving tea party at Emily's school right before the Thanksgiving break. It was so sweet to see the children perform their Thanksgiving songs for the group of parents. They even said the blessing for all of us before they sat down to share our cookies! We have so enjoyed all of Emily's programs and love to hear what she learns each day at school. These pictures are funny - she looked scared to death while she was peforming with the group but she did all the moves and sang all the words anyway! Doing the Turkey Dance
Deer in the Headlights

I love handprint art!

Snuggling with Mommy

Class bulletin board - Each child sent in a decorated turkey feather. I LOVE this idea because I am bulletin-board challenged. Emily's is third from the left - the one with the big purple heart!

Pumpkin Carving

We joined the Westbrooks for their annual pumpkin carving party this year and had an absolutely fabulous time. Amy and Adam are excellent hosts and I always love to go to their house to celebrate. Emily had been looking forward to this party for weeks and had so much fun that she woke up in the middle of the night talking about it! After looking through the pictures, I can't decide whether the adults or the children had the most fun. Definitely the mark of a good party! Can't wait until next year! This is serious business.
Helping Daddy figure out how to carve this thing.

Yep, that's baby Kimber in there! Emily was so excited about painting this particular pumpkin. For pictures of the real thing, visit The Steele House blog. Such a sweetie!

Working on a little artwork of her own

Painting with a new friend

So proud of her purple handiwork!

Amy always has the best holiday decorations. I love this sign. Y'all know my favorite store is the Goodwill.

The annual lighting of the great pumpkins

All the kiddos with their creations

Having a snack after all that hard work

Reading a story with Jessi and Amy. Jessi showed her how to do a split and Emily has been practicing all week.

And finally....our great pumpkin! Emily requested a Bob pumpkin - from the Monsters and Aliens movie, get it? Donald did a great job carving this really difficult request. Bob became a tasty snack for Rocky the Raccoon just a few days later. Stinky pumpkins definitely do NOT belong in the house!