Highlights from the Holidays

Christmas cards

Homemade ornaments

A visit from Andrea, Caleb, Ashling, Cade and Quinn

A little time away from work

Elf on the Shelf
(Rosie left Ellen and Lilly a sweet note and a bowl of Hershey kisses before returning to the North Pole Christmas Eve)

New Year's Day lunch with the Moss Family (including Matt's parents) at Old Chicago Pizza

Hotel breakfast

Presents!

After Christmas shopping

Ellen's brick snowman
("It feels like I have a brick in my bookbag"... she did!)

Family photo attempts

Krispy Kreme on New Year's Eve

Finding joy in the little things

Matching shirts from Mimi

Impromptu playdates

Decorating the tree

Monsters, Inc. in 3D

(Phillip, Laurie, Ellen and Ashling)

The First Christmas Club

Reading new books

Playing with new toys

Celebrating a new year

Happy 2013!

Our Christmas

It was Christmas Eve.  We had just planned our Christmas menu and were about to head to the store when I started feeling queasy.  I tried to shake it off but I felt pretty bad most of the day.  I usually love setting out all of the presents and getting the stockings ready but it was almost more than I could handle... I was that out of sorts.  I went to bed thinking positive thoughts but then Phillip one upped me by getting sick multiple times in the night.  Come Christmas morning, we were not okay.  I was better off than Phillip, who made an appearance for the present opening but then went back to bed, so I did my best to make sure everyone was having The Best Christmas Ever! when it really felt like The Worst Christmas Ever!  

Ellen basically ran the show, opening present right after present, while Lilly played with the wrapping and tissue paper as it piled up around her.  She had a lot of fun.  They both did.  And I keep reminding myself that they had a great Christmas.

A few gift highlights:

Old Maid

Care Bears (Ellen got Share Bear and Lilly got Harmony Bear)

Pony Royale horses

Mr. Bill poseable figurine (for Phillip but everyone is enjoying him)

Lots of Brave stuff

Princess castle

Charm bracelet

Books

LEGO Friends

Boots!

Peppa, George, Mommy Pig and Daddy Pig figurines

It was not the merriest of Christmases (tears were shed and they were not tears of joy) but good memories were made none the less.

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Christmas Eve was a beautiful day (it turned cold and rainy that evening and has been that way ever since).  It was a little chilly but nice enough for us to play around on the porch and do a little sweeping.  Ellen was giving it all she had.  She is a good helper.  Lilly, armed with her Land of Nod catalog, enjoyed watching us work from the comfort of the doorway.

Poking and prodding

It is the day before Christmas Eve.  We are at home, just doing our usual kinds of things.  I have been trying to get a good picture of our tree (failed), Phillip is rocking Lilly (and watching football) and Ellen is right here next to me coloring pictures for Daddy.

It is cold and rainy outside but we are all cozy and warm.

Our spirits are high.

[Ellen did wake up feeling crummy this morning but she seems to be doing better now.  The excitement of Christmas is the best medicine.]

For the past several days Ellen has been patting her stocking, hoping to find a little something-something, and messing with the presents under our tree - grrr!  She is like me except not quite as discreet.  She will learn :)

While I am thinking about Ellen, here are two snippets of conversations I want to remember...

Me:  I have a fun fact for you
Ellen:  Make me problem solve

Me:  I heard you kicked Daddy out of your club (a sign she is mad at you)
Ellen:  Just one of them (so she was mad but just a little mad)

Two pictures from today:

Photobombed by Rosie

Lilly is ready for her first Christmas.  She is going to love tearing into those presents.  I can't wait!

Up next:  We're making Chex Mix!  (Pioneer Woman's version)

Breakfast with Santa

Breakfast with Santa was fun but wild.  The cafeteria was so crowded that we ended up sitting in the hallway.  After eating our pancakes and sausage biscuits, Ellen colored a bookmark, made an ornament, bagged food for Santa's reindeer, got her face and hand painted, listened to two of the kindergarten teachers read Christmas stories (Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Fielder) and lastly, we saw Santa.  Ellen was hesitant so while we waited I kept saying "This is such a nice Santa.  He looks so nice."  Phillip stepped in and was all you can't say this is a nice Santa... this is Santa.  Oops!  Sorry kids (I was just so impressed by him (he was great!) and I really wanted Ellen to cooperate for the picture.)  She was happy and Lilly didn't cry so although I didn't get a good picture of both of the girls smiling, the one I got was blurry, it all worked out in the end.

We saw another Santa at Kroger.  Not impressed with the shoe covers but Lilly liked him so I will let that go.

Ellen got a balloon animal while Lilly and I visited Santa #2

Ellen and Phillip went on a little date late Saturday afternoon while Lilly and I did some things around the house.  They had a lot of fun.  She slept until 7:30 this morning which is rare.  Come to find out she wasn't feeling well - her tummy hurt.  She laid around the house all day.  She kept trying to tell me she felt super but I knew better.  We all went to church tonight but she stayed with us in the 3-5 year old Children's Bible Hour class instead of going to her class (K-7).  Hopefully she will be good as new in the morning.

Christmas 2011: Highlights

Swimming on Christmas Eve (there's a first time for everything)

Ellen's reaction to all of her presents

New router for our computer

Watching the Christmas episodes of all of Ellen's favorite shows

Cherry cheese pie

Ellen playing her new guitar from Grandmother and Granddaddy

Making strawberry cupcakes with Ellen, Ashling and Cade

"Mommy, I'm not even a little bit tired"

Spending time with Andrea, Caleb, Ashling and Cade

At naptime

Phillip:  Do you want me to lay down with you?

Ellen:  Yes, but I don't want to be able to see you

The excitement and anticipation of Christmas

Spending Christmas Day with good friends

Cuddling on the couch

Hot chocolate mustaches

Setting out presents on Christmas Eve

Ashling playing with George

Laughter

Ellen riding her new scooter around the house

"Is Santa downstairs?"

Cade's love for the [play] kitchen

Packages on the porch

Sweet prayer before Christmas lunch

Cole:  Please help the poor people get money...

After the prayer Phillip says to me "He prayed for us."

Knowing next year there will be one more McCullough to share the magic with

Three new books just waiting to be read by yours truly

Capturing special moments like this one...

Our First Tennessee Christmas

These pictures are pretty much all the same but Ellen had a wonderful Christmas.  Unfortunately we didn't get a chance to take any "before" pictures but we had everything set up so she could take it all in as she came down the stairs.  This girl went gang busters on her presents.  I think she was done unwrapping in about 10 minutes flat.  Santa did leave several unwrapped presents by the fireplace but she made quick work of the ones from us left under the tree.  We had about an hour to play before getting ready for church.  Happy happy, joy joy!

  

Biggest reaction... chocolate Santa from her stocking :)

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2011

Hyatt Suites in Brentwood