Simply having a wonderful Christmas time. Kind of.

Once again I stayed in Tennessee with George and Lucy while Phillip, Ellen and Lilly went to North Carolina for Christmas.  I am really happy they were able to spend the holidays with family. 

I was sick for several days which was somewhat good timing since I was the only one at home and was able to rest but also bad timing because who wants to be sick (and alone) at Christmas?

Despite not feeling well, I went to Matt and Sara Jo's house Christmas night.  Food and friends make everything better. 

And although I was not 100% (super bummed about that), I still got a lot done around the house.  I put away all things Christmas, caught up on laundry, rearranged some furniture, and cleaned out and organized old toys to make room for new toys (did the same with clothes). #circleoflife 

I ended up cooking a lot more than I thought I would, including breakfast (I had sausage and hashbrowns 2 or 3 mornings).  I actually enjoyed planning my meals.  I made taco soup, saucy pork chops in the crock pot and Pioneer Woman's sour cream noodle bake.  Add salad, a few sides and leftover blueberry cheese pie for dessert and that's some good eating :)

I went to four movies: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Passengers, Rogue One and La La Land.  I can be a tough critic but I embraced each film for what it was and came away pleased.  I especially liked La La Land.  There were 3 or 4 more movies I wanted to see but they didn't release in time (and some still haven't come to our area).  Phillip and Ellen saw Hidden Figures last night.  That was also on my list.

I also binge-watched a few shows on Amazon and Netflix that I had been wanting to see.

It's amazing what you can accomplish when your husband and kids are out of town for 10 days :)

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Holiday Happenings...

We ran into Buddy at Lowe's

Lilly and I went to Holiday Village at Homestead Manor.  She made it very difficult for me to shop.  I maybe got to browse for 15 minutes.  Total.  Not all at once.  As I was checking out some jewelry at one of the booths, she started to cry.  Real tears.  It was kind of ridiculous.  She is usually a great shopping companion but not that day.

I gave up on shopping and we got doughnuts instead :)

Lilly loved riding the train.

Lilly helped Phillip put the Christmas tree together.  Fluffing those branches is a lot of work!

KFC Christmas Party

Breakfast with Santa at HES

Lilly looks like she is about to catapult off of Santa's lap :)

I usually get a few new ornaments every year but oddly enough, I didn't buy a single one this Christmas.  I should have bought this one when I had the chance.

Ellen's Christmas Party

Elf Surveillance.  Creepy.

Lilly's Party

"That wasn't really Santa.  It was just a man."

We opened presents Thursday morning, December 22nd (the day before they left for NC).  Phillip was working from home that day but since the kids get up so early, we had plenty of time to open gifts before he had to get started.

Too bad you can't really see what Santa brought in these pictures (unfortunately these are all I got).

Why don't you just tell me what Ellen and Lilly got for Christmas :)

They each got a Calico Critters house of some sort (along with the koala family and accessories). Ellen got cat stuffed animals, Lilly got My Little Pony (Princess Celestia and Princess Luna).

And they each got an Animal Jam playset.

I never do a good job of getting pictures while they open gifts but I always try!

Ellen loves this Kavu sling bag (these are really popular around here).

Watch out!  She's got good aim :)

Santa also brought this ping pong table!

North Carolina bound

Pictures from home...

(Courtesy of Mom, Andrea and Phillip)

Santa Lilly

Candle Tea

One of my favorites!

Phillip and the girls spent Christmas Day in Charlotte

Russ, Nancy and Laurie met up with Phillip and the girls for lunch on Monday in Winston-Salem.  I hate that I missed out on Elizabeth's!

So glad Grandma got to see the girls 💛

And bonus!  It snowed in West Virginia!

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We had a great holiday season.  

I think I came out on top in the gift department.  Phillip got me a Princess Peach controller for the Wii U :)  

I also got new luggage, much needed collapsible storage bins for the back of the Murano (great for groceries and other loose items), nice beach chairs, Christmas dishes from Pier One (so excited about these), gift cards and more.

I got Phillip an iTunes gift card, Cubs hat and a fancy box cutter.  He got mostly cash and gift cards from family.

The girls always have a big Christmas but this seemed like an especially good year.  The Wellie Wisher doll was not as well received as I would have liked (thanks for ruining my Christmas, Lilly) but I think they liked all of their gifts.  We did good :)

Highlights:  Ellen loves her illustrated Harry Potter books and drawing/coloring books and Lilly has listened to the Moana soundtrack roughly a thousand times.  She also really likes the Merida bow and arrow set we got her.

We are truly blessed!

I write lots of blog posts in my head. Does that count?

I still have a passion for blogging but it takes time that I don't seem to have anymore.  And I don't like just posting pictures along with a few details, which is what was happening more and more.  I really prefer to write.  That being said, I will probably be posting pictures along with a few details in an attempt to get caught up :)

Most recent events first: Lilly turned five years old last week.  What?!  (And to think, Ellen was already several weeks into kindergarten when she was this age.)  Lilly is some kind of wonderful and we tried to make her day/week/weekend special.

Phillip and I were both able to leave work early on Friday and join Lilly at daycare for birthday cookies and then I took her to see Moana for the third time (she LOVES that movie).  Phillip would have joined us but someone had to pick up Ellen from school and take her to church for KFC, and since he took Lilly to see Moana the second time, it was technically my turn.  After the movie, the three of us went to dinner at Chick-fil-A.  Lilly got to run around the fellowship hall with a few friends while we waited for Ellen to finish up filming for storyline, which is one of her favorite things to do at church.  Isn't running around everyone's favorite thing to do at church?

The celebration continued on Saturday.  We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast and then Lilly opened presents from us and Mom and Dad (we let her open gifts from family as they arrived in the mail).  We gave her a hodge podge of things... Mooshka doll, Secret Life of Pets toy, two secret spy Barbies, an Animal Jam stuffed animal bunny and a Girl Scout doll.  She got a Moana Lego set from my parents, Hei Hei stuffed animal from Andrea and Caleb, penguin hat/gloves, Aladdin, and a Halloween costume for her Wellie Wisher from Russ and Nancy and she got another outfit for her doll from David.

After putting together Lilly's new Legos, we played ping pong (the girls got a mid-size ping pong table from Santa) and then went on a long walk/bike ride around the neighborhood (we are having spring-like weather and it's fantastic).  Ellen is finally confidently riding on two wheels.  Yay!

We met Kendra and Laurie at Chuck E. Cheese later that afternoon.  It was a madhouse but we had fun.  Lilly got a Disney Junior coloring book, My Little Pony magic color book, paints and a Shopkins game from Laurie.  Kendra gave her a Frozen Lego set, Disney figurine, a ring pop and Skittles.  After cashing in our tickets for a few prizes, we ate dinner at Newk's.  It was nice to visit and not be rushed.

In addition to gifts from family, Lilly received several cards and lots of birthday wishes from people at church.  I guess we aren't the only ones who think this girl is special :)

On our way to Moana

January 2017 (Happy New Year!)

January 9th - Back to School for Ellen (End of Winter Break)

January 13th - KFC - Storyline for Lads to Leaders

January 22nd - Teacher Appreciation Luncheon at Southern Hills

January 26th - HES Talent Show

January 27th - Ellen - Field Trip to Nashville Children's Theatre (Treasure Island)

January 28th - Day Trip to Memphis (Civil Rights Museum)
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Birthdays:  Lilly (13th)

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Phillip and the girls returned from North Carolina on the 2nd.  It's so good to have them home!

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Ellen is going on a field trip with SACC on the 4th - Patterson Park in Murfreesboro.

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Lads to Leaders practice starts at the end of the month.