Day 13

After we went to Bethany's birthday party Lillee came home and helped me wrap Ms. Lori and Ms. Mary Beth's gifts. She is totally getting stoked about presents and really wants to know what she's getting, how many gifts are for her and what we are getting everyone!

I'm surprised our tree is still standing!

Day 12

A yucky Saturday rainy day turned out to be quite fun, especially for Baxter. He and Scott crashed two birthday parties, one at McDonalds and one at Leaping Lizards. Apparently when he joined in on the singing the parents handed over a piece of pizza. Scott did manage to get him away from the party before the favors were handed out.

Scott and I headed out to a 12 Cocktails of Christmas party. It was a lot of fun. The houses were decorated so pretty it definitely put you in the holiday "spirit".
Let's just say there's a few, well more than a few, Ben lbs. to shed!

Day 11

Day 10

We got up bright and early and shhhhhhh SKIPPED SCHOOL so that we could get to Phipps to see the Big Guy!
The kids said he didn't have a hat on and Lillee was extremely unsure of his authenticity. However, we got some great pics and a DVD.
The mall was so pretty even if we did seem like the Clampetts coming to town. We went over to Lenox so that mama could have a little retail therapy after that at my FAVORITE store!

Lillee may have had a list, but Bax had a lot to say!

Our sweet angel was very happy to be back in the Griff.

He loves being held by his big sister.

Day 9

Blurry - bad camera.

We invited a girlfriend/neighbor to come over today. Then we picked up another neighbor, Brooks, and went to the playground at the airport. Lots of fun.

Polar Express just got a whole lot better over a canister of Bugles!

3 months

Day 8

Picnic for dinner. No pics for this day. We did in fact have picnic food, just not all together at once. LGK and I had turkey sandwiches while Scott and Bax enjoyed some Nutella on some bread! Grapes, blueberries and string cheese - isn't that what you would take on a picnic? LGK had gymnastics and Bax had yet another incident with the wall there. We came home with a busted lip and a tiny piece missing from his tongue!

Day 8 also began with a visit from Carlo. LGK came down and turned on the den light. Underwear went flying everywhere along with the culprit! Bax thought it was hysterical that his Spidey undies went sailing into the kitchen! That darn elf!

Day 7

What a day! Baxter broke his collarbone. Our first broken bone and I won't even go into details about how it happened. He had been complaining but we thought it may just be bruised. Oh no. Dr. Colvin "broke" the news that it was, indeed, broken. Poor fellow. It also warranted a trip to the $ store even though I had previously said no toys til Santa comes. He's in a sling for 3 weeks. What a great Christmas present to get to take this thing off.

Yet another excuse to bake up some goodies. This time, however, they were not for our consumption. We delivered to a few neighbors who were very appreciative. It was an afternoon of fun before dance.

Day 6

Yummy - we were celebrating Bethany's birthday yesterday with a trip to Buffalo's and a tasty cold treat to DQ.

Our Christmas tree and one awesome 14 year old.

The Griffin parade. Yikes. We had to watch the strollers closely. A little sketchy. I think at this point the kids were waving to the low riders/ bass droppers club!

Sweet girls watching some interesting dance moves.

Day 5

Day 5 - Home Alone - one of the all time classic holiday movies. It must have been rated PG because I did hear a few &^%$ and *#$% words.
The kids enjoyed it. There was no popcorn or hot chocolate since we had a big plate of nana's spaghetti (we love it when she leaves frozen tupperware containers) and then a great friend brought over a chocolate cheesecake. Mmmmmmm.
This was an appropriate activity for the day since we just got our new King sized bed. The entire family can fit now! The bedding isn't quite "heavenly" just yet but we'll get there. Just trying to keep warm at this point.

Baxter laughed so hard during the part where Kevin ambushes the robbers.

"Where's Ben?" I assure you Waldo is in this picture somewhere.

Like father like son.

The happiest boy around.

Day 4

Lillee assured me Friday a.m. that she was going to do this in her writing center at school. However, she came home with no list and then we decided to have an impromptu holiday gathering.

Translation:

I wan an American Girl Doll. And I want clothes for my American Girl Doll. And a real live rabbit. And books with CDs.

Love, Lillee Grace Key

as a teacher, this is what I've always dreamed of - a phonetically correct list for Santa in some kiddie handwriting - I love it.

I love it almost as much as my most blissful few minutes that occured today. We had just gotten home from picking up Baxter. He was in the den watching Polar Express. Ben was on the dining room table sleeping soundly in his carseat. I was decorating the Christmas tree right beside him. Decorating I mean I was putting the really pretty glass ornaments up top and preparing the other ornaments for kids to put up. I had some Christmas music playing and was standing in the big window with the colored lights twinkling when what did my wondering eyes did appear but the Big Brown Truck and an angel with a package. We exchanged waves at each other and I went back to decorating. It was just like a movie. My days at home have been fulfilled! I can go back to teaching. I've had my Hallmark movie moment.

Daddy is home after a long day at the office. Not to mention that oh so fun Christmas party he's been at!!!

This is what we do when Daddy has a late night = we greet him at the door with lots of neighbors! The kids had so much fun dressing up and putting on a Santa Clause and reindeer play for us! They all switched roles a few times.

Uncle David with the two angels. They are getting so big. Soon to be 3 months old. Where has the time gone? We all hung out, got our fireplace working and watched the Griffin Bears take a loss. It was sad but we all enjoyed hanging out and making some holiday memories.

Day 3

Day 3 - Thursday

While I went to a holiday Natalie Grant concert in McDonough, I felt certain Scott could read my mind because I had totally read LGK's and Baxter's! Of course, a movie before bed to them meant Polar Express or Elf but to a parent it means a 30 min fun flick! So they decided on Rudolph and Frosty.

Tonight was also Bo's birthday party at Leaping Lizards! They thoroughly enjoyed themselves there!

Day 2

Handmade by Baxter and Lillee. I think this is upside down???
Let the fun begin.....
this was a preparty mix with a little Rosie O'Donnell and Smashmouth.
"Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" - oh wait, there is no Christmas tree. That's right folks....it may look like Clarke Griswald in the front yard but inside, nothing but a few decorations. Mama's tired.
Still rockin' - practicing performance for daddy for after church party fun!

December 1 Kickoff

Carlo made his debut at Thanksgiving via the Big Brown Truck! The children were very excited to see him! He also brought along a little treat from Santa - The Polar Express! Tonight we made cookies for the little guy and "someone" got into them. He preceded to pitch his 1st hissy fit we call it!

Toilet paper coming from downstairs bathroom!

All the way up the stairs - the little stinker!

Advent paper chain #1 - Bake Christmas Cookies!

Christmas cookies to be enjoyed by all - and Ben at some point later in the evening!