A Santa SUCCESS!!!

Last week, we took the girls to see Santa, and miraculously, EVERYBODY SMILED FOR THE PICTURE THIS YEAR!! In order for you to understand what a miracle this is, you must first have a look at every "Santa experience" prior to this:

2006

This was Nora's first Christmas, and since she was a ripe old age of 3 months, she slept through the entire thing (I remember this like yesterday because she slept for 4+ hours at the mall, then didn't sleep AT ALL that night. Thanks, Santa):

2007

This was at Rock City in Chattanooga. I really don't think anymore needs to be said.......

2008 

Here we are at Stone Mountain the following year. The ONLY way that Nora would take a picture is if we ALL sat in FRONT of Santa so she "didn't have to look at him" (I'm sorry, but I must note that I'm pregnant in this picture.....hence, the super-sized swollen head).

2009

So here's Ella's first Santa experience, and I think she was just too young to know what was going on. Nora, however, was hating life. (If you look closely on the sides of the pictures, you can see us, once again, holding the kids). :)

 

2010

This year, Ella definitely knew what was going on. 'Nuff said.....

2011

Second verse, same as the first (except Nora actually dug Santa this year)......

2012

But this year, we FINALLY got a smile out of EVERYONE!!!!! Ella still wouldn't sit in his lap or speak to him. She made sure that Nora delivered her list.....which consisted of a "hot blanket, and La-La-Loopsy doll (Which Santa had NO IDEA what that was until a week ago), and a stuffed animal" (like we don't have enough stuffed animals....ALL.OVER.OUR.HOUSE).

Drum roll, please.........

TA-DA!!!

After looking at all these photos, Nora said, "Mommy, I don't think all of these are the REAL Santa." So, we had to explain how it works ~ that Santa has special helpers to help him visit with kids all over the world. But, no doubt, we saw the REAL Santa this year!!!

He came all the way to Arbor Place Mall!!

Douglasville is just THAT special!! :)

While Christmas is always fun,

it's SO much more fun with children.

Ho, ho, ho!!! :)

Deckin' Them Halls!

A few days before Thanksgiving, we officially got the house ready for Christmas. To me, the Christmas season starts November 1st, and I'd decorate then if Josh would let me (I've been known to do that in the past). :) A few years back, Josh bought a 13-foot Christmas tree from a friend at work, and it is massive. Everyone refers to it as the "Griswald Tree," and we had a really difficult time fitting it into the living room since we have a new pit-group couch this year. In order to make it work, we had to take the couch apart, and put the tree in a brand new spot that it's never been before.....still, it winded up being just fine, even though Josh and I almost choked each other out in deciding what to do. :) :)

Every year, Mama and Lea come to help put up the monster. But this year, Mama had thrown her back out like an old woman!! Normally, she's my little elf who climbs the ladder and decorates where no one else can. Here's a picture from last year to show how she NORMALLY participates.....

But this year, she had to sit out and watch. :( But she helped in any way she could. Here she is fixing my bow....

We finally got it up!! Even without the help of my little elf. :)

Nora and Ella also decorate their little red tree that goes in their ladybug-themed room each year....

And they also decorated a pink one for Claira's room (this was actually Mammie's tree last year, so it's extra-special). :)

Once all the decorations were up, we had to take a few Christmas pictures....especially since it's Claira's first Christmas. As you can see, she loves Christmas lights (and loves to suck her fingers)...

 Here's the girls helping to put out their Christmas train that goes around our tree (one of their FAVORITE Christmas "things"). Grandmama gave us this when Nora was a baby.

The train tends to entertain Ella for a REALLLLY long time. :)

 Finally, meet JoJo, our little elf. Every night, JoJo flies to the the North Pole to report the girls' behavior to Santa Claus, and each morning, he's in a different location. Sometimes, he might even play a little trick or two. :)

The girls' behavior is SIGNIFICANTLY better when JoJo is watching.....he may have to start making his appearance in July. :)

 'Tis the Season!!

Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra!!!!!! :)

Christmas Recital!!

Anyone who knows Nora knows that the child was born to dance. We can't go anywhere......ANYWHERE....without her busting a move. She even busted a move while visiting Santa the other night. So, Josh and I knew we HAD to get her into dance classes. She began dance classes in August, and absolutely loves it. Today, she had very first little mini-performance to welcome the Christmas Season. It was a small performance, but so very sweet and special, and she did a PHENOMENAL job.....front and center!! (We didn't know if we'd be able to make it or not since she's had the FLU since Tuesday. But thankfully, she was well enough to shake her groove-thang). :)

Nora had to be there half an hour early, so her "fans" found their seats. :) 

Here they come!!! The best thing about having a blonde fro??? Being super-easy to spot!! :)

 Our little "tapper".....

 

Grandmommie and Paw-Paw brought her flowers....

Her greatest fans (minus Daddy who took the pictures)

 Afterwards, we all celebrated with.....what else but FOOD!!!!! Longhorn's is where it's at!! :)

She may now be an official "dancing diva," but still a goofball. So proud of her, every aspect of her....

 Never miss....

....a CHANCE to DANCE!!! :)

Meet Rosabelle :)

About a month ago, Nora and Ella had dental appointments. I had promised Ella that if she was "good," she could have her prize of choice. She had an absolute meltdown during her prior dental visit, so I thought a little bribery wouldn't hurt.....but I was thinking more along the lines of a nice Barbie doll or make-up or something. Turns out, Ella was an ANGEL. Dr. Deas (our AWESOME dentist) went on and on about how proud he was of Ella, and she kept looking at me out of the corner of her eye with a little sly smile on her face.

As SOON as we got into the van, Ella says, "Mommy, I want my prize to be a gerbil. A real gerbil." I tried....with all my might....to persuade her to go to Toys-R-Us instead. But she reminded me that I had promised her that she could have ANYTHING she wanted. So, we are now the owners of a friggin' gerbil!!

Meet "Rosabelle"

Rosabelle was the ONLY red-eyed rodent in the entire pet store, and Ella fell in love with her when she saw her. She said, "Oh, she's beautiful!" That wasn't my initial thought.....I actually thought she looked pretty dang evil, but turns out, she's a sweet little rat....

The girls like to wear gloves when the play with her, 'cause frankly, she poops a lot...

When they rub her with their gloves on, Rosabelle will actually go to sleep in their hands. :)

Josh and I don't worry about gloves.....I guess we are used to little things that poop a lot. :)

 Even Clairy digs the rodent....

So, there you have it. Our new family member. Nora and Ella are begging for a dog next (Lord help me). But Ella says that it HAS to be a "boy-dog" to be fair to Daddy. I'm sure that a "boy-dog" won't even out all the estrogen in this household!! :)

LESSON LEARNED: Next time I state, "You can have whatever prize you want," I will add to that....

....."that doesn't have a long, nasty tail, red eyes, fur, or doesn't eat, crap, breathe, or LIVE in any way, shape, or form." 

Cheers to rodents. :)

Thanksgiving 2012

Well, I put on 6 lbs. over Thanksgiving Break, so I guess that means that Thanksgiving was a SUCCESS!! :) It all started the Friday before the break.....when you see the kindergartners coming down the hall dressed like turkeys and Native Americans, you know it's time to GO!!!! :)

 

It's so nice to have a whole week off for Thanksgiving!! Earlier in the week, we put up our tree (which needs its own blog), celebrated Mama's birthday (Fifty-Three, and feeling Spunk-EEE), and I actually ventured out to my first-EVER Black Friday experience!! It was crazy, but I got allllllll my shopping done!! WINNING!!

On Thanksgiving Day, we had lunch with Grandma and the family. Grandma always knows how to feed us right. :) Of course, Clairy went right for Paw-Paw....he's one of her favs!!

Then, she partied with Grandma and Matthew....

....and then loved on Grandmommie until she passed out!!

 After all the grubbin,' the big kids played a little "foosball" with stuffed bellies...

 After ensuring that we had our leftover-container "packed to the max" with Grandma's food, we headed over to Grandmama's to have dinner with her, Lea, and Slaten. Slaten greeted us with his awesome skills..

After munching for a bit (since we were already stuffed to our limits), we played outside a bit. We jumped (I can't believe we didn't have any turkey-VOM  after a day of gluttony followed by football and trampoline)...

.....and we swang, apparently.

And we took some "serious" pictures.

 .....and we just hung out and enjoyed each other. :)

The next day (after surviving the Black Friday morning madness), we went over to Papa's to celebrate with all the Nesbitts!!! Thanksgiving always starts with a prayer, and a pull of the wishbone to determine if Tech or Georgia will win on Saturday.....Tech won (not). The wishbone was VERY accurate this year!! :(

Uncle Rob (in his Duck Dynasty shirt) led the shouting match between Georgia and Tech....we are a house divided...

Some of our favorite things: Family and FOOD!!!

 Four generations of Nesbitts!! From the eldest to the youngest...

Yeah, I foresee trouble with these two in the near future....they're already schemin'!!

That night, the kids and Scott went out to do some sort of "Punkin-Chunkin" or something-or-another....????

But I think they just winded up with a "Pumpkin Explosion" :)

But good times, nevertheless!!

Of course, we truly missed Grandmother and Mammie!! They each knew how to make the holidays so special! Still, we rejoice in their memories, and are grateful that they both are in perfect paradise and peace. Plus, I bet Jesus serves a pretty bangin' turkey! :)

So very grateful for so very much!!

Thank you, Lord,

for my countless

and undeserving blessings!!