Random Christmas FUN-NESS :)

Well, Christmas just came and went so very quickly this year, and I feel like I didn't have a minute to blog. Sooooo, I'm just going to share of my favorite "snippets" of the season. I'll start with.....

School Fun

The last week of school, the teachers and students dressed up to welcome the holiday. Here's a few shots of Nora with some of her pals....

"Santa Day"

"Reindeer Day"

"Elf Day"

"PaRtY DaY!!!"

The kiddos sang "Silent Night" for the parents in both English and Spanish. It was just lovely...

Nesbitt Family Fun

As always, we went and enjoyed our Nesbitt Family Fun at Papa's:

We ate a lot....especially Kristi's Heath Bar cake which is my all-time FAVORITE cake. No, really.

We had our annual Nesbitt concert (the Stephenson men joined in with drums this year. Dynamite.)

 Have a little listen to the Nesbitt clan....

We made crafts...

We loved on babies (Claira favors her Grandmommie so much to me.)

We ATTEMPTED a kid-photo. A few are MIA....some outside....some at home with the croop....some just nowhere to be found... :)

We opened presents....

....and our "White Elephant" Game consisted of restaurant gift cards this year. The doozie was that one lucky winner got to steal ALL of the cards at the very end. Guess who the winner was.....

Papa was ecstatic!! He had NO PROBLEM taking everyone's cards, and he literally yelled, "Hallelujah!!" :)
Such a fun and sweet time. Besides this, the other sweetest gifts were given to all the "main" mommies. Kristi divided up Grandmother's "grandkid" necklace (that she wore ALLLL the time) and gave the "birthstone babies" to the mommies of each. Here's Cathy's ~ the stones represent (from left to right) Matt, Josh, Lilah, Nora, Ella, Claira, & Matthew.

They were simply beautiful. Everyone kept talking about how heavy they were, so Grandmother must have had a neck of steel because she wore ALLLL of them at one time. Here's all the "main" mommies sporting their new Grandmother-Bling:

They are re-creating the well-known picture of Grandmother and her lovely sisters:

As always, the Nesbitt Family Christmas was such a special time. And it was even more special this year because I had this beautiful surprise on my camera when I got home....

Hello, there, Old Saint Rick!!!

Christmas Girls' Night
Every so often, Mama, Lea, and I try to have a girls' night with each other, so two days before Christmas (Christmas Eve EVE), we decided to "doll" each other up and head out to the Cheesecake Factory. Lea did my hair. She's the "Fro Whisperer."

And off we went to the Cheesecake Factory!!

When we got there, the service was HORRIBLE, but the food was DELISH. We ordered some "Buffalo Bash" (something-or-another) appetizers that I've been craving ever since. Our expressions show our love for them.....I may have been a bit mad because "The Other Sister" ate more of them than I did.... :/

 But let me reiterate....the SERVICE STUNK!! We were there for over two hours, and NOT because there was a long wait. Sigh. Here's how I felt two hours later....

Anyhoo, good times were had. I love to laugh with my Mama and Sis. We're best pals. We've been though so much together, and even when times have been bad, we get each other through it. One thing that Mama has always taught me is to focus on the GOOD. This existence on Earth will never be completely perfect, but she's taught me to live a BIG, FUN LIFE no matter what. :)

Other Randomness
I won't yet post about Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (those need their own blogs), but I'll end with a few of my favorites of the season.
For example, Josh's favorite shirt...

 My favorite shirt...

Ella's favorite nose....

Clairy-Berry's favorite toy (I think Grandmommie snuck this into our house somehow???) This video is sideways because Josh filmed it sideways (nice), and for the life of me, I just can't rotate it back. But it's worth watching, so just turn your head. :)

(side note ~ Claira turned 6 months on 12-22-12. She popped her first tooth, sits up on her own for a bit, and OFFICIALLY babbles and repeats the word "Mama." Oh, my heart. :)

 Finally, on a more somber note, there was somewhat of a haze over Christmas this year due to the horrific Sandy Hook Elementary tragedy. At Papa's, Nora received a dry-erase board from Aunt Leslie. I recently found this note from her written on it:

While this note made me tear up with joy, it also made me stop in my tracks from grief. Grief for those Newtown parents who will no longer get these sweet surprises like this from their children. While I have always valued my children, this senseless event has made me.....well....just CHILL more when dealing with my daughters. I have learned to embrace the LOUDNESS (and our house is loud.....really, really, really). I have learned to enjoy the cotton-heads that tickle my nose so badly when they climb in the bed with us in the middle of the night. I have learned to laugh at the fights, the billion questions, the ridiculous amount of toys all over my house (even, in like, my underwear drawers.....HOW do toys end up there?). Children are precious blessings, plain and simple. My whole heart is with those Newtown parents and family members.

Still, Christmas was grand and lovely.

More Christmas blogs to come, but until then, I'll leave you with the ingenious words of my eldest daughter:

"I love you, my family."

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. :)