Two Plus Two: Why Do I Feel Outnumbered?
Sunday, December 19th we visited my in-laws church to watch our nieces and nephew in their Christmas play.
Cora Jane, Vera Kate, Whit, and all their friends did an excellent job! Afterwards, it was time to enjoy food, fellowship, and visit from a special visitor.
Each child received a special early Christmas present from Santa and they were very excited. The boys both received movies that they had been wanting for a long time, which gave me the gift of peace and quiet the next day. LOL!
Ever since I was a little girl, I have loved looking at Christmas lights. Not long after we got married, I began hearing about the awesome light show at Callaway Gardens and I set my heart on going. In 2001, the Christmas I was pregnant with Trey, Phil treated me with a trip to Callaway for our anniversary. And I fell in love. The gardens are amazing and the lights are spectacular. We have returned each and every year since and it is always wonderful. And thankfully my boys love looking at the lights just as much as I do!
We have been visiting the Santa at Callaway since Trey’s first Christmas in 2002. He is an amazing Santa with an old fashion coat and a real beard. To my boys he is the real Santa! For seven of Trey’s nine Christmases this has been the Santa lap that he has sat on and told his wish list to. The other two years (one of which was last year) , there was a replacement Santa and they were not nearly as good. Last year’s Santa was especially fake looking and I was extremely disappointed. I was so happy to see our Santa back this year.
Jesse was no more enthused about seeing this Santa than he was the day before seeing the Santa at school. He did not have a smile at all in the first photo. Luckily, there was no line this year, so the photographer was able to take the time to wait for him to decide to cooperate:-)
Our second stop at Santa’s Village was to paint the boys’ annual ornament for our tree. And in true Christmas tradition, they both painted their ornaments with a rainbow of colors.
After a few more photos, a quick walk around Santa’s workshop, & a quick bite to eat, it was time to hit the Jolly Trolley for our ride through the Fantasy in Lights!
If you enjoy looking at lights, there are a ton of photos in the above album…but here are my three favorites from the night!
And finally, instead of trying to capture FIL the frog as he leaped into the pond this year, I videoed him. Jesse really, really, wanted me to & I just can’t resist him!
Tis the season for Christmas parties, and we had lots of them to enjoy this Christmas! The ladies of our Heart & Home women’s group held our annual Christmas party on December 13th at the Blueberry Inn. Despite the fact that they lost our reservation, were out of anything that had chicken or steak in it and ran out of any kind of potato except for fries halfway through taking our orders, did not have enough help working and provided extremely slow service…yes, despite ALL that, we still had a great time. My good friend, Lora, and I agreed that we were just happy to be out at a restaurant enjoying adult company WITHOUT any kids:-) Truth be told though, our Heart and Home group is comprised of a great group of ladies and we always have a good time when we’re together…no matter what the circumstances are!
Thursday, December 16th was our last day of school so the boys and I all had parties in our classrooms! It was a wonderful day filled with food, friendship, more food, and Santa!
To kick off the third grade party, Trey and his classmates made a nativity scene ornament and I got to sneak in for a few minutes and watch. Afterwards they had their gift exchange and Trey was very excited to receive the movie Home Alone.
The third grade also had lots of yummy food to enjoy! I didn’t eat any though because I had plenty of yummy food myself down in the fourth grade room, including snowball pops made from crumbled up cake and icing. I’ve seen several recipes for these recently and I’m going to have to try my hand at them. They are delish!!! After Trey’s party, he got to go home with Ah-ee and watch his new movie, and I (after completing some work and hanging around for a few hours) got to go enjoy Jesse’s party with him.
The preschool kids actually partied all day! Jesse was most excited about the happy meals that they got for lunch and his new Georgia Bulldog that he had received when they opened their gifts. When I arrived he couldn’t wait to drag me out into the hallway and show me! He was also very excited about Santa’s visit! When I arrived, the kids were settling down to listen to a story while they waited on Santa…
Suddenly they heard that someone was coming, and they all got very still and quiet…
The big guy had arrived and all the kids were very excited to sit in his lap and tell him all about their wish lists…
Jesse’s friends were all taking turns sitting with Santa. But where was Jesse? The little boy who just moments earlier had been brimming with excitement was hiding and not wanting to go see Santa. However, since I had been hanging around school for THREE hours waiting on the big guy to arrive, I was determined that Jesse was going to take his turn. After much begging, pleading, and cajoling, I finally got Jesse to sit on Santa’s lap for a brief photo!
And it was a brief moment! Once Jesse had taken his photo, he was ready to head home and start our Christmas vacation!!! No school for SEVENTEEN days (including weekends). Yippee!!!
We also ride the trolley every year and look at the Fantasy in Lights display. Some years it is warm, some years it is quite cold. This year it was cold! The lights were as beautiful as always and Jesse really loved them this year. He excitedly narrated each light set that came our way & enthusiastically sang all the songs!
We have visited Santa at Callaway each and every year...for seven of the last eight years we visited the exact same Santa...THE real Santa with real white hair and a real beard. One year, our Santa was apparently under the weather and they had to replace him. The replacement was not near as good, but he was still a "real" Santa. This year, for the first time, we had a fake Santa...fake hair, fake beard, and not nearly as jolly! I was disappointed in the Santa, and the photo quality of the pictures we bought. However, if the boys noticed they didn't say anything. They were giving Santa their lists and that's all that concerned them:-)
This year they had added a cooking decorating station. We bought the boys chocolate chip cookies and they went to town topping them with icing, jelly beans, mm's, and all kinds of other sugary substances. Then they ate them...every bite!
All bundled up and ready to get to the warm Callaway Inn.
Walking into school with pj's on!
In front of their "fireplace" and "stockings".
By the preschool tree which was decorated with all their handmade ornaments.
Watching a movie and waiting on the big guy!
Vera Kate
Jesse's buddy Ryan.
Vera Kate telling the big guy her list.
Jesse tired of pictures:-)
Ryan filling Santa in on his list.
Patiently waiting his turn...
Jesse checking off his list...he wanted a bike, a Mickey, and a tent.
Jesse and Vera Kate...cousins and friends!
The K3 and K4 with Santa! They were a bunch of super hyped up youngins!!!
