Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year! I am spending the night at home with my favorite people tonight. :)

Also, I can't believe how much my "baby" has grown this year. Sigh.

Happy Birthday, Aunt Liz!

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I LUCKED OUT in the Sister-In-Law department. She is absolutely one of my best friends, and I can't imagine our family without her in it. I love love love that we are raising our sweet girls together. It is SO nice to be able to complain about share the joys of motherhood with each other. Well, today Liz turned 30. I, of course, started the morning off for her by playing "Funeral March" by Chopin as she walked down the stairs. Ha. We had a really fun day celebrating though. The White's came to visit, and it was SO good to get to see them!! We really need to make it a point to visit with them more! We always have so much fun when we're all together!

Aunt Briarly reading to Penny.

Uncle Barry reading to Addie.

Aunt Pam and Addie.

Liz enjoying everyone singing Happy Birthday to her.

Blowing out her candles.

Aunt Pam and Uncle Barry got Addie and Penny these crazy gorillas. They have a banana and when you take it away from their mouth, they scream and wave their arms, then they giggle when you put it back. The girls LOVED them.

Aunt Briarly taking a spin in Addie's car.

Granddaddy playing Crack the Whip with the girls.

Aunt Briarly and Addie.

Aunt Pam watching Penny jump.

Addie

When Briarly first went to run, she forgot that Addie was only 2 and can't actually run that fast. Addie held onto the rope for dear life, flew up in the air, and then was dragged about 10 feet while still holding on. Everyone was cracking up, luckily Addie wasn't hurt and thought it was hilarious, so she kept falling.

Uncle Barry and GiGi in a competitive soccer game.

Penny and Granddaddy

Aunt Briarly and Addie tying up Granddaddy

Addie and Granddaddy

Uncle Barry and Addie

Addie and Granddaddy

Sweet Cousins. Chris and Briarly. :)

Penny and Granddaddy.

Granddaddy and Addie

Addie and her DaDa

Uncle Chris was seeing how high he could toss Addie. GiGi was not pleased. Ha.

She was running from person to person to have them throw her in the air.

My 2 favorite people.

Apparently Addie has been watching to much CSI, as she wanted her chalk outline drawn. Ha.

Liz and I ended our day with a trip to Flip Burger for birthday milkshakes. Nutella Marshmellow style. It. Was. Amazing. Seriously, everyone should try one! Plus, Flip makes their milkshakes with Liquid Nitrogen and that makes everything more fun.

Happy 30th, Liz!!

Christmas Day

Every.Single.Adult. was up before Addie and Penny. They got up around 8, and after both of them drank some milk, we headed to the living room.

First glimpse of the tree. Clearly GiGi is the most excited. :)

Penny running to start opening presents.

Addie heading for her presents.

Addie opening her Santa gift.

Penny opening her Santa gift.

The tricycles were a hit!

Granddaddy helping them ride in a circle.

Ryan had a golf Christmas. New golf glove (that he's modeling), golf shoes, golf clubs, golf balls, you get the idea. Needless to say, he's excited!

Chris. In a turban.

Addie opening presents.

Okay. I know she's 2. I know this is a paddle ball. But she really wanted it one day, and I told her she could have it for Christmas. We're working on not killing people with it.

Some of Addie's favorite things she got were for her pink dolly from Santa. She got a high chair, a stroller, a pack 'n play, and a bumbo chair. She loves taking care of her baby.

Delivering gifts to be opened.

Penny had asked Santa for 4 Dragon Books. So, in keeping with her Christmas theme, GiGi and Granddaddy found her this giant stuffed dragon. SHE LOVED IT. Addie was a bit freaked out by it at first, but once she realized Uncle Chris would fly them around the house on it, she was sold.

Penny got a Mr. Potato Head to match her Mrs. Potato Head.

Penny was having her Sesame Street band put on a concert for us all.

Uncle Chris modeling his new jacket.

And, then there was Sassy. After her health scare last month, she has been placed on a SUPER strict diet. She can only have dry diet food, and an occasional 5 calorie milk bone treat. Anyone who knows Sassy, knows this is very sad for her. The girl LOVES to eat. Usually she racks up on Christmas. Everyone spoils her more than normal. Unfortunately for her, I reminded everyone she couldn't have any food.

Penny helped her open her bags, and this was Sassy's reaction when she realized it was ALL toys and NO food. Poor Sassy Louise.

Dr. Addie is in the building.

Penny loves Richard Scary books, and lucky for her, her mama found her the world's biggest word book.

Weirdos.

Addie taking a break to have some "tea time" as she calls it.

Safety first. Ha.

Baby races. (For the record, Granddaddy and Addie won)

Playing monster finger puppets with GiGi.

So, we all found it REALLY funny that there was a GIANT dress up closet that neither one of them noticed until the very end. Here they are checking out themselves as ladybugs in the mirror on the side. (Penny actually got a dress up box from her Daddy, so GiGi and Granddaddy added to her stash as well)

Addie taking it all in. She LOVED LOVED LOVED this!!

Cowgirl Addie.

Thanks for the megaphone GiGi. :)

Seriously. I'd like to point out that I have the craftiest parents ever. Last year they built her the kitchen. This year, I requested a dress up closet for Addie. So, Granddaddy built and painted it, and GiGi filled it to the brim with all kinds of fun stuff! They are the best!

Another big hit was the Rapunzel vanity that Uncle Chris, Aunt Liz, and Penny got for Addie.

Addie checking it out.

Penny trying it out.

Granddaddy filming it all for everyone. :)

And, while everyone had a good Christmas, I must say I was MOST excited by what was under the tree for me. My parents COMPLETELY surprised me (which does NOT happen often) and got me a camera lens that was on my wish list! Canon 70-200 f/2.8 L. I LOVE IT. Just sayin'... 

Testing out the new lens on Granddaddy. :) 

We literally opened presents from about 8 am to 2 pm, with lots of breaks, snacks, and playing with toys in between. Unfortunately it rained all day long. Luckily we have a giant unfinished basement/garage that we took advantage of. The girls played down there for a couple of hours later that night to help get some energy out.

Thelma and Louise

Of course, Uncle Chris wanted in on the fun.

Then it was back to the dress up closet for the girls.

"The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize." Claree- Steel Magnolias 

I hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas! I can assure you, we did!