Christmas Rundown 2012

After high expectations for a wonderful Christmas, Anna Fair (see Easter as well) decided to change our plans and come down with the croup on Christmas eve eve. We still had a grand time, but things were a little different and she was definitely not up to her usually happy self.

We enjoyed Eve dinner with the Barbours and Hursts. Gigi read Twas the Night Before Christmas for everyone.




























Then headed home for Daddy to read the story of Jesus birth for us.














We first opened our stockings, Anna Fair ate her weight in Candy.















Then tore into our presents. Anna Fair's reaction to her first gift, "It not Candy." Said with much dejection. But Laurie didn't dissappoint with joy at each and every gift. Daddy and Laurie headed off to church while Anna Fair and I rested up.

































































Then to Yazoo City for Christmas with Pop. Anna Fair ate more candy.




























Then to Natchez for Christmas with the Ratcliffes. Apparently, there were no photos of Anna Fair eating candy with Grandaddy.





























Visiting with Grandma Betty.















Zoned out on Frosty and Breakfast Bars.

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours!

Last Christmas with Governor Barbour

Governor and Mrs. Barbour hosted a Santa Party for the young people on Monday. I wish I could have seen the girls faces as Santa came down the stairs. After seeing many Santas this month, Laurie was not easily fooled and asked if he were the real Santa.





















Why is it that 3 girls below look pretty as pictures and 2 girls look like they've never seen a cookie before in their life?
















Then on Tuesday, they hosted a family Christmas party. It happens that 2 nephews have birthdays in December, so there was lots of party entertainment for the young people. I heard a rumor that there were adult beverages and food in the other parlor, but I wouldn't know anything about that.

LEGOS!

The Art Museum was hosting a Lego exhibit and we visited with the Dales. The Legos were really cool, we died a thousand deaths that touching wasn't allowed. We couldn't help but take a tour through the new garden too. No flower was passed without stopping to sniff. And loved seeing a room full of Christmas trees.

Thrilled

I always like to get a picture with all of us in front of our tree. This picture of everyone patiently waiting for me to get my picture set up just right amuses me. They look thrilled, don't they?

Laurie's Christmas Party

With school out for the next 2 weeks, we thought it would be fun to have some friends over to play. We made a Christmas sleigh and tree ornaments. We decorated cookies, and ate a lot. When all our entertainments were spent, we plugged in the Grinch and relaxed. We love our sweet friends!

Snow Queen

Laurie takes ballet at Ballet Magnificat, who did a performance of the Snow Queen this weekend. We went with some sweet friends from her ballet class and all the little girls loved it. Laurie questioned me through the whole performance, Who is she? What are they doing? Afterwards, they had a cookie party and we were able to meet all the amazing performers. It was really fun to see them up close in their costumes. Laurie kept petting one of the dancers in her pretty costume.

Handmade - Part 2

Not to be outdone, Anna Fair came home with her own Christmas ornaments from school and proudly wanted hers displayed on our tree. She made the little red star of David and fingerprint Christmas tree.

Handmade

Laurie brought home several beautiful handmade ornaments from school, she so proudly hung them on our tree. And was about bursting to eat her lollypop.

Gingerbread House

Laurie's been begging to make another gingerbread house. For a few days, I pretended we were going to make one from scratch, then reality hit and we asked Daddy to buy us a kit. The girls had a blast decorating it and I had a blast being a mere spectator.

Best Laid Plans

We tried for the past two nights to attend Christmas Fest, last night it looked pretty busy, so we opted to ride around looking at Christmas lights for a while. This was a very poor second to a child promised a "festival". So, tonight, we promised to arrive as soon as it started to beat the crowd. Ha! Everyone else had the same idea, the line of cars out the gates and up the street had us wondering if they were handing out free frankincense. Knowing how displeased Laurie would be, I wracked my brain for a good replacement and we headed out to Winners Circle Park. It was just our speed.

Laurie petting the baby Jesus.














Visiting with Santa. Anna Fair has already visited him once and didn't love it then, so I didn't push the issue. But Laurie has totally bought into it, even asking him if he would say "Ho! Ho! Ho!"














Choo choo train.





























The girls got a kick out of playing in the park in the dark.

Christmas at the Natural Science Museum

Our Natural Science Museum had a fun craft day making things from nature. We made dragonflies, snowmen from gum tree balls and bird feeders with berries, crackers and oranges...















Santa Clauses from Magnolia leaves and colored sand.

Covenant Christmas Program

Laurie was in her first Christmas Program! Covenant put on a really sweet show and Laurie did really well. It broke my heart to see her anxiously scanning the crowd looking for us. But when she found us, my sweet baby waved and waved. I've tried to talk her into singing more of her songs, but no such luck.

I need to snuggle with you.

You're a Mean One

The Grinch came on tv this week and we snuggled in with our 2 cleanest Whos. In case you are wondering, those are elves on top of the tv.