Even More Celebrating

This year when we talked to Bella about Christmas being Jesus's birthday, the first thing she asked was "Can we go to it?" A birthday to her is more than just a day- it's an event. Ideally, it has cake and ice cream too.
We did get to go to Grandma B's party/another Christmas get-together with my brother's family a couple of days after Christmas.
It's funny to watch these kids together since they are 5 (Jack), 4 (Bella), 2 1/2 (Andrew) and 1 1/2 (Lucy)- boy, girl, boy, girl. Jack leads, and everyone else follows. Bella usually comes away doing karate moves and imaginary sword swings for a couple of days.

Jack and Andrew got Bella and Lucy a puppet theater. Brian was nominated to go put it together, but he did have some "help". Mom and Dad, I almost hate for you to have to see what was going on in your bedroom as they were helping Brian:
The kids watching Grandma B blow out her birthday candle.
Happy Birthday Grandma B!
Lucy loved on Andrew.

And then they played the piano together- a favorite thing for all of the kids to do at Momo and Papa's. It's in the room there that they all call "my room."

Once the puppet theater was put together, it was time for a show. However, Lucy didn't quite get the idea of a puppet show. She wanted to see what was going on behind the curtain.
And eventually, they let her in- Peek-a-boo Lucy!

The next morning after church we went out for a nice lunch.

Lucy was thrilled with her dessert- a CUCAKE! The all caps is appropriate, because she more yells that word than says it.

I just like this picture of these two!

Ring Around the Rosey.
And now it's time to leave this nice place and take some naps!

Christmas Day (just a month late!)

The girls got a Barbie Jeep from Santa. Bella didn't actually ask for it, but at our old house the girls down the street had one and she talked about it all of the time. I think she forgot about it, so it was fun that she was completely surprised by it! Lucy's face when Bella pushed the "go" pedal in the living room was priceless, but I didn't get a picture of that since I was trying to shield our furniture.

What Bella did ask for was a "Hello Kitty Horse." I searched for it, googled it and watched for it on commercials. It doesn't exist. Well, it didn't exist, but it does now!
Horse from Target + Hello Kitty hair clippies, stickers and keychain from $1 Spot at Target = one Hello Kitty horse! :)
Lucy loved her baby dolls and Elmo (although she wasn't quite sure what to think of him at first).


After the girls tore through their gifts, they sat in their jeep and danced along to the radio music in the entryway (go pedal disabled) while Brian and I opened our gifts.
After our immediate family celebration, we went to Momo and Papa's for lunch (and of course more gifts).
Papa gave each of the girls a special bank that counts money for you. Bella kept asking for more coins, and guess who kept giving them to her?
The girls admiring Mrs. Goodbee's Talking Dollhouse.
And already fighting over it. I've been asked a lot lately if they get along well. Mostly, yes, but then there are these moments...
Bella decided she was tired of pictures and covered her face. Momo and Lucy agreed. The highlight of lunch for the girls (including me)? Mashed potatoes!


Finally, we went over to Brian's sister's (Aunt Lisa) house to be with his side of the family for dinner (and even MORE gifts).
The Nintendo drums were the "hit" at their house!


Bella was pretty much delirious at this point after no nap.

Lucy and Jake fit perfectly in this chair together!

Girl talk with cousin Bailey and her friend.
And that was our Christmas Day. Yes it was filled to the brim, but it was fun. We love seeing so much of our family all in one day and we truly can't imagine it any other way!

Granny

Granny was Brian's Granny; his Dad's mom. She had 4 kids, 15 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She was "Granny" to them, and to so many others too, whether they be in-laws or friends of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The thing I will remember most about Granny is how much she told each of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren that she loved them. She told them each time she saw them, usually more than once. Even if Bella was being shy, or running by chasing after a cousin, she would be sure to make sure Bella heard her say "Granny loves you!"

After each girl was born, she asked me several times "Aren't children the most wonderful gift from God?" She asked this of course believing it herself, but also, I think, to make sure we realized that too.

She loved seeing all of her children and their families together on Christmas Eve each year. We are so thankful that she was able to be there one last Christmas Eve. She died on January 9th.

Lucy warmed up to Granny quite a bit that night, and I am so glad we got these sweet pictures of the two of them.


Even though Lucy probably won't remember her, we'll tell her about Granny, and especially that Granny loved her.

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve was busy, but we wouldn't have it any other way. We had so many important things to do! Bella got to go to her first "Big Church" service (usually she's in her own class). She got to see people walk down the aisle dressed as Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the shepards and wisemen. She also got to hold her own candle at the end as we sang "Joy to the World", and she did very well, although it was pretty scary for me!
Here are the girls after the service (Lucy got to go play in the nursery).

After church, we went to Brian's sister's house for the annual HUGE family gathering. All of the cousins have so much fun together.
Bella's hair was a little out of place by this point. That was probably from running around the house trying to keep up with all of those boy cousins that are close to her age. She was having a ball.Lucy was pretty proud of a little hiding spot she found.
Santa always visits the kids, but while they were waiting for him, Jake pretended to be Santa.
Pretty soon, the real Santa arrived. He kept saying "y'all" though, so I'm not totally convinced.
Cousin Abby is always quick to help with Lucy and Lucy loves it. She waited on Abby's lap for her turn with Santa.
Aunt Lisa took her up to Santa, but I think she would rather have stayed on Abby's lap. Again, she didn't want much to do with Santa. However, she did manage to take the gift from him.

And it was worth it- a Barbie! Cousin Jadyn got one too, and they were both pretty excited.
After that, Lucy loosened up a little. She even twirled around in her new boa that she received in the cousin gift exchange.
Look at all of these cousins! We're so glad to have them!
After that, we went home and gave the girls baths. They picked out cookies to leave out for Santa, and Lucy went to bed. Don't worry, we don't usually let our 19 month old stand on the counter!
Bella tried to stay up with Grandpa who came over while we went with Grandma to the our church's 11:00 candlelight service. She didn't quite make it, which is a good thing since the next day was pretty busy too!

Our Christmas Card (and a funny story)

I took some pictures of the girls behind our house back in November, thinking maybe we could get a good Christmas card picture. I took about a million that day, but again, it was nearly impossible to get them both looking the same way and smiling. I finally settled on this one because at least Bella is smiling and Lucy has a sweet look on her face.

However, do you want to know what they were looking at? Back on the trail behind our house was a dead snake. Someone had mowed back there on that day and the little snake had been slightly chopped by the mower. Poor little guy. Bella was really interested in it, so Brian picked it up with a stick, and while that was all happening, I kept taking pictures. So if you do want your kids to look the same way- find a dead snake (or alive if you are feeling particularly adventurous)! And maybe the look on Lucy's face isn't sweet when you know the story behind it. She might just look a little terrified, in fact!

Oh, and as we were trying to get Bella to sit still for more than 10seconds, we were telling her to sit in her ballet pose. Brian even helped remind her what that pose was- what a good girl Dad! He doesn't know yet that I'm posting this for all to see though! :)



And some other pictures from that day:

The end!