December Part 2 - Merry Christmas 2012 and Snow!

Christmas was a very busy time as always.  Here are a few highlights of the 2012 Christmas season:

Lilly had the opportunity through her Barnes & Noble Storytime class to meet the ballerinas who appear in the Lexington Ballet's "The Nutcracker."  She loved them and proudly told the ballerinas that she had a tutu as well!  Ever since meeting the ballerinas, Lilly refuses to go to bed without her tutu and asked for tutus for her birthday so she can wear them with every outfit!  She is so cute at this age!

I challenged myself again by running in the Reindeer Ramble 5K.  It was a wet but fun run and I finished in 30 minutes 15 seconds, which isn't shabby considering I was running by myself.  Jeremy hurt his foot and had to back out but I promised myself that next year I am recruiting others to run with me - this is one run that can't be missed!  Do you like my glasses and headband?

Grammie and Grandpa came to Lexington to take us to the Southern Lights at the Kentucky Horse Park.  After viewing the lights, we stopped at the Horse Park to tour the vendors and take a picture with Uncle Bob and Aunt Windy's special Christmas glasses.  I think Liv is a good model, don't you?

We also continued our annual tradition of building a gingerbread house.  I think it was our best one yet!  Here are some pictures of the girls goofing around while building the house!

Just as last year, Olivia was eager to sit in Santa's lap and tell him everything she wanted for Christmas: Legos, a drum set, guitar, and a green Leapfrog LeapPad 2.  Lilly was still very shy but Santa managed to coax her into sitting on the arm of his chair.  Can you tell from her expression just how terrified she is of him??  She sent her proxy (Olivia) to tell him what she wanted for Christmas:  the "crazy" dog that chases its tail (a "Furreal Puppy"), a pink princess guitar, and a purple Leapfrog LeapPad 2.

Lilly performed in her Christmas recital at the Little Gym and showed us all the tricks she had learned over the past semester.  She is quite an active little girl!

We celebrated Christmas a few days early with Nanny and Papaw.  The girls were spoiled as usual, but  Nanny and Papaw do love spoiling them!  

Lilly was so excited about her Merida wig, outfit and "shooter," aka bow and arrow (as an aside, Liv calls a bow and arrow a "plunger" - it took us months to figure out what she was talking about).  She looked just like the character Merida from the movie Brave!  I, for one, am nervous about her wielding a bow and arrow - watch out!

The hit present - the Bat Cave!  Batman never goes out of style!

Lilly received a ballerina costume and she was quick to show us her ballet moves!

Christmas Eve, Grammie and Grandpa came to our house for our annual Christmas Eve dinner of beef tenderloin, brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, and rolls.  We also had hot wassail on hand (although I think I was the only one who drank it!).  Here are some pictures of us right before attending children's mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - one of my favorite Christmas activities!

The girls sprinkled reindeer food in the yard before church...

And left Santa some homemade cookies and milk.

We then read a Christmas book and headed to bed.  We weren't there long, because the girls woke me up at 6:00 the next morning screaming that Santa Clause had come!  Here are some pictures of them on Christmas morning with their new toys!

Lilly loved her pink princess guitar!

Olivia was so excited about her new drum set!

The Band!

Christmas Day we traveled to Memaw's house in Somerset to celebrate Christmas with the Cranfills.  Here are some pictures of Olivia and Lilly playing "makeup" with Abbey.

Olivia says a prayer every day at school that we have come to discover is a prayer that Memaw has also said everyday since she was Olivia's age.  The prayer, according to Olivia, is as follows:  

Angel of God, my guardian dear

To who God's love commits me here,

Ever this day be at my side,

To light and guard, to rule and guide.  

Amen.

This is a picture of her and Memaw with the framed prayer.  

And another one of me and my grandma!

Uncle Bob gave the men a special present this year.  Great-Aunt Edna has passed, but she is not forgotten - everyone received a special square dancing bowtie from her late husband's collection.  Only Aunt Edna!  Don't the guys look excited about modeling their bow ties?

Katie and I received a wonderful present to get us through the holidays - wine!  Thanks Uncle Jack and Aunt Jan!

Hannah's first Christmas with us - wonder what she thought of our crazy family?  It was Uncle Rusty's first Christmas home in a long time - we are so glad to have him back!

Such a sweet picture of Aunt Holly and Tucker

Grandpa started a new tradition this year by decorating his "Charlie Brown" tree outside the house.  Here he is trying desperately to get a picture with the tired and overstimulated grandkids - it didn't go well, as you can tell!

We finally ended the day with Christmas presents at Grammie and Grandpa's house.  Here is Tucker with his new bike.

Olivia was so excited about her superhero cape from Uncle Rusty and Hannah!

The cousins modeling their new superhero costumes - so cute!

Unfortunately, Uncle Chris had to work when we celebrated Christmas with Nanny and Papaw, so he came by the day after Christmas to exchange presents.  Mommy didn't get to see him, though, as she was sick with a stomach bug - not fun!

The first big snow of the season came just days after Christmas and the girls were so excited to build a snowman, make snow angels, and have a snowball fight!

The girls and Daddy with their snowman!

Watch out!

I think playing in the snow wore them out!  Here they are getting much needed rest after a busy Christmas season, playing on their new LeapFrog LeapPad 2s!