Friday, December 17, 2010

Santa's Village

Tonight we decided to have some family fun at Santa's Village.

It is this darling, historic part of town that they set up special during Christmas. They have live reindeer, Santa's Workshop (where elves are making wooden toys), Mrs. Claus' kitchen (where you can decorate your own gingerbread cookie), a craft area where you can make your own ornament, Story Time with Mrs. Claus, a stage with dancers, and of course a photo op with the man himself - Santa Claus!


Riding Santa's Sleigh






Charlotte's most favorite part was being read to by Mrs. Claus. She eagerly sat on Mrs. Claus' lap was attentive to every word.


What you can't see in this picture is the crowd of 30 or so adults and children packed in the room to listen to the stories. For Charlotte, this made no matter, as far as she was concerned, Mrs. Claus was reading just for HER!


Charlotte even helped pick out one of the books.


Even when she was supposed to be sitting with us, Charlotte had to walk right up to Mrs. Claus to get a better look. And there she stayed, fully captivated.

Afterwards, Mrs. Claus said to Daniel, "You can always tell the children who are read to... and the ones who aren't... Your daughter clearly loves to read!" Well, what would you expect from a girl, who when she spoke her first word, said, "Book!"

***
After such a memorable visit with Mrs. Claus we decided to forgo waiting in the long line outside in the cold, promising that we will stop by and see Santa another time.


Decorating the gingerbread cookie with Daddy.



SNOW!
(although it DOES snow in AL, this was man-made... )
STILL it was fun to see Charlotte's excitement and scrunched up nose as the snowflakes landed on her nose and eyelashes!




Gingerbread Houses

Last weekend we made gingerbread houses.


We let Charlotte stay up past her bedtime to help.




Our friends, Jeremiah and Nicole, made one too - Jeremiah wants you to notice the "tire swing" made out of a LifeSaver and Twizzler Pull-N-Peel... good work!

Daniel went for a more dramatic theme...




As for myself, I am a fan of the traditional style...













Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Christmas Tree

We went to get our Christmas tree this weekend! We found this local vendor just down the street from us.



Charlotte liked this baby tree.


I think this little display of yard decorations looks like it belongs in a fairytale.


Decorating...
(I love her sweet pudgy little hands!)









Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Salt Dough Christmas Ornaments

Yesterday I decided to make salt dough Christmas ornaments with Charlotte. I found a recipe online and this is how they turned out!

I am still planning on painting them (I will post the picture later).


This was the process.




Charlotte wanted to taste the dough...





She is thinking about it...


Blehk!









Friday, December 3, 2010

Thanksgiving


This was our first Thanksgiving in our new home!



Going around the table from left to right: Jacob, my Dad, Andy, Wyatt, Sarah, Daniel's Dad and Mom, Garrett, and my Mom. We had a full table (and even fuller tummies!).



I made my very first turkey...





(Thanks for the help, Mom!)




Charlotte knows that a turkey says, "gobble, gobble!"








Then we enjoyed some after dinner reading...



If you are wondering how we spent our morning.... we were NOT slaving away in the kitchen.
No, we were enjoying some unusually warm weather!

Playing tennis....



Jumping....


Driving....



Posing...


Climbing...


Sliding...


Swinging....



I am so thankful for my dear husband and darling daughter. I LOVE being a mom. I am thankful I can stay home with her and be there to watch her grow and develop. I am thankful for the wonderful family I was born to and the lovely family I married into. I am thankful for our beautiful new home, good health, and good food. We have been richly blessed.