Christmas Eve

Abbie & Sophie with Keri

Abbie loved her little kitty cat

our family

For Christmas Eve this year, my cousin, Keri, and her husband, Matt, hosted all of the Waggoner/Vaughn clans at their house for the first time. We all had a great time! Keri was a little bit concerned about not having enough space but it was just fine. I didn't take very many pictures but as usual, the girls had a blast with all of my first cousins and aunts and uncles. We were able to see several family members that we don't see that often. Sophie helped pass out the gifts and Abbie tried to open a couple that were not hers but we passed them on to the rightful owner. It's kind of a tradition for us to sing "the 12 days of Christmas" and this year my uncle had bought an ornament to represent each of the 12 days to pass out which was kind of fun. The girls were both very excited to go home and get things ready for Santa (put the cookies out for him with a note), put out our reindeer food, etc.

An Early Christmas

Matt baby and Daba as Abbie calls them

Abbie and Sophie with Paw-paw

Abbie wants to help put her new Tinkerbell scooter together.

This past Saturday, we celebrated an early Christmas with Aunt Martha and Uncle Matt as well as Nana and Paw-paw.  Martha & Matt were in town for several days but they will be spending Christmas in South Carolina.  Aunt Martha just started a teaching job in Kentucky but they haven't officially moved back to the area yet.  Nana hosted a wonderful brunch at her house and invited members from both Nana and Paw-paw's sides of the family.  All of the food was delicious and the girls enjoyed seeing their Burton and Waggoner cousins!  After most of the family left, our immediate family stayed and exchanged gifts.  As soon as Abbie woke up that morning she said, I  want to see Daba (her name for Martha).  Abbie and Sophie were so excited to open all of the gifts.  It's fun to watch them! 

Abbie was really excited to receive her own scooter from Nana and Paw-paw.  Sophie and Abbie received Toy Story 3 which was on their wish list.  Abbie also received a book of Farmyard Tales, a mermaid barbie and some clothes.  Sophie was very excited to receive a large Strawberry Shortcake set that she had on her wish list.  The girls were so excited to see Matt & Martha again.  Abbie sometimes calls Uncle Matt, Matt baby because he used to say she was a baby.  Then, she'd reply, "no, you a baby!"  =)  This was our 2nd early Christmas because we celebrated with Uncle Phil right after Thanksgiving since he was leaving on his mission trip.  It's been kind of nice to spread Christmas out this year but we will miss Uncle Phil and Aunt Martha/ Uncle Matt being around at Christmas.

Kindergarten Christmas Party

Sophie & Samantha

Sophie poses with her gingerbread house

This past Friday, I was able to attend Sophie's school "winter" party (AKA Christmas party). Siblings are not allowed to attend so my friend, Julie, was kind enough to babysit Abbie. Jax and Abbie had a good time playing together. The field in front of the school was covered with cars and you had to trek up and down hills to get to the school (seriously-the land in front of their school is not flat). The party was a lot of fun and several parents were able to come. The kids had plenty of time to decorate gingerbread houses. they all had so much fun decorating them! Then, they had a book exchange. Each child also received treats in their gingerbread house that was hanging in the hallway if they behaved each day. They brought home all of their goodies after the Christmas party. Their classroom had an elf who watched them to see if they were behaving or not.

Eat Cookies and then Exercise!

Sophie loves to help decorate cookies! We decorated cookies on our snow day.

Abbie & Sophie with our "Festivitree" in the background that we made. This was our first time to try it and it was a little challenging for me.

I was trying to exercise a little one afternoon using my WiiFit. I thought that Abbie could watch a video while I did step aerobics (she didn't take a nap that afternoon). It turned out that she really wanted to exercise too. I hadn't counted on that. I let her try my weights when I was done.

Snow Day

the girls checking out the snow on our deck

sledding with Daddy

pulling the sled up our alley

Sophie's happy to see some snow!

Last Sunday, it started snowing and it continued to snow all day. I didn't know if it would amount to anything or not as we went to church, etc. In the afternoon, it started to stick though. We probably got an inch or two of snow. Sophie was out of school on Monday and she had a late day on Tuesday. Abbie was out all day on Tuesday. The girls had a blast as we took them out to sled. When we came in, Mama made hot cocoa and they loved it! Later, we decorated sugar cookies. All in all, it was a perfect snow day (except we didn't build a snowman)! It was really fun having both girls home and for Abbie to be old enough to get out in the snow more too. =)

Christmas Festivities

Abbie with a funny expression as she eats a cookie.

We love Abbie's new owl hat( can you tell she's proud of it)!

a letter from our elf

We've been busy getting ready for Christmas! There's just been a lot going on. One day this week, we went over to Jax's house for a little Christmas party. It was so nice. I didn't get any great pictures but his mom, Julie, had set up tables for the kids to decorate sugar cookies, they could also make little picture frames and play. Then, she had prepared a wonderful lunch for all of the moms and kids. It was a really sweet idea and we enjoyed it!

Abbie also tried out her new hat this week. It is super cute! She loves it which is good because maybe I can get her to wear it. It's been so cold this past week!

Also, on December 1, our elf, Crispin, came back to keep an eye on the kids and report back to Santa. I'll try to take a picture of him soon. He's been all over the house as he does each year but this morning, the girls came downstairs and didn't find Crispin. He had left them a letter stating that Abbie had not been behaving very well and obeying so he was going to stay away for a few days. Hopefully, Abbie will straighten up so that Crispin can come back to see us. The girls enjoy finding him each day. He's been in the tree, in the fridge drinking a coke, in both of their rooms, on the microwave, etc. Sophie has also really enjoyed having an elf visit her classroom at school this year. Mrs. Rogers class named their elf, Snowflake. This week, the children have been able to rotate between all of the kindergarten classes to learn about Christmas traditions and make special crafts. All of the kids made little gingerbread houses to put out in the hall and they get little treats each day from their elf if they have been good!

Tonight, we went to a special Polar Express pajama story time at Barnes and Noble. It was being held for Sophie's school. It was cute because they gave each of the kids a ticket and then the man who read the book had his little conductor's hat on. There was a pretty good turn-out for the story hour. They also gave out cookies. I coudn't hear the man from the back of the crowd but hopefully, most of the kids could hear him. I think the girls really enjoyed going out in their pajamas and Sophie met up with a couple of girls that she knew. We also looked at some Christmas lights around our neighborhood. On our way home, we stopped at Krispy Kreme for some doughnuts to take home. It was a special night for all of us!

Opryland Hotel

The day before Thanksgiving, we decided to head out to Opryland Hotel to see the Christmas lights. We dressed the girls up so that we could try to take their picture for our Christmas card. It was great time to go because it was crowded although there wasn't as much going on since we went during the daytime. It was neat to see the hotel now that it's reopened after the flood. For the most part, I thought it looked the same. There were some changes. We were able to get a decent picture for a card but I didn't include it on here so that I don't spoil the surprise!
After we visited the hotel, we drove over to the Bass Pro Shop (the only thing at the Opry Mills Mall now). The girls enjoyed seeing several remote control toys including the train and the big fish tank. We were really hoping that Santa Claus would be there though. He wasn't there since it was a weekday. Oh, well! We've never had both girls so excited about seeing Santa before although Abbie usually says that she doesn't like him.
In other news, Abbie is now potty trained. It is wonderful! I spent a couple of days at home the week before Thanksgiving. She still has occasional accidents and she has to go a lot but she is doing great. Yay!!