The Best Way to Spread Christmas Cheer...

...is singing LOUD for all to hear. 

David loves the Christmas movie, Elf and he takes Will Ferrel's character, Buddy, at his word when he explains that you must sing loud to help spread the joy of Christmastime.

The kids recently had their Christmas sing and class parties at school. Because of the lesson Elf taught him, David was by far the loudest singer in the whole school's performances. He even created a solo for himself at the end of Joy To The World. 

I laugh so hard my eyes water every time I watch that!! That's our boy!

Here's Rachael's classes song. So sweet. She doesn't sing any of it, but she does a great job ringing her bell. And David's down in the bottom of the screen waving to us.

And David's class with one more song. Once again, David is the loudest. 

Toward the end of the program David reached back to say hello to Rachael. It was so sweet and made my heart soar with happiness to watch my children's faces as they found each other. 

 

But, evidently this was something they did everytime they practiced thier singing. David had told me that one of Rachael's teachers [the blonde lady] would always reach out to make sure Rachael didn't fall off her step when he would grab her hand. I didn't really understand what he was talking about and then it happened during the performance. 

Back at their classrooms the parties were just getting started when Ryan and I arrived. I was so glad he was able to join us for this party!

I started out in Rachael's room where they were participating in their book swap via a game of "hot snowman". As the teacher played Christmas music, the kids passed around a toy snowman. When the music stopped the one holding him got to pick a wrapped book. 

Rachael was trying to pass it to the girl next to her, but she wasn't paying attention because she'd already gotten her book. So, Rachael gave it to the next little boy. 

It was finally her turn to pick!

And open her book!

You could tell she has an older brother to be so excited about a Cars Christmas book.

 

 

Over in David's classroom they were just sitting down to their Christmas snack time. 

 

 

Baby Girl was enjoying her Christmas snacks as well. 

 

 

After giving gifts to all their classmates and teachers, the kids were ready to go home. Except for one last stop. There's a nativity set up in front of the school. The kids and I had walked down to it earlier this month and loved taking a closer look at it. David really wanted his Daddy to come see it too. So, we all walked down to it. David had already thought about where he wanted everyone to sit.

He wanted to sit next to "Joshua" the lamb [a character in one of his favorite Christmas books], Rachael next to the Baby Jesus [her favorite of the nativity], and Daddy next to Joseph ['cause he's the Earthly Daddy].

 

Oh, and me? I'm next to a camel. My assigned spot. 

A few of my favorites from our time spent in the manger.

 

 

Ma's Birthday and A Christmas Parade

We kicked off the Christmas season several weeks ago with the celebration of Ma's 60th birthday and watching a Christmas parade through downtown Atlanta. 

We all met at our hotel in the city on Friday afternoon. The kids LOVE to stay in hotels, so they were super excited to get to our room and check it out. After settling in, we got ready for a very nice dinner out on the town. The weather was very mild, so we took a short stroll to the restaurant. 

All of us. 

 

We all enjoyed a delicious dinner and finished it with desserts. Of course, Ma got a special one.

 

David wanted his picture taken with Cate. He just adores her. 

 

When Rachael saw me taking David's picture, she said she wanted hers taken with her Daddy. But, when I turned to take it she changed her mind and I got this [still incredibly cute] picture.

 

It was a wonderful dinner and a great way to celebrate Ma!

The next morning we attended a very special breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus and many of the famous characters we all know and love from the Christmas season. 

The kids all dressed up just before going into the dinning room. 

David was beside himself with excitement when he saw Rudolph! He wanted his picture taken immediately.

 

Rachael wanted nothing to do with any of the characters. 

After eating a huge breakfast, the kids [well, mostly David] were ready to talk to the big man in red! 

This was the only way Rachael would have her picture taken with him.

 

David wanted to review his extensive list with Santa. 

 

 

Next we were off to the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Christmas Parade! We were able to sit in a special reserved section to watch which happened to be right where they were filming for tv! There was a major change in weather overnight, so all bundled up and sat close to each other to keep warm.

Everyone [except me] getting settled in for the parade.

 

David loved sitting with Big Daddy.

 

Mama and Baby Girl. Clearly, Rachael was too enthralled in the parade to take a picture. 

 About halfway through the parade we saw someone we knew!! Uncle Wayne was walking his Golden Retriever, Jackson, with a huge group from Adopt A Golden of Atlanta. We didn't know he was going to be in the parade. We yelled at him, but he was too busy letting every kid along the way pet and love on Jackson. He got left by his group because it was so kind to stop by every child who wanted to interact with his sweet puppy.

Here comes David's favorite!!!

 

And right behind him to close the parade was of course....

 

The entire weekend was SO MUCH FUN! Great memories were made that we will always treasure.

A Special Gift for Rachael

We spent the night at Twinkle and Bing's house after our third and final Thanksgiving feast. The following day we were able to enjoy some time with family we usually only get to see once a year. One of these people is Ryan's Aunt Carol.

I've always loved this picture from two years ago of her with David and Rachael...

 

She's always so kind to my babies and makes it very clear that she adores them. You may remember that last year she gave Rachael this beautiful bedspread that was once her's. 

 

Well this year, she really outdid herself. She actually gave Rachael TWO baby dolls that were her's as a little girl. Their names are Juanita [in the yellow dress] and Wendy [in the pink strips]. Interestingly, Juanita was brought back from Mexico as a gift to Aunt Carol by her maternal grandparents. Wendy was also a very special doll to Aunt Carol as a child. They're both about 65 years old.

 

WHAT?!

 I was in shock and Rachael couldn't stop staring about them. 

 

At first, when I was helping her open these special gifts, Rachael was a bit cranky, tired, and fussy. But, once she laid eyes on these beauties, it was love at first sight!

She. Loves. Them. 

 

To add to the specialness of these dolls-  the moment Bing saw Wendy he exclaimed, "Wendy! I remember playing with her too!"

After Rachael had a chance to gently play with her new babies then and when we got home, we quickly put them up on a shelf in her room where she can see them and enjoy them. But they aren't within her reach. She understands that they are very, very special. She loves to look at them and tell me their names and that Aunt Carol ["Aunt Car-col"] gave them to her.

Thanksgiving 2013

I love Thanksgiving.

 There's no presents to buy. Nothing to wrap. No worrying that the recipient won't like your gift. No costumes to make. No candy to purchase. No big production. 

Just family and food [two of my favorite things!] And LOTS of both.

We're lucky to be able to celebrate Thanksgiving THREE times!

The Sunday before Thanksgiving we got together with Twinkle's family.

Ryan's grandparents.
I LOVE this couple! Their love and commitment to each other is unwavering and timeless. Are they not the cutest couple ever?!

After our delicious fest, we took some group pictures.

Grandmother and Granddaddy with their grand and great-grand kids.



Spouses of the older grands added.



All the family in attendance!


Once the formal pictures were done we all went outside for some playtime!


Baby Girl had a blast riding down the hill in the wagon.
I love this sequence.






 



David wanted to ride in another wagon all by himself!
 

 That made me a little nervous, so I would run after to help get him slowed down before he drove it into the creek behind the house. Then I would pull him back up the hill. Sometimes Rachael wanted a lift too.

Notice all the wagon tracks in the yard...

I love this one of Aunt Sarah with two of her granddaughters. How fun!







The day before Thanksgiving is a holiday in itself on my side of the family.

All the grand kids help make the dressing.
These kids are growing up way too fast.



And of course my kids....mostly were eating.




 

  Such an awesome family tradition. I love it!


 

 Thanksgiving evening we drove to Twinkle and Bing's house for dinner with the extended Whitelaw family.

David tried to sneak a peak at the yummy turkey while Twinkle was carving it.



All who attended that night.

We are so thankful and blessed to have such wonderful family on both sides to gather with this time of year. Each person is special to us and we love them dearly.