Santa comes to Florida

Christmas 2008! Although we were not at home for Christmas, tradtions continues. Abbie wrote her usuall letter to Santa. This year she wrote it all by herself! Santa wrote back! This year we were able to actually track Santa on his journey-Abbie really thought that was cool! Santa left presents and filled the girls' stockings. The girls were able to open their stockings together when we arrived at Aeriells. The rest of the day was filled with outside activities and rain. Our first Florida Christmas!

Abbie's letter to Santa

Santa's reply:

Santa came!!!!

Stockings at Aeriell's
Oh to be 5 again! Santa emailed me to make sure he left the right Fashion Pup.

Creative Christmas

Christmas away from home is always a little different, but when you add in the "Aeriell factor" (being away from home)we have to be a little creative. Because Aeriell had to be back at school today, we let the girls open most of their gifts. Abbie requested that we hide them again and give clues to the location of the package. I have a feeling this might become a yearly event...at home next year though! Here are a few places the girls found their gifts:

Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom IS Magical!!

We took the ferry boat into The Magic Kingdom. What a sight to see!!!

GmaJudi and Abbie joined forces to zap "Surge" and help Buzz Lightyear.

Santa blessed us at the parade.


Mickey and Minnie always brings smiles!

WOW! What a way to end the evening!



Oh Christmas Tree Disney Style!

Hollywood Sudios

HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

2008

Brrrrrrrrr....it was a cold day in Florida today. Who would have thought about sweatshirts? We had a great time regardless of the weather. We saw so many things that we are still trying to digest it all. When ask what what everyone's favorite they replied:

Aeriell: High School Musical

Abbie: Autographs

Andy and Grandma Judi: Little Mermaid

Joni: 3D Muppet Movie.

The girls were able to get many autographs and pictures with the "stars."

We came back to the condo for a short recharge then headed back into the C-C-C-Cold to witness the most beautiful "Spectacle in Dancing Lights" show I have ever seen. The evening was capped off perfectly with pictures and autographs by Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

Tomorrow we are off to the Magic Kingdom! and hopefully a warmer day.

Another Tradition Continues

The Christmas tradition of new PJ's continues...just on a different day and location.

Christmas Scavenger Hunt

We are in Orlando this year for Christmas. Tonight the girls were given clues for three different presents, one being the PJ's. The last thing they had to find was a postcard. They then had to bring the postscard in order to exchange it for a present. They closed their eyes, and their Disney books were placed in front on them. Inside their scrapbook they found their pass to Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. It is so fun to be a parent!

Christmas ABC's

"Z is for the zest we greet on Christmas Day"

North Columbus Elementary School's kindergarten classes performed the Christmas ABC's. Abbie, of course, was the "Z" so we will spare you the entire alphabet and just highlight the letter Z. Afterwards they sang several Christmas songs. How did my little Abbie get so big? In case you need a translation the letter "Z" says, " Z is for the zest we greet on Christmas Day."

Charlie Brown Christmas

As expected, we spent the evening watching Charlie Brown Christmas.

Although Linus is an 8 1/2 year old, thumb-sucking, blankie toting boy his thoughts are profound!

"And there were in the same country shepherds, abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them! And they were sore afraid ... And the angel said unto them, "Fear not! For, behold, I bring you tidings o great joy, which shall be to all my people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ, the Lord."
"And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." And suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the Highest, and on Earth peace, and good will toward men."

"That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown." - Linus Van Pelt

Thank you Linus!

Oh where, oh where has BJ gone? Oh where, oh where can he be?

BJ, our Yorkie, likes to sneek under the covers in the morning while we are getting ready for

work.

Abbie got a nice good morning surprise when BJ popped his head out and gave her a nice warm kiss.

(Houdini, the house bully, had not yet discovered the whereabouts of his victim.)

Gingerbread Christmas Tree

Grandma Cathy came over and helped Abbie with her Gingerbread Tree. It was definately a sticky mess only Grandma's can manage!












I'm not quite sure of the amount of green icing that made it to Abbie's tummy, but it is my guess just about as much, if not more, than on the tree. The visible sign of this would be Abbie running around like BJ, our Yorkie, just coming out of his day in his kennell.


But hey, the look on this beautiful face makes it all worth it....I think!

Christmas Card Making

Today Abbie and I had a girl's day out that comprised of many activities. First, we went to the Scrapbook Shoppe to make Christmas cards. Being Abbie, she had to take time to check out what was in Santa's bag.

First comes the cold, gooey, and messy while paint.

Notice: This will be a left handed card due to a very valuable Hello Kittie bandaid.

Next comes the face.

Last is a little help making the reindeer.

Thanksgiving Day

We started the day wathcing the Macy's Day Parade and eating homemade blueberry pancakes!

It was such a beautiful day! The sun was out, the sky was clear, and the temperature perfect!!!!

Andy's mom, Cathy, fixed the entire meal, and it was GOOD!!!!

Abbie and her counsin, Megan, had a great time playing in the leaves. Such simple play is a perfect reminder of thankfullness-is that a word?

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving

Charlie Brown

Well, it is that time of year again. This is a tradition, I will admit, that I married into, but I don't mind keeping. We are all in our PJ's eating popcorn and cookies. Hearing the genuine laughter come from Abbie is precious, and a sound that I do not want to forget.

It reminds me, of the simple things that I often forget as I get wrapped up in the daily stresses of life. I think we could all use a friend like Linus. He tends to remind us of the true meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I send Linus thoughts to all!

Thanksgiving Program

"Talking Turkey"

Presented by NCES Kindergarten

I attended Abbie's first school performance this morning "Talking Turkey." She was a very proud pilgrim woman doted in a costume made from construction paper. Her innocence, joy, and love melted my heart when she saw me in the crowd and proudly waved...WOW...that makes a mom feel great.

It is not often that I have a day off when Abbie doesn't, so I took the opportunity to stay and visit for a while. She was busy in the "Writer's Workshop" drawing herself as a rock star. She took her turn at the turkey hand print station and then we were off to lunch.

"Mr. Turkey"

"I'm a Little Indian"

Introducing Houdini

Houdini joined our family in August. A student at my school and her family were PCSing and could not take the recently born kittens with them. So, knowing how tender hearted teachers are, she brought them to school. A fellow teacher then found her way to my room with a bag of adorable felines. Andy has always wanted a cat, so I took this opportunity to play on his heart. Before I could even finish my sentence he said yes-BJ wished he would have said no.

Houdini was MIA for the first couple of days leading us to search the house high and low and places in which I now know I need to dust. Finally we found him just for him to hide again...hence his name-Houdini.

When I brought him home he would fit in the palm of my hand, and now, he is like a panther. His sweet little spirit has now grown into a big bully. He taunts BJ so and is relentless. He attacks BJ from all corners and from above with upper and lower right and left hooks, head locks, take downs, and the POUNCE. He even finds BJ under the covers.

Houdini is not only a master of hiding but also a master of destruction. There are times that one would think a 3 year old had been in the room...except he doesn't know the Barney clean up song.

I will keep you posted on the tales and woes of our little ferocious feline.

Callaway Gardens

It's FINALLY Fall!

Our recent visit the Callaway Gardens Butterfly Center secured the notion that fall has arrived and is planning to stay for a while. The colors of the trees and the creation and beauty of all the butterflies we saw are reminders for some and proof to others that only God could have created such awe.

Abbie is still a little scared of the butterflies, and I guess if I were at her level, a butterfly would seem a little large. We found a butterfly guide sheet and she quickly became a butterfly hunter. Oh, only if the fears we had could be settled so easily.

As we strode back to the van, Abbie found several places to stop explore. GmaJudi...the picture by the yellow flowers is just for you!

Lookout candy...here I come

Trick or Treating with Abbie is far different from when I was a 5 year old. This yearly tradition of being overly saturated by free candy use to be a neighborhood event, but now children are bussed into neighborhoods in order to get their bags filled to the rim. When I was 5 my mom and dad didn't have drive me to familiar friends and families' house in order to be safe. We knew everyone in our neighborhood, even the one house that was known to be the one where the "witch" lived. Nevertheless, our Colt's Cheerleader made her rounds and informed us she was big enough to go to the door by herself. The one nice change since I was a kid is the involvement of the local churches. We took Abbie to North Highland Assembly of God where we participated in "Trunk or Treat", cotton candy, inflatables, and a Christian environment. Thank you North Highland.

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

A Family Tradition

We just finished watching the annual Charlie Brown Great Pumpkin and eating homemade carmel apples...doesn't get any better!

Pumpkin Patch at Chatahoochee Valley Church

My friend, Bridgette, from work invited Abbie (Andy and I assumed we were invited too) to her church's festival. It was a unseasonably warm day but beautiful. All the events were free and tended to by warm and gracious volunteers. Abbie's favorite event was the pony ride! She was a natural rider and so proud of herself. She played lots of games and made lots of new friends. Thank you Bridgette for the invitation, and thank you Chatahoochee Valley Church for welcoming us.