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Christmas in July

These fun little gifts arrived in the mail in July! Yes I placed an order for Christmas presents that early. A friend of a friend is starting her own business so great to support that and I love having one thing done. (This obviously could not be posted until I give the bracelets but visit Charming Impressions' Facebook page or website to check out other creations once I do.)

Adorn-ments

Our selection of Christmas tree ornaments has grown significantly this year. Some of the crafts have fared better than others but all have been wonderful. Here are just a few of her creations:

Baking Cousins

Uncle Tom invited us over to what I believe should be the start of a Holiday tradition, (not just Christmas but any of them), bake & decorate cookies. The little girls had fun participating in every single step from cutting the dough to eating the final product. I think more sprinkles ended up on the table then these gingerbread men/dogs/snowmen, etc but who cares!

   

Preschool Christmas

Addie's Preschool Christmas Party was today and was not sure what to expect. I thought it would be a song then I would head back into the office to finish up a few things before picking her up at the normal time. I was grossly mistaken! There were crafts, a performance, lunch, dessert and play time! (They made an other ornament for our tree & food for Santa's reindeer so they are sure to find our house Christmas Eve night. Next was songs on the stage with hand motions and bells. Then is was time for pizza & decorating sugar cookies before the free-for-all of running around the Teen Activity Center while the parents chatted.) Needless to say I got nothing done at work today but it was a lot of fun!

This crew is really becoming tight friends and it is such a blessing to know my precious child is so loved by the other families. I know these kids will all end up at different elementary schools sooner then I would like to think about so am enjoying these moments while I can. {Addie told me on the way to school today that "Riley & Lowery are my best friends."}

Don't they look so big?!

The Goofball & The Saint

I hope I am not losing my willing poser, (Addie that is), because her new thing is to make funny faces for the camera and then see what she looked like. Don't worry though, her Teva-torture time certainly has no end in sight. Just 2 more reasons/examples of why I lovingly refer to her as rotten!

There is a fine line between tacky and festive

She still won't even hear of speaking to Santa but a blow-up inflatable?! Any kind, anywhere! She has me wanting to check them out after Christmas this year when all decorations are marked down. {Oh no!}

L to R: Cheese with the bear | Hugs for Santa | High five-ing the Snowman

The Bears!

Tonight we finally took this year's trip to take Addie to see Leonard Bearstein Symphony Orchestra or as they are simply refereed to, The Bears. I have heard it refereed to as one of the most annoying Christmas traditions but if you have a child it is a MUST on the holiday to-do list. It is a free, 45 minute show that runs 7 times a day during the week and hourly on the weekend. You'd think with so many show times it would be easy to catch a show but it is located uptown which always takes a bit more time, plus we wanted to coordinate so that daddy could join us. We decided on the 6 o'clock show and to grab dinner right afterwards so we arrived at Founder's Hall bathed and in Christmas jammies, (her new favorite pair). She was so excited but also waited very patiently for the big show to begin.















I believe it is the exact same show every year but we just enjoy watching her. To add to that I was taking pictures of her taking pictures of the bears. Ha! Our budding photographer was very focused. {I need to upload some of her shots to showcase.}















When the show was done, she didn't want to leave. She would say "just one more song". Cute except I could not make it do anymore songs if wanted to, that was the final show for the night. After realizing there wouldn't be much time for dinner we decided to walked to Panera. The motivation to leave the bears was the offer to get a bagel {yippee!}, only the find Panera closed AT SEVEN {oh no, we had just missed it}! What to do? Wave down the manager, point to Addie & mouth thru the glass if we could please buy just one bagel! I don't believe she really wanted to let us in, but you can't turn down these faces. --->



The selection was small but gambled with a pumpkin one and headed out to the lobby of the office building. She immediately "didn't like it" but we let her sit on top on a coffee-type table where she happily ate her promised bagel. Not sure what mom & dad were going to now do for dinner but we averted potential disaster & had a good laugh!  ;-)

Finding Joy

It has finally decided to feel like winter this week and a cold rain was not helping me be very perky today. However, this little one's reaction to the rain sure made me smile.

I am trying to unload the car of groceries as quickly as possible and keep asking her to stop trying to come outside. It is hard to tell her one thing though while I am doing to complete opposite so gave in and put on her rain coat. She was so excited to be walking around in the rain and not be getting wet! I forget how amazing things are to kids. Addie, thanks for sharing that joyful moment with me!

Date with Daddy

Jim has some 2012 vacation time he was going to lose if he didn't use so we picked a couple afternoons for him to join Addie & I for whatever was going on. Today, we met him for lunch at Chick-fil-A, headed over to Monkey Joe's, then it was music class and dinner out! Our toddler was a happy girl - primo company and nonstop entertainment but it wore daddy out. :-)

Budding Ballerina

Today Addie had her Christmas Dance Recital - all the little girls did great and The Booth Playhouse was the perfect place for it. Maybe it was the smaller venue, her veteran status or that our little girl is growing up {sigh} but she did AWESOME! The change in her from last time was so neat to see. Yes going from doing nothing to every single step was a major stride but seeing her enjoy herself was the absolute best! One thing that was the same was that tongue was sticking out of the side of her mouth just like before. :-)

Hide-n-Seek

Here are the first few places Udu has been"hiding"... on top of the grandfather clock, on the range hood, from the dining room wall and on the fireplace mantel. Trying to keep her out of reach because doubt Addie recalls the part about not being able to touch the elf.

Udu

Have you ever wondered how Santa could know if you're naughty or nice each year as you grow? For hundreds of years it's been a big secret. It now can be shared if you promise to keep it.

Well we began the new Christmas tradition tonight, reading the book as a family and trying to explain the concept to Addie. She did come up with a name (Udu) but then she immediately wanted to open the box to play with it?! So whether it will work or not is highly debatable but I plan to at least hide the little elf each night for her to find in the morning. As always, there are plenty of ideas on Pinterest but I don't really want our new elf friend being so mischievous. (Mostly I don't want to create a mess just to then clean up - ha!)

The coordinating website is cute... we got a Certificate of Adoption as well as a letter from Santa. I won't be purchasing paraphernalia but will record/watch "An Elf's Story" on CBS on December 14.

However Udu plays out, I do look forward to Christmas starting to be magical for her!
 

Rock & Read

Today Jim spent the morning volunteering at our neighborhood park while munchkin and I set out for a day on the town. First on our agenda was a road race and fun run but the adventure began sooner. We were running late so Jim literally dropped us off in the middle of the road where the race was about the begin. Being the competitive person I am, I couldn't just casually fall into the back and enjoy a jog with my daughter, I needed the official time so sprinted to pick up my timing chip. We got a few chuckles on the return sprint since the "start gun" had already gone off but it did justify my weaving through the other participants.

I only heard about the race through my sorority alumni club. Our national philanthropy is literacy and proceeds from the race were to benefit the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. It turned out to be a great event and one I will keep an eye out for next year. Winning my division, Females 30-39, helped but the race shirt, food, drink, fun run and door prizes were top notch. Addie "won" $10 to the movies for basically being cute and I ended up with $50 to Slate Interiors for cheering the loudest about something, ha!

It's extra weight to push but having my own mobile cheerleader is awesome!

Next we walked to the Light Rail. I felt so urban or European, regardless it was very nice to relax and be able to rely on public transportation. We took The Lynx from Scaleybark all the way up to 7th Street and walked to our next destination, ImaginOn, where we met friends for Storytime. Next we walked over to Brixx for a fun lunch. I would love to say I walked home from there but we loaded the jog stroller into my friend's car and caught a ride instead. All in all I felt like we conquered the day!

Art By Me

I love that Preschool sends so many art projects home for parents but I also am not sure what to really do with it all. As usual I have grand ideas and intentions but time always runs away from me. Even so, it still hurts me to just throw her work away but as that pile grows taller I am getting better about picking the more special pieces. Such as this sweet project...

The even cute part of this is there was the opportunity to order this as magnets, bookmarks, mousepads, etc but that is where time got away from us again. At least I can share it with you here.

Halloween Fun

Today we went over to Kilgo Methodist Church for their costume parade, trunk-or-treat and to purchase some pumpkins. Only 1 of the 3 events was successful for us. Addie had no interest being involved with any of the crowd and candy was not worth it for her to speak to any stranger, especially ones in costume. We did end up having lunch there before heading home and I prefer she eat a hot dog over chocolate and sugar anyway so that was all fine by me.

I knew my child would not want to dig into the guts of a pumpkin and my husband would not help me carve it so tried a different route. Above is a before - during - after shot of our little craft.
 

Buddies

I originally wanted to get a picture this morning because she was about to wear pants to school for the first time in I can't recall how long BUT she then wanted to pose with her Teva and I happily obliged!

By the way, these are NOT pants, it is a dress and leggings as far as she is concerned. It hasn't been too cold yet to worry but whatever works to keep her warm this winter!

My Little Pumpkin

Today was one of those Indian Summer sort of days so we ventured up to Hodges Farm to visit their Pumpkin Patch! Not sure what we were in for but {admittedly} envisioning this picturesque land and a happy girl excited to go on a hay ride, find her pumpkin and pose for pictures. You'd think I would know better by now. We had a great time, I got some pictures but my little observer was most happy to sit in our laps, eat kettle korn and just take in all that was going on.

 

There was this drool worthy field of sunflowers as well but we didn't even leave with a pumpkin so guess I should be happy with the quick picture I did get of one!

Nothing to do with our fall outing, but later that afternoon she was getting quite the kick out of a pair of my cowboy boots. Doesn't she wear them well?!

Happy Happy Happy

Look out World, I'm THREE! Happy Birthday Addilyn! We love you a lot and a lot! (As you would say.)

Was this really three years ago!? Oh my goodness you are such a big girl!

Pinterest Inspired Painting Party

I was pretty excited about this party! It would be the first time it was really something FOR Addie, and I believe she actually understood that. We invited HER friends and they did something SHE loves. Everyone seemed to have a blast, especially the birthday girl!

(I was busy running around so sadly did not get nearly as many pictures as I would have liked to. I am hoping friends were able to capture some of the moments I missed.)

My little poser was willing to humor her family... at least for a little while before having to take a second look at her canvas, (and then another!)

               

Thanks for making the trip Grands!

Everyone got to take home their individual masterpieces. Planning to hang her two in the hall bathroom. Not sure where to put this one - a hand print from each of her special friends that were able to celebrate with us. (Should add Teva's print to that bottom right corner.)