Breakfast With Santa

We had breakfast with Santa at Nordstroms last Saturday. The girls were so excited and ready to set on Santa's lap once again.
When we arrived and ran into Frosty the Snowman. Brooke was so excited she ran up and hugged him. She was so smitten with Frosty while Presley was not so fond of him at first. But she did warm up to him later and ended up hugging him. We ate breakfast and shortly after we were finished Santa came down the escalator saying, "Ho Ho Ho Merry Christmas." I wish you could have seen there faces, so adorable and in awe of the man in the red suit. I was watching all the excitement and realized Santa was wearing the coolest boots. Check them out because of course I took a picture. Santa was so nice with his time and even took questions fom the crowd. We then headed to get in line so the girls could sit on Santa's lap. Brooke told Santa what she wanted and was ready to visit with Frosty again. Presley never told Santa what she wanted so mommy had to help her out a little but before she left his lap she gave him a great big hug. I wasn't expecting that from my little Presley but thought it was the sweetest gesture. The girls left the visit with Santa with some Hot Chocolate with candy canes and their photos with Santa. I thought it was a great day with the man in the red suit. By the way a lady at our table asked me if I saw Santa's boots and I informed her I took a picture of them because they were so cool.
We went home to nap and after nap we decorated the tree. They were so thrilled to be able to help. I would lay the ornaments in a pile for Presley and a pile for Brooke so their would not be any misunderstandng of the ornaments. Presley would say, "Mommy are those brakery." I would say, "yes, Presley they are breakable."
She was so chatty and cute. She would look at the ornament and say, "that's pitty." (pretty) Brooke was having just as much fun and conversing with Presley about the ornaments and letting her know what she was hanging. It was so precious to listen to them. Brooke gave up and started watching TV but not Presley she continued to help with the tree. She loves to help with any tasks and is such a great helper. We didn't finish the tree but I loved my time with my sweet little baby girls.The memories are forever etched in my mind.

A Little Easier

We had a great time at the Christmas Tea this year, each year it gets easier and easier. We walked in when Santa was walking in and it was a mistake because the girls needed to eat so I had to rush and get them some food. Yeah! Try getting two three year olds to eat something when they know Santa has arrived. It was a little rushed and crazy. But they ate a little something. They were in total awe when Santa was reading a book. The looks on their faces was so rewarding. It made me remember how excited I was to see Santa as a little girl. They then went upstairs to do a craft(bookmarks). It was even more crazy. My little independant girls wanted to do everthing by themselves which is usually fine with me but they were not the only ones doing the craft. I think they made two bookmarks each. It was so hard to get them back downstairs so they could sit in Santa's lap. They love doing any crafts and will do it for hours if I let them. Finally we went downstairs and I got Presley to sit in his lap and she was so consumed with the glue on her hands (we did wash them) that she didn't even really talk to Santa. Santa at one point even tried to help her get the glue off of her fingers. So we went to wash her hands once again. Brooke did great but she lounged on Santa. She laid back and got comfortable it was too funny. She told Santa what she wanted and was so proud. We then tried Presley again and she did okay but still didn't really talk to him but I guess all I cared about in the long run was the picture and we got one. Have I mentioned I am so tired by now chasing three year olds around a house heavily decorated for Christmas. I was exhausted and they were starting to get a little sassy and trying to go back upstairs and do more crafts. I was not wanting that at all because Brooke already had glue all over her. For those of you who don't know, Brooke uses her clothes as her napkin and she is messy. So, no I was not ready for more crafting. It was time to go. Santa was leaving and it was so cute Brooke watched out the door as he left and then Presley followed. I thought it was precious because I got the same picture last year of them watching Santa leave. Priceless in my eyes! I know it sounds like I didn't enjoy myself but I did because when my girls have a good time I enjoy watching them, it is just exhausting at this stage right now. So for the few people I was able to talk to It was great to see you and next year I will get to visit more because every year is a little easier. That's what people tell me?

A Christmas Party

Well, I am finally posting the pictures from the Christmas Party. It has been a crazy week and I have had a lot to do. We have just now put our tree up and it still has no decorations. The girls and I are going to do that tonight. I still have to get my Christmas cards in the mail. Next year I need to have better time mangement. I sy it everyyear and i creepsup on me and then I am crazy busy. I must like it that way because you think I would change it. I think the real culprit is Tim Holtz 12 tags of Christmas, I am consumed with it.
The girls had fun at the party. They wanted to play outside and man was it cold. Brooke kept taking her coat off. She ran around with the boys and big kids. She loves to play with other kids. She is my little social butterfly now. Presley use to be the social butterfly but she has taken a backseat and likes to observe and watch everyone. My little thinker. It was tiring keeping up with the two of them at a party full of things for them to get into but worth the exhaustion to see them interact with other kids. Remind me next time not to stand at an angle, it isn't a flattering position for me.

Adolphus Parade

We had a busy busy weekend but such a fun one. We did so much I will have to break it up in separate posts. We went to the Adolphus Parade on Saturday morning (early) and then went home to take a nap and off to another Christmas Party on Saturday evening. We were all tired but such a fun festive day. Then on Sunday the girls and I had a mother, daughter Christmas Tea. Boy if we weren't in the holiday spirit we definitely should be after the weekend. It was so cold on Saturday morning but we braved it and it was so worth it. We met at the Mathis house and headed to the parade all in one car. The girls thought that was really neat to get to ride with Clay and Josh. The parade didn't start until 10:00 but had to get their early and of all the days for it to be 28 degrees but we bundled up and had a blast. (no pun intended) The girls were so excited about the parade. Presley stood up and danced every time a band came around. She was having a ball, while Brooke sat in daddy's lap. I think she was cold because she didn't budge which is not normal for Brooke.She looks like she is so bored in some of the pictures. Brooke's favorite part of the parade was Rudolph and Presley's was Santa (aka Ho Ho). They also liked seeing Max from Max and Ruby(their favorite cartoon at the moment) and Thomas the Train. This was the first time to attend the parade and I think it will be a yearly event. It really is a great parade. The girls were wonderful considering how cold it was outside. After the parade was over we headed to lunch at Cafe Brazil with the group. We met some other friends that also have twins so we had three sets of twins and it was chaos at times. It was a great day and am so glad we braved the weather.

A Birthday For Daddy

Yesterday was daddy's birthday and the girls and I drove to Arlington to pick up a Red Velvet Cake from Red Oven. They have the best red velvet cake ever, after we picked up the cake we went to get Mama's Pizza because that is his favorite pizza and being that it was his birthday I think he deserved it. He was really surprised and the girls loved singing "Happy Birthday" to daddy. They practiced all the way to Arlington. It was so sweet to watch them get so excited.
We are going to the Adolphus Parade in the morning and it is going to be cold. I know the girls will have fun but pray they are not too cold to enjoy it. Clay and Josh will be there and they are more excited to see them than the parade. But I think once they understand what a parade is they will be ecstatic. This will be our first year at the parade and hopefully the start of many memories.

A December Day To Remember

Yesterday was the high light of my year. I went to Pioneer Woman's book signing and had a blast. It was a long wait, a six hour wait to be exact. But an interesting time meeting and talking to people. When she first came out she announced that she would be turning her love story into a book and there was much more to it and that it will be "juicy" were her exact words. So for those of you who are fans you will be pleased with that little bit of information. Borders handed out wrist bands and let me tell you we were one of the last colors and we knew we had a long wait.They also said they bought and sold 700 copies of her book. Wow!
I left my camera in the car and trecked back out in the rain to get it because Cari only had her small camera and we knew we had to get some great pictures and that we did.
I went with Cari and we both had said we were not leaving, we were in it for the long hall. Both of our husbands thought we had lost our minds and we probably did but I'll do it with her next book also. Did I just say that. We thought it would be midnight, oh no, it was 1:15 when we walked out of Borders and we were tired but it was all worth it. She was absolutely wonderful and gracious to see every person in line and sign every book and most people had more than one book. She looked as good as when she started signing books and still had a smile on her face for every person. That must be why no one wanted to leave. At one point they even offered to have people mail their books and she would mail them back after she signed them. I don't think anyone took that offer. Surprising! We were all there to see Ree Drummond. Towards the end of the line I was talking to this woman and she mentioned I Heart Faces (a cool photography blog) I turned to her and said I love that blog. She replied, that is my blog. It was Amy from I Heart Faces.She was so cool and had a wonderful personality. Amy It was so great to meet you and thanks for putting up with us silly girls. You have inspired me to participate in some of the contest on your blog. I am an amateur but heck, you have to start some where. I ran into a few people I knew which makes me realize it is such a small world and how many people follow Ree Drummond.
Cari and I have been thinking of something to get for Ree and we wanted it to be good. So on the day of the signing we both have epiphanies. Cari remembers that her father in law makes cool pens and ornaments out of wood and decides to drive over to to pick the perfect one out for Ree. I was in charge of making the card and while I was making the card I thought I should make her some coasters and I had 40 minutes before I had to get the girls. I made the coasters and I think they turned out pretty great if I do say so myself. I emailed Cari a picture and she thought it was too funny that I just happen to have tumble marble tiles, cork for the bottom and a sealer to protect the stamping on the coasters. But My craft room is full of stuff as most craft rooms are because after all we are all collectors right. Cari and I agreed we both work better under pressure. We didn't get to see her open the gift but I totally understand, after all it was 1:15 in the morning.
Right before we went up to see her, I had heard someone ask her if her cheeks were hurting from smiling and she said, "No, I think I must smile in my sleep because they seem to be fine." See that is how real and precious she is and that is why she has such a following. Only someone like her would smile in their sleep. Too cute!
I was behind her daughter Paige while waiting to get a coffee and she was asked what her dad thought about all this and she said, "he doesn't understand how she became so popular." So sweet!
When we finally made it up to talk to her and we didn't really say what we wanted to say we just rambled on it was like we were nervous ourselves to meet the infamous "Pioneer Woman." I felt like a teenager again, staying up late to meet an idol. Hmmm! Do we ever grow up? It was really worth the lost sleep and I would do it all over again. What a wonderful day in December I will cherish the memories forever.