Christmas 2010 Wrap Up

This Christmas was one of the best ones that I can remember. I think children make Christmas so much brighter. From singing Happy Birthday to Jesus to hearing Santa Clause outside our window, it is just so much fun with little ones.

Here is how our Christmas went down:

We made our homemade wrapping paper along with Christmas cookie jars for some friends and family. The jars are a great gift for children to help make. SC had a blast making them. Thanks Jama for sharing the link for these jars on your blog! Too, we baked these cookies, and they were delicious!


We read the Christmas story and Twas the Night Before Christmas. Caroline missed out this year on reading the stories and exchanging ornaments because she had already fallen asleep. After reading the Bible, we asked SC if she wanted to sing Silent Night. Ronnie and I started singing it to her, and we both got a little choked up and had to quit singing. We talked about why it choked us up and came to the conclusion that it was a beautiful moment. We were sitting in the dark with only the Christmas tree lights shining, holding Sara Catherine, and praising our Lord. That is what Christmas is about.


When we finally went to bed, Sara Catherine and I heard Santa sleigh bells and heard him say Ho Ho Ho! ;) That made it even harder for a certain someone to fall asleep! We told her he must be at our neighbor's house, and she better hurry and go to sleep before he gets to our house!

On Christmas morning, we were up and around the tree by 6:30!

Rapunzel! I think I will be vacuuming up Rapunzel's hair for the next year!

Caroline LOVES her new car seat! She was squealing and clapping her hands on her first trip!
Then, I looked back and was able to capture this moment. It melted my heart!

After our house, we headed to Mom's. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast casserole that Christin and Hunter made. I will have to get the recipe and post it on the cooking blog. After we ate, we opened more presents!




SC and her infamous "Eugene" doll, Max, and Rapunzel! She was ECSTATIC over Eugene!!

After lunch, my cousin, Amanda, and her sweet family came to exchange presents and enjoy fellowship.

Lily and Caroline would not quit hugging. Too Sweet!

Two Rapunzels! SC=Rapunzel 1 with long hair. Ava=Rapunzel 2 with short hair because Eugene cut it off and it turned brown!

Around 4:30, we headed to Ronnie's parents to enjoy another Christmas gathering.

Isaac was hilarious every time he opened a Thomas toy. He was so excited!

Most of you are going to think I am crazy, but this was one of the presents I was most excited about receiving...and yes, it was on my Christmas list! Thanks to Ronnie's parents for getting it for me!

By the time we were home, we were all exhausted. We are blessed to have families that live close enough to visit them all and be back home all in one day!

Mom, Christin, and I decided that we would do something fun the day after Christmas since it can be a little depressing. We went to the Shakespeare Festival to see Peter Pan. It was a great play! One pirate came up to SC during the play, and Smee came up to her and let her "crow" in his mic! Not only did we enjoy the play, but we also enjoyed seeing the snow! It didn't stick, but it snowed for about two hours before the play!

If you look hard, you can see the snow flurries on Mom's coat. It was snowing harder than this, you just can't see it in the picture!




P.S.
This is how SC came home from her first hunting trip! They didn't see any deer, but Ronnie said she had a good time and was quiet!

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

The weatherman is predicting possible snow in Alabama on Christmas! Do you know how excited I am about this? Even if it is just flurries, I will be ecstatic! I remember as a child, I always wanted it to snow on Christmas! I guess we will have to wait and see!

The main reason I wanted to blog this afternoon is to share this...


Sara Catherine is on her first hunting trip! She is such a girlie girl that it is almost comical that she is hunting. She didn't ask Ronnie to go hunting. She told him that she wanted to go shoot a deer. He just text me the picture below and said that this is by far his favorite hunting trip...ever. I know that they are having a blast, even if they do not see anything.

I'm guessing she is looking out of the blind or shooting house for deer!

Caroline and I have been snuggling on the couch watching Polar Express. We are all ready for Christmas! We have made all sorts of goodies that I will share on a different post after Christmas.

From our Home to yours, Merry Christmas!

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." -Luke 2:14

Jingle All The Way

On Sunday, Thad and Mr. Jimmy Cox drove to every Wal-mart from Georgia to Andalusia looking for a "Eugene" doll from the movie Tangled. They were on their way home from a hunting trip when Mom told them to not come home without the doll!! Sara Catherine wants Tangled toys for Christmas and told Mom she wanted Eugene more than Rapunzel (which is already taken care of along with the horse, Max). When they left the Wal-Mart in Andalusia, Thad called Mom and said that there was NO Eugene doll, but there was a Flynn Rider doll at Andalusia Wal-Mart. Mom said that IS Eugene! By this time, they had already left Wal-Mart, and had driven all together two hours out of their way looking for Eugene. So, Mom hopped in her car and drove 90 miles an hour to get the doll (Mom and I had already searched a couple of days for this doll). Thad said there were only two left, so Wal-Mart must have just gotten them in and they were already going that fast. Luckily, she was able to get the Flynn Rider aka Eugene doll! All of this reminded me of the movie Jingle All the Way, even though, there was no fighting over the doll! Isn't funny the things grandparents will do for their grandchildren?! I think Thad owes Mr. Jimmy big time when Maddy gets a little bigger and wants the toy that obviously every other little girl wants! I want to say THANK YOU Thad, Mr. Jimmy, and Mom for going the extra mile!




Also, one of my best friends, Kelly, had her sweet baby boy yesterday. Riley D. weighed in at 8 pounds 3 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. Mommy and baby are doing great! God it so good! I can't wait to go see this sweet baby today! Here is a picture she text me yesterday:


I hope everyone is having a great week gearing up for Christmas! Santa's elves have been hard at work wrapping presents for the Sansom girls! We have also been making treats for family and friends that I saw on a friend's blog (Jama), but I don't want to post the pictures of SC making them because I want them to be a surprise!

Run Run Rudolph

I feel like I have been running like crazy! As soon as my feet hit the floor until I go to sleep at night, I have a million things to do. Since it is now my Christmas break, maybe I will have some time to chill out. So, what have we been up to in the past week and a half?

-The girls and I went out to eat with my friends, Whitney and Krista. They both are new moms, and it was quiet humorous trying to eat with 4 kids and 3 adults. The waiter stuck us at a table in the very middle of the restaurant on a Friday night. I heard the people beside us make a comment about wanting to move when we sat down with all of our babies! We had a good time, and I am glad we were able to catch up!

-I think that I am almost through Christmas shopping! I did a lot of shopping online this year. I normally don't, but since I'm a working woman, it was the easiest option! I haven't wrapped the first one.

-Speaking of shopping, Ronnie, the girls, and I went shopping and visited Santa on Wednesday night. Sara Catherine said she was going to be shy because last year Santa's breath was stinky. Luckily, his breath wasn't stinky this year, and she told him everything she wanted! Caroline was not digging Santa. We stood in line for over an hour, and it was past her bed time by the time it was our turn. As soon as I sat her in his lap, she start crying! I took this picture with my cell phone, but she was squirming, so it is blurry and definitely not the best. We bought the one that they took for us! I can't get my photos off of my camera to download (I'm being too impatient), so I just used this one! I want pictures on my blog because I know a lot of times people just scan the photos and don't read everything...that's why I always try to add a few pictures! :)


-I'm so excited for tomorrow to get here! For Christmas this year, Ronnie and I decided to only spend a little on each other AND get new living room furniture!!! We are going tomorrow to buy it! We've already picked it out, but if we waited until tomorrow, we get a discount...it's their Christmas Open House. The only bad thing is that it won't be here on Christmas, but at least we are saving money!

-This is totally random, but I have been meaning to blog about this. I keep forgetting! If you have a little girl, then this is a perfect gift to give her and her daddy! It is the book The Dance by Richard Paul Evans. Mom gave SC and Ronnie this book whenever I was pregnant with her. It is similar to Love You Forever, but for daddy's and their little girls. I cried after only reading the author's note. Hint: The painting of the beautiful little girl on the cover has something to do with the author's note...and no that is not his daughter. The pictures are beautiful in the book. I don't know if it is too late order and give for Christmas, but I definitely recommend it for the next holiday/birthday that roles around. Ronnie loves the book but says it's hard to read without getting a little choked up. The book is Sara Catherine to a T! You can order it on Amazon. If you order it, please, please, please let me know what you and your family think of the book and author's note. I promise the author's note adds so much to the book.


-Since I have already sent out most of my Christmas cards, I thought I would share it on here. This is the proof that was sent to my e-mail (hence the word proof across the picture!). Robert Evers took the picture and made the card. He is very good, and I was most pleased!! Click on his name to check out his blog and website.


-Last but certainly not least! Happy Birthday to my Mother in Law, Diann! I hope you've had a great Birthday! We love you!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

I love Christmas and love seeing all of the decorations going up! We went to the Opp Christmas parade on Thursday and a Christmas party last night, our Elf came this morning, our Christmas cards are ready to mailed, and I received a gift last night on my door step, so we are in the full swing of Christmas!!!

I don't know how many of you have ever heard of Elf on a Shelf, but our elf, aka "Herbie", came this morning! Last year, I was a little skeptical and thought it might scare SC. Anyway, we are doing it this year, and she LOVES it! She talks to him and even called people to let them know we have an elf!

Last night, Sara Catherine and I attended a paint party. It was for SC and about 9 other little girls who were also 4. They painted a snowman, ate pizza, made a picture frame ornament, and each received an ornament from the moms. I highly recommend paint parties. It is unique, and the girls have a blast. I tried very hard to let SC do most of it herself. She was so independent and did not want my help, but I still tried to guide her through it!

Picasso at work!


The masterpiece!


All of the girls with their paintings!


Snow-women!


SC and I with her painting.


Girls just want to have fun!


Heidi and SC with their picture frame ornaments that they also made!

Rylee is holding up the ornament from the moms. You can't see it, but it has a hot pink initial!

Caroline stayed with Korrie Lynn last night while we were at the party. KL posted this picture on facebook! I thought it was too sweet. When I picked her up, we went to Ronnie's basketball game. This was Caroline's first basketball game if you do not count when she was in the womb!


When we arrived home late last night, I had a very cute gift sitting at my door! Thank you Treleigh and Ms. Katrina for this adorable tree for my door!! I LOVE IT!! You guys are too sweet and generous! And here is my adorable gift...


If you have facebook, you should check out Chunky Chicks Tin Art. This tree makes my 5th piece...thanks again Treleigh and Ms. Katrina! I have had sooo many compliments when people drive by my house and see each of my different pieces hanging on my door or see the one in my classroom! And, the girl who makes them is SUPER sweet and gets them done very quickly! Not to mention, she is local! :)

I hope you all have a great December weekend! I hope we can drive through the lights in Enterprise tomorrow!!!