Christmas Vacation

Yea! The camera made it!

Here is a real quick like review of the big Christmas Vacation (BTW: Christmas Vacation: One of the funniest movies ever made!).

First stop: Watkinsville, GA at Aunt Sissy and Uncle Rusty's house.

Bath time at Aunt Sissy's

Big trampoline/bungee thing at the mall that E LOVED

Before Santa's arrival

Stocking loot

Tree loot

She went for the shoes first (smart girl!)

Pointed toe excitement!

As if there weren't enought gifts to be had in Athens, we headed over to Cedartown around lunch on Christmas day. This is when we got our first taste of not all the stuff fitting in the trunk! Little did we know we would have two more tastes of that!

There was lots of present opening in Cedartown and lots of accompanying pictures, but this one is the best.

E's a plumber - that cracks me up! Ha!

Splashing around in her new rain boots from Aunt Jamie; getting coiffed

Feeding Lonesome a Stud Muffin (horse treats from Aunt Sissy)

E's new fave book 'What's That Awful Smell?'

Kissing at the bird at Opie's retirement home

Us with Opie

Then it was off to Mom's new, fab house in Alabama. Ella got her dog fix with Mom's dog Noel.

Tug o' War

I feel like I didn't take enough pictures, especially in Cedartown and Alabama... that is SO unlike me!

Now that I have my camera back, thank goodness, I can get back to my regular posting! (Umm... you recognize good intentions, don't you?!)

Sneak Peek

My camera is still en route to my eager hands. Until it arrives, this picture from Mom's camera will have to hold you over. Aren't we just so darn cute?!

Football Fever

Hot damn, go Dawgs! We got to watch the game with Marisa and Rusty on the big HD screen which was very cool. Even cooler was the off-sides kick that set the win in motion. That was the team I had been looking for most of the season! Vanderbilt who? (Possibly the loss to Kentucky shouldn't hurt so bad since they managed to beat Clemson. Is this the start of a new day for UK?!)

Last night was one helluva Fiesta Bowl between University of Oklahoma and Boise State. Yeah, Boise State. Who knew? They certainly game OU a run for their money in one of the most exciting games I have seen in a while. And I didn't even care who won! The last quarter and OT were fantastic.

While I have never been accused of being a Florida fan, I will root for the SEC in the Championship game. Keepin' it in the family.

Comforts of Home

After living out of the south for quite some time now, I am a little more in tune to things when we go home. Little things that I wouldn't have given a second thought when I lived there. Wonderful things that I miss sorely and took slight pleasure in seeing and hearing (or even eating!) again.

I tried to keep a list in my head, but that seems to have gotten lost among other things... Here's what I can retrieve from the murky depths:

Curvy roads- Kansas isn't all flat and straight, but it's damn sure close when you compare it to Hwy 53 running through north Georgia. How out of practice I am!

Sweet tea- Flows like water. Especially at Costa's BBQ in Trussville, AL. After two refills and a to-go cup, I was in sugar induced euphoria. The chopped pork wasn't too shabby either!

"Hey, how'r y'all?"- Juust fiiiiiiiine!

Chick-Fil-A- Mmmmmmm..... Eat more chicken. With sweet tea.

UGA stickers, license plates, shirts and hats- I'm so used to looking twice when I see one in Kansas that I was looking twice all over the place in Georgia! I took the opportunity to secure my very own G sticker for my car. Don't wanna be left out!

Bologna biscuits- I kid you not. I had never seen such but at certain Alabama establishments, they seem to be popular. Only down south.

Piggly Wiggly- Grocery store of the gods. I hadn't seen a Pig in years until the drive through NE Alabama. Good stuff.

And one last thing, seen on I-65N just over the Tennessee line:

Boobie Bungalow- I think this needs no explaination.

Christmas Eve

David, Marisa and I went to the 11pm candlelight service at our old church in Athens. It's the church that David and I were married in and is one of my favorites.

I have always loved candlelight services. Granny and Grandaddy took us grandkids to the one at the Presbyterian church downtown when we were little. Although we didn't quite understand the whole meaning, I still enjoyed them (even if it was just to drip hot wax on Marisa and Joy!).

Marisa came with us to relive the good ol' days, although we refrained from getting each other with the wax. The service was very nice and culminated with singing 'Silent Night' as the candles were lit and then the whole church, illuminated by hundreds of candles, sang 'Joy to the World'. It filled me with the Christmas spirit, not of presents and bows, but of the real reason we celebrate.

As we left the church, right at midnight, it was beginning to rain and the bells were ringing gloriously. I could have stood in the cleansing rain indefinitely, listening to the bells herald the arrival of Christmas day and Jesus Christ. Joy to the world, indeed.

Withdrawal

I can't believe that it has been almost two weeks since I have posted! Part of me can believe it since sometimes things happen or I have thoughts that I want to post about. Internet service wasn't readily available during our extended vacation so I have lots of things jumbled up in my head. To try and maintain some form of sanity, I need to get these things out!

Unfortunately, in the midst of all of the activities, I left my camera at Mom's house. Oops. The big vacation roundup picture extravaganza will have to wait until my friendly mailman delivers the goods! Until then, a few other things...

Christmas in Dixie

This afternoon we are loading up the Honda and heading for the homeland for a nice long visit with the family. Even though traveling at Christmas can be stressful at times, I don't care. It's all worth it to me.

I am so excited to see everyone and get to visit for more than a day. I am even more excited for Marisa and Rusty to share in our Christmas and to see Ella on Christmas morning. This is the first year that she actually understands the concept of Santa so we should be in for a really good time!

If we don't get to see you this next week, I would like to wish you a wonderful Christmas filled with family, piles of delicious food, lots of twinkling lights, a special gift under the tree that is just what you were hoping for, a chill in the air and more joy than you can stand. I would also encourage everyone to try and make it to a Christmas Eve service at your church of choice. They are always so beautiful and will remind you why we are all celebrating this wonderful time of year.

Christmas in Dixie. It doesn't get much better than that.

Mallory's Party

This past Sunday we celebrated Mallory's 3rd birthday (which was actually the day after Ella's) with Strawberry Shortcake!

Happy Birthday to Miss Mal!

Mal didn't quite know what to think about the duck that sings and dances!

Aunt Pam can sure make a great cake!

Little Big Girl

Ella got this sweater from Angie and Scott for her birthday and we thought that she looked so grown up in it! (I didn't have my camera at home so I had to use my phone cam - sorry for the poor quality.)

Presents

A few pictures from this morning when Ella opened a couple of gifts that we kept out just for today. She can't not open presents on her birthday!

Big 3

Happy Birthday to Ella!

My baby girl turned 3 today! Just three short years ago David and I were blessed with the most wonderful gift that we could ever imagine. Right before I went in for surgery I was on the phone with Mom and she told me "Your life is about to change forever". How right she was. Not just in the way of changing diapers, losing sleep and the huge responsibility that comes with parenthood. I have easily gotten used to the extra work.

What I still can't seem to fathom is the immense amount of love and concern that being a parent brings. Sometimes I am in awe of how one little girl can make my heart feel like it's too big for my chest, bring me to tears at the thought of her enduring an ounce of pain and make me willing to go to great lengths for her happiness and safety. Now I know why David always said he would rather tangle with a bull than take on a mama cow with her calf. It's nature at it's finest.

Three years ago at this very minute I was flying on some good drugs, basking in the new mommy glow and beginning the greatest, wildest, most fun and rewarding ride of my life.

Then

and now.

Bath Laugh

Kristina gave Ella lots of bath time goodies for her birthday. I was very excited for her because I'm not the one who normally gives Ella her bath. David, on the other hand, was a little less thrilled imagining what kind of a mess he was in for!

Spray foam soap

Ella likes to have cold water poured on her, for some crazy reason. It makes her scream and then laugh so hard. I just had to capture a little bit of this madness with a little movie. Click here to see the bath laugh movie.

Party Girl

We had Ella's 3rd birthday party Sunday afternoon and it was a great success! It was Wildcat themed and eveyone was asked to wear purple. I may have gone a liiiittle overboard but hey, it was the theme and I ran with it!

Party girls




The spur leathers that David made.



Queen Kristina and the girls



E wasted no time ripping into her gifts.



Ella and Uncle Jeff



The girls and the three ELLA cups she got. (Notice they all have on dress up slippers - thank goodness we had three pairs!)



Check out the fancy cake I made!



Chowing down


The Princess Tree that Grandmama & Jim sent

New 'Do

Chic Chef

Cooking in heels. Where'd she learn that?!

The casserole must be done

"And then..."

She did all that in just a few moments time!