Happy Birthday Mimi!

Saturday was Mimi's Birthday and we had a great celebration! We met in Tulsa at Caz's Chowhouse and had a yummy dinner. It was quite a crew - G. Gram (Mimi's Mom), Dejah (G. Gram's Sister), Mike & Susan (Mimi's Brother and Sis-N-Law), Emily (Mike & Susan's Daughter) and several of her friends!!!

Mimi and the Birthday Fairies!

Addie and G

Most people sing for birthdays - and we do that too - but this year the girls added cheering to the mix! Here are two of their best - Go Mimi's Birthday!!!

After dinner all the girls went to the Nutcracker!! We sat front row, center! Thanks Aunt Susan for the tickets!!!

Addie, Mimi, Susan, G. Gram, Dejah

Vivian loved the Nutcracker! At one point, she leaned over to Mimi and said, "This is the greatest night of my life!" (No dramatic flare there!?!)

Addison, on the other hand, put on her own show! The highlight being intermission: A lady was scooting down the row in front of us with her back side to us. I wasn't paying much attention (not that I could have seen this coming) but I hear a loud SMACK! I looked about the time the lady jumped and looked back - OH YEA, Addison had given this lady a serious Smack Bottom! I apologized a million times (wishing I had a shovel and could dig a hole to crawl in). She was very nice and walked on. I asked Addie what in the world made her do that and she looked at me with a straight face and said, "She needed a spanking!"

Addie and Emily

When we left the show Vivian said, "Bye Nutcracker movie." Followed by Addison, "Bye Nut Coocoo movie!!

Happy Birthday Mimi!! Thanks for letting us celebrate with you!

We love you!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Wow! December has been a blur of fun and family time for us!! Daddy finished his travel for the year and we've spent a lot of time with all four of us together!

The girls' Spirit Day at School in December was Mis-Match Day! They really got into it!

We took the girls to see the Princess and the Frog! The girls loved it! Ever since then after Addie gives a kiss she says: "Now we are frogs!"

This past week we went to Guthrie. We ate a delicious dinner at Granny Had One and then saw A Christmas Carol at the Pollard Theatre. I was nervous about the girls making it through since it was very much a play but they really liked it! The ghosts made them a little nervous but after we explained they were trying to help the man be nice they were on board!

Since I've been enjoying having so much family time I've fallen behind in my posts so I'm going to do several in a row that captured some more of the good times from our December so far!

Rock'n Around the Christmas Tree

Taking pictures for Christmas cards! It was pretty funny. Daddy was on one of his last trips for the year and the girls were antsy for something different so we got dressed up when we should have been getting ready for bed and took pictures. Amidst the 75 goofy pictures I did catch some cute ones!

Deck the Halls!

This is the second year for the girls to make their own gingerbread house!

We got smarter this year and since the package last year didn't have near enough supplies we stocked up on extra icing and candy for this house!

The front...

The back...

Since they made it, Addison's new line is: "I'm going to lick it!" If it gets quiet I can find Addie "watching" (as she calls it) the house! Then after a while she comes to tell me - "I licked it!" I can't really blame her - it does look like a sugar heaven!! We decided that next year, we're going to make two - 1 to have out for Christmas and 1 to eat!!!

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Vivi's school play was Wednesday and she was an angel - literally, that was her character! We are so proud of her!! Where stage fright has taken over in the past, she conquered her fears for this one and said her line with gusto, sang and danced to every song, laughing and smiling the whole time!!!! She did fantastic!!

Walking in...Melt my heart with that smile!

Joy to the World!

Singing Joy to the World - She practiced this one a bunch! We got her a new dress to wear that day and when she tried it on, she looked in the mirror raised her arm and said "Joy to the World" then decided the dress was perfect. She repeated the process when we fixed her hair that morning (she wanted it in small curls)!

The Play!

Saying her line: "I see the King of Eternity!"

Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!

She is such a performer at home, it was great to see her having fun on the stage too!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

When she would practice this one at home she sang: "Oh bring me a thing of pudding!"

Mimi and Vivi

Mimi cried through the whole thing! When it was over Vivi went up to her and said Mimi I saw you crying!! It was pretty sweet! She was excited Mimi got to see this performance live!

Papa and Granny came too. I am sick I didn't get a picture of Vivi with them. So sorry Granny and Papa. We were so happy you were able to make it!

Vivian with her biggest fans!

Addison sat in the aisle next to me while I videoed and after it was over she was clapping and said: "Good Job, Viv!" It was too sweet! Addie is the only one that calls Vivian, Viv. I think it's precious she has her own sister-nickname for her!

Look out world - A star is born! Had to capture the "I'm done with pictures, superstar look!"

Joy to the World!

I really did try to find a sweet, serene picture of Addie at her school Christmas Party...no luck! She was having too much fun! I was about 2 minutes late getting there and completely missed seeing the reindeer cookie she got for a special snack! I only knew she'd gotten one by looking on her friends' plates!! This was taken post-cookie and definitely mid-sugar rush!!

Maybe she was imitating the reindeer cookie?

Mommy and Addie

Addie with Ms. Kristin and Ms. Brandi

The girls and I were having one of those great "teachable moments" on the drive to school that morning. We were talking about the real meaning of Christmas being Jesus' Birthday. This led into the story of His birth. As I'm telling the story...Mary and Joseph...Addie shouts out: Ms. Kristin said Mary and Joseph! I laugh a little but pick back up...there wasn't room at the inn so...Addie again: Ms. Kristin said that! And so it went. Concluding with Addie: Ms. Kristin knows that one, she told me!

Needless to say, we LOVE Ms. Kristin and Ms. Brandi!

What an awesome blessing to have such wonderful, Christian teachers!

Here Comes Santa Claus...

After school Thursday, we took the girls to see Santa Claus! It was the perfect time of day. Since there wasn't any line the girls got to sit and really visit with him for quite a while! And although they gave Santa an entirely new list, (one Mommy and Daddy had never heard of) it was definitely a great time!

I caught a little of their conversation...

Merry Christmas!