The days/weeks leading up to Christmas

Since we love to play catch up....Let's check out my photos from the days leading up to Christmas (this will be a long post....sorry).

As customary, we went to Fantasy of Trees the weekend of Thanksgiving.  It always gets me in the Christmas spirit.  Elaina has been asking about going to Fantasy of Trees since July so she was excited, to say the least.

First order of business....ride the carousel.  She loves 'em.  She rode it a few times.

 Then we take off to do the myriad of crafts/items they have to choose from.

A hand print pot holder.  This would be our fourth one of these.  I love that we have them all through the years

Fingernail painting....

Showing off her newly painted nails with Anna and Elsa

Face painting...I am glad this one is free because you can't tell from the picture but this is really bad.  It was way goopy and smeared and didn't really resemble much of a penguin.  She wiped it off in the bathroom moments after I took this picture :)

And finally a pose

The next weekend, we went to have breakfast with Santa (our tradition) and to the mall to buy our family ornament:

 First there were pancakes....

Then we went to watch Santa arrive

Then we talked to Santa to tell him all those things you tell Santa.

And, a couple of poses....

 

Next was the mall to get our ornament.  This is literally one of 2 trips I make annually to the mall.  I know so many people who frequent the mall.  I am not one of those people.  While we were there Elaina said "I want to get my ears pierced."  We have talked about this off and on for a while.  We have always been okay with it but have left it up to her after explaining to her that it does sting a little and there will be cleaning and maintenance to do.  She has always then said, "I am not ready."  But, this time when she asked, I said if you are serious, the place to do it is around the corner.  

So, low and behold, we ended up there.  We got lucky because right when we walked in, there was a 5 year old getting her ears pierced so we got to watch.  I knew it would either go well and Elaina would follow suit or the other little girl would freak out and Elaina wouldn't go through with it.  

Well, let the pictures tell you what happened...I have got to tell you, I was so nervous about this but I tried not to show it.  She was so brave.  I think I was nervous she was going to think it hurt and cry.  She didn't even flinch.  I am such an over-reactor.

All the moments before...

This was the only moment of fear I could tell she had and by that time it was happening

And there you have it...  So pretty!

You only thought we were done this day....

We then had an appointment for a family painting with a twist event.  This was SO much fun to do as a family.  I want to go back.  Erik had never done it and he really enjoyed it as well.

Freshly pierced ears...

Step 1 completed

Step 4 completed

       

Masterpieces!  

whew!  I am tired after just going through all that.  That was 2 weekends.  We don't normally cram all that into 1 day but we had a busy December so we were trying to get some memories made.  I think we accomplished that!

Thanksgiving was just yesterday, right?

I know....I know.

The past 2 months has been a blur....But, I good blur.

So, in an effort to document memories, on this day - January 10, 2015, I want to talk about Thanksgiving 2014.  It was great.  We traveled to Nashville for the whole weekend to spend with my mom's side of the family.  Like, her whole side.  All her siblings, her sibling's kids, their kids.  So, all my aunts and uncles, cousins, and their kids.

It was a crazy good time...It was packed full of activity.

Wednesday night - we had dinner at my sister Nell's house
Thursday - we all did a 5 mile walk/run Thanksgiving morning.

Here are the 3 of us before the run. All bundled up.

Then, Thanksgiving dinner at my sister, Abby's house that afternoon.
Friday - we had a dinner/talent show at my uncle Doug's house.
Saturday  - a wedding shower for my cousin, Anna, who is getting married in May.  This shower was at a place called the Pfunky Griddle which I would recommend to anyone.  Each table has a griddle in the middle so you can make your own pancakes and eggs.  You get your own pitcher of batter and bowl of eggs and you can go to town.  It was SO good and even more fun.  We need a place like that here.

Here is Celia and Elaina ready to flip it up!

Got all that?  Okay, that is it in a nutshell.  Except to say that I simply love all my aunts, uncle, cousins and all their kiddos from this side of the family.  I am very close to all my cousins on this side of the family.  We definitely know how to have a party or two....or three.  Fun.  Great memories.  And speaking of memories, we have over 1000 pics that are shared on a photo stream so to pick out a few pictures of the weekend's festivities would be nearly impossible.  So, I will give you this one....

This is everyone that was there.  We had shirts made that were a duplicate of ones that we had made in 1992 for a family reunion.  A family tree with my grandparents at the trunk and all the kids/grand kids/great grand kids veering off from there.  The new version has a lot more names.  I love it.  Like....A LOT.

Here is a shot of the 1992 shirt

And 2014...  We've added a few branches since then.

And one quick video of the talent show of Elaina.  We had a lot of great acts...everything from hoola hooping, to magic tricks, to banjo picking.  It was great!  Elaina did a few acts of her cheer leading dances which you have all seen before so I won't show you those.  But, she is really into her jokes so this is her "joke telling" talent piece....  Erik was her sidekick.  Erik's talent is off the charts!

The best video ever

Okay...I know I am her mother so it's easy for me to say this is the best video ever.  Let me paint the picture.

I went to New Mexico for a week for work.  I hate being a way, especially for work.  I got back late on a Friday.  I was relaxing that night at home before bed and Elaina had my phone off in the corner.  I asked her to hand it to me and she said "one second."

The next morning while flipping through my phone pictures, I found this.  I cried!  It was so sweet!  

Not sure anyone else will appreciate it quite like I do, but since this blog is all about documenting memories...it made the blog.

Cheer party

Elaina's season on her cheer team ended in October.  It was fun for her.  It was fun for us to watch her.  And, we met and made a lot of great friends in the process...Elaina included.  Overall, it was a good experience that we would do again.  Her coach was great and it was a great supportive team of parents.  She has already announced that she is doing it again next year.  So, we need to get ready.  And YOU need to get ready for the pictures that will surface.  

A family on the team hosted the party.  It was a bonfire so it was full of bonefirey things....food, and smores.

Her team (from left)  Kaitlyn T, Kaelyn, Brenna, Kaitilyn R., Lexi, Carley, Alli, Claire, Lottie Sue, Madison, and Elaina

They all got a trophy and certificate.  Elaina received most team spirit.

Her first trophy ever so she was super excited to get this.  It is now on display in her bedroom for anyone who wants to come see.

And.....going in for the kill of the smore.

Random things

And to top off the catch up of pics...I give you some random pics from my phone.  

Elaina's BFF Kaitilyn came over one weekend.  They had lots of fun and laughs...

They built a fort in my living room....and sat outside of it watching TV.  Not sure they ever got in it.

These girls love the stuffin out of each other...they are sweet friends.

The first fire of the season a week or so ago...AHHHH!  fire and wine - two four letter words that go so well together.

My niece Sloane spent the week in Knoxville with my mom while Nell and Dave went on a trip.  We had super fun playing with her and sending Nell these pics (among others but these are some of my favs)

Selfie time....

This one tickles me...Sloane could not look more disgusted at my silliness

We went with Elaina's cousins Kelsey and Liana to see Big Hero 6...good movie and good time with them

We also took Elaina to Disney on Ice....Complete with Elsa and Anna.  It was the weekend after Halloween so reason #3 to wear her Elsa outfit.  Good times :)

And finally...hat date at Elaina's school 2 weeks ago.  She chose one of her daddy's Titans hats.  She looks so darn cute in a hat (if I do say so myself)

Shortly after I took the pic above she changed her mind and wore her hello kitty toboggan thing...

Fall/Halloween

Behind.....again.

All my post are going to begin with that from here on out.  Let's just establish that and move on.

We celebrated Fall/Halloween this year in typical fashion.  We did not go do a pumpkin patch like we usually do this year - not sure why...time illuded us and before we knew it, Halloween was here and we said "oh crap...oh,well" (I think that is literally what we said. :)  But, Elaina got to do a hayride and pseudo pumpkin patch at her school so I consider that checked off the list, in my mind.  We didn't even carve pumpkins...but we did buy some the day before Halloween and deemed them our Halloween/Thanksgiving pumpkins.

Can we talk about how much more mellow I have become about that - feeling the pressure of having to to every little festive holiday/seasonal thing.  I am not all the way there but I am getting better at realizing that it's okay.  No, let's not talk about that - we don't have time.  Ha!  Get it?

Moving on....pictures...

Elaina with some of her classmates on the hayride...to her right, her good friend Madison

Madison again....

Her whole class with Mrs. Ballard

The whole class again

Then we ate lunch together that day :)

On to Halloween....Elaina was Elsa.  SHOCKING, I know.  But, it is what it is...Halloween was short lived because about an hour into it, its started to rain and what felt like the coldest wind ever started.  So, we went back to the house to have hot chocolate instead.  But, Elaina got her bucket pretty much filled up in the hour we were out so I call that a success.

We ate Jack O Lantern pizza from Papa Murphys.  Cute....and delicious

And...the obligatory "Let It Go" pose.  The wig is awesome...and by awesome, I mean HILARIOUS!

Elaina's cousins Kelsey and Liana came over....they had cute costumes too.

This was the next day....our neighbor had her b-day party and it was Frozen themed.  Perfect....another opportunity to wear the dress.  No wig.  They did face painting which is a favorite of Elaina's

Elsa and Anna showed up.  The little girl on the left is my cousin's little girl, Brooklyn, who lives next door.  I adore the way she is looking at Elsa!!

One more for good measure...

That is all for now.....Happy Fall!  Or Happy Fell, since I am so behind?

Okay, I am a dork....