NYE 2011

Believe it or not, we really didn't do anything the week between Christmas and NYE. I started a new job, and I worked nearly everyday, so that was our excitement for the week. Well, this Escalade was also our excitement. It was a gift for the girls from my Aunt and Uncle. Daddy got it all put together, and they've been enjoying it since!

On NYE, I worked what felt like the better chunk of the day (11-5). But I was super excited to get off work and head home to celebrate NYE with our little family. 

 Daddy's NYE treat--I don't think he even one whole drink, but that wasn't the point of our evening anyway. Our party on NYE days have long since passed!

 We did an appetizer and dessert buffet. This is my homemade spin and artichoke dip with pumpernickel! So dang good!

Oh, sweet pumpkin bread--you're chocolate chips make you even tastier!

 Special drinks for the kids. Juices and lemo-lime soda--they loved it!

 My small drink of vino. My favorite vino at that!

 The spread consisted of caramle popcorn and chocolate-chip pumpkin bread for dessert, spinach and artichoke dip in a pumpernickel bread bowl, some sweet/savory meatballs, hush puppies, and some delicious roasted veggies. They veggies didn't necessarily fit in, but we needed to use up the food, plus it added a nice little boost to our not-so-healthy buffet.

 This was my first time making hush puppies. I used Paula Deen's recipe (from my new PD cookbook that is signed by the sweet, Southern chef herself--thanks, sis!), and the whole family ate 'em up.

 Peach wanted to turn napkins into flower for everybody, so I put her in charge of that task. She did fabulously. 

 Daddy gave this one some baby laughs and snorts. Snorting is her thing! She developed this talent all on her own! So proud of her skills.... I think (SMILE)!

This was our "family" (I use quotes because I'm never in our family pictures since I'm always taking them) picture before the end of the year. It cracks me up. It's so candid. So real. So us! 

After our snacks, we all sat down to watch The Help. It was a bit over the kids' heads, but I thought it'd introduce some ideas from history that they need to be familiar with. Peach has talked a little bit about MLK JR., so some of this made some sense to her. 

By the time midnight rolled around, Matt, Peach and I were up. Brownie and Bug woke up briefly right around midnight, but they were all party poopers. I had to run outside by myself to spray the silly spray and toot my party blower horn.  The girls can never claim I'm not cool--because apparently I'm the only one up partying on NYE (SMILE)!

2011 was a sweet year, but we had too much involvement with doctors. So I'm hoping this year brings us health, happiness, and even more love than we've ever felt before. 

Christmas Day Part II

After our little family Christmas at home on Sunday morning, we headed over to Gram and Papa's house.There are several people in the family who adore the Kansas Jayhawks, but these two are some pretty die-hard fans. I admire their tree. I have a little Jayhawk tree from my apartment living days, and now that I live in a house, I'm thinking a "Daddy tree" of sorts would compliment my baby!

I digress (but it's about the Jayhawks, so really it's all relevant)...

*Note the KU wall in the background--

Just like anywhere we go, the first thing we do upon arriving is play and get into whatever trouble we can--especially if your (nick)name is Scrunchie!

We ate some tasty food, and again the veggies are always my favorite! I remember Scruchie put away a good amount of food as well!

After eating, the kids were really hoping they could open presents--so of course, we did! And once again, I declare that my kids are spoiled rotten!

They loved all the doll fashion. It went perfectly with the dolls Matt and I gave them. 

The girls enjoyed their gifts.

Yes, the fashionista loved the fashion for dolls, obviously!

We played with our toys, took rests and watched shows with Gram and Papa, hung out with Uncle Todd, got to see Aunt Chelsea and cousin Skyler, and ate lots of sweet treats--following the feast of course (SMILE)!

After spending the afternoon with Gram and Papa, we made one last stop at Grammy's house. Santa had visited her house and left gifts for certain little (spoiled) girls. 

And the big people too. So glad he thought I was good, because I'm loving my new Nook Tablet! The girls filled up on Auntie love since she was leaving the next day. And I think Auntie may have filled up on little girl love--but I think it only lasted a week or so, because I just saw on facebook that she is needing some baby cuddles. If only those could be sent via facebook/email, or over the phone.

 Auntie can be a shutterbug like me now--Santa was good to her, too--good to us all!

So tired and worn out from all the celebratig!

Anyway, Santa and our family were very kind to us. Honestly, I can't remember everything we got from all three Christmases, but I know it was pretty much anything that was circled in a catalog, mentioned in passing, or pointed out in a store. And more importantly, the memories made and the love shared is more important than any material gift. Sounds cliche, but think about how Christmas would feel with a room full of gifts and no one to give a gift to, hug, cook with, or watch the "A Christmas Story" marathon!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Part I

Since I'm so far behind, I'm just going to post the pictures that I eventually want to end up in the book that I'm making--I'm turning my blog into a book--one for each year or so.

Anyway, we spent Christmas Eve at my mom's house. We went over a little before dinner time. We snacked, played, opened presents and dined on my mom's homemade chicken and noodles. There were several sides--broccoli with Hollandaise is my FAV! I need to eat that more often (SMILE)!

This is our Christmas tree. It finally looked like this on Christmas Eve!

Small things are truly entertaining

Snack table (with little hands in the food)

Auntie feeding the babe

The pose before the chaos begins

Some of the chaos

New robe, goofy doll and slippers--spoiled much?

Oh, the girl loves her some MICKEY!

Brownie added to her Strawberry Shortcake collection

This ice cream has been a real hit at home

For their first Christmas, my sister always makes the girls a chair. I thought this zebra chair looked great.

 

 We also make our Santa cookies. Well, actually we decorated the gingerbread cookies we made the day before.

Hmm.. what should she do with her frosting?

We left my mom's around bed time and headed home. We set out cookies for Santa, forgot to read "Twas the Night Before Christmas," and got ready for the next morning/day! 

 

 Believe it or not, Santa came!

We have three entrances into our kitchen/hearth room, and two of them were blocked off by Santa. 

This was to hold the kids back, of course!

Here is what they came downstairs to on Christmas morning. 

She was thrilled to get her "American Girl Doll." That's what the older girls wanted, but these were dolls from Target. Super cute and more age appropriate. 

Peach got a Happy Feet game. And behind her you can see where Santa blocked another entrance into our kitchen/hearth room where his gifts were.

She loves Tangled and she loves the Wii--could it get any better?

Daddy helping the baby open her gift. 

She loves her Cinderella dress

Look what Santa left... a note for the girls, an empty cookie plate and mug, and his paper streamers.

The girls are waiting to come in to see what Santa brought. 

They loved their Santa toys!

After our morning at home, we went to Gram and Papa's house. I was so caught up in getting out of the house on time, I forgot some items at home. Most importantly, my good camera. So all pics I got of Christmas afternoon are on my iPhone. Those are coming next. I just need to dump them onto the computer!