Grandma, Spanish Dancer, Family Pictures, & Lily's Entourage

The baby has been put down for a nap. I saddle into my cozy, creaky wooden chair and in a manner that is slower than the average bear, begin to peruse our photos from the past week.

HOLY COW! How can all these things happen within a week?! I have a cold and feel a bit sluggish today ... now I know why!

Friday night, Shelly had their annual Children's Party. It was great! The kids had tons of fun making gum drop animals/men and then play, play, playing upstairs. Abby informed me of some sort of animal alliance. I'm happy that she still plays with such imagination and vigor. It is fleeting, isn't it?! Tracy and I were able to hang with the grown-ups for a bit while Grandma was home with our sleeping Lily. Wow! Can we have more of that, please?!

Grandma Montierth was with us for a week. Hooray! It's always good to have a visit from Grandma. Lily took advantage of a new lap to sit upon & person to carry her about from place to place. Abby had many nice talks with Grandma while curled up in the chair by the fire. It warmed my heart to see that. Noah always enjoys extra hugs and kisses - he got plenty of that too!

We had our family pictures done (hear that Texan? They weren't "taken", they were "done") last Saturday. Lucky for us, Grandma was here to make it into a few of them (I took this one).

We were also lucky to have Abby in the pictures with us - she nearly tried to die (a.k.a threw a fit)! I made her wear a very beautiful dress & since I like to add insult to injury - completely refused to allow her to wear her big, black boots with it. What kind of mother am I? I should be ashamed, but I'm not.

I did not take the picture below. I'm sad to say this little gem didn't make it into the Christmas card this year. Look at the agony on Noah's face. It was freezing outside, he did not feel well, and threw up about two minutes later. Poor baby!

• I have to say (in order to save myself from any parental judgments you may throw my way) that Noah upchucks with amazing ease - I will cite the upchucking moment of 2006 on our way to school in which Noah merely glanced at a dog, uh, relieving himself from the colon area. It was a proud parenting moment, indeed, in which my little son hurled into the grass while I stood nearby, silently laughing, tears streaming down my face. It doesn't take much for his little gag reflex to engage.
  

No matter the fit throwing or throwing up, they are beautiful children. I love them very much!

Children's Christmas Party - check. Family pictures - check. Dance recital -- here we go! Abby was in the Nutcracker portion of her dance recital for her Junior Ballet class. She is a stunning ballerina!

To top off our lovely, hectic Saturday, we took a few hours to relax and chat with friends. The Packers had us and a few other lovely couples over to talk and eat plentiful deserts. We brought Lily along to enjoy the plethora of girls who would be there (Grandma once again stayed home with sleeping Noah and Abby - or watching tv Noah and Abby - I love that freedom!). Lily thoroughly soaked up every second of her entourage. I have a feeling Little Miss will be the star of many an entourage throughout her life - just a feeling.

Saturday is over - ending on such a sweet note. As if it happened overnight (oh, wait ... it did), Sunday came roaring into action. Tracy took Abby to church while I stayed home with sleeping baby, recovering Noah, and newly sick Grandma (maybe it was all that babysitting?!). After church, Abby had two more performances in her recital. This time she danced with her jazz class as well as ballet.

While they were off at the recital, I was home cleaning and preparing dinner (poor Cinderella). We invited the Grandkids/Neice & Nephew/Cousins to come see Grandma & have dinner. Unfortunately, Colleen, Roy and his kids couldn't make it because Mona needed them at home, but Minda, Alan and their darling boys were here. We sure do enjoy their visits - they are the cutest kids!

Dinner was done, dishes were washed, The Polar Express was watched, and our guests had to return to Waco. Thanks for making the trek, Guys!

Monday was C-O-L-D. I took the day to shop. Lucky for me, I have a wonderful husband who allowed me to leave the baby at home, which was great! I may have committed some sort of felony if I had to combine Baby (read stroller manuevering) & Christmas shopping at a mall. I got home just in time to load the family into the car & drive to Lewisville to meet up with Colleen, Roy, and his girls - since we didn't get to see them the day before. Emma and Anne Marie are just the cutest little things. We always love seeing Colleen & Roy. It was a great chance to get a 4 generation picture!The weather was super bad on our way home that night. Tuesday morning, this is what we woke up to see:

What a pleasant surprise! School was cancelled for the day! I stayed in my pajamas until late in the day and was filled to the brim with Christmas cheer!!