Christmas Cheer

Any of you who have little ones know about that extra magic at Christmas. Last year, Charlotte was 9 months and it was very special, but this year was absolutely fantastic! Such a wonderful time of family gatherings and remembering the true meaning of Christmas and the gift God gave to all of us.

I took a million pictures but figured I wouldn't trouble you with all of them, so here are our favorites (still so many!) packaged in one album. Charlotte received so many wonderful gifts - from toys to art supplies to dvds to clothes...with the pink wooden doll house, pink piano, Elmo Live and her new art easel topping her list of faves. Chris and I were humbled by how blessed we really are! We hope everyone had as merry a Christmas as we did!

Christmas 2008

'Twas the Days Before Christmas

This holiday season was filled with incredible fun! Charlotte soaked in each moment and we really enjoyed getting ready for Christmas this year.

We attended the town tree lighting, had a visit from Santa by firetruck in our neighborhood, enjoyed a family tradition of dinner and the drive-through light display in Columbia, suffered through a visit to mall Santa getting a GREAT picture on his lap, plus the beautiful Christmas Eve service. So much festive fun! Stay tuned for Christmas day pictures soon...

Pre-Christmas 08

Gift of Family

Chris and I were reminded just how precious family is this Christmas. It really is the greatest gift!

Wonder

Merry Almost Christmas!

Play!

Charlotte loves playdates with her pals...no matter that the majority of them are with all boys! We had breakfast with Santa, Colin and Jonathan (oh, and the amazingly entertaining Chic-fil-a cow) one week, then we made crafts with Hakan, Caden, Ryder, Jackson & Christian, that's right, FIVE boys + Charlotte. She sure does a good job keeping up with those wild little men!

Here are some shots of our adventures!

Breakfast with Santa

Playdate at Hakan's

Tree & Trimmings

This year's trip to the tree farm was unusually freezing! Chris and I, of course, love the cold, but with a toddler it becomes more tricky. So the trip was short and sweet and we ended up chopping one of the first ones we saw that ended up NOT being a fraser fir like we usually get (which we realized after we sawed it down). Thankfully it still looks great with all the trimmings.

I will have to add this family shot to our Trees through the Years collection - 5 years and counting!



Charlotte really enjoyed decorating this year. She was very helpful unpacking each ornament with Daddy and handing them to me. I added some pictures to an album below if you want to see Charlotte in action.

Christmas Tree 2008

Hard to believe Christmas will be here in just over a week!

Singing in the Tub

Charlotte loves bath time. Almost as much as she loves to sing! It is RARE for her to let me video her, so I ran to grab the camera while Chris kept her singing in the tub.

As you watch the video below, you'll hear her stop at the end of her ABCs (when she notices me filming her) to ask "I hold it" in order to hold the camera. She loves to look at pictures/video. Also, during Somewhere Over the Rainbow she forgot the words and ends with "That's Elmo's World" - a nice save if you ask me!

Such a treasure, this child!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

C is for Cookie

Christmas cookies that is! (Chris') Aunt Kim, Charlotte and I delightfully spent the first day of December baking sugar cookies at my home. Kim came with the dough prepared and Charlotte did a great job helping with the rest. She rolled, cut and decorated dozens of cookies with Kim's guidance. Charlotte was quite the adorable powdered sugar-covered baker if I say so myself. I think more sprinkles ended up in her tummy than on the cookies. Thank you, Aunt Kim, for the ingredients that helped cook up a special memory!

21 Months

Pretty in purple. And another month closer to TWO!