Christmas Time

We had such a wonderful, exciting and busy Christmas this year! We traveled up to my parents house and spent several days enjoying the Christmas season with my family. My oldest brother and his family were in the process of moving, so they were able to be in Richmond for Christmas as well. The cousins had such a wonderful time together! We haven't spent a holiday with the cousins in years! 

We started our visit off with a little pottery painting project for Papa's gift. The kids loved getting their hands in the paint and were excited to see the final product.

Alley getting her hand painted while Owen watches

Blue hand

Kendall getting her hand ready for some paint

All the grandkids put their hand prints and finger prints on a cookie jar for Papa. The kids were hoping they could sneak cookies from it in the future (if it has their hand prints on it, then they can have whatever is in there, right??!)

Daddy after his nap (he was up all night!). Andy had a game at Auburn the night before we left for Richmond. So Andy rode the bus back and arrived at our house at 2:30am, took a shower and then immediately drove us to Richmond...what a sweet sweet husband and father he is!

learning from the artist herself (Kathy)

the full mantle! And Mimi and Papa dont even have their stockings up there!

We got to go see the Nutcracker Ballet for the first time this year! The girls were so excited!! It was a great show.

MC very focused on cartoons

Christmas Eve with all the cousins!

Papa opening up his cookie jar

Christmas morning surprises!!

Santa ate it all...yes, yes he did

they got "girl Legos" to share. They were so so so excited!

MC's favorite...Hello Kitty band aides...

 Kendall opening up a rock in her stocking. This.girl.loves.rocks!

 MC and Daddy

a very excited Alley

for my little book lover

MC playing with her legos

We did it a little backwards...we had Christmas THEN made Christmas cookies. Hey, at least we did them:) 

After Christmas, we traveled to Farmville to celebrate Granny's 91 birthday. What a wonderful lady she is!! I love her and miss her so much! I will always cherish the years we got to spend living together and as neighbors. My children were able to develop wonderful relationships with her and see how important family, especially the elder generations, is.

Me and Granny

Granny and her grandkids...

I tried to get a picture of Granny and her McPherson great-grandkids, but MC (in true MC fashion) refused to be in the picture.

Later on, MC went up and took Granny's hand to hold...so sweet!!

Singing and celebrating Granny!

What a great visit it was! I am so thankful for family who loves us and encourages us and helps us! I am also thankful for my husband, who is willing to accommodate my needs/wants and to do it all with a smile! I truly cherish every moment with my family!:)
Merry Christmas!!

The makings of Christmas!

Every year when Christmas rolls around, my girls become fascinated with snow globes. Alley will always bring up the snow globe "she once had" (all spoken in a very wistful tone) and how much she loved it and wishes she had a new one. Back track, Alley had a miniature snow globe once and she broke it...end of story. After wading through several days of "remembering my snow globe", I was happy...no, ecstatic...to hear the local library was having a "build your own snow globe event". Couldn't have been better timing on that one! Call me a mean mom, but I am NOT going out to purchase a snow globe...I'm not sentimental and snow globes are weird...there, worst mom of the year award, taken. Back to the story, I told the girls we had a fun event planned for the afternoon, but didn't tell them what it was. I love building the suspense;) When we got to the library, they about died and told me I was the best.mom.ever. Oh yeah, take that! Anyway, we met up with some friends at the library and had a fun time making those creepy, beautiful snow globes. It was love at first sight for all three...whose kids are these??!!

I told the girls to stand at attention with their hands behind their backs so they wouldn't touch anything while the directions were being given...hehe, they look like little soldiers. They did well:)

all ready for the liquid

excited sisters:)

showing off their magical globes:) 

MC had a penguin, K a wolf and A and tree...and lots of glitter!

After our fun with the snow globe project, we went out to dinner with our friends and watched the town Christmas parade. To make the evening even more exciting, MC proceeded to bust open her chin at the sandwich shop. She barely cried, so I assumed it wasn't bad and just slapped a band aid on it. We made it all the way through the parade (it was short!) before I realized the cut was deeper and worse than I thought. Andy had a home basketball game right then, so he got the doc to meet us in his office and check out MC's chin. While we were there, MC dropped her snow globe and it broke...oh.my.word. She cried more then, than when she cut her chin! Anyway, she got her chin glued and we went on our way...sniffing and letting crocodile tears stream down our cheeks as we passed the snow globe carnage...RIP little creepy penguin. 

A few days later, we invited some friends to join us for a Gingerbread House party:) We built and decorated gingerbread house while enjoying the company of some great friends:) 

 the whole clan decorating away

After all the craziness of that week, I had to enjoy a little alone time with the Christmas tree lights...serene and quiet...Merry Christmas yall!