Dance Party and Christmas Take TWO!

It's Friday night..almost midnight and I just uploaded my photos from Christmas and Grandpa's birthday to Kodak gallery to share with my family--but I still am feeling overwhelmed to try to write about Christmas on my blog--so many stories and photos!

Tonight--Catie, Anna and I threw in a new CD into the stereo and had a dance party--sans lights, of course. Catie said "what kind of dance party would it be if we had the lights on~"

Dan Zanes "Catch that Train" was the CD of the night...Anna got two of them for Christmas, and it was really fun! Our fav so far..."Let's Shake!" It is so cute to see the girls dancing around without a care in the world!

I figured we could all use a little exercise-the girls didn't even venture outside today! We are busy getting ready for our big trip to Truxton tomorrow and Sunday for the Long Family Christmas!

We are very excited to see everyone...and ready to experience a theme dinner this year: "Christmas Around the World!" Our contribution--drinks...and Christmas cut-outs of course! (which have a German background since the recipe came from my Great Grandma Gertrude Nachtrieb Gabbey)

I'll post pics and all the fun next week! Wow-almost 2008!

Grandpa N. Turns 90!

Well, we had a wonderful Christmas yesterday--we took more than 200 photos...so I'm not even going to attempt to post any of those tonight! (make that morning--it just hit midnight)

But, I do want to remember a very special birthday party for Grandpa Norris--he turned 90 on Friday, Dec. 21, and we celebrated with him on this past Sunday.

We took chocolate cake with white frosting (his request) to him at the nursing home and we all enjoyed visiting with him. Catie and Anna make his day--I just wish he could still see their little faces looking up at him. Grandpa's eyesight is failing him...along with his hearing...and how I would love it if we could turn back the clock a few years so he could see Catie and Anna as they grow. Anna sat so well on his lap, and Catie even sang "Away in the Manger" to him. They are so blessed to have Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Norris in their lives. (Grandpa just celebrated her 87th birthday a couple days before Grandpa!) I know how hard it is for Grandma to be living home and Grandpa in the nursing home...I can't imagine being separated from my dear husband--but they are dealing with it the best way they know how. Love endures.

This is me and my Grandpa when I was one...37 years ago! I'm lucky to have grown up with such a wonderful man as my Grandpa.

Count Your Blessings

Four days until Christmas! Catie has faithfully been pulling a link off her Christmas chain each night--she is so excited!

It has been such a busy week--I haven't had the energy to sit and update my blog...but I thought of my favorite holiday movie "White Christmas" and the song "Count Your Blessings"--and it is so true...we've had some great little moments lately--that I don't want to get lost in the busy season.

Knock, Knock...

Catie was busy telling knock,knock jokes to Rob today...when all of a sudden Anna piped up: "knock, knock!?"

Rob: "who's there?"

Anna: "orange"

Rob: "Orange, who?"

Anna: "ICE!" (followed by squeals of laughter!)

Her first joke....our little funny bug. Following in her sister's silly footsteps.


Figgy Pudding

Mom watched the girls this afternoon and we had pizza for supper with Gramma G. While Mom and I were contemplating the Christmas dinner menu--Catie piped up..."Gramma, don't forget the figgy pudding!" It made mom laugh--and she went home and looked up the recipe. She could only find Plum Pudding....

so, what is figgy pudding anyway? :)

Best Babysitter Ever

Yesterday was the girl's last day at Kathy's house until after New Year's! Kathy is such a wonderful babysitter to our kids...they just love going to see her every day. Kathy always makes such wonderful goodies for her families...check out this beautiful basket! Rob and I have a special place in our hearts for Kathy's beautiful gingerbread snowflakes...so pretty.

The girls got really special books from Kathy, too...she knows them so well--they both love to read and look at books!

Away in a Manger

Catie got a very special phone call on Thursday night..Pastor Peg called to speak just to her, asking Catie if she could bring one of her special baby dolls, wrapped in a blanket, to the Christmas Eve service. Catie's doll will be Baby Jesus in the manger. I'm leading the kids in singing Away in the Manger...I know the congregation will really enjoy it.

Late Night Present Power

I should go to bed early tonight...I've been up until midnight, 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. the past 3 nights..making gifts for my secret santa at work, Catie's pre-k teachers and my co-workers. Luckily--it was worth it...everyone loved their gifts..that is what I enjoy most--seeing joy when people know I spent time making something for them.

Here are a few of the mini-albums:

While making the crafts, I've had time to catch up on my sappy holiday movies that I recorded on the DVR from ABC Family, Lifetime and Hallmark Channels...I'm such a sucker for a silly romantic Christmas story!

Pre-School Christmas Party

I took off Wednesday morning from work to attend Catie's Christmas party at school--our whole family went...it was so fun watching Catie sing songs with her class..and then Santa made a visit!

Catie told Santa she wants a "Jack in the Box!"

Big Snow!?

Last Sunday, it was the potential for a blizzard..we got a really good snow, church was even cancelled...but it wasn't as bad as predicted. Rob went out on Monday night, Dec. 17) and took some pretty shots. Here is our front door decked out for Christmas:

No One Puts Baby in a Corner

Ok, my small tribute to "Dirty Dancing..."..our two girls decided to find out what it was like to play behind the toy kitchen...perfect little fort!



Star of Wonder

It was a week ago, Saturday, that Catie and I decorated the Christmas tree while Anna was napping--and I've been wanting to share this story all week. Catie found her ornament that Father Mike gave her last year during Christmas Eve mass...a gold Christmas star. She pulled it from its wrapping and said "this is my favorite ornament." Moments later, she said sweetly as she held out the ornament towards me: "Mom, I feel something.." I answered, "Baby Jesus?" Catie said, "No, your father." It brought tears to my eyes...I gave her a big hug. She then just held that star while I decorated the tree and talked to my dad. She told me she was "on the phone" with Grandpa in heaven..and and I heard her say to him that she wouldn't drop him (the star.) I know he felt that long distance love. Miss you Dad. I lifted her to put the star at the top of the tree.

Oh Christmas Tree & Puppy Power

We finally had time on Saturday morning to pick out our Christmas tree at our favorite apple orchard and tree farm! We picked a fresh cut tree...we didn't chop down our own. When Anna gets a little bigger-then I think it is time to try that!

My brother Matt and I always used to come to this same tree farm when we were little with mom and dad...it's a family-run orchard with great people, and they just love to see the girls grow up each year!


We found THE ONE very quickly....here it is! Now to get it decorated! I've been watering it constantly..but, we still haven't cut the netting off of it yet! Maybe I should go do that now, huh? We usually have our tree decorated by now--it just seems like a tough year to get all the decorations done in between all the other holiday happenings this month.


Catie has a holiday laser light show field trip tomorrow for pre-k...Daddy is going with her-I wish I could go too! Mommy has a big work meeting.


A blessing tonight--no leaking r00f yet tonight (even with all the rain this evening)...do you hear me knocking on wood!!? :)






Puppy Power


Catie, Anna and I went to visit the Darby family last night (friends from church) and their two Great Danes (Gunner and Erin) just had puppies!



9 little ones running around a giant "sand-box" type of bed in the middle of their living room! They named them --all have names beginning with "A"--from Aurora and Akita to Albert and Angus! Catie and Anna both fed the puppies with a tiny little bottle of milk...and both of them got into the giant box with the little babies! Anna didn't like them touching her at first...probably because when she walked down the hall to the puppies--the mommy greeted her and towered over Anna's head! (that would scare me too!)

But, after Anna got a piece of chocolate cake in her...she was fearless! she even gave kisses to the big dogs!

Catie giggled hysterically when the puppies climbed all over and tickled her!

Lots of fun--many thanks to the Darbys!

TGIF!

Wow, what a week it has been! After our roof leak on Sunday night...it seemed like my team at work seemed to have a curse...Tuesday, my friend Mary slid off the road, and landed in a cornfield. Then that night, my friend Col slipped and fell at her house and at first we thought she broke both of her legs...just unthinkable. She is now home from the hospital, but has a broken foot and the other severely sprained. Then my friend Alicia's baby daughter accidentally stuck her little finger in her mommy's eye--sending Alicia to the ER with an abrasion on her cornea...she was out the past two days--in much pain.

Plus--it was crazy busy with media stories..trying to set up an event to introduce a man to our campus safety officers after they saved his life with a defibrillator--amazing.

The little shining spot through this week...Alicia and I get to go to Puerto Rico at the end of January!!! (happy dance!) My conference is titled "Changes in Attitude, Changes in Latitude"--would it not be the most awesome ever if Jimmy Buffett made a surprise appearance!? I booked my tickets today! Check out the Caribe Hilton! I found out my friend Cathy won a silver CASE award for her college--Congrats! Now, book those tickets Cath!

My two beautiful girls were both so tired tonight...we've had a couple busy nights--but they make the craziness all worth it...

Can't wait to get our Christmas tree this weekend!

Days of December & Nightmare Before Christmas

I just finished my first "Daily December" digi layout using Jessica Sprague's fab template...here is a look!

Jessica inspired me after I read her blog tonight! I can use this template to create pages for each day in December! I used JenWilsonDesigns "Merry First Days of Christmas" for the snowflake paper, the rest is Jessica's design.

My good news today: Alicia and I won a CASE District II Bronze Award for our media relations event with the Arts Center! This is big news in Higher Ed land...and even better, my best friend Kel won a silver! Way to go Kel---the awards ceremony is in San Juan in January--must get there!

Nightmare Before Christmas

Rob and I were just sitting down on Sunday night to watch a movie and I ran upstairs to grab something...as I ran back through the foyer, I heard a "splat." I paused...another "splat." Rob, you better come here...

I turned on the hall light, looked up and saw splits in our drywall in the ceiling over the stairway and big nasty drips perched, ready to fall...within minutes, it spiraled downhill...with the nasty rainy weather wreaking havoc on our roof and ceiling....we had to put a cooler out to catch the water and tarps and towels all over the stairs and railings...We love our more than century-old home...but we like it better dry! I kept telling Rob that at least it wasn't in one of our bedrooms, and that hey, we've wanted to re-paint and remodel this stairway!

The good news--it turned cold and everything is now FROZEN which means no leaks, for now.

Roofers have us at the top of the list, but the weather was so bad today that they couldn't do anything. Hopefully they get here before it rains again this weekend.

Why do these unplanned house repairs happen just before Christmas? :)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

December 1st--kicking off the Advent season, and our family was certainly in the swing of Christmas today! Catie and I decorated her countdown to Christmas Santa that she made in Pre-School with the first white cotton on his beard...

Then I got the girls snowsuits all on, and we were going to get the Christmas tree, but we ended up not having time before Catie and I had to meet her Pre-K class to march in the Santa Claus is Coming to Town parade down Main Street!

It was freezing cold out today--but the sun broke through sometimes! Catie loved it. Rob and Anna met us at a local restaurant to visit with Santa, and the line wound straight to the back of the restaurant! We finally made it to the front of the line, and guess who wanted to go first!?

Anna was SO excited to see Santa and sit on his lap! I think he was very happy--he said she was the best little one he'd visited with today. Anna was clearly enamored with Santa Claus--she even said "ho, ho, ho" to him!

Catie then joined her sister..she was a bit shy. She has never been scared of Santa either, but she said later to me that she was "a little embarassed because I haven't seen Santa in awhile." Sweet little Cate.

Different Main St. shops all took part in the celebration--we decorated cookies and had cocoa at the local coffee shop, and made an ornament at the hardware store...lots of fun! We even ordered a pizza from to take with us!

Tonight Catie is at her sleepover with Gramma Gabbey--they are watching Polar Express, complete with cocoa and popcorn! Anna and I had fun tonight here at the house-playing, reading and giggling! She is now fast asleep.

Time for me to go make my Christmas Candy for the Open House at our new church parsonage tomorrow! I'm also playing my flute in church--I practiced it once...should be fine. :)