First Date

Mary Margo went on her first date Saturday night.  She got a new dress full of sparkle,  a new headband with a little pink sparkle and a fresh coat of nail polish with more sparkle.  She woke up Saturday morning with the biggest smile on her face and she was just plain GIDDY.  When I asked her why she was so happy she said

"IT'S DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE DAY!!!" 

 Here is little miss priss waiting on her Date.

 Aren't they cute?

This night is huge in Auburn.  Tickets go on sale in December and it sales out every year.  We decided this year would be the year we take the plunge and join the masses.  Honestly, the first time I mentioned it to Mary Margo she said "No I don't want to do that" (dusty had a similar response) I think I scared her with the word "dance"  She thought she was going to have to wear a pink tutu, learn a routine, and perform in the recital.  It took a while to convince her.  She warmed up after the dress came and a few pep talks from me and Francie.  The excitement and anticipation grew and grew and by the Sunday before the count down had begun.  5 days, 4days, 3days, 2days, 1day......she was more than excited by Saturday morning.   And Saturday night when it was all over, Daddy brought home a VERY tired little dancer.  The first thing she told me was what Francie's Dress looked like and she showed me how to do the chicken dance.  Even Daddy admitted it was a fun night.  : )

In her own words  

She shared in front of her class this morning for journal time and this is her story.   I LOVE LOVE LOVE reading her journal and I was ecstatic when Mrs. Jackson, her teacher, emailed me for pictures of the night.  Mrs. Jackson also asked Mary Margo to copy her writings outside her journal so she could bring it home today and we could keep it!  Mrs. Jackson Rocks!!  

Translation:

Daddy Daughter Dance

I went to the daddy daughter dance.  I danced with my daddy and my friends.  I wore a sparkling dress.  My finger nails were pink.  I came back when it was past my bed time.

And here is sweet little sister who insisted on having her picture made just like big sister.

Nap Time Ritual

Pappie in mouth

Bunny to the Left

Ratty to the Right

Blankie on Top

one quick little snuggle tuck

then those chubby little fingers will peek out from under the blankie 

and wave nite nite.

We do it everyday!

Christmas 2012

The girls were good this year!

Mary Margo asked for a baby carrier.  Check!

Dottie asked for Bracelets.  Check!  

Mary Margo had to test them out before she would let her little sister have them.

Dottie says - Christmas is GREAT!

Mary Margo asked for a sparkly microphone.  Check!

Dottie thinks she will like it too

Dottie quickly spotted the left over oreo by the fireplace.

She did NOT want to share her findings with her sister

But she changed her mind.

At Nana and Dodaddy's, Mary Margo had the biggest pile of presents.

 And Dottie just had one.  Not really.

 Dottie and Do-Daddy  opening presents together.

Sweet Dottie taking some time to reflect on the day.

 Presents are all open,  Now it is time to play games.

 And cook monkey bread with her new cookbook

And there is always time to play with cousins just my size.

Merry Christmas from the crazy "fancy Farmer"

She got new boots from nana and do-daddy.  When asked if she was ready to go to the barn this was her reply "I can't go to the barn.  I don't want to get my boots muddy"

What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.

 

“And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow,
stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

I would say less than 30 minutes after we opened all our presents and unstuffed our stockings I made a very interesting observation. 

 The girls had wondered out of the living room leaving everything that santa had brought them.  The new legos, dolls, candy and even the SPARKLY microphone had been abandoned. 

Here is what I found....

Dottie playing with the circa 2002 travel tetris game.  

She loves the robot jingle it plays and shakes her little bootie until it stops then she holds it up to you and grunts until you press the "start" button again.

And Mary Margo playing with her kitchen that she has had for years.  

She doesn't really play with it much anymore....to the point that I have considered taking it out of her room.  

But Christmas morning she found it to be lots of fun.  She even took parts from the doll house (that she has NEVER played with) and made "popsicles" for us.

She is sporting the new rain jacket I randomly purchased a few days before Christmas.  It was one of those "I saw it - she needs it - I will wrap it just because it's Christmas time" kinda purchases.

Then I spotted Dottie wobbling down the hall not with her new baby doll santa brought but with "little baby"  Mary Margo's doll that is never clothed and has 5 years of dirt on her little cloth body.

Christmas does mean SO MUCH more.
I am so thankful for all my many blessing and I am most thankful for this small pause in the day to realize what really matters.

Santa was very nice to bring all those new shiny toys but at the end of the day all we really need is the love of family and each other.
The "old dirty worn out" toys or the "barely even played with" toys are just as wonderful.

My hope is that everyone had a pause in the very hectic week we call Christmas to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


And just for the record the girls did eventually get back to the new toys. : )

Christmas Eve Wrap Up

Christmas Eve is a day of hanging out around the house and getting ready for Santa.  We started with a big breakfast with all the fix'ns.  Mary Margo helped me make the biscuits, grits, and eggs.  

We stayed in our pj's for the better part of the day watching Christmas Movies and being lazy.  I introduced Mary Margo to White Christmas or as she likes to call it "Christmas White".  

Homemade Biscuits

Reindeer Food

Oatmeal, Glitter, sprinkles, and crushed candy canes.  

Or just whatever you can find in your cupboards. 

She was so excited to make this and I was so excited to get rid of these candy canes from the Christmas Parade two weeks earlier.

After the Christmas Eve Service!

Acting silly before spreading the reindeer food, eating a wacky dinner of shrimp and pasta, getting in our pj's, putting out cookies and milk, and then snuggling into our beds to anxiously await Santa Claus!  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Ho Ho Ho Hike!

You can always find something to do in Auburn.  The Ecology park is a great place to spend some outside time and it is even better when they have events like the HO HO HO Hike.  

It was perfect weather for a hike.  

Sweet friends learning about cardinals.   

Girls being silly

On the look out for things that are red!

I spy something RED!!

Dottie is not too sure!

Dottie has decided Santa is no good.

But trees are GREAT!

I love you tree!

After the hike, we played for a little while on the playground.

And just like that, 2 hours had past and it was nap time!  PERFECT!