"Santa spolied me!"

Christmas morning brought squeals of joy to Grammy & Papa's house this year. One of the first things Lily said when she woke up & saw what Santa brought her was "Santa spoiled me!!" (which is what Grammy tells her she is doing every time she is given ice cream before bed without Mom knowing...)

Opening my stocking

Stocking swag

Lily liked that this gift looked like santa - but she asked where his head was?!

Testing out her new easel

A PINK TV!!
and matching DVD player

just what every princess needs...

Opening presents from Grammy & Papa Even Vader opens his own presents!and tries on his new Christmas presents

SO cute in his new coat - just like Daddy's (says Lily)

Stretching out to enjoy my new toy...

"Don't even THINK about touching my ball!"

It's MY toy!!

Santa sure did spoil everyone this year!

Dinner at Uncle Ricky's house Christmas night

The princess & her Papa

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a lot of fun for Lily this year. She got to go to 2 church services (she LOVES going to church), make gifts for her friends, help Mommy wrap presents & she also got to open her presents from our Texas family. We decided it would make those presents more special if we opened them on Christmas Eve & they weren't just one of many on Christmas Day.

Vader's idea of helping us wrap...sort of.

The first church service we went to was the Christmas pageant & Lily loved it. She sat & watched (kinda) quietly & was so excited when Mary & Joseph carried Jesus out and put him in the manger. She thought it was so cool when we all sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. I think she enjoyed watching the pageant more than she would have if she were in it, so it all worked out well.

The second service was the 'flashlight service' (it's the family service, so they use flashlights instead of candles, so the littler children can participate as well). The church pastor called all the kids up to the front of the church & told the story of Mary, Joseph & Jesus. He asked the kids a lot of questions to involve them in the story & every time he asked a question, Lily raised her hand to answer - whether she knew the answer or not. One question he asked was how they thought people felt when the angel appeared to them to tell them about baby Jesus being born. Lily raised her hand, and the pastor called on her - Lily said "Well....I'm an angel!"

After church, we went home to open presents! Lily loved all of her gifts, but her two favorites were the digital camera Mimi & Grant sent & the dress Granny sent that plays music from the 'Nutcracker'. When she opened the camera she said "OH! This is GREAT!" Lily filled up the entire memory card (it holds about 70 pictures) in about 10 minutes! When she opened the box with the dress in it she gasped & gave the dress a huge hug. She put the dress on immediately & started dancing around like a ballerina to the music. She even wanted to wear the dress to bed!



Lily dancing
Lily taking pictures with her new camera!


Here's some pictures Lily took with her camera:
She's a natural! This is the first picture she took!

Vader

Rocky

Bucca

Lily in her Ariel sleeping bag from Mimi & Grant!

Checking out my new FP3 player!
A princess castle from Aunt Gay & Uncle Larry! YAY!!

Some GREAT cook books from Aunt Julie
We can't wait to try out some new recipes!

Granny also sent Lily a book - 'I Know an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Fly' - and it came with an old woman doll & stuffed animals of all the things she swallows in the story. Lily thought this was the neatest thing & loved making the old woman eat the animals as the story was read to her.


Another gift Lily really liked was an Ariel makeup set from Mimi & Grant. The princess applied her own makeup & looked very lovely for the evening... I don't know how well you can see in this picture, but she has pink & purple makeup smeared under & over both of her eyes...

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, across the great land,
We slept safe in our beds while they patrolled the sand.
They've been up since dawn, their missions complete,
Coffee and rations, some mail they would read.

Lieutenant had told them today they might call,
Loved ones back home who missed them above all.
Mail call brought smiles, gifts Mom had made,
Letter from wives & photos of babes.

Someone got cookies, another had snacks,
A splash of good whiskey from a hidden gold flask.
Stories were told of Christmas back home,
Most soldiers joined in, while some sat all alone.

The Chaplain stopped by, they all joined in prayer,
Carols rang softly in the cold desert air.
Each settled down for a restless night's sleep,
"Forgive me dear Lord, sometimes it's too deep".

I chose to be here, my Country I've served well,
With my Brothers beside me, we've all walked through hell.
Give us this day, one day let us rest,
Tomorrow's a new day, we'll be back at our best.

Mom, if your wishing upon this same star,
Know that I love you and take care of my car!
Tell Dad there'll be no football to bet on this year,
Give Grandma and Grandpa a cup of good cheer.

Let everyone know, for now, I'm okay,
For me & my buddies, remember to pray.
May each of you know the cost to be free,
Have faith, we've paid it, in America we believe!

With dawn fast approaching, God looks from above
"My children, you're honored, and oh, how your loved.
Your country still needs you, with Angels walk tall,
My Sons & my Daughters, for you, I gave all."

by Lynn Price

My ALMOST Christmas pageant star

Lily was scheduled to be in the Christmas pageant at Grammy's church this year. Today we went to the first meeting where the younger children were able to choose what part they wanted to play. Lily wanted to be an angel, but wasn't old enough according to the church's Christmas pageant rules...she had to be an animal. She found a pair of donkey ears she really liked, but when she found out what the rest of the costume consisted of (a brown sack that covered her whole body), she refused to cover up her Christmas dress & decided she would rather watch the pageant with us than play a part in it.

Cookie making marathon

We went to Auntie Annie's house for a Christmas cookie making marathon today. Lily was such a good helper. She helped measure & pour ingredients, stir everything together, roll batter into balls, and decorate once the cookies were baked. I think her favorite part was covering the Russian teacakes cookies with powdered sugar - she stuck her hands right in & she was covered in sugar! (not to mention the space around her!) We had a fun day & came home with lots & lots of cookies to share with everyone.

The cookie scene

Powdered sugar hands!

Jingle ALL the way to Massachusetts

We drove up to Massachusetts to spend Christmas with my parents this year. Luckily I figured out what was wrong with the DVD player (there was a switch in the wrong position!), so I wasn't serenaded with Jingle Bells the whole entire trip, but Lily made sure she sang a few renditions, just for old times sake. We made pretty good time (10 hours!), and Lily was on her best behavior for most of the ride. When we arrived at Grammy & Papa's house, we had another new little puppy waiting for us! For Lily, it was love at first sight. Bucca is small enough for Lily to pick up & carry around, so he has become her new "baby". She is constantly hauling him around everywhere & playing with him. I don't know if Bucca always likes the attention, but he is very good about tolerating it.

MIA

Wow, have we really been MIA for over 3 weeks?! Sorry!! We've been traveling nomads for the past few weeks...from Boston to Houston, then back to Boston & finally home to Virginia. I think my head is still spinning! And all for a spoiled little black dog! (well, mostly) :o) (Isn't he so cute in his little coat?!)

We drove home yesterday & it was a LONG ride. Lily's trusty DVD player refused to work, so we had 10 hours of driving with NOTHING for Lily to do. Luckily, Lily claimed to know how to get us home faster...all she had to do was sing Jingle Bells over & over again! ~ at the top of her lungs. She doesn't quite have all the words down yet - here is Lily's version "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle ON the way, Oh what fun it is to ride in a one horse LEGS & sleigh!" Hmmm.. On the 1,436th rendition, I tried to tell her what the words really were & she informed me: "Mommy, I can sing whatEVER I want!" Well then - that's nice. (Note to self - fix DVD player ASAP!) :o)

I have lots of stories & pictures to share, and I will put them on here as soon as my head stops spinning & my ears stop ringing with Jingle Bells...

Santa!

We went to a fair at Grammy's church & Santa was there! Since there wasn't anyone else waiting to see Santa, Lily decided she would talk to Santa & tell him all about herself. Once she told him what she wanted for Christmas (a barbie with a short, pink dress with sparkly flowers - not too specific, are we?), she told him about her dance classes & every single one of her friends that she has ever spent time with. Luckily "Santa" was one of my mom's friends & he didn't mind listening to her monologue. :o) A man from the local newspaper came to take pictures of the event & because Lily was spending so much time with Santa, she got her picture taken & put in the newpaper!

Even Mom got in on the fun...

We went to the mall the next day & when we walked by Santa, he waved to Lily. She said "He remembers me!! He knows just what I want!" :o)

Visit to the dentist

It's been 6 months since Lily's last teeth cleaning, so it's time to visit the dentist! Lily does soooo good! She goes in & climbs right up in the chair. When the technician turns the bright lights on, Lily is given a pair of super cool sunglasses to wear so the light doesn't hurt her eyes. She opens her mouth to have her teeth counted & then she gets to pick what flavor toothpaste she wants (she picks strawberry, which is better than last visits pick, which was cookie dough!). She giggles when she gets water squirted in her mouth to rinse off the toothpaste & thinks it's the coolest thing to take a drink from the water squirter. Then it's time to pick a fluoride flavor - chocolate this time (which, again, is better than last choice of marshmallow flavor!). After a quick check from the dentist, Lily's teeth are given a clean bill of health & she is sent home with a sticker, a ring, a new toothbrush & toothpaste & a reminder to floss every day! What a brave big girl!

American Father

My Father is American
He's brave, strong and true
He's a soldier in Kuwait
Fighting for me & you
He sends the message clearly
That men are made of steel
With pride and their honor
They help their country heal
From the men who tried to stop
The pride that we share
In our freedom and our country
He shows that he cares
My Father is an American
He's a soldier of the War
He will fight until the end
Into America's free core

4 months down, 2 months left
until Daddy comes home
where he is loved best