Thanks to Facebook...

I was able to reunite with my freshman year in college roommate, Heather, over the holidays. We'd become "friends" on Facebook several months ago but after Christmas she posted that she was heading down from Ohio to see her parents. I asked if she was stopping in our town and a few days later, her and her family made a two hour trip from her parents' house to see us. I haven't seen her since our wedding and I've never met her stepdaughter and sons. The kids got along great and it was so nice to be able to catch up.
Marissa, Simon, Grace, Quinn and Marissa's friend.

Playdate

One of my friends, Lara, came down to visit from Huntsville with her daughter Adrienne. Amy and I worked with Lara before she moved so we were excited to get the girls together- it had been 1 1/2 years since they'd played together- they've changed a little...

They all bonded over snack time

Grace and Lily decided it was time for a new hairdo for me

Grace was excited to show off her jumpolene

Finally someone to teeter totter with!

This little piggy went to market...

Old and New Friends

During our trip in Tuscaloosa, we were able to get together with one of Jack's longtime friends, Ken, and his family. Ken is in the army and was able to come home for a couple of weeks for Christmas break and it was great to be able to see him. Grace had a good time playing with Elam and Athen. Boys are so very different from Grace in energy level but she kept up pretty well ;o)

Monster, Still RIP

There isn't a day that goes by that Grace doesn't ask about Monster, our cat "on a trip." We keep thinking that she will eventually forget about him but she is still looking for him to come back. A few days before Christmas she said, out of the blue, "Monster will be coming home for Christmas." She seemed a little disappointed when he didn't make the trip back but still is hopeful for a return visit. Poor Grace...

Tummy Time

Here is a short video of one of Kate's first "tummy times." She did really well on her picking up her head skills ;o)

First Board Game

Grace's Great-Grandma got her Candy Land for Christmas- her first board game. Grace and her Grandma had a fun time playing it. Grace caught on pretty quick and had a great time. She's starting early- watch out if she wants to play with you- she'll be a ringer soon.

Storytime with Grandma

Naptime with Pop

Christmas #3

After we opened our gifts Christmas morning, we headed to Tuscaloosa to celebrate the holiday with the Carneys. Grace had a blast opening more presents- both her own and everyone elses. She loved all her gifts but her favorite was a pink suitcase from Grandma and Pop. She was obsessed with rolling it around and putting everything in it- that girl loves a bag. She will get lots of use out of it in the future.

Grace's Grandma got a cake for Baby Jesus' birthday which Grace loved. She was very excited to sing happy birthday to him and blow out the candles. She even dressed as Tinkerbell for the occasion.

Christmas Morning

Despite Grace's efforts, Santa decided to go ahead and come to our house. I know Grace was secretly glad and might have even mentioned she liked him after she saw her presents (after asking repeatedly if he was coming back to make sure he wasn't).One of Grace's big gifts was a "Jumpolene" which she refers to as her trampoline. As soon as she saw it Christmas morning she said "Oh! Just want I wanted!" Which was sweet except she'd never seen one and when asked what it was, she didn't know ;o) Once she figured out what to do with it, she started jumping right away. I don't think Santa realized how big it was and we can't quite figure out where it will stay but she does love it.Grace also received a doll, Barbies, play doh, lots of dress up clothes and a teeter totter.

Santa did not forget Kate, who slept through Christmas morning, and got her a ball activity center and a rattle/kitchen set. She will love them soon!

Under the tree was also a gift from Grace. She had brought home a gift for us from her mother's day out class and was very excited to give it to us and then wrap it for us ;o) We love our new plate with her fingerprints!

Tell Santa I've Been Bad and Don't Come

Christmas Eve night started out well... We loaded up the car with the kids and went out in search of Christmas light displays. We all had a good time and Grace thought the lights were "so pretty."

As we were driving home, I told Grace that Santa had a map on the computer that shows where he is. I thought she would like this since she loves maps so much (she sleeps with the map from the zoo). She acted interested but when we got home and I started to load it, panic started to set in. And then it got bad... She was literally hysterical at the thought of Santa coming. She wouldn't go in the kitchen or living room because she thought Santa was either looking at her or coming in the door. Jack told her he came in the chimney, not doors and she panicked and was screaming wanting to know where the chimney was. And then Elliot barked...that pushed her over the edge thinking Santa was here. She cried and begged to go to bed for the rest of night- we told her Santa could not go in her room so she thought that was the safest place. We finally gave up and let her go to bed without finishing her dinner so she could escape Santa..

Kate thought her big sister's reaction was a little silly....

My Two Dollys With Their Two Dollys

Tea Anyone?

Thanks to the tea set from Nana and Papa we've been having lots of tea parties....

Christmas #1

While at Callaway Gardens, we celebrated the Grunewald Family Christmas. No matter what date we celebrate Christmas as a family with them, we celebrate like it's the 24th and 25th of December since it doesn't matter- just matters that we are together. I'm thankful for this tradition because it feels like I've never missed a Christmas morning with my parents and siblings.

On our "Christmas Eve" we had a fondue dinner- a tradition we've had for the last 20 years. After that we all opened one gift and went to bed.

On "Christmas morning" we all got up to pose for our pj picture (although some didn't follow the rule of "no shower"....) and opened our gifts from each other and my grandfather and his wife. We all loved our gifts and had a great time. Kate was excited to get her first Christmas gifts and appreciated Grace helping her out.We went out to brunch to celebrate "Christmas" at a great buffet. They had something I've never seen- a special buffet table just for kids. It was low to the ground and contained kid friendly food- even the fruit was cut up in bit size pieces. We adults used Grace and Isabella to gain access to the french toast sticks and smiley face potatoes- we liked the kid's buffet too!

Thanks to Nana and Papa for a great trip!

They Won't Even Fit You....

Kate has been enjoying her cousin Isabella's clothes since they were born in the same season. Apparently Isabella wants them back...
Thanks Nana for the matching shirts- Kate was excited to have her very own ;o)

Festival of Lights

One of the reasons we went to Callaway Gardens was the Festival of Lights. We had heard it was really cool and it didn't disappoint. We all loaded up on a trolley to see the lights. Luckily it was unseasonably warm so we didn't have to bundle up as we looked at the lights and sang Christmas carols.

Grace and Isabella enjoyed watching the lights with their Nana and Papa.

Grace's favorite scene included Tinkerbell.

As we were leaving, we noticed one of the stand-alone light displays was the Christmas story. Grace, being a big lover of Baby Jesus and a Nativity "set" wanted to stay and watch. It was a light show with a voice over of the Christmas story. Grace kept wanting to get closer and closer to see Baby Jesus and the rest of the characters. It was a great way to end the evening.