Santa's Village

We have planned to go to Santa's Village several times during the month of December, but got rained out everytime. We finally got to go the Tuesday before Christmas and so did everyone else! It was so crowded that it was miserable. We could barely move. We didn't even get to see Santa because the line was so long I knew Anna Beth would never wait that long.


We did get to:

Write a Letter to Santa




See the Reindeer




Decorate a Cookie




Make snowman pictures

Have a good time with Mommy & Daddy!

O' Christmas Tree

I did not commit to doing the December Daily because everyone knows I usually only post about once a month. I know, I'm not doing very well at this blogging thing. This year I managed to get up two Christmas trees. I wanted to share Anna Beth's bedroom tree. I went with a pink and green theme. I think it turned out really cute. I posted some of my favorite ornaments on her tree.

Happy Birthday Princess Lillian

Friday night we all gathered at Lane's Salon to celebrate Lillian's 3rd Birthday. Such a WONDERFUL idea! There is nothing Anna Beth loves more than make-up and getting her fingernails painted. I have a feeling this is a bad sign for things to come! Teenage years may be very expensive! Anyway, the girls had so much fun! Thanks to all of the girls at the salon for being so patient with all of our little princesses!




The Sweet Birthday Girl





Getting our nails painted





Next, it's time for make-up



Lookin' Good



Hair Time




Finished Product

Anna Beth and Santa

Every year Santa comes to visit all the children at the daycare where I work. He is just the sweetest little ole Santa you'll ever see! Just about all the kids love him. Anna Beth walked up to him and talked to him, but would not sit in his lap. After all of the kids visited with Santa, he read Twas the Night Before Christmas to them and stayed for snack time. During this time, my dad shows up to get Anna Beth. I told Anna Beth to tell Santa bye. She looks at him with the biggest grin and says "Bye Santa Claus! See you later!" and runs and gives him a big hug. I had already taken my camera to my office and missed a great photo opportunity. The hug lasted about 5 seconds and she realized she was in Santa's lap and was finished with the whole hugging thing. Maybe next year she will sit in his lap.

Christmas Parade

Why is it FREEZING every year for the Athens Christmas parade?!!! This year was no exception. We debated on whether to go and finally decided to just bundle up and bear it! I'm glad we did! Anna Beth had a ball. She waved to everyone that came by. She loved it!

Thanksgiving 2009

This year was the second year in a row that our family in Birmingham came to Athens for Thanksgiving. It is so much easier on us to not have to travel that day. We had lunch with Matt's family and supper with mine.

Here is picture of us Thanksgiving morning

Anna Beth & Destiny

Gatlinburg

A couple of weeks ago, Matt, Anna Beth, and I went to the mountains for a long weekend. We had so much fun together. Anna Beth was the most well behaved little girl the entire trip! No spankings occurred the entire weekend! It was really nice (for us and for her I'm sure)


Day 1


Pulling into Pigeon Forge, we decided our first stop had to be the Applebarn for lunch. We absolutely LOVE that place!

Day 2

We drove over the mountain to Cherokee in hopes of seeing an Indian. Unfortunately, Cherokee pretty much shuts down from the first of November until the first of May so we did not see any Indians. On the way over, we stopped at Newfound Gap. We missed the peak of the turning of the leaves, but it was still a beautiful view. For some crazy reason, on the way back from Cherokee, we decided we would hike to Clingman's Dome. For those of you who have not ever done this, it is a 1/2 mile hike to the highest point. Sounds easy, right? Well, the hike is at least at a 45 degree incline. Matt pushed Anna Beth the whole way up in her stroller. I thought my heart was going to pound out of my chest by the time we got to the top and Matt thought he was dying! Lots to laugh about on the way up and back down!

Anna Beth has a love for cameras. If she ever gets her hands on mine, she goes around the house snapping pictures of anybody and anything. She wanted to take our picture in front of the teepee. Turned out pretty good for a 2 year old!

On the way back to Gatlinburg, we saw a black bear eating up in the woods. It was right at dusk, so we did not get a very good picture.

Day 3
We had lunch at the Old Mill. We had never eaten there before and it was really good. Then we spent the afternoon in Cades Cove. We let Anna Beth out of her car seat in Cades Cove since top speed is never over 10 mph so she could see better. She thought she was big stuff sitting with us.

Snack Time:

Sorry this is such a long post! We had such a wonderful time together!