Christmas in Munford - Part 1

Dear Abigail,

This year, we started a new tradition. You see, both Mommy and Daddy love spending Christmas with their family, but, unfortunately, they live 4 hours from each other. So, in the past, we've spend Christmas eve with Daddy's family and then got up early Christmas morning (missing half of the fun stuff) to do Mommy's family Christmas. This year, we decided we had to choose, and then going forward we'd swap every year. There is good news and bad news to that. The good news is we get to spend a whole lot of time with one of the families, without being rushed, just enjoying the holiday season. The bad news - we don't get to see the other family... But, we decided this was best for our family. Fortunately/Unfortunately, we (me, you and Daddy) are the only ones out of both our families that have to deal with this, so we got to make the ultimate decision as to where this tradition would start! So, since Mimi was sick last year during Christmas, we decided the first Christmas would be in Munford with Mommy's family vs. Cookeville with Daddy's family. So, here's how it went....

Sunday, after the Clark Grugett Christmas party, me you and Mimi packed our car full and headed to Munford. We were in a bit of a hurry because we had a show to catch!!! Papa Rob was the star of his church play and we were headed to see his debut! You, unfortunately had to go to the nursery because there is no way you would have sat still THAT long, but you did good and Ash-ash's friend's little boy, Rece (who you dyed easter eggs with!) was in there, so you 2 played together ( and you borrowed one of his diapers because Daddy forgot your diaper bag in the car and the show was starting!!!). Anyway, you did great and after the show Mommy got to show you off to all of Daddy's church friends. You even got to meet Mommy's first grade teacher - Miss Brown, or well, we call her Miss Susie, but at school she had to be called Miss Brown. She was Mommy's next door neighbor while growing up so we were on first name basis!! Anyway, you met several people, and we ventured back into the reception area where everyone was gathered around eating and socializing. Well, Gramma, bless her heart, got several different dips to try out, and decided to give you a bite. You typically aren't real hesitant on trying foods, although you make it clear when you don't like them - and this was the case. So you ate the dip, and within seconds you literally spit it out all over the table and started raking your tongue. I immediately got you your water, which you gulped down, but that didn't seem to help because you started wailing with big alligator tears and continued raking your tongue. Also, keep in mind, it's pretty quiet right now because the choir director is making a speech - anywho - you didn't care. So all this is happening fairly quickly, and Gramma takes a bite to see what the big deal is. Well she all but spits it out saying how terrible it tasted and then it hit her, too! She said her mouth was on fire, so I knew if Gramma was scrambling for the water, then your poor little mouth must me hurting! So I send Papa Rob off to get more water and he brings back punch, which I would have loved but NOT YOU! You needed you water - so more tears, more loud cries and several glasses of water later and you have cooled down. You didn't eat anything else, though - which I can't blame you. No one could get over A) how awful tasting that dip was and B) how dern HOT it was! It literally had chopped jalapenos in it! So, we recovered from that, and decided we'd better head on home to Papa Robs. It was pretty late as it was, and then when we got to Papa Robs he insisted he have a pillow fight with you!!!

Monday day was fairly entertaining. We woke up at Papa Robs but because he had to work and so did Gramma, we headed over to Mimi's house. We decided we needed to go ahead and head to the grocery store that morning so we could enjoy the rest of the week and not be all rushed. Ha!! I went to the store every day that week, just so you know! But, we did go, and you were not in the mood to be in a shopping cart, no doubt. Those dum dums only worked so long. And then Mimi decided you needed french fries (which btw, when asked what you wanted for Christmas, french fries were your response!) so those worked for a little bit, but sooner rather than later you were ready to get out. So that non stressful day at the grocery store turned into a CRAZY day! But we got the majority of stuff, and got home safely for your nap. Then when you woke up, guess who was there!!! Clara Lee!!! And Aunt Ash-ash adn eventually Em and Katie and John Michael! You girls play so well together, minus the mess you make, but we'll take it! Poor John Michael doesn't stand a chance either - he's going to be having tea and dressy up and playing dolls with the rest of you!! That night, Mommy and you had a much overdue visit with the Bibbs! Member Audra babysat you and Clara Lee a couple months ago - well, we decided to go visit her parents and older brother, Austin, who was home from college!! I've said it before on this blog, and I'll say it again, those Bibbs are some of Mommy's favorite people, and I grew up watching Miss Cindy raise her kids exactly the way I want to raise mine (that's you!). And looking at those kids now makes me want to do it even more!!! So we went to visit and tour their new house (which they've been in for quite a while now!!). You were a little shy at first and then decided to let everyone know you were hungry, so Mr. Joe asked you what you wanted, and you said "Bread". Well, he didn't get you bread, and Mommy didn't know what you were getting, but after several minutes I went to see and he had pulled out the whammy! M&M's!!! As I was telling him how much you love M&M's he said he could tell, and then i noticed how many he gave you!! A WHOLE BOWL!! You have never been so happy in your life!! You just sat at the table like a big girl eating every single one of those!!! Well, that was all fine and dandy because it gave Mommy a chance to catch up, but about 30 minutes later, the sugar kicked in, and you turned crazy. Thankfully it was all funny crazy and not angry crazy but you were spinning and sliding on the floors and running back and forth from the tree to me! I kept pointing at Mr. Joe telling him he was responsible for you for the rest of the night!

Soon after the explosion of energy, we headed back to Papa Rob's house to get some dinner in that sugar belly! I told Papa Rob he couldn't have a pillow fight that night, so he saved it for the morning...

After the pillow fight, Papa Rob head to work and we headed back over to Mimi's - for BAKE DAY!! That's right. Mommy and Mimi and Aunt Ash-ash and Aunt G have been planning to have a day of nothing but baking. And we got what we wished for!! We started at 10 that morning and the baking continued until at least 4 and we didn't even do everything we thought we'd do!! We made fudge and sugar cookies and peanut butter resse cup cookies and cheesecake bars and we tried to make carmel popcorn, but Mommy decided we'd stick with the kind from the can!, and oreo truffles and then to top it off we decorated those cookies!!! WOW is an understatement!!! It's best to describe this with pictures...

Unfortunately, you kiddos became uninterested after about an hour, so Mommy and Aunt Ash-ash had to continue on without you. And, after a lunch full of sugar, you went down for a nap. Thankfully Aunt G showed up with a craft (i.e. something non-sugary) so she helped you with that while we STILL kept baking!

Finally, we were close to being done so we let you girls decorate the cookies. That, too, didn't last too long, but all in all, it was a fun day!! Mommy and Aunt Ash-ash were exhausted though and the last thing I wanted to see was the inside of a kitchen!! So me and you headed to the park and met Papa Rob for an afternoon swing! That was a breath of fresh air, no doubt!!! And, since it had been such a busy week so far and hadn't gotten to bed at your normal time since like last Thursday, I had you bathed, dinner eaten, teeth brushed and in bed by 7 that night!! And you conked out!!! (PS - i wasn't far behind you!!)

On Wednesday, Mommy had planned on having a nice relaxing day; however, as I always expect, I had to do some last minute shopping for others (i.e. Mammaw, and while I was out and about, Mimi). So, Mommy dropped you off at Mimi's house and I headed to the mall, with Katie. I have to say, it turned out a million times better than I ever planned, and a lot of that was my company! And I think you enjoyed yourself at Mimi's, too. You were so good about going to the play room and just playing! Your becoming so independent now, makes me happy, but kind of sad, too... But that's another blog.

SO, back to Christmas - so after I got back from my day of shopping, we were supposed to all head back to Memphis to Starry Nights. Well, Aunt Ash-ash was sick with a bug (that CL, Mimi, Em, and Aunt Ash-ash all got!!), so she was out. Aunt G either worked or was goign to work, but anyway, she was out, and well, Mommy was exhausted and Mimi wasn't feeling it either, so we decided just to take you girls to Christmas City! Now, you've never been to Starry Nights - which is this huge park filled with all sorts of Christmas light with music and everything. And Christmas City is sort of like that - maybe with a little more Griswold put into it... anyway, we wanted to get out and look at lights but not drive 2 hours for it, so we just went right down the street! So we loaded you and emily and Katie and Mimi and Mommy all in Mimi's car and headed to get CL, who was SUPER excited to say the least. Poor baby had been locked up at home with 2 sick parents, so she was ready to get out of that house!!! And when she was Christmas City you would have thought she saw Santa himself!!! So we turned the heat up, rolled the windows down and gazed out the windows at the massive amount of lights- EVERYWHERE! Oh, and we saw Baby Jesus and Clara Lee went BALLISTIC!! It hands down was the funniest thing ever. So after one spin through, we decided that wasn't enough - so we headed back through it! By the time we got done with our second round, it was clear Clara Lee's energy had faded, as well as the rest of ours, so we took her on back to her house and headed to Mimi's to eat dinner (btw, on the way home, right past CL's drive way, 8 deer passed us. That's right - 8! The first one almost got hit, and the second one almost lost a leg, but Mommy rolled her window down and watched the rest of the group just leisurely cross in front of the car, as if I were supposed to stop for crossing deer!! It was quite the scene, to say the least!!) So back at Mimi's we had us a nice supper with Uncle Bubba and Aunt G and the rest of us!

A great week of Christmas activities so far, huh!!! Stay tuned for the rest of the week and all the Christmas celebrations you can imagine!!!

XXXOOO

Christmas in Franklin - Part 2

Dear Abigail,

I told you there was more to come...

So I can't remember the exact date we got our Christmas tree, nor the day we decorated it, but I'm not surprised because A) we get a real tree thanks to your Daddy's stubbornness so that process is always a hassle and we try to block it out of our minds and B) you could not care less about decorating that tree! We even tried watching the Rudolph movie while we decorated it and you just went on about your business as if we weren't even there. But, Mommy and Daddy got it done, although Mimi did say it looked rather 'empty' and I may agree with her. Next year Daddy promised we could get a fake tree and I'll just have to get Mimi up here to decorate it, huh! So, tree is decorated and it's officially Christmas time!!! You went to school all week (minus Monday because it was a snow day which we'll get to in a later post) so Mommy could get things ready for the even bigger weekend we had coming up! See, Aunt G, Em, Katie, Mimi and Clara Lee all came in on Friday afternoon to go to the Opryland Hotel extravaganza! And, they even picked you up from school!!!! I wasn't there, but it sounds like you were pretty thrilled to have every one of them show up in your classroom! Once everyone got back to the house, we bundled ourselves up and headed out for some fun. We started with Ice - which, a little background, is this magnificent display of ice sculptures, always with a theme, and this year's theme being based on the movie "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town". Now, when I say ice, i really mean ice, so EVERYTHING is frozen, therefore they have to keep the huge building it's all displayed in on super super cold temps, like 3 or something insane like that. So, while you do have tons of clothes on, you still have to wear the jacket they provide you, and of course hats and gloves. What an adventure, to say the least. You and Clara Lee are typically 2 peas in a pod, but this day, ya'll were determined to be exact opposites. What I mean is, when you were in a good mood, CL decided she was going to be in a bad mood and when CL was in a good mood you were, well, not! But, we were finally able to get every one's coats on and hats on and gloves on and get the homogeneous double stroller through the doors and BAM, you decided this wasn't for you. You hated the Ice, without a doubt. You were scared of all the sculptures and especially the really big ones of monsters and Santa Claus and elves and stuff. So, I had to hold you the entire time. THE ENTIRE TIME I said. And did I mention we were all stuffed with clothing and jackets and hats???

(yes, that's you looking at the crazy huge man behind you, frightened to death...)

Now, you dear cousin CL was exact opposite. While she was a bit of a, well, pain, to get her jacket on and hat and all that, when she finally go into the exhibit, she LOVED IT! She ran around licking everything!!! And we couldn't keep up with her. Meanwhile, you are crying, saying you want to go home...

At the end of the exhibit, there were 2 really big ice slides that you could go down over and over again. Well, you had a total change of heart and loved going down those, over and over again, while your silly cousin CL decided she had had enough and preferred to just sit in her stroller...

Finally, we all had had enough of the coldness and were getting a little hungry so we ventured into the hotel to grab a bite to eat.

Now, this process was no where near as easy as I'll probably make it out to be. First off, not a single changing table in any bathroom in that hotel. Yep, you heard me right - no changing tables. And guess who's stomach was upset that day - yep, yours. Thank goodness the floors of the bathroom were super clean, or at least appeared that way. So after taking forever to find a bathroom, and then forever to figure out where to eat dinner, we got a table, right beside a huge water fountain and had some delicious hamburgers - and this is when the fun began! This water fountain we just so happened to be sitting beside all of a sudden came alive when a beautiful Christmas song came on. It was like we were in Vegas! The water was shooting out in all different directions in exact synchronization with the song. You girls loved every bit of it and it lasted a really long time, so Mommy and Mimi were able to relax for a bit and get that bite to eat! After the water show, somehow you and Clara Lee started chasing Emily around and around in circles, over and over again, and we just let you do it! Finally you 2 were both on the same wave length!! After we were full and rested, we decided to venture back outside and test this Snow exhibit. It turned out to be a pretty night and we could see the Opryland lights perfectly. And the snow was just perfect. We started first with visiting a few reindeer though! Can you believe it? Santa's reindeer dropped in for a visit, and even let you take a picture with him! Now, I will say, you loved looking at the reindeer, and even liked holding his old antlers that had fallen off last year, but when it came time for the picture - not into it. At all. So, me, you, CL and Em, all took a picture together. I can't figure out how to upload it on the computer, but one day I probably will... Anyway, you and CL did not like being that close to him, and I even think Em had a little bit of scarceness in her, but somehow they got a really cute picture!! Here's you with the antlers... (Uncle Bubba would be so proud...)

So after the reindeer visit, we headed out to play in the snow! And what fun you girls had. You loved standing smack dab where the snow fell (yes, it's artificial snow, which just means they make it themselves, because we do live in Nashville after all...) and just stood there, looking up, as it fell on your head!!

Oh, and they had a maze!! You girls loved running through the maze over and over again...

And you even got in trouble for being a monkey and climbing on those walls!!! Aunt G decided to take one for the team and teach you girls how to make a snow angel (while Mommy and Mimi stayed warm, and more importantly, dry)!

And then Em decided that instead of clothing her snowman, she'd just put the hats on your head!!!

Can you tell it's getting cold??? And that it was super late??
Not without one last snowman to build!!!

Well, I'd like to say it all ended on a happy note, and while it wasn't an unhappy note, it was definitely an eventful note!! So it was super late and super cold, right? So Mommy and Mimi decided we'd go get the car warmed up, change you girls into your jammies all while Aunt G and Em and Katie finish playing in the snow. Well, the car was warming, but because the car was packed full of stuff, we had to change both of you in the front seat, but only one at a time, which makes for quite the spectacle when looking from the outside. Let's just say it was really hard to take 20 layers of clothes off, change a diaper AND put on footed pajamas in the front seat of a car, and then it didn't help matters that your tummy was still doing its thing... BUT, Mommy and Mimi survived and you girls were changed, loaded in the car seat and warmed to a T! So off to home we headed. CL immediately went to sleep; however you decided to venture the long journey home with the rest of us, just wide awake. Finally we made it home and off to sleep we ALL went!!!

Saturday morning came too soon, and everyone started doing their own thing. Aunt G, Em, Katie and Clara Lee were heading back to their home because they had a wedding to get to, but Mimi stuck around with us to go have breakfast with Santa!!! That's right, your school hosted a breakfast with Santa and we invited Ryan and Ellie, too! You were so adorable in your Christmas attire...

and were even hamming it up for the camera!

Once everyone got there we all at pancakes and sausage and muffins galore (minus you and those pancakes - I just can't get you to love those like Mommy!!)
Soon after starting breakfast, guess who walked in the door??? That's right - SANTA!!! Well, guess who was scared of Santa? EVERYONE!! Or at least you, Ellie and Ryan. You ran into Mimi's lap immediately, and poor Ellie didn't know what to do, so she just hid her face. I'm guessing her strategy was "If I can't see him, he can't see me". And it worked because Santa didn't bother her!

Santa wondered around visiting the other little boys and girls that DID want to see him and the 3 of you continued to stare with the fright in your eyes (or hid, as in Ellie's case)! Once Santa left, breakfast was finished and we wondered through your school, where low and behold, there was Santa, waiting for you to sit in his lap! All three of you, again, did not want to come near him, but some how Miss Leigh got Ryan to sit on his lap, and he didn't even cry!! Next was Ellie, who was NOT happy in the least bit, and her picture proves it, but she got her picture nonetheless! And then it was your turn. I thought I might have had you convinced to do it, but you freaked at the last minute so I just went for it! While you weren't crying at all, you had the worst look on your face. It clearly said "MOTHER - get me off this man's lap. He scares the bajeezus out of me!!!!!!!". So, one snap later and the picture was taken! Again not sure how to put that picture on here, but don't worry, I've already framed it in a cute Christmas frame. We'll enjoy that one for years to come! So after the Santa drama was over, we ventured to the craft room where ya'll made cute little ornaments for the tree (which you later tore up when taking the Christmas tree down...). And then you got to play a little bit with all the million of toys!

While you didn't care for Santa too much - okay - at all, we did have a fun breakfast with the gang! And thank goodness because we were planning on having dinner with the gang, too!! That's right - it was the Clark Grugett Christmas Party!!!! We had the party again at Ellie's house and what a fantastic job of decorating that whole family did, especially all the lights! Uncle Jaybee has a knack for Christmas lights and if he doesn't watch out, he's going to have him a job every Christmas at our house!!!! So we all arrived around 5:30ish and you kiddos were so stinkin' cute. The mommies, months and months ago, planned these cute cute outfits to all match! I think we did rather well, if I may say so myself!

We were smart enough this year to start the pictures first thing, and wow what a difference a year makes! All 4 of you did such a good job posing for the camera, sitting still and everything. One of you enjoyed it a little more than the others...

This is one of my favorites, even though you can't see anyone's face! It's all 3 big kids surrounding Baby Grant! So cute!! You just love you some Baby Grant!

Finally the photo shoot was over, so we let you kiddos play, and play you did!

And then it was time to "open presents". Now, I put that in quotes because this year, the gang decided that instead of buying each of you a present from each of you, that instead we'd all just split the purchase of a bouncy house, and that would be your Christmas presents to and from each other. We've had to rent a bouncy house so much, and needed one so many other times and all of you have loved it in the past (with the exception of Grant, who we assumed would...), so we all thought this was an excellent idea. And because Ellie has a humongous play room, it was something we could use inside the house, too! Excellent idea, right?!!! WRONG. Or well, let me rephrase that - it was an excellent for 3/4's of the gang - and actually has proven to be MORE than an excellent idea; however, for that 1/4 of the gang, it was not so much... You, my dear darling daughter, who has had (and loved) bouncy houses at both birthday parties, who LOVES LOVES LOVES Pump it Up, where there are a million bouncy houses, who just went 3 weeks ago to a bouncy house - has decided that you do not like them. More specifically - that you are scared of them, and therefore require your mothers lap in order to get any where near it... Seriously? I mean for real, seriously?!!! You, of all people, I would have assumed would love it and get the most use out of it. I've had to climb in and drag you out, tears and all, from bouncy houses, and now you decide you don't like it. You actually said "it's scary" to both Mommy and Daddy. What in the world... SO... Ellie and Ryan enjoyed their new bouncy house, and even Baby Grant got a little turn on it - and you just sat there..

At some point, you finally got out of my lap and ran through the tunnel (not a part of the bouncy house, might I add) but then you'd run right back to my lap!
This is the closest you would get to the bouncy house... But it does seem like you started to enjoy the playroom a little more (not really - i had to stay in the room the whole time and eventually we headed down to eat and didn't come back up...)
You kiddos got to eat your own special dinner which included edamame! Aunt Steph showed you how to eat it and you LOVED it!! We had to get you more over and over again!

After dinner, you were cleaned up and put into your pretty Christmas pajamas, because - wait for it - Mimi was there to pick you up!!! That's right, Mimi came over and took you AND Ellie back to our house. She's awesome like that! And the mommies and daddies got to have dinner and enjoy a fun night of Just Dancing sans children (well, minus Ryan, but it wouldn't be a Christmas dinner without him there!). Even Baby Grant's Mimi came and got him!! It was such a fun night, if you forget about the bouncy house, and also Miss Leigh lost her diamond out of her wedding ring, oh and I fell down the stairs with a full glass of water, BUT other than that, another great Clark Grugett Christmas Party!!!!

See Abigail - this Holiday Season is just packed with awesomeness, and we haven't even gotten to the week of Christmas!!!!! LOVES AND HUGS!