Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas with our families in Dallas and Atlanta. We went to Dallas for a whole week of fun before Christmas and loved getting to spend time relaxing together and as always eating great food. We of course had our beloved Mi Cocina almost daily and Philip loved getting to play with his little cousin Hunter (or Little H as everyone calls him), being silly with his uncles and had a blast visiting the train village at Northpark with his daddy and Grande. Philip also was the instigator in the forbidden playing with Mimi's snow in her village... but as grandmothers often so wonderfully do, there was no "no's" at Mimi's house and he had a blast making a giant mess. I love how Little H just watched from a distance and laughed but didnt make a mess as he knew better!! Philip also loved his new Veggie Tale DVDs from his Mimi and Grande and as always loved sharing yummy cookies with his Grande at Christmas time. Does life get any better than being at your grandparents house at Christmas?! I think not!

"I didnt do it mommy, I promise"

We had a wonderful time in Atlanta with my family and we had so much fun just relaxing and all being together. We got spoiled as always eating at the Atlanta Athletic Club and loved celebrating with all my extended family as well. Philip loved playing with his cousins Alli and Boots and they had a blast opening the many gifts at Gigi and Papa Doc's house. Philip was so excited to get his very own big boy basketball goal that he had been asking for... now he just needs to learn a jump shot. Isnt it so wonderful when grandparents spoil our kids rotten and then we get to bring them home?! Afterall, that is the blessing of Philip's amazing grandparents! Papa Doc and Philip constantly directed the train under the tree that has been in our family since my grandfather Daddy Buck was a little boy and Philip loved to make the whistle choo choo! He also loved feeding Papa Doc's fish although they were too cold to come up and eat but he just kept feeding them anyway. And then before we left, my mom and I took Philip for a fun day out to the unbelievable Atlanta Aquarium. He was obsessed with all the fish and of course really loved the bright blue ones! What a great Christmas... we were so blessed to be able to celebrate our Lord with the ones we love. We love you all!

Twas the night before Christmas

and all through the house... Philip was not even close to being as quiet as a mouse!! He eagerly was awaiting Christmas morning to see what Santa would bring! We had a wonderful day together as a family fulfilling our many new family traditions. They started with our favorite christmas eve church service at Forest Hills, where Philip played in the nursery and Baby Brosseau #2 kicked like crazy during the service informing Phil and I that our baby's favorite song was by far "O holy night." I love that as that is also my dad's favorite song as well! Then we came home to a wonderful candlelit home cooked meal (we had Philip's favorite, sgetti) followed by us all singing and dancing to christmas music. Next we baked cookies for Santa and read the Christmas Story from the bible together as a family. And then last but not least it was time for Philip to open his one gift from under the tree on Christmas eve. He got a new puzzle mat full of animals that make animal sounds... what can we say he loved it! Merry Christmas Eve!

Then on Christmas morning, Philip couldnt believe his eyes! He woke up to a room filled with toys and presents just for him. He loved his new Georgia Red bridge, his cool water table which he loved drinking the water out of, his big red wagon for him and his new little brother or sister-to-be to ride in, his "BIG" inspired piano mat and more. He danced and ran around and clapped his hands in joy with the biggest grin you can imagine! Then daddy made our christmas morning tradition breakfast filled with pancakes and pigs-n-blankets. We ate, played and celebrated our Lord! Merry Christmas... it is the best time of the year!

All I want for Christmas is...

Today we took Philip to see Santa Claus and boy was it a trip to remember... or maybe one he would probably like to forget! We waited in line patiently and Philip quietly sat in his stroller and watched all the little children go up and sit in Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. In line he seemed fine, but when his time came... he tried to take a run for it right past that Santa Claus as he was not going to sit in any big white bearded man's lap! So I put him in my lap instead and tried to touch Santa's beard to get him comfortable with Santa... but Philip just sat in my lap looking at me shaking his head no and saying, "no, no, no, no!" So when the photo op time came, I sat him in Santa's lap and you would have thought we had cut off his legs he screamed so loud... I mean so loud that the shoppers all the way in Nordstroms could have heard him! Needless to say Philip was not a fan this year of the man in the jolly red suit... but we got his picture so now he can say he has definitely been there, done that and got the t-shirt! Then we had chick-il-lay for lunch as Philip likes to try to say and last but not least we went as a family to mail his Christmas letter to Santa in the North Pole. He was so excited to put the stamp on it and mail his letter to Santa like a big boy just as long as Santa stayed in the North Pole while he did it! His wish list this year was for a big red wagon, a basketball goal and for his mommy to have a baby boy that likes to play outside and with balls instead of a little girl who likes pink and boring babydolls...  I told him that unfortunately I don't know how much control Santa has over his last wish.. but we will surely be blessed by God to have a healthy little baby in March! So there we have it, the letter is mailed and the really sweet thing about the Dear Santa letters are that they get mailed to the troops in war over Christmas to bring smiles to their faces and hearts during this special and wonderful time of year! Isn't Christmas time just the best?!