Christmas Celebration Numero Dos

We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at my parents' house.    Our morning's festivities commenced around 8:00 a.m.

Genevieve was thrilled that Santa brought her a new kitchen.

Robby chillaxed.

I decided to double bow it to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

She looked a bit like Aunt Pitty-Pat, my favorite character from Gone with the Wind.

Cousin Caroline was all to willing to assist with present opening.  

Mom got a new sweater.

Meghan helped with G's new ladybug scooter.

My precious girl spent most of the morning on Bob's lap.  She had a fever on Christmas Eve and all day Christmas.  We learned that she had a double ear infection when we went to the doctor on the 26th.

Merry merry!

Elmo proved to be frightening to our lady.  She still hasn't warmed up to him.  I have since relegated him to the closet.  We'll try again soon.

Mom cooked our traditional ham dinner, and Cindi and Scott were able to join us.  We had our Christmas crackers that Caroline broke open for all of us, revealing paper crowns.  

Aren't we regal?

Christmas Play dates and Randy Kitties

Ah, the play date.  It sounds so beautiful in theory.  Children playing, sharing, laughing.

That is, unless you invite Mean Jean, which is what I have been calling my sweet Genevieve of late.  

Actually, she wasn't too naughty.  Just your usual clinging, swiping toys from others and a few random smacks.  

She brings me such great pride.

My mother's dear friend Nancy hosted a lovely play date on Sunday morning before Christmas.  We really did have a great time.

Genevieve decided she wanted to play with only me at first. She was a Klingon.

Then she decided she rather fancied Holden.

He's about the most precious little fellow ever.  Sweet and non confrontational.  Just the way Bossy Britches likes 'em.  

Lindsay came with Tatum and Holden

Jessie with Miller

and

Ellie with Mimi

* let me note that Ellie gave birth 3 days later.

What a champ!

Let's recall that 3 days before I birthed Lady G I couldn't even fit shoes on my feet.

I chatted it up with Jessie, who hails from the great city of New Orleans.  

She's a southern belle, for sure.

Since I'm from Terre Haute, we have that fancy French lineage thing in common.  

At the end of the play date, the wheels had literally fallen off the wagon train of toddlers.

My mother insisted on a picture.

This was what she got.

Tres chic, which is French for our toddlers have lost their sh*t.

We returned home to a nap and shiny new gold moccasins from YaYa.

On Monday evening I hosted an evening of fun and merriment with my childhood friend, Megan.

You are all familiar with the good doctor.

Molly and G fared splendidly with one another.  

G clapped excitedly when Nolan came over with yet another battery-operated moving toy, her yapping Chihuahua.  

Molly never lost focus on the camera.

She's a pro.

The second part of my title referred to Randy Kitties.

Oh my.  We hosted a kitty convention over Christmas with my parents' cat Finn, Robeghan's cat Ziggy and our Kashmir.

We discovered that fresh Evergreen makes Finny swoon.  

That was weird.

Just when I thought things couldn't get more freaky-deaky, Kashmir decided to get acquainted with Caroline's new horse.

Then things got crazy awkward.

She fell in love with that trusty steed.

Was it the pleather bridle?

The chestnut plastic?

No one will ever know for sure.

Except Kashmir.

She took that steed by its pink reins.

And strolled into the sunset.

I hope that little tale/tail brought you as much joy as it did Kashmir.  

Christmas Celebration Numero Uno

Our girl was very busy the weekend before Christmas.  She spent all of her time corralling her animatronic friends.

She would get her Santa going and her Camilla the Chicken squawking and then just clap and dance.  Grumpy Cat did not participate.  My child loves anything that has a button you push to make it move or talk. 

We celebrated with our family of three on the Saturday before Christmas.  We wanted to open our presents before our travels began.  We started with a giant box from Wellie, Trinity's grandmother.  

G preferred hanging out in the box.  

Among many toys, Wellie had been busy crocheting, and we got a new blanket and pillow with Genevieve's initials.  I cried, of course.

She helped us open all of our gifts too.  

She was excited about her new boots.  They allowed her to move at turbo speed with a lovely little rubber sound.  

We then packed up the next morning to celebrate Christmas Numero Dos with my side of the family.

Pre Christmas Activities

As Karen Carpenter said, "Greeting cards have all been sent..."

Our Christmas cheer has been spread throughout the land.  I do love our card this year.  

It's a vast improvement from last year, when we clashed and Genevieve had little sticks for legs poking out from under her sweater dress.

2012's card goes down in history for my biggest Christmas card disaster of all.  I pull it out just to laugh.  Genevieve looks awesome.

In other events, YaYa and Bob took Genevieve out for her first adventure in Snowland.

She was not a fan.

Like mother, like daughter.  I loathed the snow as a child.  Snow always seem to creep in between my mittens and the cuffs of my coat, creating a layer of icy misery.

Trinity made the mistake of taking me to the gym.  After my run on the treadmill, I followed him around and took selfies.  

Being my husband is really a testament to his strength of character.

He was ready to wing a dumbbell at my head at this point.

G received Grumpy Cat as an early Christmas gift.

They started with a stare off.

That ended with lots of hugs.

This stuffed feline looks so much like Kashmir that I have mistaken her several times for my living, breathing fur ball.

We had a 15 month well baby visit on Friday afternoon.

It was pajama day at daycare, so I hauled her into the office with her jammie-tails on.

She tried to make friends with a little girl in the lobby who was really not interested.  She was probably turned off by all of that patterning.

She was all about the peek a boo in the examination room.

Once the doctor came in, she lost her mind and then pooped in that corner.  

Classy.

Despite the table in the picture, we don't go to a janky doctor.  The rooms look so tacky.

Genevieve continues to over achieve in the size department.

She is 32 1/2 inches long and 27 pounds.  No wonder my back hurts all of the time!

Life Lately

We've been having a jolly old time in this fine month of December.  Our main focus has been staying warm.  My running habit has evaporated in the 20 degrees and below weather we've been having.  My Chickfila habit, however, has heated up.

We took G for her first kids' meal at the Chick last Friday, and I posted this picture on Instagram:

My sister has some loyal friends, let me tell you.  I was publicly chastised on social media for not patronizing Sista Katie's beloved McDonald's.  

I had to clarify that it was G's first kids' meal at the Chick, and she had already indulged in a Filet O' Fish.

That quieted the masses.

The main reason we went was to let our little lady blow off some energy in the play land.

She had to charge up with the seasonal peppermint chocolate milkshake.  I love these more than I can describe in writing.

So does my baby.

We about came to fisticuffs over that creamy blend of goodness.  I made the mistake of giving her a taste, and before I knew it she was screaming and grabbing for more.

I was miffed because I really don't like to share desserts.

Or really share anything for that matter.

This daughter thing has taught me a bit about generosity.  I shared my milkshake.

Then it was off the the toddler play area.  We broke the rules and left Trinity's shoes on.  She was the only child in there so he had to play with her.  

On Sunday mother and I attended our 2nd annual Nordstrom Christmas party.  The Saint Germain was flowing again.  I was better and didn't get tipsy.  I gorged myself on my beloved pink champagne cupcakes and discovered the hot chocolate bar right under the escalator.  I swear those people know what they're doing.

Earlier this week I was hit smack in the face with the realization that my child will never be able to write her name.

Kashmir has not been featured lately.  

She's old, cranky, and loathes Genevieve.

Almost 15 years old and I still can't handle how cute she is!

More holiday happenings to come.