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.

A Very Thankful Thanksgiving

We had the most wonderful family-filled Thanksgiving break.  We started our holiday by driving to see Abby and Papi.  Genevieve was eager to give Abby her birthday gift.  A new Gonia, as I call them!

She relaxed and read with Papi.

She modeled her Winter Wonderland coat and outfit that Abby gave her.

We ate our Thanksgiving lunch at Woodford Reserve.  We simply cannot get enough of the bourbon distilleries.  We seem like such booze hounds.

The lunch was so delicious, and G and I split a sweet potato cupcake with cream cheese frosting.  

The only thing better than the cupcake was G's seatbelt-free ride on the Woodford Reserve shuttle bus that took us to the building where we ate our lunch.

That is a grin of freedom.

Speaking of breaking the law, G also went seatbeltless when we toured the Kentucky Horse Park's light display.

She clapped and was thrilled to see the sparkles.

They had random camel and pony rides.  Our gal is still a tad too small for such foolishness, but Papi got her close enough for a possible spitting.

They escaped unscathed.

On Saturday we visited Nashville and our beloved Opryland Hotel.  Trinity and Genevieve rode on a miniature Polar Express.  The woman behind them clearly thought the ride was too fast and tried to make her great escape, mid-choo.

I'm kidding.

The ride was over.

YaYa, Bob and Sister Katie's crew joined us for the festivities.

G never met a hair she didn't pull.

My favorite part of the weekend was Genevieve's hugging on command.  Caroline would request a hug and my li'l Squish would just run right over and fling her arms around her.

My caption for this photo is

"Look away, look away, look away, Dixieland" in my best Elvis voice.

We posed with this guitar laden zebra in honor of our initial meeting at a bar in Opryland on December 8, 2007.

Yep, that was the day my life forever changed.

That sounded dramatic.

We wrapped up the weekend with a trip to Santa.

Nothing fazes Lady G.

G's First Birthday Pictures

Genevieve had her first birthday pictures taken almost 2 months after she turned one.  Kathy, photographer extraordinaire, is quite busy.  Plus, I'm not very organized.

We took them in my parents' back yard.

My mother and I were her trusty assistants.

Prepping a toddler for photo shooting can be a task.

I've included my favorites.

This one was snapped seconds before I let her fall in the mud.

After some coddling, Puff consumption and a quick clean up, she was reading for a close up.

Things got hairy over by the shed.

For the record, I'm aware that given a mask and a fedora, my child would be a dead ringer for the Hamburglar in that ensemble.

I still love it.

Showing off all 3 1/2 teeth and some attitude.

We also took some family pictures after a brief wardrobe change.

I love the sun and all of that greenery behind them.  

They are glowing.

They sort of look like Hobbits in the Shire.

G would totally be Frodo.