Surviving January

I loathe January.  Christmas is over and it's cold.  Resolutions, new beginnings, blah, blah, blah are not my thing.  I just always try to survive the month without having loungewear permanently tattooed to my body.  So far I have not been that successful.  We have had a few highlights, though!

We went to Family Day at the IMA and the theme was Dance! Dance! Dance!  Since we have a blossoming ballerina on our hands, we could not miss this opportunity.

My darling yogi Erin led kids yoga.  

They had ballerinas sitting for still life drawings.  

I proved that my art skills are identical to those from 3rd grade in Mrs. McNeal's art class.  I just need to add a name and frame.  That woman terrified me.  This drawing gives me the sads. It's just so bad.  It's a symbol of January angst.  

 G got her harping on.  That verb has a totally different meaning here.

 Trinity and Genevieve were master architects.  She definitely has more of a career either operating a wrecking ball crane or a bulldozer.  

G was invited to mermaid Lydia's birthday party.  We went to Target for a gift and this just seemed appropriate.

Another example of how strong my genes are.  This was a variation of pin the tail on the donkey.  Genevieve won by putting the sunglasses on Barbie.  

The precious birthday girl patiently watched my child open her prize for winning the game. 

She won lip gloss (thanks Tara) and Susan was a sport about being her model.  

Mostly this is how she behaved.  

She doesn't quite get the idea that not every party is for her.  

After  that we left her at home for Uncle Robby's birthday party. I look homeless.  I have no words. 

Robby chose Noah Grant's in Zionsville for his dinner.  

Mother finally got a portion of food that she could handle.  She has turned into her mother and exclaims each time that she is served food, "how am I supposed to eat all of this?"  

35 years young.

That means I have 5 more months until I'm 37.  Geesh.

This very dark picture shows Dad was there too.  You know he paid for it all.

We played in the snow.

For 10 minutes.  G had no gloves so she is wearing Trinity's socks on her hands.

She needed hot chocolate.

I have resorted to a sticker chart for my child in the mornings.  i made that in 2 seconds so all of my OCD readers can cringe at the mess.  I couldn't do any better if I had spent 20 minutes on it.  G gets stickers for putting on her clothes, shoes, and brushing her hair and teeth.  That means letting me do all of those things without trying to kick out one of my ovaries.   

We still go to dance once a week.  

She loves it.  I am tortured by how often she comes over to me in 45 minutes asking for a snack.  

Wellie!

We traveled to Pennsylvania for a quick 2 night trip to our beloved Wellie!

We played the Sneaky Snacky Squirrel game that G got from Abby and Papi.  Wellie was a very sneaky squirrel.  

She was great at grabbing acorns.  

She is also a pro at hide and seek.  

She wore one of G's bows, as is our tradition.  They had fun with Frozen stickers.  

I made tea with Wellie.  I love this hilarious picture.  She is so little!

Aunt Rose and Uncle Paul were ready to party.

We had a fun meal at Friendly's.  

We finished up the evening by visiting T's cousin Dina at work.  Lane Bryant was terrorized by my child.  I don't take her shopping much anymore, so she ran like a crazy fool hiding behind clothing racks and under tables.  

It was a great visit.

Christmas 2015

Christmas morning was most exciting for Lady G.  Santa (me) delivered on the Rapunzel dress.  

Caroline and Genevieve made out like fat cats!  

My mother got an electronic piano, since her piano floated down the river with the flood of 2008.  The cousins wore matching gold for Christmas dinner.

Let it be noted that I actually wore pants that buttoned on Christmas day for the first time in like 2 decades.  I wore jeans!  

We continued our tradition of Christmas crackers.  Everyone had a crown.  

YaYa and Bob with their best gals.  

Caroline received that ridiculous pie face game.  We all got a little crazy with whipped cream.

Uncle Kent was a bit uncertain.

Shazam!

Robby prays that he is able to maintain his perfectly groomed face and hair.  He orders products from London.  I'm not kidding.  

Here's my hubby.  He did not avoid the whip!

Cousin Scott was a real champ about it all.  

Courtney, Allison, and Teri returned for more wine and fun.   Courtney ran around the house with my child for about 20 minutes straight.  Ever efficient, she was able to both bond with my clone AND finish up her 10,000 steps for the day.  

We departed the next day to Pat and Eddie's for another Christmas with Aunt Shirley.  Patsy had this beautiful tree.  

G received a tricycle from Abby and Papi.

She rolled around on that thing a lot.  We continued to eat a ton with them too.  We had so much fun.  

I convinced my husband to take me to see Star Wars.  He hates to go to the theatre.  We loaded up in my new car.  I have crossed over to the dark side with a crossover SUV.  I said I would never do it. 

I did.

I took my Sugarfina Champagne gummy bears that I got from my parents.  They know me well.  They combine two things I adore, champagne and gummy foods.  

We returned home to our house on Monday after 2 nights at my home and 2 nights with Trinity's parents.  

I spread out all of my presents.  I have always like to showcase my wares from Christmas.  I remember taking all of my American Girl Samantha things up to my room on Christmas morning still in their boxes and just staring at them before I would break open any packaging.  I'm still 9 years old that way.  

I got a couple of candles, some devotional books ( I love Joyce Meyer and her pantsuits), a new calendar, shoes and some fabulous carnation pink pants.  They are a color only I would wear.  Pat and Eddie got me new pajamas.  That sign is from my father.  In reality, I actually openly correct grammar.  As my friend Marinda would say, "this is why people don't like you, Bets."  Truer words were never spoken!  

Despite lack of photographic evidence, Aunt Cindi, Uncle Chip, Eddie, Patsy, and Shirley were all involved in the festivities.  It was a wonderful Christmas!  

Christmas Eve 2015

 Snow White was jazzed to babysit Baby Jesus on Christmas Eve.  We arrived home to my parents' house to hang with Robby, Meghan, Mom, Dad, and Court.

 Snow White was enchanted by our very own blonde blue-eyed Elsa.  Court can only carry a tune in a bucket, but she was up for horsing around with Lady G.  

We set out cookies and milk for Santa before bedtime.  I gladly ate the cookie.  G had a hard time going to sleep since she heard Rudolph on the roof.  I think she meant the bats that live behind the shutters on the front of the house!

Christmas morning to follow!