Gingerbread Houses

The Collins girls were sweet and invited us over for a gingerbread party.

 They had everything set up when we arrived.

 It was a candy grabbing free for all...

 Then their little creative minds went to work.

 The C's (Carly Jo and Caroline) were pretty  much eating as much as they were creating.

 The finished product was great!

 Sweet Girls!

Please note that 2 houses were destroyed in the taking of this picture.

Tears were shed.

This was published in the paper last week.

Minnie did not get a hat, but Santa came through with that car I knew nothing about!

Christmas a Church

These little angels performed in the FUMC Christmas last week.

It was precious!

 Those candles are not real.

 She was really getting her sing on up there

After the programs all the kids got a little visit with Santa. 

My favorite Angel.

The Polar Express in Pink Pajamas

Caroline and I rode the Polar Express last weekend.

 It was such a bonding time for a mother and daughter.

 Oh and we went with the crazy 8

And their crazy mothers.

 A polar express selfie

 There girls were ready to ride!

We were all together and one other poor family was with us...bless them.

 We had quality friend time!

 And quality sister-friend time.

 They positioned us next to the snack cart!

 Which made these 2 VERY happy.

 So snacks were consumed in pink pajamas.

Everyone who passed us went on and on about how precious the girls were in their jammies.

 And then the big guy came out.

Do you know what Santa does when he sees 8 little girls in pink pjs coming at him?

He sends an elf to run interference. 

 The elf was great though!

He may have been better than Santa.

 This pictures is PRECIOUS!

Then we chased Santa down in the food car to have our picture taken.

You know for this mother/daughter bonding experience!

The Christmas festivities continue....

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We are in the spirit around here!

The countdown is on to Christmas...

 We stuffed Christmas cards and watched the Sound of Music!

 We got a little bit of snow.

A little is better than none for this Tennessee kid.

 We have chilled in front of the fire.

 Yaya made a special advent project this year...

She wrapped a book for every day of December counting down until Christmas!

 CEK opens a new one every morning, after finding the ELF!

Then hits the advent calendar!

 This year CEK asked to be in charge of the outside lights.

Which is great because her parents had no intention of putting any out.

 She worked out her plan and I suggested she make sure they work first. They did. Moving on...

 After lights you put on ornaments. Duh...

I explained to her that you don't really do ornaments on outside trees.

 She explained to me this was her project.

 The results were great!

Chip and I attended a lighting ceremony!

This kid is Awesome.

And it would not be Christmas without Supper with Santa at school.

It was a Grinch theme this year.

Falalalalalalalala

Opryland 2013

It would not be a holiday unless we had a little chaos...

So we packed up and went to Opryland.  I mean nobody was there.  Actually it was not nearly the nightmare that it could have been because everyone appeared to be at the mall next door.

 Not much beats Opryland at Christmas.

I mean they are serious about some decor.

We met up with the Lopez family

 The cousins were so excited to see each other!

 Yaya got a picture of her girls with Santa Claus.

Audrey spent the day with us soaking in the Christmas spirit. 

 Genevieve was overjoyed with the Christmas spirit...

So of course she had to take a nap.

Chip spent some quality time walking G around in circles in her stroller until that kid passed out.

So while G was sleeping we hit The Ice show.  That thing was COLD!

 But it was very cute and had a ice slide that we all participated in.

 An ice taxi.... that Yaya had to drive of course.

After the Ice show the girls got to meet Gingy the gingerbread girl.

 I think my phone was still frozen when I took this picture but you get the idea.

 Then it was off to Gingy's house to make a cookie.

 Cute, still a little frozen, girls.

 Chip patiently waited outside.

He has been to the ICE show before and was not interested in freezing again.

When the girls came out they made s'mores. 

 Chip Kenworthy is a professional s'more maker.

Then it was on to the night's activities.

 We left Yaya and Abby at the hotel with a sleeping G (duh) and hit the Nashville Nightlife.

We skipped the bars and headed to the Predators game.

CEK and her Bob discussed every detail of the game.

 She couldn't even take her eyes off of it to get her picture taken.

They got lots of Predators gear.

 The girls got to me this guy - I am sure he has a name I just don't know what it is.

 Then the highlight of the night... They got on the jumbotron!

How did I get this picture? The guy was standing right in front of us with his camera...I knew it was coming!

 Chip loves a selfie!

 Sistas

Cousins

It was a good family weekend!

I don't have any idea how people with more than 1 child get all their kids to look at the camera at once!