An American Girl Christmas

Apparently, when your daughter reaches the ripe old age of 5 years, someone in the system miraculously knows she turned 5 and begins to send American Girl catalogs. I just want to know who sold Annabelle's birthday and address to American Girl?

Annabelle's "Dear Santa, I want..." consists of nine items. Three of those items are Hallmark "princess" ornaments. The other six...well...those were all cut out from the Christmas American Girl catalog. And, folks, these things aren't cheap!

Fortunately, she's not asking for an American Girl doll because "I've already got Big Girl." Big Girl is her knock off American Girl designed by Madame Alexander that Nonnie bought her for Christmas several years ago.

And as for any other Christmas wishes, "I'm going to let Santa decide on the rest." She stated this as she finished gluing the pictures of her wants to her "Dear Santa" letter.

The following conversation was just had with Annabelle when she came out for her midnight potty break:

Annabelle: Mommy, tell him that the big, big presents don't have to go inside.

Mommy: What big present are you talking about?

Annabelle: The lemonade stand.

I guess she hasn't figured out the lemonade stand is actually doll size!


Following is her American Girl wish list with prices noted:

1. Snowshoe Set $28

2. Salon Chair $58

3. Salon Styling Caddy $49

4. Kanani's Shave Ice Stand $115

5. Fairy Costume Accessories $20

6. Kit's Scooter $24

And, honestly, her list isn't too extravagant at all (especially if you've seen all of the stuff in the catalog). I told her that she needs to mark a number next to her wants in order from most favorite to least favorite. I tried to explain to her that Santa cannot bring her everything she wants because Mommy and Daddy actually have to pay Santa. Of course, she did say, "I think Santa is going to bring me everything I want!" Boy, she is going to be sadly mistaken!

And by the way, the salon chair and salon styling caddy are quite appropriate as Annabelle has already decided on a future profession. She wants to work at Piccadilly as a hair stylist! I kid you not! She told me a long story several months ago about how she's going to be a hair stylist at the cafeteria restaurant, Piccadilly. If you come to eat at Piccadilly, you are required to have your hair styled. Though you aren't to pay for the hair style service. Her future profession as a pro bono hair stylist is going to keep this nest full!

Princess Jasmine

Shortly before Christmas, Annabelle wrote a letter to Santa while visiting Bass Pro Shop at Discover Mills with hubby. Out of the blue, she requested "a green and blue dress" from Santa. Hubby even wrote it down for her in her letter to Santa.

So the hunt began. And fortunately, just days before Christmas I found a green and blue (and black) dress at Costco for $18 plus tax. I also visited Goodwill in hopes of finding another one so I could take the more pricey dress back, but it was with no luck.

Today Annabelle wanted to wear her new dress from Santa. She instantly put it on and she instantly transformed into "Princess Jasmine." She was "Princess Jasmine," and she had four children. And Princess Jasmine told me that she also had a Snow White, Cinderella and Aurora dress. She wore her beautiful dress until I made her take it off for dinner because we were having taco soup.

She definitely makes a beautiful princess, don't you think?

Christmas 2010 Highlights

1. Annabelle's favorite book was "Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick" by Kevin Henkes. It was a hand-me-down from "the little girls" next door, Chloe and Camille. She could recite many of the pages from memory. She was so good at it that hubby thought she was actually reading it one night.

2. Annabelle referred to angels as fairies.

3. At Oak Grove UMC's Family Fun Night/Birthday Party for Jesus, Annabelle decorated a white gift bag with nativity stickers. She set up the nativity scene at the bottom of the gift bag with Baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, a cow, a donkey and a palm tree. She even found a random piece that wasn't an actual sticker, but held the stickers together, and placed it on top of Jesus' head. She said it was Baby Jesus' party hat. It was shaped somewhat like a triangle. She placed stars in the sky and colored the sky blue with a blue marker. She placed an angel above Baby Jesus, and outlined the angel sticker with a pink marker. Then, above the angel (as if off in the distance), she placed her three wise men. She gave each wise man a camel to ride on as they were each standing on their respective camel. Somehow the shepherd became a wise man, but she realized later she had done that without anyone else pointing it out. It is amazing how children this young picture the Christmas Story. The visual image in her mind is more accurate than the nativity scene that we all set out every Christmas.

My Little Susie Homemaker

I just had to post this picture because I am in love with it! I managed to snag the adult size apron as our white elephant gift at our Sunday School's Christmas party this year. It was a hot item, and I strategized to keep it. I don't think my strategy really worked, but I got it!

I got it alright, along with an awful massive mug of an old man that has apparently been one of the gag gifts since the Sunday School's first Christmas party 10 years or so ago. I actually had opened the plate that matches the mug, but hubby and I tried to strategize with another guy to get a more optimal gift. It backfired for all involved!

The matching plate was created from the match to the mug which was actually another mug that had been broken after the initial Christmas party but then glued back together to form the plate. It is UGLY! I guess that means we have to attend the Sunday School Christmas party again next year to rid ourselves of that awful mug!

4th of July Fun

Hubby and I started this 4th of July off a little bummed, but we made the best of it, and we still had a wonderful time! Of course, I still would have preferred desserts galore, including homemade vanilla and peach ice cream, and fireworks lakeside, but we will take what we got!

Every 4th of July since Annabelle's first back in 2007, we have celebrated with hubby's long time friends, Brad and Melanie, at their lake house on Lake Lanier. We made it a 4th of July tradition to take family pictures on a rock in their backyard overlooking the lake. Unfortunately, this year was the exception. They had the audacity to actually take a vacation over the 4th of July! Only kidding! But, we all were very disappointed, including Annabelle. They have been so very kind to include us every year in the past, and for that we are thankful!

When we woke up, I told Annabelle, "It is the 4th of July today. Do you know why we celebrate the 4th of July?"

"I want to go to the 4th of July," she replied. "Are we going to the 4th of July?"

After inquiring further, I realized she thought that Brad and Melanie's house was "the 4th of July." Of course, that is all she has known since she was born! I wasn't able to convince her otherwise either. She was determined that we were going to "the 4th of July."

Hubby started his morning with the annual Peachtree Road Race. He has been running in the Peachtree Road Race since July 4th, 2008. He finished with a better time than last year at 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 26 seconds! After he arrived home, we took our annual picture with him wearing his running number and Annabelle (and this year Sophia too)!

Then, we joined our next door neighbor's for an afternoon swim in a kiddie pool (for the kiddos) and pizza! Annabelle and Brandon had a blast playing in the pool, and Sophia enjoyed herself on her tummy time mat by the pool exploring her little hands which she has just found this week! But, she especially took a liking to them this weekend. She was just talking up a storm to those sweet little hands.

After lunch we finalized our plans for the day because what is the 4th of July without good times and fireworks? We decided to venture up to Wills Park in Alpharetta for children's activities before the fireworks.

Annabelle very much enjoyed herself, and she apparently forgot all about "going to the 4th of July?" She jumped in an inflatable, got her arm painted with a patriotic heart and had a balloon artist make a poodle on a leash for her (which her and hubby stood in line for an hour and a half to get). Sophia also enjoyed herself very much as well. She spent the majority of the time people watching while Annabelle and her Daddy waited in line for Annabelle's balloon. She seemed so intrigued with everything.

Those inflatable jumpy things make me really nervous as it is, and while we were there, the generator pumping air into the inflatables shut down while kids were jumping inside. The adults were standing outside trying to hold it up while the kids found their way out. Hubby said some of the kids were really scared. Annabelle had actually been next in line, but another little girl cut in line in front of her, so Annabelle never made it in until after the generator was up and running again. Apparently, the little girl who cut in line was really scared. I had my druthers about Annabelle going in after the generator issues, but she did and she jumped for less than a minute.

While we were taking pictures of our red, white and blue family, a lady with snaproswell.com stopped by and requested to take our picture for their newspaper. She said she was heading out to beat the crowds, but thought "that is just too cute of a picture." Two little sisters in somewhat matching red, white and blue outfits is too cute, if you ask me. So, we are on the lookout for our picture online or in that free newspaper. Unfortunately, we don't live anywhere near the businesses that distribute that free newspaper are located.

After our fun at Wills Park, we got back in the car and headed down an already closed main road to hubby's truck that we had parked in a medical office building parking deck for an excellent view of the fireworks. Of course, the fireworks would have been much better at Wills Park where they were actually lit, but the sound of the fireworks frightens Annabelle. So, the medical office building was definitely a great alternative. Perhaps next year she won't be so frightened by the sound.

And, dinner, it wasn't our typical 4th of July dinner (or lunch for that matter), but Annabelle and I picnicked in our chairs in the back of hubby's truck while we waited on the fireworks. We used his truck box as a table. And, McDonald's was the food of choice! Perhaps next year we'll enjoy some yummy hot dogs and hamburgers.

We finished our 4th of July holiday weekend by swimming at the pool in my brother's neighborhood today. It was just the four of us though. My brother has offered since last summer for us to come and swim in their neighborhood pool whenever we like, and this time, we took him up on the offer!

This is the first time that Annabelle has swam in a large pool this summer. She was only interested in the kiddie pool at first, but she finally warmed up to the idea. By the end, hubby had her floating in her float vest within arm's length of him. Sophia spent the entire time under the shaded umbrella. I was able to work in approximately 5-10 minutes (of the two hours we were there) in the pool myself when Sophia was napping, until she realized I was missing!

Easter Sniper

Picture this...

Easter Sunday.

Balcony at the United Methodist Church we attend.

This beautiful princess dressed in her Easter's best. Amanda Remembered smocked bunny dress.


Pointer finger extended.

Towards the preacher.

With a look of perfect aim in her eyes peering through her pointer finger.

She did, however, forget the sounds. Not to mention, she has no clue what she is actually doing. Too bad I didn't have the camera in hand!

Hubby reminded me of this episode this evening when I told him I wasn't sure how to play with boys. He said, "Cars, Hot Wheels. You already have one trying to knock off the preacher." Oh yes! I forgot! And, the best part, this is the very first time either of us have seen her use her finger as a gun. I am pretty sure she learned that from some new church friends we have been hanging out with lately.

Girls will be boys sometimes! It just brings back the good old memories of playing cops and robbers with my brother. Who needed play guns? We had our fingers!

The Christmas Sweater

Written on January 6, 2011 at 9:58 p.m.

On New Year's Eve, I found myself shopping the Christmas clearance section at Target. I just happened to hit the store at the right time as everything was 75% off. I didn't really have time to be shopping. The main reason I was at Target at 3:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve was to fill three prescriptions before the new year because we had met our deductible much earlier in the year due to the birth of Sophia. If I had waited one more day, I would have ended up paying $168 out of pocket for two Epi-Pens for Annabelle versus the $15.65 I ended up paying.

I found some great steals at 75% off including two Christmas books: The Berenstain Bears Meet Santa Bear (actually Annabelle found that one) and The Christmas Sweater by Glenn Beck. I scanned both items and found that the Berenstain Bears book was only $1 (regularly $3.99) and the Glenn Beck book was only $4.50 (regularly $17.99). Sold!

I started packing both books away this evening. I read a few pages of The Christmas Sweater while at Target before I purchased it, but I decided to sit down and read it this evening. It brought tears to my eyes! If you haven't read it, it is a fantastic story for a young child who is bombarded with toys at Christmas. I actually cannot wait to read it to Annabelle, but I think I will hold off and wrap it up for her to open next year shortly after Thanksgiving.

Just a few short weeks after Christmas, the new toys have already lost all of their charm and Annabelle has yet again resorted to playing with everyday items for toys. The trim to the blinds in Sophia's room that hubby says to toss was transformed into a snake this afternoon with my cell phone as the rider. The crayons and baby food jars become people and magically talk. Sophia also already bypasses all of her new toys for more interesting things such as a bag of baking potatoes or an empty gift bag. Yet the clutter in my house is mostly toys, including a lot of unopened toys.

I bargain shopped (as usual) this Christmas, and I found some awesome deals. We packed everything away in storage and brought it home to wrap just a few days before Christmas. I was determined that this year my children would receive more from me and Santa than anyone else. Of course as we were preparing for Santa late on Christmas Eve and way too early on Christmas morning, I decided that she didn't need all of these toys at once, so we packed them away until a later date.

And yet again I realize, especially after reading The Christmas Sweater, that less is actually more. Because you see, the less clutter (i.e. toys) that fills my house equates to more quality time with my children doing the things we love such as reading, baking, cooking, laughing and learning.

I think the best Christmas gift to my children next year will be less toys, less stress, more quality time, more laughing, and more focusing on the true meaning of Christmas.

In the mean time, I need to find a way to rid ourselves quickly of the excessive amount of toys cluttering this house, our shed, and storage unit.

New Year's Resolutions 2010

New Year's Resolutions according to a three year old:

"Probably...to eat more McDonald's," spoken very matter of factly.

When asked on New Year's Eve what her New Year's Resolutions were, she responded with the above. Of course, I first explained to her the definition of New Year's Resolutions by describing some of my own resolutions for the new year.

The True Meaning of Christmas

This afternoon, while dressed up in purple fairy wings, Annabelle said the following to me:

"Mommy, I have good news for you. You are have a baby. And you will name him Jesus."

(Pause).

"You are Mary."

I guess maybe she is starting to understand the true meaning of Christmas! I was getting a little worried after all the presents she received from family this Christmas. Unfortunately, the emphasis of Christmas has become the quantity of presents instead of the true meaning.

For those parenting young children during this era, we have a long battle ahead to teach our children that "things" are not important at all.

Joy to the World!

I LOVE this picture of Annabelle even though it isn't the best quality because it was taken with hubby's blackberry phone. We were at the Christmas Eve children's service at Alpharetta United Methodist Church. Annabelle has gone to this service every Christmas Eve since she was only 2 months old.

This church is rather special to all of us because hubby grew up going to this church with Nonnie and Papa Leon, and hubby and I got married at this church back in July 2000. So, it is special for us to visit with Nonnie every year.

During this service, Annabelle wanted to hold the hymnal. It looks like she was singing in this picture, but I believe she was actually just running her little mouth about something. But, I adored watching her hold the hymnal as she watched the service.

Just another precious memory!

Our Little Elf

Our little elf visited with Santa for the very first time this Christmas season. Annalee (and her Mommy and Daddy) was so kind enough to invite us over to greet Santa at their neighborhood clubhouse.

It was great! No long, mall lines, cookies, cake balls and cocoa. And, arts and crafts for the little ones after the Santa greeting.

Before we left for Annalee's house, Annabelle insisted on taking her "pimp" hat (as we like to call it), princess halo and "hooker" belt. The "hooker" belt came to live with us compliments of Grandmama and Granddaddy. I'm not sure where they acquired it, but she loves that thing, and she can even fasten it herself. She wanted to bring these things "to show Annalee."

Well, within minutes after we arrived, she wanted the belt, and she was quick to fasten it, all by herself. Hubby said she looked like a "little elf" with the silver belt fastened around her green Christmas dress. He was right!

When it was time to leave to visit Santa, Annabelle did not want to take it off. Instead, "I want to show Santa." Okay! And, in all honesty, I didn't really care if she wore that belt to show Santa. It just adds a little more spice to the memory!

Unfortunately, she did decide to remove the belt (on her own) while we were waiting in line to visit Santa. I am not sure what made her change her mind, but I sort of wish she had kept that ugly hooker belt on for at least one picture. Again, it is all about the memories!

The visit with Santa 2009 went a lot like this:

Here the girls are waiting in line for Santa.

Annalee sat with Santa first. She was quick to climb into his lap, she talked with him awhile, and she even gave Santa a hug before leaving. Doesn't Annalee look beautiful with Santa? Annalee's Mommy said she picked that beautiful dress out all by herself! And, she let her Mommy curl her hair. I love it!

Annabelle, on the other hand, was just enough interested in Santa to take his offering (candy).

But, she was not too thrilled about sitting in Santa's lap! Mommy and Beebo had to take our seat first. Poor Santa! Then, I was able to place Annabelle on Santa's other knee. Notice that she's holding tightly onto my hand. I had no idea of her facial expression until I looked through these pictures. This picture cracks me up! And, does she not look like my little twin in this picture? I normally don't see the resemblance, but I see it in this picture. She is mine after all!

And, then, she finally gave in to Mommy's request for her to smile pretty for Daddy. At this point, I am no longer sitting in Santa's lap. I am kneeling on the floor next to Santa. Isn't that a gorgeous Annabelle smile?

And, after cookies, cake balls and cocoa, it was time for arts and crafts! I'm not sure when this started, but I noticed while Annabelle was working on her crafts this afternoon that she sticks her tongue out, just slightly. I think it helps her concentrate. I was able to capture one picture of this. Too cute!

And, while waiting on Annalee to pick out her prizes using tickets she had won for various games during the arts and crafts session, Annabelle decided to take it upon herself to just sit down and relax in the middle of the room.

Here are the girls with their Christmas tree cookies from Santa. Annabelle devoured hers, all the way down to the stick, in no time!

On the way home, Annabelle remembered that she had forgotten to bring her picture that she had painted for Santa Claus a few weeks ago while Daddy decorated the house with lights. She had painted pictures of the things she wanted for Christmas including an airplane, car, dinosaur and monster. Don't ask! I don't have a clue where she thought up those things. Nor is she going to get them! Her list changes daily. This year, when Santa asked, she told Santa she wanted "baby dolls." Really? Seriously? Again? He asked if she had any particular baby doll in mind. She didn't because they are all pretty much the same to her.

And, a big thanks goes out to Annalee, her Mommy and Daddy and brothers for a fun filled afternoon and evening. As always, thank you for opening up your hearts and home!

A Night in Bethlehem

This evening our church held a special event for the children titled, A Night in Bethlehem. They had shops for the children to use their pretend money to make crafts. They also had a petting zoo. And, of course, Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph were there in the manger as well. Quite a fun event, and I am glad we made it. Just wish we had stopped by earlier when it started.

Highlights of "A Night in Bethlehem:"

1. Annabelle got to make a Shepherd's Walk, aka her "hiking stick." She also made sure to tell us that it was also called a "walking stick." She loves to pick up sticks and "hike, hike, hike" with them. So, hubby made sure that we found this craft first and foremost! Here she is with her pride and joy! It may quickly become an outside toy only as she is slowly finding other uses for it in the house, such as a broom stick.

2. She was so meticulous with putting the beads on the leather string to tie on her hiking stick. I loved watching her. I think she put every bead on that string herself! And, I loved watching her Daddy help her. He was so patient and sweet to her. That in itself was a moment worth savoring forever!

3. The petting zoo had goats, sheep, a donkey, chickens and rabbits. Annabelle was not interested in petting the larger goats, but she didn't mind the sheep, Pygmy goats, chickens and rabbits. She didn't want to hold the chickens, but she got in the cage with them. This next picture isn't the best, but as I took it, she said, "He kissed me!" and proceeded to wipe off the sheep's kiss.


4. She also rolled some dough to make bread, colored a dreidel, made a small jar of dry tea with her own measurements of spices added, and created her own bulla craft by hubby's cell phone light which can be used as a necklace or ornament for our Christmas tree.

5. Overall, she had a blast! And, she's already asked me, "Mommy, can we go again next time?"

Cookie Cake 2009

Annabelle is already planning for her 3rd birthday party. She found a picture of her Great American Cookie Cake from her 2nd birthday party, and she said, "I want a cow dis year."

Her cookie cake in 2008 had a huge horse head. And, believe me, I did NOT pick it out! That is a story in itself. I tried to persuade her then to choose the one with the cute teddy bear or even the Piglet one since she was Piglet for Halloween last year.

Oh no! She wanted the huge horse head! And, I'm trying to encourage her to make choices at an early age, so it wouldn't have been right for me to take her to choose the cookie cake to only make the decision myself. Of course, I probably shouldn't have tried to persuade her otherwise either. Maybe I'll learn a thing or two before the next child comes along!

Do you think I'm thrilled about the cow? All I can say is that means more icing, and that my friends is a good thing! Ditto on the horse head! That may be the only good thing though. Well, besides the joy that horse cookie cake has brought to my sweet girl over the past year just in looking at pictures alone, not to mention the joy she had when she first saw it. I guess that makes it all worth it!

On second thought, is the Great American Cookie Company still in business? If not, I don't know what we're going to do! I am definitely not making a cow cookie cake!

Peachtree Road Race 2009

The 4th of July has become yet another holiday for a traditional picture. But, since Annabelle came into our lives, I think every holiday has its own traditional photo shoot.

On July 4th, 2008, hubby ran the Peachtree Road Race for the first time ever. It is a 10K, and I believe he was inspired to run it because his father had once run it. He ran it again this year, and yet again, he completed the 10K successfully! I am so proud of him! I don't think I could ever do it (even though I threatened to run it with him in 2009).

Well, since he leaves for the Peachtree Road Race before my eyes are ready for the daylight, we have to save any pictures for after the race. (I know, lovely for him, right? But, he still looks handsome in the pictures). And, I have the cutest picture from July 4th, 2008 with Annabelle sitting in hubby's lap looking at him as if she is so proud of her Daddy that the tradition MUST go on! Unfortunately, she was not as cooperative as she was in 2008, so I was lucky to get this picture. She was just not interested in sitting in her Daddy's lap and instead wanted to run around the yard as fast as her little two year old legs would carry her.

So, here is my favorite of the July 4th traditional picture (using more Photoshop editing techniques).

And, here is the original (as I know some people don't like the old antiqued look).

Congratulations hubby on a job well done! I am so very proud of you! I hope you'll be able to run it for the next 40 years (since this was the Peachtree Road Race's 40th anniversary)!

Interesting facts: Hubby finished the Peachtree Road Race 2009 in 1:16:09 compared to 1:23:54 in 2008. And, he ran the race in his father's memory in 2008 and 2009. He altered his running number with the following: "FOR CLK." CLK is his father's initials.

Annie Get Your Gun

Annabelle found a water gun just laying around while we were celebrating the 4th of July at the Curtis' lake house on Lake Lanier. I don't know whose it was as there were a few dozen kids running around, but I let her play with it until someone claimed it. And, no one ever did (at least while she was playing with it).

She loved it! It ran out of water very quickly, so I convinced her that her Daddy would surely run inside or to the lake to fill it up if she asked him. I also encouraged her to shoot some water at her Daddy to entice him.

And then, it was Cousin Adam's turn! I captured a great shot of him...as he was shooting my DSLR camera. Perhaps next time I should turn the camera? But, if I had, I wouldn't have captured this awesome picture of him in action.

Happy Birthday To S A!

Annabelle sang "Happy Birthday" to the USA this weekend! It came out a whole lot like "Happy Birthday To S A!"

Have I mentioned that I LOVE digital photography? And, I especially LOVE the special effects that can be done to make a precious picture awesome!

But, most of all, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the subject of my pictures! Can she possibly get any cuter?

Here is the original picture before applying my fancy new trick. And, yes, I know Grandmama, you like the original picture best!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day! This, honestly, is not my favorite holiday, but I still celebrate for the photo shoot purposes. Being the cheap one that I am, I'm just not too fond of made up holidays to keep Hallmark in business. Of course, I did have great intentions of getting out my own Valentine's Day cards to all of our dearest loved ones, but as usual, that didn't happen! Big surprise, right?

But, all holidays, regardless of the importance, require a photo shoot of my daughter dressed in cute clothes and hair bows.

The cute shirt and tights are compliments of Nonnie (one of Annabelle's Christmas gifts). And, the hair bow, well, I've had it awhile, and I'm just not quite sure that it is really Annabelle to me. Honestly, it really is sort of silly looking, but she seems to like it.

This photo shoot did not last long at all. The two year old wouldn't cooperate. There are no pictures of Annabelle with her Daddy or Mommy this year because (1) Daddy did not take a shower today and he was dressed in sweats all day and (2) Mommy did not put on makeup today because my tummy was feeling a little under the weather again.

So, posted here are the two best shots of my little Valentine 2009!

In the first picture, we were trying to get her to smile for the camera. Goofy smiles are all we get when we ask for a smile these days! And, she was too busy trying to eat her animal crackers.

In this next picture, I think she has spotted that Shadow, our black cat, has escaped from inside of the house. She then said, "Sha-dow! Sha-dow! Get back inside Sha-dow!" as she ran to the front door and ushered Shadow back inside, closing the door on Shadow after Shadow was chased inside the house. It is scary how you hear yourself talk when you have a two year old around! If only I had a video camera handy! It doesn't sound quite as funny in writing as it did to hear her actually discipline Shadow.

We called Grandmama, Granddaddy, Nonnie and Granny to wish them all a Happy Valentine's Day. Annabelle actually said, "Happy Val in tine's Day!" to each and every one of them, and she told them all, "I wuv you." All evening, she kept telling me and hubby both, "Happy Val in tine's Day Mommy (Daddy)!" It was precious and heart warming!

For Valentine's Day this year, hubby gave Annabelle a card and a mylar balloon shaped like a flower. He also gave me a card. I was awful, as usual, and neither of them got anything! I need to get better at celebrating these holidays! I hope they both know that I don't love either one of them any less.

Kisses for Nana Janet and Papa Bill

Nana Janet and Papa Bill came into our lives back in 2003 when hubby and I took our second cruise on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. They were actually on our team for a scavenger hunt game, and we all won the gold medal! We have kept in touch with them, and we've been friends with them ever since. They are actually from Boston, so it is completely awesome that we've all stayed in touch. I will definitely give hubby and Nana Janet the credit for that one as they've been great about e-mailing back and forth since 2003.

Nana Janet and Papa Bill actually both have children our age, but we have always LOVED hanging out with them as if they themselves are our age. They are both hilarious! And, they are both very caring and loving people. I think their hearts are made of gold! It is completely awesome to have people like them come into your lives to stay. We love you Nana Janet and Papa Bill!

Right now, neither of them have grand kids of their own. So, they have taken Annabelle on as their very own grandchild. They visited us back in September, and Annabelle immediately took to them both! Personally, I think children are a lot like dogs, they can really sense the good from the bad. Now we know for sure that Nana Janet and Papa Bill are keepers!

Well, as most grandparents these days do, they spoil Annabelle absolutely rotten! And, she loves it! This afternoon while Annabelle was in her room for naptime (more like playtime), a man knocked on the door. Hubby answered the door, and I peaked around the corner to see what exactly he was signing off on. And what did I see? Beautiful red flowers, three red balloons and a red teddy bear attached to the vase. I knew that it couldn't have been for me because I threaten hubby to not buy me flowers on Valentine's Day because I'm just that cheap!

Before we even looked at the card, I guessed that it must be from Nana Janet and Papa Bill. Sure enough, I was right!

Hubby placed the flowers, balloons and teddy bear back on the front porch as I was getting Annabelle up from her nap. Then, I snuck outside and took some pictures of the vase, flowers, balloons and teddy bear by the front door. When I was finished, hubby opened the door for Annabelle to see her surprise.

She was so excited! We told her that everything was from Nana Janet and Papa Bill. She said, "Nana Jana and Papa Bull?" We then had her sit down and pose by her Valentine's Day present. We asked her to blow a kiss to Nana Janet and Papa Bill, and I managed to catch the following shot! Precious!

Thank you Nana Janet and Papa Bill! You spoil all of us way too much! We hope you enjoy this kiss that Annabelle is blowing your way, from Atlanta to Boston!

We love and miss "y'all!"

Kissee, Kissee!

How do little girls learn so fast that princesses must kiss boys? None of the other toys kiss, so why the princesses?

While decorating the Christmas tree this evening, Annabelle found a Hallmark box with a "pincess" ornament in it. She ran over to me, and said, "Pincess Mommy, Pincess!" I opened the box for her, and I told her that her Granny (hubby's Grandmother) bought her this Cinderella ornament last year for Christmas 2007. Fortunately, I was good last year and the year before about including the gift tag in the box so she will always remember where her soon-to-be broken ornaments came from.

Well, this ornament also became a toy, along with the Charlie Brown and Pooh Bear/Piglet ornaments.

She had not been playing with it very long before I realized that Cinderella was kissing everyone! Charlie Brown, Linus, Snoopy, Pooh Bear, Piglet and Lucy! Hopefully the Lucy thing will be a short phase.

So, guess who once again grabbed the camera! I actually managed to get a few good shots with her lips pursed for a good kiss.

I had to laugh as I remember playing Barbie's with my good friend and next door neighbor growing up. She had a Barbie dollhouse, which I loved. And, Barbie and Ken were always smooching! Well, they did more than smooching, but I didn't realize what they were actually doing at the time. I just thought that the bodies should always twist and turn when they kissed. Where on earth did I learn for Barbie and Ken to smooch that way?

Hubby said, "Wow! Cinderella gets around!" after he saw that she had kissed everyone including Lucy.

Oh my, I fear my life with this child in 10 short years!

Cheese!

After I pulled out the Hallmark Charlie Brown ornaments this evening, Annabelle was not interested in anything else. She wanted to play with her new found toys, which I suspect will be broken before Christmas 2008 is over. Good thing they were not a gift from someone else, and as a result, sentimental.

So, at one point in the evening, she moved them all to the dining room table, one by one. After they were all lined up in a row, she stood back and said, "Cheese!" She obviously had prepared them for a photo shoot, so I, of course, grabbed the camera. She, of course, insisted that she needed her camera as well which had been placed aside on the kitchen counter out of little arm's reach after the last photo shoot earlier in the evening (as you can read in a blog entry below).

And, her Daddy was kind enough to teach her to use the camera. Perhaps I should have bought that $50 Fisher Price children's digital camera I saw at Wal-Mart on Tuesday. I'll be sure and post some of Annabelle's pictures from her photo shoots in another blog entry. I first need to figure out how to download them from the camera since they aren't on a memory card.