It's Santa!

Santa made his annual visit to Aunt Meggie's office this week and Malachi, Elliott and Adeline were lucky enough to be invited to the party. Malachi was beside himself with excitement and couldn't wait to tell Santa everything he wants for Christmas ("a train set, a train for my train set and two bath toys because Mommy threw all mine away"). He was also sure to ask Santa to deliver his presents to Yaya and 'Buelo's house, "but if you forget I'll just get them at my house when I get home," he said!

Santa even gave the boys their first presents of the season, teddy bears that Malachi named Sand and Chocolate.

Malachi got to color a Christmas picture and eat some cookies while Elliott slept through most of the fun!

He did wake up when it was about time to go!

Thanks, Aunt Meg, for knowing Santa and having a party so we could meet him! It was lots of fun!

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

On Tuesday evening the Life Groups from church hosted an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" party. We had a great turnout and a lot of fun. It was hilarious to see the sweaters everyone found at thrift stores...and some in their very own closets!

Malachi is wearing the funniest sweater I could find in his closet. When I was helping him dress he told me that his sweater was too nice and not ugly! He also told me he liked the bow in my hair and the sparkles on my sweater. Elliott is wearing his tuxedo onesie - we've decided it is his party outfit for the holidays.

A few of us girls. We were discussing how an ugly sweater can age you by at least 10 years!

Erik and Aaron singing "Bohemian Rhapsody" to kick off a little karaoke.
Karaoke was a hit! Christina and Alicia loved it!

The girls singing "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

Awww...what a cute couple - Ed and Christina.

I really wanted to find coordinating sweaters for me and Erik but didn't have any luck. Alicia and Ed did it unintentionally!

The top three in the contest, Amy, Ed and Erik. Ed won by a landslide.

We had a great time and are thankful for wonderful friends who like to have fun and be silly!

Little Miss Adeline

Adeline spent last weekend at GranMols and Papaw's house because her mommy and daddy went to Charlotte to celebrate their anniversary and for Blake to run in the half marathon. The best part of that for me was that I got to babysit two afternoons while GranMols was cooking at the Bell Tower. Adeline is such a cutie and we had lots of fun together!

Story time with Uncle Erik and her cousins.

Playing with Elliott
Playing with Malachi

The cousins

A Christmas Tree!

We put up our tree this week and it was so fun to watch Malachi's excitement. Now that he can remember last year's Christmas, he's really getting into all the preparations.

We had to have matching jammies!

Malachi's getting ready to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas - a tradition in our household!

Elliott likes all the festivities.

Visiting Atlanta

Last weekend Meg, Malachi, Elliott and I took a roadtrip to Atlanta to visit family and attend a wedding. We stayed with Erik's aunt and uncle, Cindy and Scott. On Friday we had planned on visiting Noah's Ark, a local animal rescue center and petting zoo, however it was closed due to flooding. We thought that was pretty funny! Instead we went to a park near their house. Elliott loved his first trip to the park and especially liked the swings. I thought the slide may be a little too daring for a 4 week old!

We relaxed on Saturday morning and then Erik's Aunt Jennifer came to meet Elliott in the afternoon. Although Elliott probably got most of the attention, Malachi loved playing with Scott and Cindy all day. He even got to climb up into the attic with Uncle Scott to find toys and they made a special Christmas tree together.

Saturday evening Scott and Cindy were kind enough to watch Malachi while Meg, Elliott and I headed to my friend, Lindsey's wedding. I met Lindsey while teaching at Githens Middle School in Durham, NC. Lindsey and I, along with Hope, Calla and Gina, three other new teachers, became great friends and each other's support while at school. Hope was also able to make it to the wedding and I had so much fun catching up with her on the past few years. Gina and Calla - we missed you! Elliott got a lot of attention in his tuxedo onesie and may have stolen the show if Lindsey hadn't been so beautiful herself!

On Sunday morning we attended Derek Sweatman's (the guy who married me and Erik) church, Christian Church Buckhead. It was great to see Derek and Micki and their amazing church. After church we ate a yummy lunch with Scott and Cindy before getting on the road for our long (10 hour!) trip home.

Thank you, Scott and Cindy, for being such wonderful hosts and allowing us to overtake your home for a few days! Thank you, Meg, for being such a great sister and aunt. You made the trip so much more fun, not to mention easier!

Family Time

We were able to get some family photos over Thanksgiving when Erik's family was visiting. We loved having everyone here together and can't wait to do it again!

Our family and Jessica's family-

The cousins-

Yaya and 'Buelo with their grandkids-

All of us together-

Malachi's Spells

For the past few months Malachi has been very interested in reading and spelling. (He calls words "spells.") He is constantly sounding out words on signs when we're driving around and will often tell me what things say. The other day after Sunday school he told me he had "hick" to drink for snack. I had no idea what he was talking about until I noticed the Hi-C (hick) drink boxes on the table! This morning I was picking up toys in his room when he told me not to bother the "spells" on his wall. I looked and saw this...

(Try to figure out what it says before reading below!)

I didn't realize what it said until he told me - "The Wizard of Oz!"