And im spent...

My baby is all tucked in for the night! I can finally sit without thinking of all the other things I need to be doing.  Christmas was grand.  I really do think that I'm not just saying it, but with a 15 month-old the first gift would have been plenty.  The festivities are all month long, but the finale of Santa coming is by far the best.  I tried to create matriarchal traditions that will last through the years and I still have some that we didn't do this year because wee little Charlee is just too young (Elf on the shelf, reindeer food, Santa cookies...you get the point) Maybe next year!! I still am sitting here in shock that I got any pictures at all, because I feel like it was a whirl-wind for 3 days.  The Groningers had several places to go and definitely not enough time to do it all.  We could have used some of Santa's magical powers to slooooow time.  We started Christmas Eve morning at our house because I sent Santa a letter explaining that I had to work on Christmas Eve night and it would be very helpful if just this year he could come Christmas Eve Eve... It worked, he came and Nina, Papaw, Kinsey,  and Manny came over for waffles and mimosas.  I did get my favorite picture of Charlee when she saw what Santa had left out for her.  She really did freak out and got so excited about all the stuff sitting out.  Then we went to Mimi and Papaws to see Aunt Jenny, Uncle Gaston, and Gaeton.  Santa went there too!! Charlee and Gaeton would have been happy with each others gifts.  I desperately needed a nap... and so did Charlee so about 4:30 I went to lay down and about 10 min later Mimi brought me a snuggle bunny.  I needed to be up by 5:45 to get home and change before I left for work.  I looked over at the clock at 7:30!! Gavin had answered my phone when work called to cancel me for the first 4! YESSSS.  Then we visited Poppy and May-May before I went in to work at 11:00.  

We did get the Christmas Trees done in time for Christmas at Nina's.... I love how they are all Christmas trees with the same yellow star, but very different versions!! Nina loved them.

Santa came

Our Tree. Notice all the ornaments are at the top and middle. Every time Charlee would bring me one i would put it up higher. This is a tree that is 15 month-old proof! Not the prettiest, but its been a good old tree. Fell over twice last year and now to make it through Charlee... I give it props! It fell like 4 times when i took it down this year. It was begging me to just put it out of its misery.  Gavin said "NO" when i looked on line at the 50% off trees that really wanted to join our family.  So... you will see the beaute next year.

Her stocking!!

Mommy and Daddies stocking... hmm, not so full! Were we bad?

Christmas Morn (Christmas Eve)

She didn't sleep there, she just came in to watch Mickey while Nina and Papaw were in route.

Excited that people came to play

My favorite picture eva.... she couldn't pick all of them up fast enough. I Love this!!!

Princess Charlee already over stimulated with gifts! Mannie was helping motivate her to press on!

MOMMIES GIFT!!!! Gotta love it! Thats my babies finger print.... yeah my hubby rocks!

Breakfast... yes Charlee is nakee because she is messy and we didn't want mommy to have the pressure of not ruining the princess gown in the wash this soon.

The waffles taste so much better in the Mickey waffle maker... swear its true!

Kisses for Mickey and Daisy

I got them both smiling... might not happen again for years!!

Kissing cousins... on top of the fridge. Gaeton always kisses her nose... every time

Of course Charlee doesn't want to get down and if she does she wants Papaw to catch her... not daddy.

Little People house... thanks Uncle Gaston and Aunt Jenny!

Hurry up Gaston... Charlee is going to steal Gaetons toy

Christmas Morning at Nina's.  Her tree is a nice, pre-lit that doesn't shed yellowed snow. Aww maybe some year I'll get one.

We are ready...

Daddy's here!! He went to Great Grandma G's house, It was decided that after she passed everyone was still going to keep true to the tradition and celebrate like they had for the past 50 years...with waffles and sausage early Christmas morning and lots of love!!

By the way... Gavin literally complained every day that he didn't have jammies and no one loves him enough to get him any.  Well sweetheart there isn't going to be any jammies for 6 foot 5ers the week of Christmas.  Not to mention... I asked him about a month ago what pair he wanted from Old Navy and the ones there "weren't comfy" or "not Christmas-y enough" Thank the lord Nina came through and these will have to do!!! Next year... I'm not even asking.

Still up from my nap at Mimi's house, but I'm all jacked up on Christmas to notice that I'm really tired.  I get a nap in while everyone is playing Epic Mickey! (I know you all were worried about me)

We have created a monster...

The girl will do anything for....... M&M's

WOW Mackenzie found the Christmas Pickle!!! She never finds it...

Grantie Karol and Charlee... again.... eating M&M's (Creeper in the background) This is another game our family tries to play.  We try to be creepers in backgrounds of other peoples pictures! Point Maddie

And our new years resolution: to learn how to share! Sorry Harper! Nina do something...

Grantie Kappy hosts tea time with her girls.

I had to re-arrange the Toy Room and this is her favorite spot! She weasels in there and lifts her legs.  She must practice a lot, because she does it all the time when you go to put her down... always good for a laugh.

Needed to fill up... in the car

So now that everything is over I feel spent... I snapped as many pictures as I could and Daddy got the video camera rolling a couple times so we will have the memories.  I just wish I could remember EVERYTHING about it and know that she loved every second as much as I did.  And even though we visited several places we still didn't see my brother in Nashville or my sister in Lafayette but they both have littles and need to be at home on Christmas! The chaos is always worth it!

I will say ... there ain't nothin better than a clean house.  It took two days to take down Christmas stuff/re-arrange rooms/put away all the gifts and clean everything afterwards.  Once again... worth it. 

Mackenzie came over today and I ended up going through all the 12 month clothes in Charlees dresser and closet to put way and this makes me so sad every time.  I just don't understand how Ive put away a years worth of clothes and I still cant believe I'm blessed enough to have a daughter let alone a 15 month old.  when i rocked her tonight i just stared at her clutching Mickey and Minnie and hoped she was as happy as we are to have her in our lives.  It goes too fast and all i want to do right now is go wake her up ... or as Charlee would say "BAKEUP" so I can cuddle up with her.  I just want to smell her hair and neck (I don't even care how creepy that sounded because its true)... actually can Yankee develop a candle that smells that angelic? Oh and one that smells like her when she just had a bath!

Anyways my neck is in need of some heating pad action... Hope everyone had a merry Christmas.

Christmas Gifts

I'm supposed to be getting ready.... so this might have to be short.  I've had to work the last few days in order to get a few off before Christmas Eve (when i have to work again) Sick... i know.  Gavin has been on break so he woke me up yesterday with some coffee.. he had it all cream and sugared up just the way i like it! oh and the laundry was caught up for the most part... i know I'm pretty lucky.  Anyways we were back to the festivities.  Every year we make clay figures for my mom. Well a few times a year on special occasions and she now has quite a few all over the house and she is nutty for them.  This year we even got a request... a Christmas tree (there is a pic later) so MacKenzie and Madison came over to bust out some Christmas trees.  Charlee made a hand print.  She wasn't really into it so she was watching Mickey Mouse!

 Charlee went to see Santa... It was just as i expected, she was not happy about sitting on his lap and she cried but we got an awesome picture.  I'll get it on here soon. Gavin recorded the whole event... and i think he will upload it.  Side note: I don't know if it was because i was tired but Santa's helper really made me want to go all scrooge-like on her.  Seriously she said we somehow got out of line... when there wasn't a line when we got there and let a group go ahead of us... fine, fine. Then she told the little girl behind us that she had to be a big girl and wait because Charlee supposedly was in front of her... gutting a little irritated at this point.  Then when it was our turn i told her i just wanted a picture and it didn't matter if she was crying.  So i sat Charlee down - she cried and i picked her up and asked the lady "Did you get one?" and she said "No, she wasn't smiling"...... Really? So we sat by Santa and gave him a few high-fives because Santa was sure that she would warm up to him.  She did try to give Santa knuckles and he left her hangin... So I made sure i told her to take it anyways and gave her back for one more try... NOPE... still cried... but thankfully the lady didn't want to die yesterday and she took one anyways.  Then, We just got a 5x7 and some wallets and Gavin was checking the envelope when we left and it was just the wallets so i went back to the register and told her we didn't get the 5x7 and she had to see for herself and just couldn't believe we didn't get it.  She doesn't need to work there because she is a B-word and Gavin even made a comment about her when he saw is was turning into the Grinch.  He never gets fired up like me.  Time Out- let me clarify: He doesn't get irritated at strangers that have no brain but Gavin has the shortest fuse ever when it comes to not being able to find something (remote, wallet, cell phone, insurance card...) or if he leaves his headlights on and has to jump his car (YES... this happens ALL THE TIME and NO he never learns) And to further clarify... he completely goes postal to where you cant help but watch him wigggg out and it shouldn't be funny... but it so is!!
So she wasn't really a fan of the big guy...

 Our family ornament this year!!

 Just a year ago....

 Here is the craziness

 Baking our trees
See if you can guess who's tree is who's... this is one of the fun parts about all the little figures.
We will paint them later.

 Mommies little helper...

 After all the fabulous crafts we all needed a cocktail...

Christmas Cookies

Charlee is ready for some cookies! Daddy picked out her outfit today and it was a MUST that she wear the hat! We are on our way to Grandma and Grandpa Kosts.

 Notice the bruise on her cheek and the scratch on her nose... and the hat is covering a bruise on her forehead. Seriously

 All the new things to touch. She was so overwhelmed with things to break... i mean touch.

 Singing snowmen was a crowd favorite.

Charlee thought all the candy canes would be better inside the hat...

 I found the ornament that is my favorite.  My grandparents have this and my mom has a few and the best part about them is how they smell.  They are several years old so the smell is fading but man i would tape that to my nose all season to get my fix if i could.

 This is serious stuff.... you must try it. 

 No worries, he wont be driving anywhere.  Maybe for Christmas we can get a new shirt for the tradition.... or not because i think it still looks good and Grandpa is too sexy for his shirt. 

 So this cartoon is about 40 years old... my aunt drew it on the back of the recipe card. Any guesses? Grantie Karol drew "Two people walking abreast" HaHaHa... It doesn't get old..... ever.

 The trees lights were off.... then on..... then off and we were getting confused.  Charlee (Elmo) discovered how to turn the lights on and off.  Little stinker would stand on it.

 Sampling fudge

Poor babies wanted to go outside.... so we put on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and they quickly sprinted into the living room and were sucked into the t.v.
We had fun but had to have Papaw drive us home because Charlee was spent and fell asleep as soon as i put her coat on her.  I wish i could bottle her up when she is asleep and loving on me... its pretty much the best thing in the world. Gavin told me today he would freeze her at this stage if he could. I wish they really would invent something that would bottle smells.  I love her breath... even in the morning.  I love the way her hair smells and even her sweaty feet!!! Love them all.  She gives lots of kisses to us now and i must say it warms my heart every time.  Gavin bribes her for kisses.  She hasn't caught on yet.
Christmas moment warning: This is me being extremely Christmas Cheer-Meister but I'm going to tell you that i have a glass of wine, Gingerbread candle burning from Yankee, Disney's Christmas Carol on pause awaiting my return, and I'm waiting on my hubby to bring me some scotch tape because i ran out and then i will finish wrapping presents. Its sick how happy that makes me.  Add some Christmas cookies and hot chocolate..... I'm jealous of myself.

Geniva Groninger (Gavins Great Grandmother) who is 102 years old is in the hospital and is ready to join her loved ones in heaven.  Please pray for a peaceful transition.

Christmas Cards

Christmas Cards are done!! I was a little late this year, but its partially CVS's fault too.  I tried printing them in seconds from the kiosk and only 13 turned out the others were smeared.  And i was a little irritable that morning and in a hurry to get diapers and get back home so i told them i didn't want to wait and i would just do it again some other time.  Waisted time... so annoying.  I loved dropping the pile of letters into the big blue mail box at the post office. I will admit that I get a little too freakishly excited for Christmas cards. Gavin thinks they are a waste of money and no one even cares about them... then i noticed he brought the mail in and quickly skimmed past the bills/junk to get to the ones he knew were Christmas cards... he is a liar, he likes them too.  However, he didn't care about what i picked for ours (i know thats typical for a male) just commented that they looked nice when he saw me stuffing them into envelopes.  He did have a comment when he noticed the return address sticker... If your one of the lucky ones that gets our lovely card this year you may notice they are from a Ms. Megan Armstrong... they came free in the mail from St. Jude and I kinda was lazy and didn't want to write our return address so i just used the festive ones they sent.  Gavin thought i should have hand wrote The Groningers... or better yet Mr. Gavin Groninger.

 This little tradition is from my friend at work Mrs Lisa.  She always makes Holiday cards for the babies at work and last year for Charlee's 1st Thanksgiving and Christmas we made turkeys and trees out of her little footprint.  This year they were bigger... but she enjoyed smooshing her feet in the paint. 

 They turned out so its all good... then you put them in 4X6 frames and get them out every year! LOVE IT.

 She just looked so snowbunnie-ish i had to take a quick picture on the way home from Nanas (her name is  Nina now, Charlee changed it)

 We made Peanut Butter Blossoms at Ninas house... Charlee helped unwrap the Hershey kisses.

 Well really she ate them.  Seriously these cookies are my fav!! I had 56 last night.

 Charlee is kinda obsessed with putting on shoes.... anyone shoes. And I'm really excited about Christmas this year because we (Nina and I) got her several shoes she can wear from all the Princess' closets! I might be more excited than i should, but that happens a lot this time of year. 

 And..... Lots of snow.  This still looks white and sparkly. Did i mention i love Christmas.

More to come we are getting ready to go to my Grandma Kosts for cookie making today...

Gavin is exceptionally happy today because he gets to enjoy one of the several perks of being a teacher... 2 weeks off!! Charlee is so happy to have her playmate home all week this week with her!! She still loves her normal routine of traveling to LaLa's and Poppy's but is welcoming staying in her jammies all week I'm sure.  And her daddy lets her do whatever she wants.  Im pretty sure she mastered the look that melts him already.

Its Snowing

Charlee wasn't thrilled with snow.  She thought she would be.... and it was pretty much a disappointment, she barely made it off the porch.  But I didn't mind, she was ready to come back in within minutes!! Yay

We also are at the age where bruises are a daily occurrence.  She runs everywhere and is kinda rough on everything.  We call her "She-Hulk" 

Charlee still throws everything away in the trash.... babies, ornaments, sippys, remotes (yeah... that would be bad because Gavin would NEVER find it, he has a hard time finding it when its on his lap)

Recently we started having two-word conversations they are hilarious, you should try them.  We try to use her words and then we just start laughing because we are actually communicating with her and its just crazy that you can see her learning and growing before your eyes.

Teething...... my poor little one. Three back teeth and the red bottom that comes with it is giving her a free pass to run naked all day!! Surprisingly she has been sleeping in her bed all night long for about 2 weeks now.  I'm not sure why, but this makes me sad.  I still get to rock her though. 

Charlee wanted to add something to the blog:

n   b     bbbvbb vcvcxzZ     mmmmbcvcxZnnnnnnnbm,m,mm,, bbvcxz

 Props to Gavin because he "made" mashed potatoes last night... he did everything but mash them.  And all the little things you don't think of are HUGE when you don't cook.  I was in my class for work and these were the text i was getting...  "Where are the potatoes?" "Where is the peeler?" "I hope its okay that i put the potatoes in the water before it was boiling" "How in the hell am i supposed to know if they are done?"  It made my class much more tolerable. 

He got it done and he is my hero for doing that!!! Dave and Angie had Chicken N Noodles, Mashed Potatoes, and Corn. They just had their first baby ... little Harvey!!

We went over to Gaston and Jennys for an ornament exchange and all the littles got to play.

 Cousins...

 HaHa....



Baby Its Cold Outside

Better yet... Rainy and sick.  We had an impromptu shopping trip today to the Disney Store (little bit of heaven) and i can honestly say I'm so excited for Charlee to open her gifts on Christmas.  Nina and mommy couldn't choose and went a little nuts in the store.  But who could resist gellies that are heels... and light up... and have the princess' on them???

Poor Papaw... he had to try to rein Charlee the whole time.  We love you for that!

These are catch up pics from before Turkey-Day.

Gavin surprised me this year and had the Crowes over to help decorate the house... he knew i really wanted to get the house decorated because its my fav time of year and so of course we needed some cocktails...

Charlee helped too... She HAD to get up on the counter to help mommy

"I will throw this ball" She broke 3 the dainty little thing

Minnie and Mickey are her all time favs.  She loves them, Mickey got left at Poppys at thanksgiving and Minnie got left at LaLa's for a few days and she was asking where they were the whole time. I think i need to buy extras... and just wondering are the jammies too small?



Its about time

So its been waaaaay too long.  Our computer refused to let me upload anymore pictures... so on "Black Friday" we got a new one!!! So I have been an uploading fool. And got a great deal on Photoshop 9... still learning the basics but man what you can do with pictures! Long story short... I will be blogging soon!

I just learned that earlier tonight at home Daddy was 'rockeyin' Miss Charlee and she was doin her thing with the restless legs... and he asked her if she wanted to go lay in her bed which her response is usually 'uh uh' and slamming her head down and pushing her not-tired eyes closed in an attempt to really try to go to sleep... but not this time... she said 'Yett' (yes) and he had to verify by asking her a second time.... 'Yett'

Daddy didn't believe her.  She flopped down on her belly and didn't utter a peep. Daddy watched the rest of the Colts game. Mommy doesn't believe Daddy.  If you know him, you know that he will let you believe things that aren't true for very a very long time.  I'll have to see it to believe it.

So im just a little sad about my baby not needing us to rockey her anymore.  Its very nice on momma and dadda with the bed time routine... but really?

Oh and Charlee has been in time-out 3 times since Monday.  Trust me, I love the girls sass and that she has a huge personality... but hitting friends that come over to play (sorry Morgan), throwing the cat food (which if we would just get rid of the cats... problem solved), and throwing her food on the floor are things we just can do.  She is a smart girl so hopefully we wont use time-out very often.  fingers crossed.

Pictures soon... im at work so kinda impossible!
G'night