So Happy, So Sad

We are so happy to be home (and have survived the airplane ride) after a really fun, relaxing, and festive Christmas week in Atlanta with all of my family, but we are so sad to have had to say goodbye! Good news is we have lots to keep us busy in the next two months getting ready for baby, and then we will be headed there again in the spring to introduce our new addition! Here is one last Atlanta picture of Grandma and Grandpa with all their grandkids. 

During this Christmas season we have been telling Santa every time we saw him to please leave any small presents at grandma and grandpa's house and big presents at out house, since we would not be able to bring them home on the airplane. SO, when we got home yesterday Caroline was really excited to see what Santa had left at our house! 

She was SUPER excited about her new princess bike

and both girls loved Scarlett's new princess castle

Caroline jumped on her bike immediately and asked Daddy to help her go for a ride! 

It is a bit big for her, but with a little practice she will be riding circles around us in no time! This spring we will be spending a lot of time outside! 

Our baby girl is getting SO big! 

Fernbank

Yesterday we loaded up the kiddos and headed downtown to the Fernbank Museum to explore the dinosaurs. We met up with Kristen's family at the museum and after playing for a while we all went out for lunch to celebrate Ford's (my SIL's nephew) birthday. 

Caroline and Brody

Dino-Car

Car and Daddy Dino's

Scarlett loved the treehouse playroom

Caroline's favorite was making bubbles in the science room

Grandma and Scarlett doing a puzzle

Olivia (another of Brody's cousins) and Caroline moving the bumblebees with magnets

the girls having fun

Daddy and Scarlett taking their turn at moving the bumblebees with magnets

Scarlett goes Hollywood at Felini's pizza

After coming home and taking naps (which we have done everyday this trip!!) we loaded up the kiddos and headed to my childhood friend Jenny's house for dinner. It was so good to catch up and Caroline loved playing with Grace and all her toys and dress-up clothes. 

Sibling Dinner

 Last night my siblings and their spouses went out downtown for a delicious dinner and drinks. It was so nice to get out without the kiddos and enjoy a quiet meal together and catch up! Tommy and Paige know all the best places in town to go, and they once again did not steer us wrong. We went to dinner at the Optimist and then to JTC for dessert and after dinner drinks. Both were really delicious and had a great atmosphere. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for keeping the girls (for the second night in a row! We went to the movie theatre to see ARGO (just the two of us) the night before... what a treat!!)

 Tommy and Paige

 Jimmy and Kristen

the whole gang 

The Pink Pig

Santa brought Caroline some princess shrinky dinks for Christmas and Grandpa helped shrink them in the oven! It was a fun little afternoon craft! 

For sixty years the Macy's in downtown Atlanta has had a pink pig ride for the holiday season. We did not venture out to ride it as children, but when we were in town for Christmas three year's ago we took Caroline downtown for a ride. The wait back then (the week before Christmas) was over three hours, but today when we went there was NO LINE!!!! Caroline loved it! 

She was first in line, so she picked the very front car by the pig's head

Caroline, Scarlett, Patrick, and Grandma getting ready for the ride!

ALL ABOARD! 

an action shot from the mirror room

It's Christmas!

The last shot of the mantle before Santa arrived and filled ALL 11 stockings! What a blessing to have all of our family together to share this special day! (notice Elfie came all the way from Phoenix/North Pole to spend the last few days with us before Christmas)

the girls on the stairs Christmas morning getting ready to go down and see what Santa left

checking to see if Santa ate his cookies and drank his coke, and if the reindeer ate their carrots

Santa left baby strollers for both girls, which they loved! 

one thing Caroline asked Santa for was a Hello Kitty stationary set, and Santa delivered! 

Caroline wore her new Cinderella dress from Santa all day! 

our morning Christmas family picture

Grandma and princess Caroline 

Mom and Tommy

Tommy and Paige 

Dad and Mom

Patrick and I

Scarlett and her best buddy (Paige's dog Ruby)

the girls loved all their loot: Caroline got an American Doll from the J Maurer family, and a new Cinderella nightgown and slippers from Tommy and Paige, and Scarlett got a play remote control from T and P and a tea set and stuffed doggie from J,K and B! Grandma and Grandpa got both girls new baby dolls, lots of books, puzzles, and games.....they are so lucky to have so many people that love them! 

Caroline went right to work on her stationary set

Brody and Caroline opening their stockings

the boys and Caroline went outside to test out Brody's new bow and arrow set and his huge frisbee

the girl's team (minus Caroline)

cousins (Brody, Scarlett, and Caroline)

This year we continued Patrick's family's tradition of a themed dinner (we did ours for Christmas brunch instead of Christmas Eve) and our theme was the North Pole. Paige made a Christmas tree appetizer, we had SNOW crab legs, reindeer steak (ok, so that was a stretch), and Kristen made North Pole cupcakes covered in snow! DELICIOUS! 

What a perfect day filled with family, the joy and excitement on our little one's faces, good food, laughter, generous gifts, and great naps! We are so blesssed and cannot wait for all the wonderful things  2013 has in store!