Tis the Season...

Well Christmas has come and gone but the memories are still fresh in my mind... and that is a good thing considering it is January 10th and I am posting about our Christmas. For the first time in 17 years, Tennessee woke up to a white Christmas. It was the cherry on top of a great season of fun.

Addie looking out the window at her 1st white Christmas.

Since the last Christmas post we had to do the Christmas card picture.
This has to be the hardest activity to do with small children. Kyle and I wear literally sweating. Trying to get Addie to look and smile at the camera and Drew to stay in the frame is not a simple task but the end product is always worth the sweat, tears, screams, and giggles.

This year we were not the cookie factory of last year.
I think having a nine month old crawling around and trying to watch the sweets helped. We still had a blast rolling out the cookies and sharing them with the ladies at the court house, Addie's friends, and family.

The messier the kitchen the better the fun:)

We also had a great time with old friends at the annual dirty Christmas party. We played dirty with looks being shot across the room, scheming plans being made, and begging for the perfect gift. This time Shelley was the gracious host and open her home to us....

and all of these yahoos.
You know there are a lot of children when a babysitter is hired.

Another special day this holiday season was my nephew Hayden's christening.

Christmas Cousins

Well at least the adults are looking good...

The present marathon begins...
Christmas with Nene, Poppy, Clint, and Kristen...

This is how Addie opens presents.
She rips the paper off, looks at the present, and stacks it.

Drew's Christmas past time...
eating wrapping paper.

Out of all of the gifts, Addie's fave were her Dora pjs.
She opened them and stripped down right there to put them on.

Addie's mad face when she opens up Ariel's dress but doesn't have an Ariel to dress.
It was the next gift so all is well.

Drew having fun with Uncle Clint's hat.

Christmas with Nanny...
Maggie, Morgan, and Claudia.

Christmas @ Ma's...
Addie helping Kaitlyn and Vickie pass out presents.

Sweet Ma with her Wendy's cards.

Back at our home... Home, Sweet, Home.

As Addie puts it,
"He Came!!! He Really Did Come!!!!"

The cookies have been nibbled on...

Checking out the christmas morning snow...

The prized pillow pet= one happy girl.

Checking out all of the newest toys for our collection..

The princess line up.

Waking up the sleepy head Drew. Addie could not wait to get him so he could see his pillow pet.

What I love about this pic is that this toy has been out for about two months and it was Addie's 1st Christmas present and this is what Drew decided to play with on Christmas morning!

And the obsolete VHS player:)

LiLi and Papa came for Christmas breakfast...

Addie loving her rolling backpack...

Drew was out by 11am...

So that left Addie to open LiLi and Papa's presents.

All I have to say is sorry for the amount of pics but as usual I could not pic just a few.

On the 12th Day Of Christmas...

Addie enjoying a little popcorn as we walk downtown for the annual
Downtown Christmas. It was nice this year because the temperature was in the 30s instead of the usual teens.
Nene and Poppy came down to look and shop and then we went to the "restaurant with the biscuits" aka Cracker Barrel for dinner. No pics of Drew because he slept through it all.

Well the first 12 days of December have come and gone... and the Sanders' fab four have done a lot of Christmas celebrating. One of my friends gave me the idea of doing something for the holiday season everyday for the 25 days leading up to Christmas. Like so many, we want to share traditions and soak up every minute of this magical time, especially with little ones around. We decorated trees, put up the Nativity (Addie's favorite decoration), and strung up the lights. I started to think of things to do... make cards to take to neighbors... what movies to watch... places to go... people to see. I thought this was a great idea until... Addie got sick... Drew got sick... I got sick... I remembered that I do have a job... and snow came to Tennessee. We have done many activities but not 12.
Maybe we can double up while I am off of work for a few snow days.
So here are the events in pics (minus the sickness).

Drew is all set to go look at Christmas lights.

We put on our pjs, loaded up the 4 wheel sleigh, got some ice cream, and rode around town looking for lights!
Addie was so excited she could not sit still. That equals a blurry pic.

Addie's Preschool Christmas Program
I was so excited that it worked out for me to go and watch Addie's first Christmas program.
There are few pleasures in life that can top 3 year olds "singing" Happy Birthday Baby Jesus, Doing the Reindeer Pokey, and Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas.

Addie was so cute and shocked when she saw "all of her family" there.
Thanks LiLi, Poppa, Aunt Kelli, and Hayden for coming

Maybe not the next American Idol but she has stole my heart.

"Put your antlers in, put your antlers out, and you shake them all about."

"You put your tail in, you put you tail out, and you shake it all about."

"We Wish You A Merry Christmas"

Addie showing off her chapped lips and cheeks.

Run, run, as fast as you can...
If you go back to last years gingerbread house, you will we used a store bought kit. I after using that one, I vowed never again. So this year I made three extras when I was getting them ready for my class at school. It worked out a lot better.

No that is not a cigar... this girl is serious about her chocolate.

I wonder who lives inside?

This is what Drew does during the house building.

Breakfast with Santa... this is the conclusion from this mama.
My children were not meant to sit on Santa's lap.

Addie began to cry as soon as we walked into the room.
Would not even stand next to him.
She said a letter will do just as well.

Drew checking out the ground level on a...

Snowy Day

Stay tuned for the next 12 days of Christmas from the Sanders Family.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...