Santa Knows

Katie was dead set against visiting Santa until Meme mentioned he had a sack of toys.  Even though I told her Santa does not give the toys out until Christmas Eve, she still decided she'd like to see him.  Tonight we did.  While waiting for our number to be called in Santa's virtual queue, no waiting in a physical line for this family, we discussed what Katie would tell S.C. she wanted.

Here's the list:

1.  dollies with clothes

2.  ladies and stuff

3.  ballerina slippers and clothes to wear to ballet school

Everything went fine until we stood before Santa.  The she yelled, "I want to go home!  I want to go bye-bye!"  Old St. Nick saved the day when he asked K-T if she wanted a doll for Christmas.  How did he know!?!?!?!?!?  She answered, "and clothes for them to wear."  Then she sat in his lap and we got these two pictures.  Katie likes the hugging one the best.

Christmas Villagers

*UPDATE - Jon just confessed he was playing Christmas village with K-T this morning!

My Grandmother had a miniature Christmas village that she displayed in her bay window each year.  I don't think I was allowed to touch it.  When no one was looking, I would peek inside the houses and move the ice skaters around on the mirror pane skate pond.  I was always careful to return the pieces to their original locations.  Somebody at my house is not being so careful!

These trees were artfully spaced between the homes and shops.  Now they have been assembled for a tree lot.

Look at this guy dragging his dog into the antique shop.  The antique shop that now resides in the center of the skate pond. 

Oh my!  Carolers or angry mob?

Here's an arial view so you can get a better feel for the crowd's vibe.

I was at the dentist this morning while Jon "watched" Katie. 

Look what I noticed on Katie's bookshelf.

Every stuffed animal and doll has been removed from the shelf except one. That one is named, by Katie, "No, Papa." She got him for Christmas from my parents. They thought she would like it because it looked like her Papa. She didn't. I thought it might grow on her if it was on her shelf with her other stuffed friends. Clearly not working.

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas! Surprise, Surprise - snow in Texas. It was 73 yesterday and we went to the park, rode bikes, and Carrie ran and it was quite warm. Now it is cold and snowing. Here are several pictures from our short adventure outside to play in the snow.

Tis the Season for Blood Curdling Screams

This is not the picture we had envisioned (obviously - or I would have made better wardrobe choices for myself) when we took K to see Santa.

Why are Jon and I in the picture? Shrieks of terror, loud enough to make us all jump, from the boy just ahead of Katie in the Santa line made her more than a little cautious. See the fear in her eyes in this pic below? K kept saying "Hold you, Mawhner." She just knew Jon or I would betray her and force her to sit with Santa. However, neither of us had the heart to wrench her from our arms and force her to sit in S. C.'s lap. So we have a family portrait. It'll be a fun story to share with K one day.

Memaw T gave me red and white polka dot material. I sewed it into the bubble skirt K is modeling. My Memaw Hazel would make me and my girl cousins Christmas skirts each year to wear in our Santa pictures. I'm keeping the tradition alive.

Back of the bubble.

Poufy Christmas

It started with a poufy hat...

Then poufy hair...

Now she is hanging her bath pouf on the tree...

First Christmas

Katie's first Christmas was wonderful. She loved opening gifts. Especially gifts stuffed full of tissue paper. She clapped and pointed (her newest skill) at her favorite things.

Christmas eve - Katie is wearing her fancy Christmas dress to the candlelight service. Dusty/Granddad is taking the picture.



Why we make New Year's resolutions. Mom's poppy seed cake!



Christmas morning - Look what Santa brought!



Christmas morning - Katie politely reading the gift tag before opening her present from Jon and me.



Christmas dinner at Grandma and Granddad's



First day of Kwanzaa at Meme and Papa's



A gift for me - see video link for a demo



Katie's first Christmas created such an appreciation for God's gift of his son to us. While rocking Katie in my arms at bedtime, I am filled with overwhelming love for her sweet stillness. I long to keep her little and holdable forever. These feelings really brought home to me what an awesome sacrifice God made for us. I would not give Katie's life to save a million saints. Yet God gave baby Jesus to us to save millions of sinners. I always knew the truth of the nativity story. Katie's preciousness drove it home. I feel so grateful and indebted to a God that would love me this much. He is amazing.

Santa Baby

Katie met Santa today! It went much better than we expected. No crying! Santa had a smart team with him. They had us keep Katie's back to Santa and place her in his lap. She was all smiles while the pictures were taken. Once we had a perfect picture, Santa turned her around. She gently touched his beard. Then looked back at us with an expression that said, "I will cry, if you don't rescue me RIGHT NOW!"

The rescue -


Using the sad eyes on Papa -

1st Thanksgiving and 2nd Christmas Tree

Katie loves Thanksgiving. Rather she loves the Thanksgiving menu. She fed herself green bean casserole, dressing, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie.



She liked it all. After food, Katie is most thankful for having a big dog to climb.



Jon and I ran the Turkey Trot so we could enjoy our Thanksgiving feast guilt free. I ate lots of ranch dressing. Yum!



It is K's first Christmas season, but she is on her second tree. We put her first tree up today. Jon trimmed it with 400 twinkle lights. I carefully arranged all the ornaments on it. All that remained was wrapping the stand with the tree skirt. I broke the stand while attempting to scoot the tree. It crashed to the floor. I screamed. Jon yelled. Katie woke from her nap with a start. It was a disaster. Jon was too distraught to even allow me to take a picture of our wrecked tree. Jon exchanged the tree for one with a metal stand. We should be good to go now.