New Year’s Eve

Sophia getting ready to go to Honey and Pops to spend the night for the New Year.  She was very excited to that Honey was coming to get her.

We had a few friends over to ring in the new year, I was so bad that I didn’t even get the camera out, oh well.  Hope you all had a great New Year’s Eve. 

May this year bring you many wonderful blessings. 

Merry Christmas

Santa came!  We woke up around 7:30 and waited in bed until Grandma, Grandpa, Honey and Pops got to the house to see Sophia. 

Sophia and I snuggling in bed

Santa ate his cookies and drank his milk

Sophia must have been a very good girl this year

Once everyone got there, Sophia and I came out.  I told her Santa came and she told me, “hungry!”  She walked past all of her gifts, went to the play room to get her chair, pulled it up to the coffee table and ate cinnamon buns for about 30 minutes.  Finally, after eating, she played with her kitchen for about 30 minutes.  She loved it.  Then we got her to start opening presents…

Loving on Minnie

After opening presents from Santa, we enjoyed biscuits and gravy with all of the family.  We tried to put Sophia down for a nap, but that didn’t really work out.  I laid her down and she immediately started calling out, “Mommy awake, play kitchen, no nap!”  and since it was Christmas we got up and let her play for a bit then headed to Zach’s grandmother’s for lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoying Pop’s rocking chair from when he was little.

After lunch at Great Grandma Nancy with Zach’s family we headed to Frisco to have Christmas dinner with my mom’s family.

Chris and Robin’s tree

sweet Abigail

Robin’s table decorated for dinner.  She made Caesar Salad, Prime Rib, Potatoes, Asparagus, Green Beans and bread and for dessert we ate Red Velvet Cake and cookies galore.  It was beyond yummy!!

 

After dinner we relaxed and enjoyed spending time with each other.  The kids (and Larry, Zach, and Chris) played on the Xbox Kinect and the girls listened to Sophia and Abigail sing us songs on the microphone. 

We had a very blessed Christmas and I hope you all did too.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was busy and different this year, in a good way.  We usually go to Zach’s parents for Christmas Eve, but with Sophia being older now, we really wanted to be able to put her to bed at the house so that she could put out cookies and milk for Santa.

So we had Zach’s side of the family over and my parents as well.  I cooked White Christmas Chicken Chili.  It was the first time that I had used this recipe and it turned out very yummy.

We had a great time exchanging gifts with the Mitchell side of the family and watching Sophia get ready for Santa to come.  She was so much fun to watch, she really understood what everything was all about.  Plus she loved reading Twas the Night Before Christmas and The Polar Express.

 

My table piece that my mom and I threw together

 

 

 

 

 

Sophia stealing a cookie, me loving on my little girl, Honey and Sophia, Lindsay Matt, Grandma Beth and Uncle Bob

Sophia checking out some of her gifts

Jordan opening his stocking and Sophia is helping him out!

My new UGGS!! 

Jordan reading Twas the Night Before Christmas to Sophia before she headed to bed to wait the arrival of Good Old St. Nick!

Sophia putting cookies and milk out for Santa.  She was really really eyeing the cookies, she then looked up at me and said, “One little bite, please?”  And of course she took a little nibble out of Santa’s cookies!  So cute!

Sophia’s Favorite Place

 

 

Taco Bueno…. she is definitely just like her Mommy!

Lunch play date with the Mains

Today our friends Jason and Melissa and their son, Patrick, or Big Rick, came over for lunch and to just hang out and relax. Patrick is 8 months old and he just so adorable.  You will see why we call him Big Rick.

he’s just as big as Sophia!!  He actually weighs more than she does!!!  (only by a pound)

and while Patrick napped on his daddy, Sophia watched her favorite, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse on the computer.

Baking… Baking… and more Baking

Yesterday and today my mom and I spent the all day baking up a storm.   We also watched Jordan, which was great because he helped a lot with Sophia.  She just loves him so much! 

We made oatmeal cookies (my brother’s request,) chocolate chip cookies, pecan tasses (basically little pecan pies, or my mom’s favorite,) Gram’s Butter Cookies (basically butter and sugar,) Gram’s cinnamon buns, and finally Chex mix (Zach’s request.)   Later in the week we are going to make my Mammaw’s Red Velvet Cake from scratch!! 

It was great getting to spend time with my Mom especially since we didn’t have to work, we just got to relax and enjoy the days. 

Once we got everything all finished up, we made my brother a care package of all of his favorite goodies since he isn’t going to make it home for the holidays.

Old Fashioned Butter Cookies

stirring, stirring and stirring some more

using the cookie press to make Christmas Trees

Even Grandpa came over to help

some of the final cookies

All of our tins getting filled up for the final products… they were so yummy and my brother really enjoyed getting his Christmas cookies and treats in the mail.