Christmas with Our Little Family

After Brenda and David left we stayed pretty busy with festivities. Ryan still had time off to use so we spent a lot of time together as a family. This would be our first Christmas just us and having Santa visit our house and fill our stockings and put presents under our tree. So different from what both Ryan and I are used to. We thought we'd be lonely but it was actually fun. At times it was weird but overall was so great doing things on our own time and not having to travel anywhere with little ones. 

My pretty girl making one of my favorite Christmas cookies. She had so much fun with these because she really could do it all by herself.

Got our fire working! We watched many movies and shows to get us in the spirit. This is Ryan's favorite-Muppet's Christmas Carol. 

 I had so much fun this year making these serving spoons and trivets for friends and family. I want to try and do something like this every year. Saves me money and so fun.

On Christmas Eve Camryn and I went and saw the Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker. I love this tradition and I am so happy to have a daughter who will join me in one of my favorite Christmas memories. Sure hope Reagan will join us in a couple years and maybe by then Camryn will be in it!

Loved this Theatre. So old and charming.

Intermission-Camryn was starting to lose it. Tired and ready to go. 

But nothing that popcorn and a soda won't cure. So glad this Theatre allowed it!

 That night we got in our jammies and watched Polar Express and had hot chocolate. Hope this tradition stays!

 We then left cookies and milk for Santa and the girls we asleep by 7:30. 

 

We didn't wake up to snow but we did have fog and it felt like Christmas. 

Pretty excited she fit!

It was a sucessful morning with a visit from Santa and the girls got everything they hoped for and more. I think Camryn was most excited about the things in her stocking. Funny girl loves all things hygiene. 

Her own cleaning supplies

 So happy to get the Snow White she asked Santa for!

 Christmas lazy day-all that it should be. 

My little clone baby that loves to cuddle while watching shows.

Camryn testing out her vintage Easy Bake Oven. Let's just say you should eat vintage food.

Social girl waving at everyone while we were shopping at the freezing cold outlets a few days after Christmas.

 Grumpy face Reagan is hilarious. This was at a friend's baptism.
We had such a great Christmas together. It was so fun starting our own traditions. Sad it is all over now.

Visit from Grandma Brenda and Papa

Better than Christmas morning for these two. Camryn saw her from a distance and Ryan let her out and she ran screaming to Brenda. Both of them were all smiles. Totally wish this was on video-totally a priceless moment. Reunited after 8 months. 

Already mentioned earlier that these two have a special connection. First grandkid and she is cut from the same mold as Ryan and this is what Brenda calls as her do over. Whatever it is-so happy that they get each other. 

Out to lunch the first day-David hadn't gotten in yet. So we hit up Session's St Grill-Greek and amazing. Our first and definitely not last time there. Happy to be eating outside though it was a little chilly.

Afterward we did a little antiquing and tea partying at Marietta Square. I was in love with those trees. Still am and Christmas is over. I should maybe go get them on sale!

Then a little Mamie's. Again first time-really good and have since been back again. Cutest little shop on china-Camryn's heaven.

Brenda found these dresses in HK and brought them back for the girls for dress up and dancing to the Hairspray song. This was one of many dance parties.

Camryn was almost equally as cute with David. Probably the best she has been with him. She was so happy she got to have some Daddy/Papa time while Brenda and I shopped.

Later that day we walked around Piedmont Park which is beautiful at Sunset and then went to the Botanical Gardens to see their lights. 

It was really fun walking around seeing the lights-but I think Camryn was having more fun with her crazy poses.

Still with the hands. But cute of David and Brenda. We lucked out with not too chilly of a night.

It was nice to have some moments by ourselves. Really forget how nice it is to have a second without children all over you. One of the biggest reasons we miss CA is having family close by.

Papa even stole Reagan's heart. Which is hard to do. She did so well with both grandparents. Loved this moment as they walked out of church. 

In their Christmas best.

That night after a "Christmas" dinner we got to open presents together. Having them in town, being together and opening gifts. It really felt like Christmas and was weird that it wasn't. 

The Mayhem afterward. There is nothing like this feeling. Something so warm.

The girls got matching jammies to Brenda's nightgown and we watched Hairspray. Nothing says Christmas like Hairspray. Well Camryn loves it so that is what we watched.

A little bowling together. Brenda killed us. And the girls had a blast running around and getting help from all of us.

And right before they had to leave they wiped up this Gingerbread house. So glad they did it together so I didn't have too. I would have fought with Camryn the whole and instead. These two couldn't stop lauging and talked the entire time. 

Such a fun memorable "before" Christmas. So glad for family visits!

Getting in the Spirit of Things

 After coming home to warmth and sunshine it was really hard to get into the spirit of things and start acting like Christmas was coming soon. It was nice to put it off one more weekend and just relax when Mia and Nate came into town with their cute boy Ethan. He was just days old before we moved so it was so fun to see his personality and it is also great having visitors-especially good friends.

The weather was helping but still felt weird. 

We started making crafts-that helped. Boy does this girl love to craft.

Like Mother like Daughter I guess.

Ellie our Elf finally arrived and Camryn was already sweet talking her. "I like your eyelashes and lipstick-so pretty."

 Then we finally got our tree. We did it very different this year. Instead of going out like a family and choosing the perfect one. I went by myself and choose one already wrapped up from Costco on a truck.  Best tree yet. Funny how things work.

  It was finally feeling like Christmas. 

Oh I tried out this Farmer's Market Basket company-$15 for all this. Not Christmasy but I to document it. I am from now on doing my produce shopping this way. Fresh and cheap!

And of course my sick children. Sickest winter yet for us. Sick every other week around year. Nothing says Christmas like a good cold. 

And Nugs couldn't have been happier that we were finally home and no plans to leave. 

The Rest of Cozumel

The rest of the trip went by too fast. Two full days and the last day rained-mourning our return to Atlanta. 

She may have had the best time out of all of us. Completely in her element and could be outside for as long as she wanted.

I now have this picture framed in her room. Probably my favorite of the trip. That little body in that suit. Too much.

Camryn was pretty happy too. She met another 4 year old on the trip-her boyfriend Luca. She says meeting him and being able to run back to the house and beach by herself were her favorite parts. I ache for future trips like this when she is 14. Right now it is cute, then...yikes!

Our short walk to the the pool and beach. Only bummer was that the pool was freezing! I think Camryn got in twice.

One night two taco shacks. We did this the next night too. Notice how thin Ryan looks here. Day after these guys were died. But nothing a good taco and jeep ride couldn't cure. I long for these tacos. 

Looks cloudy and sad but I remember how I felt. Not that at all.

Showing off the bod again. Ok not really but it is showing! Day 2 Ryan even went for a swim and was walking much better.

From the house there were the best tide pools. We loved this little spot we could all fit in. Sea anemones, sea urchins, hermit crabs and tiny fish.  Reagan would squeal every time she saw a fish or crab. 

 

It should be a law to take a tropical vacation once a year.

Ride in the jeep Mexican style. This lasted about 20 min. We were so freezing and windblown. I hate jeeps.

Now The Zebra-I loved. The guys came home with this and Vanessa and I about died. Died and gone to heaven. So funny. The last 2 cars on the island and this one for sure was the one they took. Such a fun memory this car will be. Picture 3 dudes driving around in this thing. Pure entertainment. So sad th trip ended so soon. I would definitely come back here-Thanks Cozumel!