Christmas Card

We normally take our Christmas card picture after Thanksgiving at Bo's parents house. With two babies, Lilly does not take the trip to Raleigh anymore. There are too many kids there now and she would seriously rather be with my mom and dad by herself when we are away. So, that messes up Lilly getting in the Christmas card picture. We took our picture anyway, but I could not bring myself to print the Christmas card without having Lilly in it. I was also cutting the deadline very close of having the cards printed and mailed before Christmas arrives. Bo and I have done a picture for our Christmas card every year since we got married. So, after dinner the other night I decided to put the girls in another cute Christmas matching outfit. Of course Hannah fell asleep so we had to get Emma and Lilly to be cooperative. We got a cute one and decided to use both pictures for our card this year. So, Lilly made it in the card! We love you Lilly!

Of course after we took that picture we changed Hannah into her Christmas pajamas and she started smiling and posing for us. So, here is her picture!

Legendary Santa

One of my most cherished Christmas traditions was dressing up, taking a day off of school and going with my cousins, aunts and grandmother to see the Legendary Santa in Richmond. This was the real Santa that exceeded any mall Santa. This Santa came down the chimney, called you over by name and you got to eat lunch with him. When I was little he used to be at the Miller and Rhoads Department store. When it closed, he went to Thalhamers(sp?) and then that closed so he went to the Childrens' Museum in Richmond. I never went to see a mall Santa and knew that when I had my own children that I would take them somewhere special to see Santa. Bo and I have set "rules" that you have to see Santa in order for him to come see you. Also, mommy and daddy will NOT sit on Santa's knee with you. I know that the girls are young, and they are at a stage where they may cry. But, they will look back and see that they always went to see Santa. Bo did not go last year because Emma was so little that I just went for the picture. Now that Emma is more aware of what is going on he came too. So, at 5:30 AM I had everything packed (snacks, outfits, extra outfits, juices, bottles, coats, hats, etc) and had two babies in the Hamrick van along with my mom and sister. We had purchased tickets to be in the room when Santa came down the chimney and to be one of the first people in line.

Santa came down the chimney, talked to the boys and girls and then sat in his chair. Emma watched just fine. You have to visit the snow queen first and then Santa calls you over by name and you sit on his knee. "Emma and Hannah , come on over," he said. Of course I knew Emma would scream, but Hannah? Hearing Emma screaming made poor baby Hannah cry! It was so funny! I love the picture. It is the stage that they were in at the time and it is the same Santa that I went to visit when I was little.

Afterwards we spent the day in Richmond. We went to Southpark Mall and rode the train and did a little shopping. We had lunch and then went home. The girls were worn out and I was exhausted from only 3 hours of sleep the night before (because I stayed up and got so much done the night before while everyone else slept.)

It is so wonderful to share traditions with my girls. We had a fun day and I will always remember it!

two months old!

Hannah was two months old on December 3rd! She is already wearing 3-6 months clothes! She continues to be a wonderful baby. She started sleeping through the night on November 18th - right before I went back to work - how perfect. She loves her baths, she smiles at you and says her little "oooo" sounds. I am loving her wearing some of Emma's sleepers and outfits. They are still like brand new and I love seeing the sweet clothes again. Hannah has been hit once by her big sister. Emma was having a bad day with and ear infection and decided to take it out on poor Hannah. I had to sternly tell Emma "no, no- we do NOT hit the baby" even though she was not feeling well.

My mom has taken over the babysitting during the days. I would not know what I would do without her. Bo's mom is also coming about twice a month to keep them too. It is sooo nice having help from them. This is the only way I would return to work. I know many moms do not have the choice and have to put their children in daycare. I am so glad I do not have to make that choice.

Hannah weighed 11 pounds 13 ounces! She is in the 90th percentile for weight! She is 22 inches long!

Thanksgiving

I am trying so hard to keep up on the blog! It is so hard with all that we have going on! I am up at almost midnight and need to be up by 4:30 AM because we have a big event planned tomorrow. However, I want to update this so I do not get too far behind!

Thanksgiving was very nice. One of the most wonderful things to be thankful for this year is that my wonderful, amazing, loving, hilarious grandmother (Mammie) got to come home the day before Thanksgiving. She has been hospitalized since the beginning of September, then went to a rehab center. We are so thankful for her. She is the core of our family and loves her family more than anything in the world. I do not know what I would do without my girls knowing her. I want them to remember her so badly. We were there when she got home and we got her to mom's for lunch just fine!

Mammie coming home!

We spent Thanksgiving lunch at my moms with all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. It is always so much fun when we are all together. The cousins drew names for polyanna's and we spent the afternoon talking and laughing (the boys watched football.)

us at mom and dad's on Thanksgiving (yes, matching outfits for the girls)

Then the Hamrick's hit the road in the new van!!! Wooo-hooo!! What a blessing it was to have that vehicle with two babies on the road for two and a half hours! I could easily get to the back seat when they needed something. Emma watched her movies. It was great!

We had a great time at the Hamricks' in Raleigh. Emma got to play with her cousins Owen and Gibby. Although, we had to separate Owen and Emma a lot - Owen is all boy and Emma is not used to being around a rough little boy! They were so cute. Nana and Dadoo got them new Christmas pajamas and we took their picture together. Bo and I also attempted our Christmas card picture. It turned out okay, but I think we are going to try again with Lilly. Hopefully I will have a Christmas card out by Christmas Eve! I have never been this late before!

adorable kids

We are certainly looking foward to the holidays. We got home Sunday afternoon, got our tree, and then went to my crazy cousins, Joey's house for his grand illumination of his house! What a weekend - and think - it is only going to get crazier! What a blessing!