The Year of the Santa Hat

Paw Paw & Dee Dee came to celebrate Christmas December 22nd.  That meant there was lots of noise, lots of smiles, and lots and lots of presents at our house.  Reason # 2557 we need a bigger house.  We love everyone coming over but it fills the house.=)

Nora shared her Santa hat with Paw Paw and boy did she love singing to it!  Check out the videos...we were laughing so hard.

 

Nora in the hat, Paw Paw in the hat, Daddy in the hat

The kids all played while we waited for everyone to get there & off of work.

Finally it was time to eat!  These two found a spot & chowed down.

After most of the kids asked approximately 46 times each, it was present time!

Trying to sneak a peek at the presents lined up

It was such chaos that I only really got pictures of Nora.  The first thing she opened was something she loves.  A new 'Call Me Baby' skirt. 

That instantly had to be put on.

Now she can proceed with the present opening.  Apparently poofy skirts are more comfy.

This is Nora gasping with excitement over the Dora nail polish. Haha.

She got lots of great things and was so happy!  I don't have pictures of any of the stuff we got (which was tons!) or most of the presents we gave everyone else...but I do have pictures of the things we gave the other kids.  The boys got capes & the girls got tutus like Nora's.

We don't have many pictures of Nora with her grandparents so I thought I'd get one of her & 'my Dee Dee' as she calls her.  I wouldn't call it successful...

anyone know how to photoshop her eyes??

This last picture of Aaron sums up how everyone felt by the end of the excitement...love him!

Bama Bound!

Note:  My barely-a-year-old-camera died.  It died a sad death of falling-from-a-toddler's-hands-onto-the-cold-concrete-floor-of-Walmart.  I won't even tell what I had to go through to get the pictures off the camera.  That is why this (& the next few) posts are so late.

Nora & I hadn't ever been to Alabama so when one of Aaron's cousins, Lauren, sent us a wedding invite a trip was planned!  Since we are the proud parents owners of 2 baby chicks, we decided to let them stay with some of Nora's friends for the weekend.  It was the first time we left them to go out of town.  Nora wasn't very happy about it.  The poor girl cried.  Quite a bit.  

Chicks left on our friends' porch

Nora watching them as we drive away

After what seemed like forever, we made it to the Alabama welcome center.  Here's Nora (excuse the car seat hair) proving we made it!

We arrived Friday night (April 13th) & spent the night in a hotel.  Saturday morning we met up with PawPaw & Dee Dee, who were also in town for the wedding.  We did a little shopping and had some yummy lunch at Olive Garden. 

Paw Paw being silly, 'drinking' his soup

We went around town a little and met some of Aaron's extended family members.  Finally, it was time to get dolled up for our 3rd wedding in 4 months.  =)  We arrived and the wedding was gorgeous! Lauren was a beautiful bride! It was outside near the water.  Lauren & some talented family (see Vintage Shore) worked hard on the wedding and it was perfect!  (Want to see more pictures?  Freshly Bold Photography) Congratulations again to Lauren & Brandon!

Brandon & Lauren

About to hide under Lauren's dress...

Family photo with the bride

A cousins picture of those at the wedding

The 'get-away' car...General Lee

There was a beautiful candy buffet of white/pearl & tan candies.  The wedding favors were bags to fill of candy and some darling bird magnets.

Enjoying ANOTHER piece of candy

Nora & Paw Paw

While most of us were downing candy or lemonade, Nora was entertaining the guests with her dancing to the band.  She is not shy!  She went right up to them to dance every chance she could.

These next pictures crack me up.  Nora took off with my camera to have a good time.  I found these pictures after the wedding.  Some of the other little girls 'helped' her take some.  (By the way, I have an on-going post that will one day be published full of Nora's photography skills.)

We loved getting to meet and/or see family in Alabama.  Here's Nora with Aaron's great aunt Regina.

After the wedding, Nora quickly fell asleep in the car.  We woke her to eat at Cracker Barrel.  That wasn't a good idea, until she found the toys.  Poor Paw Paw gave in to her insistence for this fancy ball. (She had been eyeing it since our last trip to TN.)  Lucky, spoiled girl!  I will say it's been almost 2 months and she still plays with it almost daily.  Maybe one day I'll post about it...it's that special.

Sunday we checked out more family at PaPa & Grandma Beth's beach house.  It was fabulous!  We ate, visited, ate, & visited some more.  Just the way we like to hang!  Aaron got to help his uncle, Alan, empty & set the crab traps for the feast later.  One was a tangled and we weren't sure Alan would make it out dry!

We took a short ride on the gator over to the beach.  Isn't it gorgeous?!?  I've finally found another beach I like as much as Siesta Key.  (I've also decided a gator is a must for the beach!)  It was cold, but Nora loved putting her toes in the sand & ocean.  She is a beach lover!

When we finally pulled ourselves away from the good times, we started our ride home...the scenic route.  We followed Paw Paw onto the ferry to get over to Dauphin Island.  It was Nora's first ferry ride and she did enjoy it!  

Following Paw Paw's truck onto the ferry

Waiting in the car

GPS shows our car in the water

Our handsome chauffeur

We stopped by Aunt Regina's house to see family (especially baby Evan) and eat some more.  That is when we were fully introduced to the gem called Duck Dynasty.  =)  After pulling Aaron away from yet another episode, we finally left.  Really late.  Lucky for Nora & I, Aaron drove us home safely.  We love when we can travel to visit family!  We had a great time & can't wait to go back to really enjoy the beach!  Roll Tide!