Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 was pretty low key for us.  Nora finally got up around 9.  We opened presents at home, after everyone brushed their teeth of course.

Her reaction was PRICELESS!

 

Somethings just have to be used immediately.  Nora loves anything dress up or princess (or Minnie in this case) so shoes & sticker earrings are now daily necessities. And Aaron's enormous Snickers...well it was enjoyed.=)

 

After we finished at home, we headed to Lala & Grandpa Steve's for more presents & breakfast.

A few days later we headed to Summerville to see PeePaw & Vivian.  Nora enjoyed hanging out and playing with PeePaw while Aaron worked on his bathroom.  One day she got to go with me shopping Christmas clearances.  She thought she hit the jackpot when she got a tiara at her favorite store there (Party City) and Rapunzel fake nails. 

Aaron's favorite part of the Christmas week?  He got to go hunting.  Several times.  Even in the rain.

First Christmas Parade

Aaron was hard at work so Nora & I ventured off to the Fort Mill Christmas parade alone.  Boy was it long and I would suggest bringing chairs because we got tired of standing.  Nora loved it!

(I absolutely cannot get this picture rotated!)

 There was so much entertainment between kids, music (to dance to), and Christmas decorations.  She wanted to wave at everyone, even though no one really noticed her.  She loves holidays, what can I say?

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!

Nashville at Christmas

We headed to Tennessee for the weekend of December 15th to celebrate 2 of Aaron's cousins (Brittaney & Nathalie) graduating from college.  Nora loves Aaron's cousins!

While we were there Aaron worked a little and we ate a lot, as usual.  Christmas season was in full swing and Nora loved all the lights when we drove anywhere.  We decided to take a small trip to Nashville to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel since they decorate for Christmas.  (If you didn't get to see Nora in the car at Christmas time, you really missed out.  Every time she saw lights she would yell "Chrissssmassss" very happily & excitedly.  She loves the lights.)

That tree was massive!

Aaron & his uncle Watson

 Nora's perfected the art of begging for 'quarters

' to toss

Loving the glass elevator

Nora & Bebe

Nora loves Cody!

Brittaney & Cody where they got engaged last year

Nora & Marissa

Outside the trees were lit up with tons & tons of lights.  They also had a really nice nativity scene that told the story.  Nora thought it was neat, but wanted to touch the animals (which wasn't allowed).

We had a great trip!  Congrats to Brittaney & Nathalie again!  Nora & I can now say we've been to Nashville.  =)