Santa, Penguins and Polar Bears...Oh My!

we went on a family trip to muskogee, OK yesterday...business trip for travis...we had such a great time. i really wanted to take olivia to see the "garden of the lights" display. we found out at the hotel that they actually had two light shows in town...the other was at "the castle". as we left the hotel we decided to go to "the castle" first. when we drove in i was thinking, "how cheesy"...it was a driving trail lined with nothing but Christmas blow-ups...any and everything imaginable. i have to say...my first impression was wrong...it was actually very magical...olivia loved it! i can't put into words how wonderlandish...if that's a word...it seems to look out in the night and see 100s...if not 1000s...of these lighted snow globes and characters...a must see again next year. at the end of the drive we parked and went into an actual castle. they had people dressed in medieval costumes greeting us at the door speaking with thick irish accents. inside...there was a gift shop, cafe', a Christmas movie playing, Christmas blow-ups for sale, and much more. we had a great time...unfortuantely...the next tour of lights dimmed in comparison. :)

Santa Claus...I Don't Think So!

travis and i took olivia to see santa for the first time on monday...during the move we did not get around to it last year. we had high hopes that she would love santa just as she loved the easter bunny back in the spring...no such luck. there was no one in line so we just walked right up and began chatting with santa and his helpers. olivia immediately began shaking her little hands and grunting...what she does now to let us know she isn't happy with the situation. santa offered her candy...she wasn't interested. he talked to her with a very jolly demeanor...not interested. we tried distracting with all the beautiful decorations...not interested. we decided to take a stroll around the mall...thinking she might forget...hoping she would feel better acquainted seeing him the second time...not interested. needless to say...we had a family picture made with santa...only by daddy turning her where she could not see him until it was time for the camera to snap...then quickly turning her to be included in the pic. a very fun family outing! oh the holidays!

Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer...Just Kidding! :)

i took my grandma shopping yesterday for her Christmas gifts...quite an outing. she also wanted to do a little shopping for her fireplace mantel. she is 90 years old and decided the other day she wanted to have a fireplace put in her living room...you go girl...age should never stop you from living life.

the Christmas shopping went off without a hitch...we then drove to hobby lobby to look for mantel accents. we started off looking at mirrors...simple enough...you would think. she has really high ceilings so i was suggesting some rather tall mirrors...she was looking at considerably smaller ones. she informed me her room was small and the mirror needed to be small. i told her that her ceilings were very high so it wouldn't matter. she informed me...very emphatically..."oh yes it does matter". needless to say...i let her choose her own mirror. she is too cute...i love her so much.

our next stop was Target...looking for a rug. we found a few choices...she decided on a very pretty design. we then looked for some pillows to match...i forgot to inform that we are repainting her living room after Christmas...so she has the new color in her head...however...her furniture doesn't quite go with the new colors. i told her she is on a roll and we should just go and get some new furniture for her...she then replied "don't tempt me...get thee behind me satan". i don't know that i've ever been called satan before. she's a hoot!

my day ended with my kitchen island being filled with all of the materials i've accumulated for all of my good intentioned Christmas projects...YIKES! i just keep telling myself...i will create, i will create, i will create. if i do...some of you just might find them in your stockings!

holidays and weekend visits

okay...i'm turning out to be a terrible blogger...unlike shannon that blogs 2-3 times a day...my life just does not seem very news worthy. had a great thanksgiving holiday...spent it with travis' family and then mine on the following saturday. olivia enjoyed playing with her cousins...hayden, jordan and emily. she especially liked jordan's toy cell phone...needless to say we made a mad dash to wal-mart to find one the following day. of course when she pretends to talk on it she holds it up to her ear and says, "da"...meaning daddy. what's the deal...the child is with me all day, but definitely daddy's girl...i really wouldn't have it any other way...although i do give him a hard time.

we had a great weekend...just this past one. travis' friend tom came over and brought his two kids, isabelle and thomas. we had so much fun...feeding the cows, taking walks on the farm, jumping on the trampoline, decorating sugar cookies and water coloring. isabelle and thomas got to ride on the tractor to help travis get the hay...they thought that was exciting. we all rode in the back of the truck to help travis put out cubes...the cows ran beside the truck mooing and bellowing and kicking up their heels. tom was really concerned about being on the next episode of "animals gone wild"...that makes me laugh...ahhh city boy! i've attached some of the pics above.

shannon, isabelle and i went to the Christmas tour of homes in greenwood on sunday. we had a great time...the homes were so beautiful...got lots of ideas...too many in fact. it makes me want to come back to my house and add some things...change some things...mainly add. well, i hope that everyone is having a stress free holiday time thus far! don't forget to breathe and most importantly the reason for the season!

holiday market

shannon...also know as my very best friend...actually let's face it, she's better than a sister...went with olivia and i yesterday to "holiday market". we had such a great time...olivia is a great little shopper for 14 months old. we actually did not do the damage we set out to do with our shopping...i bought very little and so did she. i remember the last time we went...before i was married to travis and had olivia...the trip was all about me. it is amazing what happens when you have a child...apparently now the trips are all about olivia...wouldn't have it any other way.

aunt shannon did not disappoint...she began the day by locking her keys in her car...God love her and we do too! she always adds a twist to the story...it wouldn't be the same any other way. i accomplished my main goal...spending some much needed down time with shannon. it is amazing how little time we actually see one another since i moved back from colorado.

i have to close with the best find of the day the elf on the shelf book and elf kit. it is too cute...i would recommend it to anyone that has little ones. olivia is actually getting one from shan this year for christmas...even though she is still too young...i will put it back for a future family tradition...can't wait.

faces of olivia

my happy baby!

my spirited little wildcat!

my precious angel!

every day is a new day with olivia...how great is that...we never live the same one twice. oh, the routine may be the same, but each day she adds her special spice to my life and her daddy's. i just thank God everyday for her. i look at her sometimes and can't believe that she is really mine. i waited what seemed a lifetime for her...now that she is here...it was only a moment. God has blessed us with such joy...the opportunity to guide olivia to become the person He created her to be...what an awesome responsibility and beautiful gift! i am very thankful for my life and my family!

birthday party...rerun

This is my first blog entry...here goes. These are Miss Olivia's birthday party pics...part two. I love the one where I am tying the ribbon...she looks like her daddy. She really likes being a fairy princess...watch out...she just might cast a spell on you with her magic wand.