Merry, Merry Everything

 

Over the last week, we have crafted presents, baked treats, spent time with neighbors, enjoyed family celebrations, welcomed Santa's arrival, and played with some pretty awesome toys.  From our family to yours, we hope you are as blessed as we have been this Christmas.

The Clarks have arrived to the Annual Ackley Christmas Celebration.

The Ackley siblings.

Sweet Olivia.

Enjoying the Beaman Christmas Eve.

Ellison spent a lot of time crafting presents for loved ones this year.



All of this celebrating, left a very tired Ellison.

Sleepy girls on Christmas morning.

Santa Time

The kids are out of school, I took the day off, and Santa was on the Agenda. Luckily, our wait was only an hour (I have had to wait longer) and the kids were happy to wait and see Santa!

Christmas Panic, I mean Pageant

Is it just me or is that Advent Calendar taunting me each morning?  I swear I can hear it saying something like, "Na na na na boo boo... Jenn, you better get your act together because there are only 6 days left."

So basically, I panicked this morning. My sweet kids did not help the situation.  After a lovely performance by Ellison at the All Saints School Christmas Pageant, Ellison and Dylan were both guilty of grabbing one to many cookies (or maybe 5).  As a result, they tossed and turned throughout the evening and I played musical beds. 

Sleep deprived (as always), cup of coffee in hand, both children woke up with a sugar hangover (and extra early).  Door #6 on the Advent Calendar was the last straw... it taunted me.

And tomorrow is Door #5.

Oh well, the good thing about me is that I panic and then move towards action. Panic is over, kids have come down from the sugar high, and present list is now checked.  Phew.

A few pictures to explain what sugar does to my children:

Sweet Dylan

You can see remnants of the first cookie all over his mouth.  The problem is that he snuck off and had more!

 

Sugared Up Dylan

Refusal to leave stage. Still cute, but on a sugar high.

 

Sweet Ellison

 

Sure, I will cooperate.

 

Sugared Up Ellison

Me? Cooperate?  Never!

  

Dylan, the Talker

Dylan wanted to paint ornaments like his sister. Bath time?

Aunt Ashley called it last week.  She said, "I didn't realize Dylan knew how to talk so well. I guess he just chose not to."  All of the sudden, Dylan is talking in sentences.  He has a great sense of humor and now has responses or follow up jokes to Ellison's jokes. 

On Saturday, we spent most of the day and evening with our neighbors.  Dylan raced our 10 year old neighbor, Jake, up and down the street.  He played chase with both Landons.  He even road on the rope tree swing (with the help of Jake). 

It was still a surprise on Sunday morning when he looked at me and said, "I fun friends."  I responded with, "you had fun with your friends last night?"  To which he replied, "I fun with friends last night. Jake race, Landon fun friends. Vroom, Vroom."  He is so edible... scrumptiously cute!

Ellisonisms in December

Time for a few Ellison stories...

When will I learn to not allow glitter in the house. Glitter is everywhere!

•  I made a sweetheart deal with my kids this Christmas.  For $5 a week, they can make up their beds and keep rooms somewhat clean.  The purpose of the money (up to $25) was to buy their sibling a gift.  First week went as planned... $5 earned for each.  The second week Ellison explained to me, "We'll pass.  I have money in my piggy bank saved."  A few minutes later, she returned with an empty penny bank and a handful of coins.  She walked up to Dylan, handed him the money and said, "now you have lots of money to buy me a present."  She turned to me and gave me that "I told you so look". Beds have not been made since... way to smart of a kid for her dear Mama.

• Ellison blurts out in the car, "I love Grandma more than I love you Mom.  She helps me clean my room."  Note: I refused to assist her the night before because she wrecked her room in retaliation. 

• After telling Ellison to not talk back, she responds, "I really like the old you, better than the new you."  Later in the evening, I brought the Old vs. New discussion up to find out more about how she was feeling.  She responds, "The old one is back right now."  Phew.

• I don't like lizards.  After Ellison tells me that we just walked by a large lizard, she yells, "Listen lizard, you better stay clear of my Mama.  I'm  the Oscar of Lizards."  Oscar is the shark slayer in a movie called "Shark Tale". It was her favorite movie when she was 2, but she hasn't seen it for several months.  Ellison has a great memory.

• After two classmates got in a fight, I asked Ellison why they were fighting.  She responds, "They're both in love with me.  They fight over me all of the time." Ego, much?

After all these years, Ellison still makes me smile daily (hourly and up to the minute)!

Love Maitland - Santa Parade

I love my neighborhood. It is so nice to walk outside your front door, join your neighbors, and watch Santa ride by escorted by a fire truck and police cars. 

 

Cute Landon and Keeley!

Legoland: Take 1

Ellison's teacher is right... we have way to much fun on a routine basis. 

This morning rolled around and we were exhausted.  Two birthday parties, one trip to Monkey Joes, and a full day at Legoland (I also spent several hours pounding the pavement in search of Christmas gifts) would tire out anyone. Basically, we had a blast all weekend long.  Don't let me fool you... I love to shop, so even that part was fun! 

Legoland was just that... a land of Legos.  Its the perfect park for young kids.  At the end of the day, Ellison claimed her love of Legoland was greater than her love of pickles and Disney.  I tried to call her bluff, but she is staying firm on the pickle portion (not Disney) and added in Tacos. 

I learned a few things after our day in Legoland:

1. Ellison is an adrenaline junkie.
2. Dylan is happy even when he can't ride the rides.
3. Boys are obsessed with life size Star Wars Lego replicas no matter their age.
4. I should probably attempt to watch Star Wars to gain an understanding of why my father in law and husband stood in front of the display for over 5 minutes and took pictures.  So weird.  I just don't get it (and refuse to post pics on this blog of it).

I wonder whats in store for us next weekend....

Uncle Drew marries Mermaid

 Uncle Drew married his Mermaid last weekend in Gainesville.  The ceremony was very touching (lots of tears) and everyone in the audience could feel the love between Uncle Drew and Mermaid Mal.  Welcome to the life of being married... and to the crazy family!

My kids love to dance.
(Notice Ellison changed skirts)

So happy to have his pants rolled up... now time to really boogey!

My Flower Girl

Ellison was honored (and so was I) to be a Flower Girl this weekend.  It was her 5th time and I must say I think we could rent her out - she's a pro! 

Case in point:
1. Ellison did not want me to wait with her until she walked. Therefore, she hung out with the Bride and Bridesmaids without a parent around. 
2. She did not pick her nose.
3. She sat through the entire ceremony. 

I think Ellison will have one more opportunity to be Flower Girl (Aunt Ashley's Wedding) and then its on to the gig of Bridesmaid. I just hope I can get the little man a few Ring bearer gigs... after all, he is completely adorable (and that is not just me, his mother, saying that).

Priya and Haitham's Wedding

Shara and Kareem's Wedding

Chantale & Evener's Wedding

Jeannie & Mike's Wedding

Mermaid Mal & Drew's Wedding