Cousin Time!

MaMaw brought Sidney down Friday night so the girls could have a spend the night. They play so good together but never have quite enough time with Sid living in Florence. This time they got to relax and play, play play.

MaMaw brought a pinecone craft for the girls to do that she got from Aunt Betty. Here's how they started out.

And here's how they ended up. Pinecone Elves! Aren't they so cute! That's Matthew's, Sid's, Madeline's (doesn't hers look like a tart with that mouth!), and MaMaw's. Leave it to Madeline to make her pinecone elf look sassy!

Then they made cookies!

And broke out the dress up. This green number from Julie is one her very faves to put on! I caught her yesterday stuffing toilet paper in the front of it!

Sweet Matthew wants to play with the big kids so bad!

Elba/Brundidge

Last weekend we went down to L.A, that's 'Lower Alabama' for Christmas. We stayed at Uncle Bobby & Aunt Melanie's and then went to Pop & Mama Rene's Sunday morning.


I loved this xmas tree Aunt Melanie did with cookie cutters.

Two of my faves, Aunt Melanie's cheese straw bites and holiday cookies.

Madeline and Matthew had a great time jumping in the ground cover and playing on the hammock.

Then we loaded up and went across the street to feed the neighbors horses.

Matthew ate a horse slobber covered carrot off the stable floor- ECK! Madeline wasn't too sure about letting the horse eat from her hand...

The cat caused fear and panic, but then they warmed up to him....... only to have him be tired of the petting and swat Matthew in the forehead. And we went right back to fear and panic.

Not sure why Jeff's hair looks just like Squiggy here.....

Opening presents.

Superman car! With cool sounds!

Can you tell Matthew enjoys Aunt Melanie's cookies? That's a mouthful he's got!

mmmmmm coookies!

The true Kid's Table at Pop & Mama Rene's. Matthew, Claire, Madeline and Blake.

Matthew could not get enough of the rice, he had 4 helpings!

Blake and his cute shirt!

More rice please!

Brooks and Madeline.

Claire and Addison.

I couldn't believe I was actually eating at the Grown Up Table!

Addison and Leigh.

The 3 Blondies: Claire, Madeline & Addison.

Christmas Tree O Christmas Tree

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we went to the tree lot to pick out our Christmas tree. Madeline and Matthew had fun playing in the trees.

'Ze plane! Ze plane!'

And no, this year Jeff did NOT drive the car into the garage with tree strapped to the top!

I was surprised at how much Matthew enjoyed helping put ornaments on. We did not put out any of our nice, fragile ones this year. These are all of Mother's sturdy painted, wooden, circa 1980 ones and regular Hallmark ones.

Madeline took turns hanging some and also putting the hooks on them as they were unpacked. She was good at getting them put ALL over and not just in one spot.
She also liked seeing all the craft ornaments that she had made in kindergarten!

Later I found that Matthew wasn't really hanging his, he was just sticking them in the branches! He worked so hard that I couldn't go back and fix it, I just left it alone and took a picture.

Madeline wrapped quite a bit of the gifts this year. She was so into it she had to go change into her fancy velvet holiday dress to finish the wrapping! Now that's dedication!

She wrapped her gift to Sidney. There's so much tape on here she may not be able to get it open!

Jeff took this cute picture of Matthew playing with the musical Christmas toys!