Call Day #36, 12/21/13

Back in Charlotte, we got to see friends from Boston who were visiting family in the South.  Eleanor and Emilee built a tent out of blankets.

 Girls waiting for lunch.

 It was fun to have the Forbes Street girls together again.  We're so glad Emilee will be moving close to us soon.

Mimi opens her birthday present. 

Mimi and Papa Jimmy play Eleanor's new fishing game.  We found out that it really matters how you hold the fishing pole--we had to keep correcting Eleanor who held it down close to the fish to make it easier.

Call Day #35, 12/18/13

Today we went to visit Aunt Linda and Uncle Buck.  It has been a long time since we've seen them!  The girls helped decorate the Christmas tree.

Their favorite part was probably the tinsel.  We've never used it before.  Claire thought it would make a great headband.

 Uncle Buck helped Claire put tinsel up higher.

The finished tree was very decorated!

Oliver and Claire played with the village under the tree.

 Eleanor and Aunt Linda enjoying time together.

 Oliver tries pumpkin pie for the first time and LOVES it.  Nanny had to go get another piece for herself because he ate it all.

Girls running in the big backyard.

 Nanny, Oliver, and Aunt Linda watch.

Dixie loves to play.  She pushes the ball around with her shoulder.  She and Eleanor had  a good time.

 Running for the ball.

 Ready to open presents.

 Really happy with just the paper and the tinsel.

Aunt Linda and girls.

With Uncle Buck too.

 Being good sports about the crying baby.

Stuck in traffic on the way back to Nashville.  Despite that, we were all glad we got a chance to go.  A fun day!

Call Day #34, 12/16/13

Showing off a tall tower made from Oliver's new legos.

 Early Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa's house--princess coloring pages and a new headband.

 

 These leggings were so exciting she put them on right away.

 

We spent the morning at Opryland Hotel.  The biggest Christmas tree we found.

 

Watching the dancing fountains.

All three.

The last time I was at the hotel was the day after Erik and I got engaged.  We have a picture of us in front of a poinsettia tree.  A lot has changed since then!

 

 Eating our picnic lunch.

 

Claire and the nutcracker.

 The boy who would've jumped over the railing to get at the water if Grandma had let him.

 

An attempt at a picture with grandkids.

Fireside Claire.

Silly girl.



Call Day #33, 12/13/13

We packed up this morning and drove to Charlotte.  All three kids slept some on the way.  Oliver was happy to crawl around (and on me) once we got there.

 The girls did a Kids' Art drawing with Nanny, a moose with ornaments hanging off his antlers.

 

Here is Claire's before coloring it.

 Watching Nanny and doing working on their own versions.

 

 Oliver watches too.

 

 Oliver tries drawing.

 

With Papa.



Call Day #32, 12/10/13

Eleanor's freezing water experiment continues.  This morning she wanted to try fun-shaped ice cube trays instead of water in a cup.  Oliver watches.

 Cards with Daddy before he goes to work.

 Looking at scrapbooks of Bible School.

 Cushions and blankets provided lots of entertainment today!

 We went to the local international grocery store this afternoon and returned with bubble tea.

 We had pizza for dinner.  Claire shows off the face she made.

This one was trying to bite my leg while I was reading bedtime stories.  Realized he might be having some teething pain.  Gave him the closest thing I had for him to chew on, a rubbery dress for a little princess doll.  He loved it!  Maybe that explains why he didn't sleep from 10am til 8:30pm?

Princess dress teether.