Abby: All I wanted for Christmas was. . .

FOUR new teeth!!

Abby sprouted 4 new teeth in one week!! She's had the same 4 front teeth (two on top, two on bottom) since she was about 7 months old. We've been waiting and waiting and waiting for more teeth so she could eat more chewy foods (her favorite word: Eat! Eat!)! So this weekend, I was tickling her, watching her laugh, and realized she'd cut 3 teeth in the front, skipped several spots and cut a molar, too! Poor little baby! How uncomfortable that must've been and she was such a good sport! At this rate, very soon, she'll be ready for some steak!
Checking out her new choppers with her new bath mirror!

Slay Day!

On Saturday, we spent the day in Florence with all the Slays. It was fun getting to see everyone all together, especially to see Mamaw Slay with all her children, grandchildren & great grandchildren! Mamaw & her sister, Christine, told us a lot about her early years in Florence and Crystal Springs, including when she married Papaw. It was fascinating to hear this precious family history. I can't wait to get a copy of the video tape.

All those Slay girl cousins!!!

Abby and Millie

Emily & Ellie

Double the joy! Holly & Melissa

Mamaw & her two sons, Uncle Phillip and Barlow (Tim's dad)

Nana and Foo-Foo (Joann & Barlow Slay), their sons (Tim & Clay), wives (Holly & Valerie) and 5 grandchildren -- Ellie & Abby and Gentry, Eli & Emily

Mamaw & Papaw's great-grandchildren! Morgan & Mollie, Ellie & Abby, Taylor & Melinda, and Gentry, Eli & Emily. What a fine crew!

After our Florence visit, Uncle Clay, Aunt Val, Gentry, Eli & Emily, Uncle Chuck & Nana & Foo-foo came to our house for a Christmas celebration. It was a special treat for Ellie and Abby to have their cousins to their home for Christmas -- the first time ever.

Christmas Day at Granna & Papa's house!

We spent a fun Christmas afternoon at Granna & Papa's house with Uncle Jeff & Aunt Sarah! Granna prepared a DELICIOUS Christmas feast and we had fun exchanging gifts! Ellie & Abby

Aunt Sarah's sweet mom made Abby a darling USM outfit. Abby hugged it and carried the shirt around for the longest time!

Aunt Sarah & Uncle Jeff gave Ellie the latest Fancy Nancy book. Oh la la!! What a fabulous (fancy nancy word!) way for Ellie to practice her great reading skills!

New soft doll house from Granna & Papa! It's adorable!

Papa's new toy! A bright orange netbook!

Ellie was thrilled with the wardrobe for her American Girl doll. She's already organized it with all "Emma's" clothes and accessories. I wish my closet was that organized!

Mmmm!!!! Prime Rib!! I think Ellie ate her weight in it! SOOO tasty!!!

Uncle Jeff & Aunt Sarah

Holly & Tim

Granna, the fabulous Christmas Chef!

Storytime with Uncle Jeff. The sweetest!

It's Christmas Time!!

Good morning girls!!! Santa was here!

He brought the girls a lot of sweet toys and books! Thank you Santa!
As soon as the girls discovered their Santa gifts, Abby immediately walked over to her new snuggly bunny chair, saying "La-La". Ellie's old lamb chair (which Abby loves) is named Lulu. So Abby named her very own new one Lala! So sweet!

The one and only thing Ellie asked Santa for was the bunny from the American Girl collection. Santa delivered!! Ellie was thrilled!

ooohhh!! Instruments! What fun!

The American Girl llama! Mommy's favorite toy (I love llamas)! Maybe Ellie will name it Dolly Llama, like the llama I wanted to have when I was a little girl!

Spending a few quiet moments with a book.

Ellie's new scooter from Mommy and Daddy. She was totally excited to have one with "one wheel in the front and one wheel in the back, not one wheel in the front and two wheels in the back, like a baby scooter."

Christmas Eve!

Ready for Christmas Eve at church! It was a beautiful candlelight service.
One super excited Ellie with Abby & Daddy

After church, we opened a couple of Christmas Eve gifts -- new Christmas jammies for the whole family and nightgowns for their Bitty Baby dolls.

Our little Elf-Abby!

Baking cookies for Santa! Ellie said we just needed to leave Santa a few so he wouldn't be too full to enjoy the cookies all the other children were leaving him!

Sprinkling reindeer food in the front yard! It was totally windy so the tasty reindeer food and sparkles (to help guide the reindeer to our home) were flying everywhere making the girls giggle like crazy!

Ellie wrote a special note to Santa, thanking him for coming and for the goody bag he gave her at the Sugarplum Fairy Party. She also painted him an ornament for his tree at the North Pole.

Sugar Plum Fairy Party

Tonight, Ellie & Abby attended a very special event -- The First Annual Sugarplum Fairy Party hosted by Ellie's sweet friend, Sara Rodgers & her baby brother, Hampton at their grandparents home. The guests were treated to delicious party foods, candies & homemade cookies and hot chocolate served from a silver pot with fancy chocolate stir-sticks and marshmallows.

Santa Claus made a surprise visit, much to the delight of all the party guests!

The loveliest Sugar Plum Fairy hostess ever, Miss Sara Rodgers!

Meg & Ellie

Sara Rodgers, Meg, Lucy & Ellie enjoying their fancy treats

Baby 'brudder' Hampton. He was rockin' the reindeer antlers. He's so cute!

A feast fit for Sugar Plum Fairies and their fancy friends!

Abby loved the delicious cookies!

Sara Rodgers & Hampton's grandmother, 'Honey', as Mrs. Claus. Look at the gorgeous 12' Christmas tree behind her!

Ellie & her friend Jackson

Santa arrived, bearing gifts of goody bags for all the guests!

Then each guest was able to have a one-on-one chat with Santa to discuss his upcoming visit to their homes. Ellie & Santa had a very serious, special conversation!

Poor little Abby. She is just not sure about the jolly old fellow in the big red suit! Maybe next year!!!!

The delightful evening came to a close with a story read by Santa himself. What book did Santa read to the children? The Night Before Christmas, of course!

Christmas Ballet Program

Ellie's Christmas ballet program was last week at the Rec Department. Ellie enjoyed showing us her fancy new dance steps! After the program, the girls were treated to a cookie party. Ellie's ponytail makes us giggle in this photo!
Pretty pose, getting ready to twirl.

Granna & Papa

Anna & Ellie

Abby was a very good girl during the recital. She liked watching the big girls dance!

After we got home, Abby brought Ellie's tutu to me and wanted me to put it on her. As soon as I did, she started dancing. It was so sweet! And the delight on Ellie's face was precious! Tu-tu-cute!