Let it Snow!!!! (and then snow some more)

I know most of you already know, and live here to have seen it for yourself...but for those that don't, it SNOWED!!! TWICE!!! The last time there was any accumulation in Atlanta, Sarah Grace was 13 months old (see pic above). So, she had never seen snow at home, that she remembered. However, this seems to have been the year for snow in the Self family. When we were in Yellowstone this past Spring there were still several inches on the ground in spots, and we even had a brief, but heavy, snow shower while we ate lunch one day. Then, last month when we were in Oklahoma visiting family, it snowed just enough for Sarah Grace and Charlotte to get their feet wet and noses frozen.

But this was the real deal. Last Wednesday night we were on our way to take Sarah Grace to Awanas and it started to snow. While she was there, we took a very secret trip to Mimi and Pawpaw's house to have a snow party. And Charlotte got to go outside and see her first snowfall. By the time we went back to get SG from church, a couple of hours later, everything was covered! She couldn't believe it! When we got home it was after 8:00, but she wanted to go out and play. Fearing that it might not be there in the morning we agreed to let her go outside. We were out until almost 9:00 throwing snowballs and building a snowman. Poor Charlotte just stood inside in the foyer and watched from the front door. Adam and SG made a cute snowman, Frosty. He had a carrot nose and grapes for his eyes, nose, and buttons. It was the perfect kind of snow for making a snowman...it rolled right up like a roll of carpet. When we couldn't feel our fingers we went inside and attempted to make "snowcream," but it tasted awful so we warmed up with some hot chocolate instead. The next morning it was mostly gone so we were really glad we all went outside and played!

Then MUCH to our delight it snowed again! This time we had close to 2 inches and it happened during the day so we could all take full advantage of it. It started about 10:30 Saturday morning and didn't totally stop until about 5:00 that afternoon! It took a while for it to amount to enough to play in but when it did we were ready. Mom and dad came over, along with some friends that were in from SC, and we all played together. It started with another snowball fight, this time more vicious than the one a few nights before. We all chased each other around for a while pelting each other and then it was time for Frosty II. Dad and Daryl (his friend) started helping Adam build another snowman. This time he was enormous! He was quite a masterpiece (and a Sooners fan). We stayed out for a while longer and then went inside to thaw out. Later in the day we bundled Charlotte up and took her out to see the snow (she napped during the earlier fun). Once again, she wasn't too impressed, but we got some sweet pictures anyways. ;0) Who knows, if it can snow twice in one week, it may snow 5 more times before the Winter is over...(p.s. there are lots of new birthday, Christmas and snow pics in the Photo Gallery)

I have a 5 Year Old!

I told someone the other day that my birthdays have yet to make me feel old but Sarah Grace turning five is the oldest I've ever felt! Mom and I took her to get her ears pierced the Friday before her birthday and that was the kicker. I could not believe I had a child old enough to be picking out her first earrings! She's definitely a big girl now...and she'll tell you that herself. ;0) She picked out cute little diamond daisies and hopped right up in the chair. She didn't act a bit nervous. When it came time for the piercing she was was SOOO brave. I think Mimi was 10 times more nervous than she was. The girl pierced the first ear and she didn't flinch a bit. Then came the second and she did great. She did however, have a weird half-smile, half-sick look on her face. I think she could have cried, but wanted to be "big". Afterwards, mom let her pick out some more earrings and she left feeling all grown-up...and I felt very old. That night we went to dinner and she got a huge dessert all on her own with a candle in it.

The next day was her party. It was an Island Princess party...and she was the star of her cake! No one would do a cake for us because of copyright laws but Sam's could scan a picture of SG in her IP costume onto the cake. So we did that and it turned out so cute!

We had about 30 people over, 9 were kids (11 including Charlotte and Claire). Thankfully, the weather was nice and the kids played outside so it wasn't a total zoo. Sarah Grace and Charlotte got a swing set for Christmas and that was the star of the party. It kept the kids entertained until it was time for lunch and gifts. Once again, it was chaos when it came time for gifts. All the kids said, "open this, open this," and some attempting to open some themselves. Sarah Grace was thrilled with all her gifts...and she got what she wanted most, CASH! The week before her party she told me that her favorite gift would be a "huge box full of cash" so she could buy whatever she wanted. Like mother, like daughter. :)

After gifts we played games. She had picked out a princess crown pinata and "pin the tail on the donkey". The pinata was first and all the kids (even Charlotte) got several turns at hitting the crown but no one was quite strong enough to do any damage. So we gave the bat to my cousin Stan and there was soon candy for all! Next it was donkey time...some kids did great and some were nowhere close. It was funny to watch them dizzily walk towards the board and pin in to the the switch! Sarah Grace's best friend, Lauren, got it right on the spot!

Sunday was her actual birthday, and when I went to wake her up for church she was already awake (which is rare) and standing on the end of her bed looking at herself in the mirror. When I asked her what she was doing she said very matter-of-factly, "I'm taller now because I'm five!" After church, she and her daddy picked up her favorite meal, "shrimpies," for lunch. Later that day, Mimi, Pawpaw, Jonathan and the girls came over for a pizza party and cupcake bake. She picked out strawberry cupcakes with blue and yellow icing & rainbow sprinkles. Payton was so excited to make cupcakes. She came in the door saying, "Tetty (Stephie), eat cu-cakes now!" So we baked them before dinner and they got to lick the spoons. After we ate our pizza,they decorated the cupcakes (with a little assistance)...and they actually did really well. Most of the sprinkles stayed on the cupcakes and off the floor. They both couldn't wait to eat their creations (which were really for SG's school party the next day).

Monday was the last day of her birthday festivities. I took her cupcakes and Disney princess party goods up to the school for her class party. She was the princess of the day and had a cute pink crown. After a cute blessing and "Happy Birthday," all the kids dug right into their cupcakes (most only licking off the icing and leaving the cake). Everyone approved of her flavor choice. When she got home that afternoon she asked "what are we going to do tonight for my birthday?"

Ho Ho Ho!!! Here comes Christmas!

As always, Christmas in the Self family starts early and is filled with traditions. The first of many is going to see Santa. This year there were 2 more babies than last year! Charlotte was born the day after we saw Santa last year and Claire's new too. We went to Discover Mills and we had a little bit of a wait, so Sarah Grace and Payton wrote letters to Santa while we waited. Mom and Dad, and Nani and Pawpaw went with us so there were plenty of distractions to keep the girls happy until it was our turn. When it was time for us to go, the Gadd girls went first. Santa was very sweet and we got some great pictures with Claire. When Payton joined them she was very unsure. All it took to get her warmed up (but not totally) was a lollipop and then she was ready for pics. After they were done it was Charlotte's turn. When I first tried to hand her to Santa, he stopped me. He said he had seen "that look" before and just wanted to talk to her for a second before I left her. So, he talked to her for second and then I sat her on his lap. She thought about crying but before she could Santa pulled out big gold pocket watch and popped it open. She was in aw. He was a great Santa - so sweet! Then it was time for the old pro to talk to Santa. Sarah Grace climbed right up with Charlotte and told Santa everything on her list.

The next family night was cookie night - one of my favorites!! Every year since before we were married Adam and I have made and decorated sugar cookies...and the tradition has continued with Sarah Grace. She actually was much better at this year than prior years. She did great with the cookie cutters and was quite thoughtful when it came to icing and decoration the cookies. But all she really wanted was the finished product. I can't blame her!

After cookie night, it was Sarah Grace's school pageant. She had been running around the house practicing for weeks and we were anxious to see the the program. She was so excited and told us she was going to be the tinsel on the tree, but we weren't quite sure what she meant. When she came out she (and all the kids in her class) were wearing green shirts and they were individually decorated like parts of the tree...and she was the gold tinsel. There were ornaments, lights, gifts and a star. Their class song was "O Christmas Tree". She sang great, when she was singing and not visiting with other kids. She was quite the social butterfly. She'd sing a little and then talk to a friend, and then sing and wave and yell at us in the audience. At one point she saw my dad standing to take a picture and she yelled out, "Pawpaw sit on your bottom!"...and it was loud enough for us to hear. She also had a bit of a cold, so she improvised and used her tinsel as a tissue, several times. We got it all on video!

This year was our year to be in Texas for Christmas so we had to do the Lord Christmas early. We all met for dinner at Texas Roadhouse and then went to Mom and Dad's for gifts and dessert. Sarah Grace and Payton were so excited to open presents! We were able to get a few pics before the mayhem began and then it was a free-for-all of wrapping paper and toys. All the girls got really sweet gifts and had a ball playing with each other's toys. Adam and I had a great night too, and got lots of great gifts. It was a fun night with family.

Off to Grandma's we went! We spent 10 days in Texas and Oklahoma over the holidays. We flew in on the 21st and came back the 30th, and it was a PACKED 10 days! We started by going to Kemah, on the coast and spending the day at the boardwalk. They have lots of great restaurants and rides for the kids and you can watch the boats coming and going. We hadn't been there since Sarah Grace was 2 years old. We all ate lunch at Joe's Crab Shack and then rode the train that goes around the boardwalk. Charlotte had a ball. Every time the train would "toot" she'd say, "toot, toot" and she thought all the bystanders were waving at her. Sarah Grace enjoyed it too.

Tyler, Lauren (Lollie) and baby Ava came in on Sunday evening. Ava is so sweet (we hadn't seen her since she was 3 weeks old)! The next day was Christmas eve and we all went to a really nice steakhouse and had lunch. Afterwards, Adam and I took Sarah Grace to the park for a while and then we piled into the car and went to my favorite place in Texas, the Houston Mounted Patrol Stables. There are 50 -60 beautiful police horses and it's open to the public. We walked around and fed them treats and gave them lots of love (at least I did)! After that we met up with Tyler and Lauren at Starbucks and then was off to look at Christmas lights. When we got home we put the girls into their Christmas pj's and started the "night before" rituals. We put out brownies and milk for Santa and then Sarah Grace went outside to sprinkle reindeer food (oatmeal mixed with glitter) for Rudolph and the gang. Then it was time to get tucked in before the big guy came!

The reindeer led Santa straight to us! Santa left all kind of goodies for both of the girls and as soon as they came into the den they both went immediately to their gifts. Charlotte inspected everything. She picked up each little thing and would look at it, bang on it, and there were several "ooo wow's". Sarah Grace was thrilled. There was a definite theme to her Christmas, Barbie Island Princess. She got the dolls, the costume, you name it. Unfortunately, she was a little puzzled by Santa omitting a couple of things she was expecting. She walked around the den and coffee table looking for her dollhouse furniture and princess game, neither of which "Santa" was aware were such high gift priorities...oops. We reminded her that her birthday was coming up and then she was okay and started going through her stocking. After all the gifts were opened (which seemed to take hours), it was time play! Lauren and SG played Barbies, makeup, and dress-up, and Grandmommy read the girls stories. Charlotte played with everything, her toys, SG's toys, Ava like she was toy, wrapping paper, empty boxes.... the list goes on.

The next day it was off to Dallas. Tyler and Lauren are halfway between Houston and OK City. So, we drove there and spent the night and then drove the rest of the way to Oklahoma the next day. It was quite an eventful start to our trip. About 20 minutes after we left their house that morning, SG got SEVERLY carsick and we had to pull over and clean everything (and redress her)! While doing that, Charlotte had a horrible upset stomach and we had to fix that. THEN, when we were about to pull away, we noticed Charlotte was bleeding from her mouth! We have no idea what happened but, once we got her cleaned up, we were finally off to OK. We met all of Adam's extended family for lunch and then went back to his Grandmother's house for gifts. It was really good to see everyone (since it had been 3 years) and they were so all generous with the gifts they gave both the girls. Sarah Grace was in heaven because it was all Ariel! The next morning we all met back at his Grandmother's for breakfast. During the night it has snowed (a little) and SG was dying to get outside and play! We took both the girls out for a few minutes and got some pictures and then it was time to get back in the car for the 9 hour trip back to Houston. Yes, we traveled at least 4 hours, or more, in the car for 3 days straight. Sarah Grace did great but Charlotte was OVER IT, which meant mommy and daddy were too! We made really good time and it was nice to get back to Houston and have a couple of days to unwind (and go back the the HPD stables) before we had to go home. It really was a great trip.

Look Who's One!!

This year has just flown by! Charlotte turned one on December 12th and we had a family party for her on the 8th. Her theme was roses (b/c her name is Charlotte Rose) and polka-dots. We had about 25 people,..6 were kids. She had fun. When it came time for cake she was very unsure. We stripped her down to her diaper, put on her birthday hat and then brought out the cake. I guess I would be unsure too if I were eating cake naked while people sang and laughed at me. ;0) But it didn't take her long to get into it, literally. She wasn't too interested in eating it. She just used the icing as finger paints. Eventually I helped her, gave her a taste and she said "MMMM!".

She really enjoyed her gifts...but, being before Christmas, I didn't want to encourage her to open them herself. I was afraid she'd really enjoy it, and then unwrap all gifts under the tree! She got some really cute gifts. One of her favorites was her Spinning Zebra! She had a ball! Everything she got had lights and sound, and some even roll around the house by themselves.

Her real birthday was quite sad. She got gypped! I was horribly sick with a stomach virus and couldn't even go near her. So, she was stuck in her Ultrasaucer, alone, most of the day... :0(