GINGERBREAD MEN and A GARAGE

The big day had finally arrived for Ellie and Mimi to cook gingerbread cookies! Ellie had been looking forward to it all day! Even a fever wasn't going to stop her today! Using Mimi's recipe, they mixed and mixed and mixed
until it was just right. Then they kneaded and rolled it out. Ellie cut the first cookie out all by herself .

These two could be heard laughing and gigling as the spoon went round and round.
Next came the decorating. They each gave the little folks some wild personalities. Then came the tasting....Mmmm....DELICIOUS!!

Ellie also tried her hand at making her annual gingerbread house with Mommy. Things were fitting together nicely and just as the decorating was begun....

Down crashed the roof and it broke all to pieces! No worry, as Ellie quickly recovered and decided to turn her gingerbread house into a gingerbread garage. She was quite tickled with her new idea!

And so, a garage it was! A Christmas garage! Her cars would be proud to park there.

And so ends this years tale of GINGERBREAD MEN and A GARAGE!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Dancing Lights and Big Dreams

Take a dazzling display of Christmas lights on the neighbors house,

Add a lighted nativity scene,

and add your own radio station...What do you get?

The most awesome dancing Christmas lights you could ever see and a father and daughter who can hardly wait for next year to "add a little something new" to the decorating!

First Christmas Play

This weekend, Ellie was thrilled to play a part in the church Christmas program.Her favorite song was a kick-back to Elvis...( this is Ellie and "Elvis").

Ellie enjoyed learning the new songs and motions with the "reallly big kids". At three years old, she was the youngest but you would never know it to see her. She kept up word for word and move for move.

I think it is pretty obvious this was a lot of fun for her ! After the fun songs came the big moment Ellie had been waiting for
...........

She jumped in her costume and for a few minutes she became , Mary, the mother of Jesus. She took her part very seriously.

She watched over the baby and sang softly to him while the sign language team performed a song.

How special this day was for Ellie!! And for us!

We are proud of you , Ellie. We hope you will always use your talent and immagination to share the love of Jesus with others.

__ Mama and Daddy

Landrums Homestead

The first of December we took a trip to Landrum's Homestead where we met up with our cousins. Ellie was excited to spend the day with Nana, Aunt Becky, Vivianne, Scott and Tiffany. We enjoyed the day filled with music, clogging, demonstrations and a look back at our past.
Ellie enjoyed exploring the buildings and gardens and everyone enjoyed the hayride throughout the property.

At the back of the property was a re-enactment of civil war life....meet the local physician... Ellie was entranced as he told her how doctors worked such a long time ago. He showed her the old tools used for surgery and explained to her about the medicines used. She was in heaven.

Camps were set up in various places, and here a young soldier was teaching people how to shoot his rifle... Nana took a turn . POW !

Before we left, we let the girls exchange birthday and christmas gifts.

What a way to welcom in the Christmas season!

Of all the fun, the best part by far was being with those we love and see so little.

Merry Christmas Vivianne ! We love you!

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

The Legend of the Candy Cane

Look at the CANDY CANE,

What do you see?

Stripes that are red

like the blood shed for me.

White is for my Savior

that's sinless and pure!

"J" is for my Jesus, my Lord, that's for sure!

Turn it around

and a staff you will see.

JESUS , my Lord, was born for ME !!

Deep South Winter Wonderland

On Saturday morning we here in the deep South awoke to a spectacular sight...snow draped the trees and foilage, covered the grass and lit up our world.
Ellie was more than a little excited!


We took it all in....the glow of the Christmas lights on the snow...the crunch of the ice as we walked...the wet cold droplets of ice and powdery snow that fell from the trees..the warmth of the fireplace and the smell and taste of hot chocolate with marshmellows.

For just an ounce of time, our little world was a frozen wonderland that we usually only see in storybooks at this time of year. Children could be heard squealing with delight as they d0dged snowballs and scraped up enough snow for a tiny snowman. We knew it would all be gone too soon so we bundled up and took advantage of the moment.

Ellie could hardly wait to get outside to throw her first snowball ! ! !

As all good things must come to an end, the snow and ice was melting as fast as it fell...but for a while it was a winter wonderland....Ellie's little winter wonderland and she was the happiest three year old on the planet because now she was SURE it must be Christmas!