Pine cones!

After Uncle Rodney and Aunt Karen left on Thursday we headed home to Mimi's but stopped on the way to pick up some pine cones to decorate for our outdoor Christmas tree. Charlotte was very excited.Charlotte was very good at finding pine cones.

She very carefully picked off all the pine needles so that the pine cones were nice and clean!
Once we had enough pine cones we had to hit the playground of course... Charlotte was a little nervous about climbing up the stairs to the slide by herself, but once she did it a few times she was unstoppable and wanted Chris and I to do it too...
Chris was able to take a few pictures of Charlotte and I too, we both were actually smiling!


After Charlotte took a nap we decorated the pine cones with peanut butter and birdseed.
She had a blast!

We went outside before it got totally dark to hang a few, mostly for the photo op before it got too dark!

Charlotte declared while we were coating pine cones to Chris "You my best friend, Gog". This then was followed by a best friend song and dance that Chris made up. I made sure to video tape it for when she is 16 and hates us...
Charlotte switched places with Chris and started to put peanut butter on the pine cones. She was actually very good at it!
Finally we were done and Chris and Charlotte went out to hang the rest of the pine cones. Sadly, no birds or animals ate them while were were at Mimi's, but Charlotte made sure to look every day! Maybe they are enjoying them now...

Uncle Rodney and Aunt Karen's Visit!

Last week we visited with Uncle Rodney, Aunt Karen, Kelly and Kelly's grandparent's Kay and Andy. Charlotte was so excited to see everyone! We must have heard "kelly" at least 1,000 times a night...Charlotte thinks Uncle Rodney is very very silly. She also likes to be a boss and dictate what everyone is doing!
She gave everyone lots of love!
The second night they were up we opened presents. Charlotte was very excited and made sure to open everyone else's presents for them as well!
She did a great job bringing packages to everyone!
Thursday morning we went over to Dede and Babo's for breakfast with everyone before they headed home. It has been unseasonably warm here this trip (it is pouring rain as I type, which infuriates me as it should be snow...) so we went outside to wait for everyone so Charlotte could jump out and scare them! She was in a very silly mood!
We waited...
... and Charlotte goofed off...




Finally out they came and Charlotte yelled BOO!
We took a few pictures before they headed home. Charlotte was very sad to see Kelly go.

We managed to get a picture with Kay and Andy, even though Charlotte had about tapped out her cooperative meter!
Dede scooped her up to wave goodbye. She was very sad that they left, but we had such a nice time seeing everyone!

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve morning we headed up to Amy and Jim's to exchange gifts. Charlotte thinks Molly is great because she can protect her from the other kids! She of course loved opening with Molly.We got the little girls a marble run, which they all loved playing with!

There were lots of laughs all morning!
I attempted to take some pictures of Charlotte in front of the tree since it was so pretty! She wasn't too thrilled with the idea!




After a fun morning we came home and Charlotte took a nap. Chris went down and got Grandma Eda and we got ready to head up to Dad's for a bit.
Charlotte loves her Great Grandparents.
Dede Eda got Charlotte her first American Girl Doll! She was very excited!
Daddy was his usual goofy self...
Charlotte's favorite part wasn't opening presents it was Babo Skip's slot machine. She won the jackpot which Dad said has happened one other time in like 6 years! It played lots of crazy music and wouldn't stop. Charlotte danced and danced.
We went back to mom's for dinner and then we got ready for Santa. Charlotte made a new Santa plate this year and was very excited to put cookies and carrots on it!
We didn't get a chance to make Christmas cookies this year, I have no idea why, but Santa got some yummy Italian store cookies this year, and a carrot for the reindeer. I won't post the arrangement that Daddy put them into...
Charlotte was very tired and fell asleep right away! It was a crazy but lovely Christmas eve!

Outdoor Christmas Tree!

Last Saturday we went to pick Chris and Baylie up from the airport. Charlotte was so excited to see them both, but most excited to see her "Baylie Dog". She announced they were best friends. After going home and getting situated, (Chris had a red eye flight) we went down the street to the nursery to pick out a tree to put outside. Mimi already had her indoor tree, and we wanted to take Charlotte to get one, so we decided we would get one for outside to decorate for the animals!Charlotte was very attached to her Daddy.
She was very silly and ran through the trees and hid on Mama and Mimi!
What would an outing be without Charlotte collecting rocks?!It didn't take too long to find a tree that looked good!
Charlotte was not very cooperative for pictures, I think she was too excited!
Chris was very confused as to what to do with the Christmas tree since he has always gone into his woods to cut one down. It was a new experience for him!
Chris and Mimi took Charlotte's lead and decided to be silly too and gave the Christmas tree some arms.
Charlotte cooperated the most when we went inside to look at the flowers. She loved all the Poinsettias!
We attempted to get a family photo but it did not go very well. Someone was especially cooperative...
We finally had enough cold and pictures and tied the tree onto the car and headed home! (Charlotte is laughing because Chris was sticking his cold fingers up her shirt! I don't know why she thinks its funny!)