christmas day

Christmas Day was so much fun! This was Kate's first REAL Christmas & she really joined in the fun! I woke up first, like a little kid, and couldn't wait for all of the fun to begin. But, like an adult, I got up & took a shower, trying to get a head start on the day! Once everybody woke up, we opened our stockings. Kate's favorite gift was her DVD from dad, Charlotte's Web. I have no idea why she loved it so much! I guess it was plastic & had a fun picture on it. Then, we gathered all of our presents, some breakfast food, and snacks for later and wended our way to Winder for Christmas morning brunch with Mima & Papa. It was so nice to be able to use Christmas china and have it all washed up within 15 minutes -- only possible because we had only 4 adults there! That was the upside to a smaller than usual crowd. Jen & Ben joined us later for some present opening & dinner, but of course, we missed Jake (and Brittny). And, we usually have my parents around for the holidays as well, but they visited my sister & b-i-l in West Virginia this year. They'll be back tomorrow, so we'll just have to spread out the Christmas joy!

Yes! Dad knew what I really wanted. Enough of these practical things like pacis & spoons -- dad brought the good stuff!

Dad, why are you taking pictures of me again?

Lydia had a learning Christmas.

Laurie-boo even made out pretty well. She got a cute little ball, a doll, and a little teether doggie. Super cute! She really enjoyed all of the curling ribbon & present opening, although she did have a great deal of fun from her parents.

One of Kate's cutest gifts -- a matching purse with mommy. Soooo adorable!!

christmas eve

Christmas Eve was a fun evening full of a few of our new favorite things:

1. Granny teaching Lydia to "crack an egg on her head and let the yolk run down."

2. Lydia partying with all of the adults.

3. Wedding smile plus antlers.

4. Playing Apples to Apples with family.

5. Kate learning how to rock in the chair WHILE talking on the phone.

5. Being trounced by Lydia at Memory. She has the durndest luck!

6. And the highlight of the evening was seeing Uncle Lenny "snuggle" with Pup.

Moseley Family Christmas Party

wedding bells

Jake & Brittny's rehearsal dinner was wonderful! The house looked great, the food was delicious, and the company was fantastic! And, when I said the food was great, I mean it! It was the best catered food I've ever had!

Josh was the best man -- and quite dashing, if you ask me.

The bride with her in-laws. We're so happy to have Brittny in our family!

Brittny with her brother Ben and sister Bethany.

Yum!

the first anniversary of my birth

I got this cake eatin' thing down!

"Wo, Wo, Wo" WITH hand motions for the first time!!!!

Not for the last time, I'm sure, Kate learned a song from cousin. Lydia was so excited to be singing row, row, row your boat in the water!!! As soon as we stopped singing, Kate piped up with "Wo, wo, wo" so we sang it again! Their very first song together.

my first steps

can you believe it??? On Jake & Brittny's wedding day, she took her first steps from Daddy towards Ben. Uncle Ben is going to get a big head about Kate doing everything first around him! (She crawled first when playing with him on the floor at B & J's house). Josh quickly brought her to me and she took another step or two towards me -- with some lunging mixed in there. It was adorable. She has officially graduated to "toddlerhood."

it's my life (all twelve months!)

you're invited to a birthday party

For once, I wasn't behind the camera, so you'll actually see pics of me. Thankfully, dinner came together without too big of a hitch, mostly thanks to my m-i-l who came & helped out for an hour before hand. Kate was never so naughty as she was that day. She ate dirt, pulled out all of the clothes in her drawer, and the tupperware in the kitchen cabinet, and got into a cleaning supplies cabinet several times after several spanks! I think she knew I had too much to do and couldn't supervise properly!

Katie-boo and her sweet everyday caretaker!

Although I was a bit scared about doing a "shape" cake -- I went for it, and I was so pleased with the outcome. One big CUPCAKE for the cutest birthday girl!

Mom had to blow out my little candle. I was trying to touch the flame!

Papa helped Kate get into her cupcake. She basically sucked off bits until it all got crumbled up into smaller pieces.

Is THIS how you're supposed to eat it?

I love this shirt, Mima!

Here you get a picture of what present opening was like -- Kate opening and Lydia looking over her shoulder, being restrained from "helping" too much.

This towel is SOOO soft & it has my name on it.

Part-eeee!

My little reader got lots of books for her birthday.

Although she started her party quite seriously (she had just woken up from a nap), she ended up gleeful! Especially after she got her baby doll & stroller. We had a time separating Lydia from some of Kate's toys, but thankfully, Kate wasn't to upset at letting Lydia play with her toys. She did have so many other things to look at!

Hope you enjoyed my party, everyone.

Christmas Time is Here!

The soundtrack to this Christmas has been Michael W. Smith's new Christmas CD. We've really enjoyed it! Lots of big orchestral & choral works. It's perfect for trimming the tree or just wanting to get into the Christmas spirit. Last week, we put the tree & decorations up in stages. Kate has taken the whole thing in a stride. Lydia came over Friday night when Josh was putting up the Christmas tree. Since that time, she got it in her head that "Josh made the Christmas." Josh tried to tell her that he only installed the tree. I tried to get some good candidates for Christmas cards, but unfortunately, in most of the best pictures one of our extension cords is in the background. Try again! Sunday night, Lydia was over again at "Kate's home" and she got really excited about taking pictures with the Christmas. I haven't seen her so tickled to be "acting" in front of the cameras in awhile.

Lydia & church Pup (church Pup has one whisker loose.)

What a cute real laugh!

Here's she's talking on the phone with me. "Auntie Liz!!! (high pitched excited voice) How are you, Liz?"

Posing with a little double chin action and a Christmas bear Grandma Kathy gave her when she was born.

This is the second to last of a series of shots. She reaches for the ornament, grabs it, pulls it off the tree, and here is her expression of elation. This little ornament does an adorable jig which she thinks is just wonderful!

I was trying to get her to pose with the Christmas bear, but Pup had to be in the picture. Then, I tried to take the bear away, but no, he must be in the picture as well.

Another conquest from the tree! I purposely put all of the wooden and soft ornaments down at the bottom so she could have a lot of fun with the tree. I also DIDN'T use the metal hooks to hang them. I can't believe I actually thought of that before she stuck one in her mouth.

We have quite a few Christmasey stuffed toys: Santa, a moose, a Christmas bear, several snowmen. Kate thinks they are GREAT! She loves to pull them around the house as she goes.