Elmo's Green Thumb

Karlee absolutely loves Elmo. She has a few Elmo toys at our house and at my mom's house (my old ones). When I saw that an Elmo Live show was coming to Columbus, I ordered them instantly. I asked my mom to go with us for an extra set of hands! She gladly accepted the invitation.

Yesterday was the big day and Karlee was so excited. I started telling her on Tuesday night that we were going to see Elmo. She kept saying "Elmo dance" because that's what she does with Elmo Live that we have at home.

Here are a few pictures from the show.

Giving Elmo a big hug!

Karlee just had to have the toy like the one the girl behind us did.

Granna and Karlee enjoying the show.

The rainy umbrella scene.

Waving to the characters.

A personal greeting from Zoe. My mom is not a good photographer and is known for cutting off heads!!

Karlee danced and laughed and seemed to really enjoy the show. She was a little too young to understand why the big "toys" wouldn't stay and play with her when they walked by or why she couldn't run after them onto the stage. All in all, she stayed in tune with the show and watched everything that was happening. We have evidence that she was observant during the show. My parents took Karlee to dinner Wednesday night. It was raining and my mom started singing "rain rain go away." Karlee said "Elmo unlella" (umbrella) while she was singing. My mom was floored because that song was sang in the show and Elmo danced with a flower umbrella. The things those little minds remember!

We had a great time and I was glad my mom got to experience it with us. Sesame Street knows how to keep kids entertained. I was totally impressed with the production.

Christmas Wrap-up 2009

Our home computer has been infected and is at the doctor. I know some family members are dying to see Christmas pictures, so, here you go in one long post.

Thursday, December 17 - Parkway Preschool

Karlee enjoyed her birthday party for Jesus at preschool before getting out for a holiday break. Karlee has been singing Jingle Bells at home the entire month so I figured we would see a little performance in the classroom. Well, my sweet child just sat there holding the bells like she had no clue what was going on. But, when we got in the car, she sang it all the way home. What a little stinker!

Sweet teachers Miss Courtney and Mrs. Jill

Sunday, December 20 - Christmas at Mawmaw's

We headed to my Mawmaw's house Sunday afternoon for a meal with my dad's side of the family. It was a special Christmas this year because my aunt Donna, uncle Mac, and cousin Ashton were here from Louisiana. Also, Mawmaw has just endured a major back surgery so we were celebrating her recovery too. Mawmaw made Karlee a few books and a pillow. Her handmade gifts are so special to me. Karlee really enjoyed them too because she instantly put the pillow on the floor and started reading.




This is the point where Karlee really got into opening presents. She helped Mawmaw open all of hers.



Sunday, December 20 - Christmas with Aunt Erin

After leaving Mawmaw's house, we headed to my parents to swap presents with Adam's finance, Erin, before she headed home to Florence. Karlee got a Barbie and a big stand up doll that has clothes and shoes that can be changed. Karlee really loves baby dolls and totes them all over the house.




Wednesday, December 23 - Christmas with Granny

Wednesday night we headed to my aunt Dawn and Uncle Eddie's for Christmas with my mom's side of the family. This is always the big, loud, chaotic, but very fun get-together. My mom's family is huge and we are all really close. I mean a family member can't do anything without another family member finding out about it within 2 hours!! Granny is just like a kid and enjoys opening presents as much as her great grandchildren did.

The little kids draw names but all the aunts and uncles still buy presents for them. Karlee got a swimming baby and an outfit, several books, a camera, and a shopping cart. The shopping cart has been all over our house. If we find something missing, we just look in the shopping cart and usually find it!! Thank you everyone for the wonderful gifts. The adults play dirty Santa and Chip and I came home with great gifts this year.





After opening presents, Karlee decided to check out what everybody else got. Maggie received a stationery set for scrapbooking and Karlee thought it was lipstick! Clete received a cowboy hat and guns and Karlee swiped the hat and wore it for a while. Granny enjoyed watching all the kids open presents and laughed and clapped with joy. Lila enjoyed her first family Christmas but was feeling a little under the weather and had to check out early.






Thursday, December 24 - Christmas Eve early morning at home

Karlee woke to find Mr. Sprinkles sitting by the fireplace waiting on Santa's arrival. He brought a gift from the North Pole and let Karlee know that many more were on their way.




Thursday, December 24 - Christmas at Granna and Granpa's

We all got dressed and headed to my parents house after breakfast. We enjoyed each other's company while waiting on Adam to finally get back from the gym! We then opened more presents. Karlee went around helping everybody and checking out the loot. Her big gift was an art desk with all kinds of drawing supplies, paint, and playdoh. She got a rocking chair and several other toys and games.







My brother gave her a toddler trampoline that has already been bounced on about a gazillion times!! Watching him put it together and then having Chip fix it was hilarious. Karlee had to have her little hands in on the job too!





We made homemade pizzas and watched Karlee play with all her new toys before heading home for a nap.




Thursday, December 24 - Christmas at Grandmomma and Grandaddy's

After a nap, we headed over to Chip's parents for present swapping and dinner with them. Karlee walked in the door and went straight to the presents. She already knew what was about to happen. The Baker's had everything put together in the middle of the living room floor with paper wrapped around it. So, it was just calling Karlee's name!





She got a table and chair set, a tool bench with plastic tools, a new swing, and a few smaller themed toys from all her favorite cartoons. The good thing about all these gifts is they stay at Grandmomma's house since she keeps her during the week!!!!!






Thursday, December 24 - back home to set out milk and cookies

Before heading to bed Thursday night, we set out milk and cookies for Santa. I've had a santa cookie plate since a christmas shower I had before Chip and I were married. I finally got to use it. We didn't bother with cookies last year since Karlee didn't have a clue of what was going on. We bid farewell to Mr. Sprinkles and headed to the rocking chair in Karlee's room for our traditional Christmas book reading.




We started with "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and ended with the story of the birth of Jesus. We sang Silent Night and Away in a Manger like I have all month long. Karlee then patted the Jesus book and said "night night baby Jesus, love you." Tears welled up in my eyes from hearing those precious words. Jesus is the reason for the season and it was nice to hear such gentle words from my 23 month old to remind me of it.

Friday, December 25 - Christmas morning

Karlee woke around 7:15 Christmas morning and all the fun started. Chip and I finally had some alone time with Karlee to sit back and let her enjoy things quietly. There was no rushing around and scurring from here to yonder. I had muffins cooking in the oven when Karlee woke and we just put them on a plate and ate in the living room floor while Karlee opened presents. The muffins worked out great with the tea set Karlee received because she passed out tea cups and sat the muffin on the little plates and we all had tea together!

With all the new items littering the living room floor, I find it funny that Karlee's first words when we came downstairs was "uh oh! Gone gone cookies." She was perplexed by the cookies and milk being gone. Santa left a small eaten piece on the plate and Karlee finished it off. Chip was so proud that the first present Karlee went to was the fishing pole. Lord, help me in the later years if I have 2 fishermen in my house!!







She loved the tricycle and dress up clothes. The tutu went on over her pajamas and didn't come off until I made her take it off when we ate lunch. I didn't want corn and black eyed peas stuck in it on the first day! Karlee also received a hand carved rocking horse. I actually had one of these until the summer before Karlee was born. My Mawmaw had saved it for me to give my child one day. Well, someone broke into her storage shed and stole the horse and my great-grandmothers sewing machine. I was broken-hearted after saving it all these years, being pregnant and finally having a child to give it to and some idiot does something stupid. I just hope their child makes memories that were as good as I hoped ours would be.

Karlee got a new book rack for the playroom completely filled with all new books. Mommy is about tired of reading the same ones over and over again! She also got a rocking chair that we will paint to match her big girl room that is coming for her birthday in a month. She received a cute little doll house that has been played with constantly. Watching her little imagination blossom with new words that have become full sentences just makes me so proud. Karlee received new bath toys in her stocking because Santa new the old ones were getting a little nasty.






We cooked a rib roast and black eyed peas and my parents, Adam, and Chip's parents joined us with other sides and desserts for a wonderful afternoon meal. Karlee stayed in her pajamas all day and played till she just dropped late in the afternoon. It was so much fun to watch Karlee actually get what was going on this month. I have vidoes of her singing Christmas carols that I will cherish forever. Frosty the Snowman was by far her favorite and she is still singing it.



I know this was a long post but I just wanted it documented for memories sake. I sure hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Our family is truly blessed with health and happiness and that's all I ever wanted and needed.