Happy New Year…Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013

Out with the old, and in with the new…literally, in our case, since we will finally be settling in to our new house now that the holidays are over.  The last night of the year wouldn’t be complete without celebrating with the Goode’s.  I can say that our nights have drastically changed since we started this tradition 5 years ago, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.  The Steele’s joined us this year, which made things extra fun.  We didn’t get to play games, but we did have a super yummy meal of taco’s thanks to Rachel, which wouldn’t have been complete without Court’s Rotel that I seem to be even more addicted to lately, and Granny Martha’s chocolate cake that I made successfully for the first time, ever!  The party ended by 8:30, which was about the time Miss Priss started to shut down, Harper fell asleep and Finley was over it all!

 I’m definitely looking forward to 2013 and all that it has to bring...but for a little fun, here is a throwback to our first NYE in 2008!  Lookin’ good!

Christmas in Atlanta

A few days after Christmas, we packed the car again and headed to Atlanta to celebrate the holidays with Craig’s family.  On Thursday night we enjoyed a yummy dinner catered from Moe’s and opened presents with Pops, Mamy, Mimi, Grandy, Mawmaw, Aunt Melissa, Aunt Jan and Uncle David.   I honestly don’t remember who all gave what exactly, but Charley racked up again!  She got a prempess carriage, prempess legos, cookie dough set for her kitchen, Minnie Mouse books, Minnie Mouse bank, jammies, robe, little white sweater, and adorable backpack with her named monogrammed on it.   

On Friday night we took Charley to see the “Pink Pig” at Macy’s at Lenox in Atlanta.  It’s a tradition that kids have enjoyed since the 50’s, so it was super neat for Charley to experience…in theory!  She actually hated it and cried the whole time…maybe next year??? 

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”

Gramma and I have been singing different Christmas songs to Charley the few weeks before Christmas.  She loved them and even chimed in on the “hey” part of  “Jingle Bells”...which was extra cute!  Even though we didn’t wake up with presents from Santa on Christmas morning, Santa delivered them and they were waiting on us when we got home Christmas afternoon.  I already purchased Charley’s Christmas jammies, so we decided to put them on here while she checked out all of her presents that Santa brought.  Apparently Charley Robinson was extra good this year, because Santa went all out…I guess he wanted to fill up that new playroom!  Charley got a Pottery Barn kitchen, play table and chairs, Cabbage Patch baby doll, blocks, farm animal train, pantry food, stuffed Simba, Minnie Mouse books, stacking owl and a red truck.  (The whole week before Christmas when you asked her what Ho-Ho was bringing her, she said, “a truck” and when you asked what color she said, “red”….all of this didn’t make much sense at first, but she had spent a few days in KY and every day her and Granddad Mike would drive his red, work truck to Granny Katherine’s for breakfast, hence the red truck!)  Oh and the best part of this year was that any time you asked her where Ho-Ho was going to put her gifts she said, “in the boot!” (aka the stocking!)  Her “boot” was also full of goodies including a tea set, Minnie Mouse jewelry, Owl apron, Reece’s pieces, Minnie Mouse car and “Num-Nums” (M&M’s). 

To continue our tradition that Craig wanted us to start last year, Dadda and I added to Charley’s jewelry box.  It just so happens that Gramma and I were in NYC in October, and we couldn’t help ourselves when we walked past Tiffany’s on 5^th Avenue.  So, Charley got the “little blue box” before her Momma!  She now has the cutest, little necklace with a precious little bow charm.  Needless to say, she wore it for a while, and then we snuck it off of her, tucked it back in the little blue pouch and put it in her jewelry box for safe keeping for a few years.  

Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

Christmas Day in Kentucky

Tradition continued as we celebrated Christmas morning at Gramma and Granddad Mike’s house.  Everyone came over around 9:00 for a good ole’ fashion breakfast with homemade biscuits, country ham, eggs, and gravy.  Justin’s girlfriend, Lynsey, joined us this year, so we had a kitchen full including her, Justin, Gramma, Granddad Mike, Granny Martha, Granddaddy Charlie, Papa, Granny Katherine, Craig, Charley and myself.  We always celebrate Christmas morning with Granny Martha and Granddaddy Charlie, so once breakfast was over we got started with Granny Martha’s special gift. Calling her “not-very-cooperative” this year would be the nice version of the truth!  She has been an old Scrooge starting with not giving us any ideas on what to get her, not wanting to make candy, not wanting us to decorate, and really not wanting to cook anything!  So she sarcastically said one day that she wants a couch and new chair for Christmas, then laughed it off like it wasn’t even a possibility...does she not know who she is dealing with???  Her wish was our command!  (Well, Granddad agreed to it and bought it, but Gramma and I made it happen!)

Of course no Christmas gift, especially one that wasn’t in yet, would be complete without a little poem...

“Every time we asked you what we should get, you weren’t very helpful and threw a hissy fit,

So in 2013 don’t be such a grouch, and enjoy yourself on your new chair and new couch!”

Obviously the loved it...and we told her that she had to be good all year, so we will see!

After the big surprise, we opened the rest of our gifts from Granny Martha and Granddaddy Charlie starting from youngest to oldest.  Miss Priss helped everyone open their gifts.  She was so excited to open her new rain jacket and boots, Little People Princess Castle, and Juicy Jammies.  Lynsey was so sweet and brought Granny Martha, Gramma, me and Charley presents.  Charley got an adorable, stuffed puppy and the cutest mittens.  

Miss Priss wasn’t very interested in picture taking, but I guess I can’t blame her considering all of the excitement and fun new toys!  I guess if I get bored, I can play “what is Charley hiding in this picture” one day....notice the kitchen utensils!  

Christmas Eve

We celebrated Christmas Eve the same way I have my entire life, starting with a brunch at Granny Martha and Granddaddy Charlie’s house then dinner at Granny Katherine and Papa’s house.  The only difference that I have noticed the older I get is the amount of work that actually goes into making the day run smoothly for the ladies.  Holy cow...its a job!  Men in general, and especially in our family, simply have it made during the holidays (with the exception of Granddaddy Charlie...that man is a trooper!!)  Granny Martha wasn’t feeling well, so I got up early to help Granddad get everything ready, because Mom had to stay home and cook all of the stuff she made.  Nevertheless, everything was finished and ready by the time everyone showed up...Granny even started to feel a little better after Granddad and I made a quick trip to get her some extra strong headache medicine!

Christmas Eve Brunch

My Super-Star Best Buddy wasn’t happy with me since I accidentally stepped on his finger :(

Christmas Eve Dinner

Papa wasn’t too happy either with “sandwiches” for dinner...however, we have been doing finger foods for the last several year, but this year he got mad!  Apparently a kitchen full of food wasn’t enough for him!

Overall, we had an amazing day with all of our extended family.  Charley got to spend quality time with her aunts, uncles and cousins and it was definitely a Christmas Eve that was very merry!!!!