Merry Christmas!

We are in Raleigh for the holidays, packed in with grandparents and aunts and uncles galore! What a fun chance for my kids to get to know them. We're getting spoiled, for sure!

Miller has taken no time to learn several new skills, including climbing stairs. We, quite literally, cannot take our eyes off of him for even a second. Wow, he's so fast!

Mary Todd takes the fun with her wherever she goes. Here she is decorating cookies for Santa, just before we headed out to the street to see Santa (or his helper, as we call the Santas we see around town) in a firetruck! Cool!

The dress

For Christmas, my mother made Mary Todd a princess dress that 'covers her feet.' 48 hours later, I'm ready for her to take it off. She has slept in it, worn it 300 miles in the car, and she put it back on today to wear to a neighbor's house for a party. She keeps saying how special it is and how much she loves it. Too sweet, that ChoCho!

My favorite moment was in a gas station somewhere in Arkansas, when a woman asked her what beauty pageant she had been in. :)

Mary Todd's party

For those who might not know, Mary Todd organized her own Christmas party this year. She invited two friends over to watch the Dora Christmas movie. I caught her explaining that 'they had to come quickly and wear jams, because it wouldn't be over until after bedtime.' How could I say no to something that cute? Here are MT, Lashlee and Kendall enjoying their time together.

Cousins

A Christmas miracle- the Blewett Family together at Christmastime! Sadly, Todd wasn't able to make it to Shreveport, but Jonathan, Sara, and Morgan made it from Minnesota, and Jim from Colorado. At the same time!! Wow.

Mary Todd was smitten with Baby Morgan from the start. She had prepared a virtual museum's-worth of artwork even before the trip, and even brought books and toys with us that she thought Morgan would love. Well, reality was even better than she could imagine!

She read to Morgan:

And helped give her a bottle:

And of course held her lots and lots:

Three very cute cousins!

Christmas Program

Mary Todd's preschool Christmas program was beautiful! The 3-year olds sang their hearts out, even including a Spanish version of 'Jingle Bells.' She did great!

After the show, there was cookie eating:

Posing with friends:

And running around!

You should have seen her!

I wish you could have seen the light in my little girl's eyes. I wish you could have heard her excitement, her awe, her plans, her stories. She has her first Barbie.

Birthday party dress code

Ever since we went to a dress-up party this summer, Mary Todd honestly thinks that she needs to wear a crown to all birthday parties! Here she is ready to go to Max's 'Cars' themed party.