Christmas in Virginia

Lily and I had originally planned to head down to Asheboro on Sunday, the day after Christmas and then head on to Virginia on Monday, but the weather had other plans for us. So, we rearranged our trip and on Tuesday, piled in the car and headed to Asheboro. After running by Nana's office on the way into town, Lily and I headed to Nana and Paca's house to hang out for a little while with Aunt Katie. During this time, while Lily was rolling and scooting around on Nana's floor, Lily decided it was time for her to get started on figuring out how to crawl. So, Aunt Katie and I got to see her push up on her knees for the first time - of course, we got some pictures!

Getting up on those knees!

So proud of herself :)

On Tuesday night, I had a much needed and looked for to ladies night/best friend reunion with my very best friends, Tracy and Sarah Beth. It had been quite awhile since we had been able to get together and it was so much fun to see them and to catch up - as well as rehash some old memories and adventures. It was really great to see them and I can't wait to get together again - girls, we definitely have to do it again soon and more often!!

On Wednesday morning, bright and early, we packed up the car again and Lily, Aunt Katie and I headed up to Virginia Beach to do Christmas with Aunt Cara, Uncle Phillip, Caleb, Tyler, Garett and Sophie. We met them at the MacArthur Center to have some lunch to do a little after Christmas shopping and I found some great deals for Miss Lily's s[ring and summer wardrobes. After shopping, we headed back to their house. It was easy to see that they had gotten a lot more snow than we had - there were snowdrifts and snowplow piles everywhere! At the house, we exchanged presents - Lily LOVES her sock monkey, Aunt Cara! As I right this, she's snuggling with it while she's sleeping. We were only able to stay one night with them (Mommy had a date with Daddy the next night), so we packed up once again and headed back to Raleigh yesterday afternoon. Nana met us at our house and she and Aunt Katie kept Lily for the night, while Richard and I headed out to eat dinner at Bonefish (yum!) and see True Grit.  What a fun way to spend the last few days of vacation! Here are a few pictures from Wednesday night in Virginia:

Hanging out with Aunt Cara

Snow!

So far, this winter has been the snowiest I can remember in a very long time - especially so early in the season! The day after Christmas we woke up to a beautiful, snow covered world. We'd seen on the news that a we would probably be getting a good bit of snow, but I definitely wasn't expecting the 9 inches we ended up having piled on our house and yard. Even our pups, who are usually thrilled by the fluffy stuff didn't care for that much of it. Oz didn't really care for playing in it at all this time, although Stella worked up some enthusiasm a little later in the day - she was especially interested in eating the snow this time. She would literally run around the yard, with her mouth open and scooping snow into as she ran. The snow stuck around for a good amount of time too - we still have a little bit in our neighborhood and on the sides of the streets today. Here are some pictures of our pretty snow day:

Oz ready to head right back inside

Stella ate so much snow

We pretty much hung out inside on this snow day - it was pretty chilly and we were pretty pooped from our Christmas excursions. Lily kept me company on her blanket in the kitchen while I made homemade cinnamon rolls and then we had the chance to hang out all day:

Merry Christmas!

Lily's first Christmas was a huge success! She slept in on Christmas morning til about 7:30 (mommy and daddy were so grateful!). After she was fed and ready to go, we started by opening our stockings. Lily's new monkey and guitar teethers passed her test - they went straight to her mouth for some chewing action. Richard and I went ahead and opened our presents from each other and from Lily, since she was so content to play with her stocking stuffers. Santa brought Richard a blu ray player for Christmas, so he got some accessories for that and Lily got him a new mug, complete with her picture and "daddy's girl" on it, as well as a new calendar for the upcoming year. Santa brought me a Kindle - something I have been wanting since they arrived on the market a couple years ago. It has already streamlined my reading to the point that I am now on my third book since Sunday; I love it! Lily got a laptop (following in daddy's footsteps), a Leapster music table and a couple other small toys. The Leapster table and her laptop are definitely her favorite gifts from us; we've already memorized a lot of their songs! Oz and Stella also got their presents - including HUGE rawhide candy canes (their favorite things). Here are some pictures from our morning:

After present opening and some hang out time, we all got ready for our visitors - my parents, Aunt Katie, my Aunt Marie, my cousin Adrian and his fiance Terra and their little girl Lydia. Everyone got to the house right around 2:30 and we spent the afternoon eating, chatting, opening more presents and just have some good quality family time. Lily got so many good gifts, some outfits for the next year, toys, a new blanket and lots of other goodies. Her Aunt Katie also made her a Christmas tutu to match the "All I Want For Christmas is my Auntie" onesie. Here are some pictures from our day:

Bouncing with Paca

Lydia checking out Lily's laptop

With Nana

Getting her picture taken in her tutu

Richard and I with Lydia

Adrian and Terra with Lydia and Lily

The cousins (minus a few very special people!)

A Gabriel Christmas Eve

On Thursday, Richard and I finally decorated our gingerbread house. I have to say, I think it was pretty successful:

On Friday, Christmas Eve, we headed to Greensboro to celebrate Christmas with the Gabriel side of the family. We had a great time and Lily did great all day. We ate some yummy food and then got down to present opening. Lily got some wonderful books from Grandma and Grandpa, including Skippyjon Jones, one of mommy's personal favorites and a big collection of Mother Goose. We've already started on Mother Goose and read Skippyjon Jones a couple of times. Richard's big present was a new lawnmower! He was very excited - he actually planned to mow the lawn the day after Christmas, but the weather had other plans that day. One of my presents was a Wii Fit - I can't wait to use it! It will definitely make my New Year's resolution more achievable. Another give I received was a set of Turkish tea cups and saucers - they are absolutely beautiful. Unfortunately, I don't have a picture of them to share today, but I will try and get one posted soon. Here are some pictures of our Gabriel Christmas:

Lily and Grandma Libby

Checking out Grandma Libby's singing hat

Sitting in her big girl seat

Lily with Grandpa Rick and Aunt Margaret

Checking out the holly jolly Christmas tree

Hanging with her Aunt Margaret

Richard and his new lawnmower

Lily reading Mother Goose with daddy

Sitting up like a big girl!

Loving the singing Christmas tree

Richard and his stocking full of coal :)