Breakfast with Santa

We have quite a packed weekend ahead of us and it started early this morning with our neighborhoods Breakfast with Santa!  

All dressed and ready to go, would have been the perfect shot (minus the passy).  Still, they look adorable!

Katie was scared when Santa entered, not crying, but as he made his way around the room she always had one eye trained to see where he was.  When he finally made his way over, her love for candy definitely won over her fear for Jolly Ole Saint Nick!

Caroline was double-fisting her pancakes the entire hour, while Katie had three candy canes prior to 9:00 a.m.

 Family Santa Picture 2011

It may be blurry, but I still love it!

Happy Birthday Raleigh

Nine years ago this week I became a mom for the first time, Raleigh Ray Farmer was adopted by me from a no kill shelter in Phoenix, Arizona.  The best purchase I ever made, a wonderful dog that completes our family and can make us laugh with his absolute craziness.  You're one of a kind and we love you!

Happy 11th Birthday Raleigh - you're the best dog a family could ask for!!!

BLACK FRIDAY

Katie and Caroline, Be warned!!!!  Your father LOVES Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving), he loves it . . and get ready because every year you're going to hear the story about how he, Aunt Tori and Aunt Heather hit three malls by 8:00 a.m. (the year the your cousins Brianna and Kayla worn born - so 11 years ago).  Come to think of it, not only does your dad tell the story, but your Aunts tell it repeatedly too!   They obviously had a blast during that time together!

This year the stores actually opened on Thanksgiving, Wal-Mart started their sales at 10 p.m. and Target at 12 a.m., it's insane as you can see by the pictures below.  While you both were all snug in your beds at Grandma and Grandpa's, your parents were acting crazy buying you both all sorts of Christmas presents!  We left at 9:30 p.m. got home at 1:30 a.m. and then went back out at 6:00 a.m. to get home at 8:00 a.m..

When you girls are both teenagers you can go with your father and your mom will stay in bed :)

Thanksgiving in New Bern, North Carolina

We've had Thanksgiving at our home for the last two years, this year my parents asked if we'd be interested in going there.  I love having family celebrations at our house, but honestly, this year . .having someone else cook and do all the work sounded simply fabulous.  Plus, I'll use any excuse to spend additional time with my parents!

The weather was 70 degrees, so the girls had fun running around outside.

As always, we went to the park and fed the ducks  . . .



. . .but this time, Santa was also there?

Who knew Santa owned a vacation home on the Neuse River?  Anyway it was a good opportunity for Katie to share what she wanted for Christmas.  She was a bit scared, but ran around him in large circles letting him know that a bike was on the top of her list!

Caroline hanging with Santa

THANKSGIVING

Our family has so much to be thankful for . . . .

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2012

November Photo Shoot

We had professional pictures taken to mark Caroline's 1st Birthday and for our annual Christmas Card Photo.  I feel like it's nothing short of a miracle that she captured the photo below, all four of us smiling - quite amazing!  Our best family picture to date.

Although we didn't get one of the girls smiling together, we got this one of them dancing, I love it just the same.

Caroline at One Year

Katie wasn't happy sitting for pictures that day, but she did enjoy chasing Mommy in the big field . . .

. . .and being swung!

My beautiful girls!

Just celebrated six years of marriage!

Viva a Miami

The Friday beforeThanksgiving Tori and I boarded a flight and headed down to Miami Beach for Heather's Bachlorette Party.  A hotel situated directly on the beach, 85 degree weather, time with my sister-in-laws, not exactly a hardship.

As I posted on my Facebook wall, to receive 14 comments and 34 likes (the most I've received since probably announcing Caroline's birth).

In South Beach for my sister-in-laws Bachlorette Party. They're 25, I'm 37 and haven't been out in FOREVER. Hold up girls, let me show you how it's done, this mama's gonna make it rain!

Needless to say, I had a fun time . . (and got to see Breaking Dawn with Tori on Sunday - LOVED IT)

Exactly how a Bachlorette Party should be . . .

I worked from the hotel Monday before we headed home.  Below is a view from my "office."

Katie playing with the "present" I bought her back from the LIV!