Rethinking last night

I admit I was frustrated the last 2 nights putting Olivia to bed.  After she goes to bed that is when I finish school work, clean up, sometimes exercise, and have a few spare minutes to myself.  I think I have been more frustrated with not getting to MY things.  Then I saw this post about bedtime

because-sometimes-bedtime-takes-forever-and-should

and tonight I had a different attitude.  Olivia isn't a robot and doesn't always do what we ask of her so bed time should get added to that too.  She isn't always going to go to bed on time and I should savor these moments.  I thought about it tonight that one day she won't ask me to read her books anymore or help her blow her nose.  The things she does independently already blow me away...like brushing her teeth, including getting the toothbrush, toothpaste, opening the toothpaste, putting it on her tooth brush, and turning on the water and then brushing!

So from now on instead of getting frustrated with bed time I need to remember that in the future she won't ask for the goodnight song we made up and to sing and snuggle as long as I can with her!

2 Late Bed Times

No post last night because at 9:45 p.m. Olivia was still awake.  She started a lovely, clear, runny nose yesterday after her nap.  So it took forever to go to bed.  Tonight still working on going to bed at 9:30....I am sure she will be out of bed in a few minutes. 

Here is another cute picture from our breakfast with Santa.  Now I need to figure out how to crop myself out of the pciture!

Here's Charlie

I got to move Charlie the Elf this morning before I left for work! He was ready for breakfast.

And then since he is downstairs he will be waiting for her tomorrow morning!

I am trying to do some no mess movement of him because we already have a daily mess so we don't need a mess on top of that!

Charlie the Elf

Our Elf on the Shelf arrived Friday night.  We have been calling him Mr. Elf for the past few days.  All of a sudden today she said, "Mommy that is Charlie the Elf!" Well excuse me! So now we have been calling him Charlie all day.  I was hoping she would be asleep when I left her room but she wasn't so I could move Charlie for tomorrow morning.  Maybe I can sneak in but that usually don't go to well.  But sometimes when I mention that Charlie is watching she will change her behavior...too funny!  Charlie better work his magic!!

Breakfast with Santa and Putting up the Christmas Tree

Yesterday we went to Vines Mansion for Breakfast with Santa.  We have gone there the past 3 years and love it.  The best part is your time with Santa...you kind of get as long as it takes and can make several visits with him.  Olivia didn't cry but was shy.  Santa got her close with a Candy Cane and we got a family picture with Santa.  We ate some breakfast and then visited with Santa again with our friends.  Then we did some crafts and went outside to the garden.  It was chilly!!

Today we put our tree up and watched the Bills game!

It only 12 weeks and some dancing bribery to get the Bills shirt on!!

Blue Pants and Logavnille Tree Lighting

Well this morning was how should I put it...a DISASTER! Brendon worked today so Olivia and I had breakfast.  Well 3 attempts at breakfast...3 different choices and she ate a little of each. Then we needed to stop at a few stores- just Kroger, Walgreens, Publix and the bank.  Well when it was time to get dressed she had a complete melt down over her pants.  She just did not want to wear these blue pants.  Not sure why...I guess because she hasn't warn them before...complete hot mess.  So I finally got them on but she wouldn't put her shoes on.  She said she would put them on when we got to Kroger..fine... picked my battle.  But then I had to carry her to the 3 stores because Kroger was the last stop! Grrr....but after that she was fine! After groceries we had lunch and did some laundry.  Then it was rest time.  Thank goodness she rested today!! After dinner we went to the tree lighting in Loganville.  We didn't wait in line for Santa...it was too long.  But we saw the tree get lit up and visited with the neighbors.  When we got home our Elf arrived with a box of Christmas goodies- pjs, Charlie Brown movie, some snowflake silverware, a penguin cup, and some popcorn! We are all ready for December!!

The big tree

She liked the snowman- didn't like any other characters!

Our Elf and his present he brought!

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

I have come to realize to lower my expectations about anything that is supposed to be special.  It softens the blow when things don't go just right.  Olivia woke up about 7 but we snuggled until 8 and we had breakfast.  She ate ALL of her breakfast! YAY!! We then watched the Macy's Thanksgiving parade which she liked...she saw some Sesame Street characters, Chica, and a few others.  Then she saw Santa at the end.  Brendon fed her lunch when I took a shower and she ate everything! YAY!  Then she didn't take a nap...oh well I think she was excited about turkey.  She helped with a few things in the kitchen and then played outside with daddy.  Then she watched Brendon carve the turkey.  She ate about 1/4 of a dinner roll, a few bites of corn, a few bites of turkey and we gave her a little bit of toast which she ate.  But then we had some pie...my first piece she tried a bite...loved it and she ate the whole piece.  So I tried to eat a second piece...she ate all of it except 2 bites.  So she at least at something and liked it!

But we are truly blessed, thankful, and grateful for everything on Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving 2013 - slideshows