thank you christmas.

What a morning it was.

One woke up shaking with excitement.  One woke up with a 104 degree temperature.  One woke up with a slight hangover.  And one woke up a tad cranky (because the one who woke up with a temperature wasn't waking up for the first time that night).

But we all rallied.

And Santa came through.

Hadley's favorite line:

"Mom, how did HE ever even know I wanted this?"

As her jaw dropped and she smiled ear to ear.

...she said this after opening every single present.

Even ones that were not from Santa.

That man turns water into wine in her eyes.

She's not that smart in our eyes.

Duh.

You gave him a list.

What can I say...she's found her Prince Charming.

(for the record, Christmas with a 4 year old is maybe the best Christmas present ever...truly).

The playas.

Breakfast & Mimosa's at our house with the A-team.

Okay, so I was the only one drinking mimosa's...next thing I knew the champagne was gone...and I was hugging and kissing everyone.  I was merry, that's for sure.  But so was my Pops.  Can you say 'whiskey eggnogs'?  We like to celebrate, it's in our blood.

Then up to the mountains for Christmas #2.

Two Christmas'?

Yes.  Please.

One girl rocked the mountains.

One girl...ummm...did not.

But she was pleased as punch.

My mom, the closet lush.

And her four besties.

 

How many more days do we have to wait to do this again?

frank.

The boy I love...

to hate...

Who, in their right mind, gets a puppy!?!?!

favorite time of the day.

Love me some babies in a tub.

(Hadley just dumped water on Carson's head...he's still a little in shock).

kids day.

Hadley is obsessed with knowing what comes next... 

What's the next holiday?  The next birthday?  The next homework assignment?  The next time she can have a piece of candy? 

And on and on and on.

So we had gotten all the way to May and I told her Mother's Day is in May. 

And she asked:  'Is Mother's Day when we bring you breakfast while you're being lazy and stay in bed?' 

Me:  'Sure is Hads.'

Her:  'Well that's not very fair.  I want to be lazy and have you bring me food too'.

Me:  'How would that be any different than any other day of your life?'

Her:  'You would bring it on a tray.  And then give me a kiss.'

Happy Hadley Day, kiddo.

happy day.

Made by the lovely JKB.

The one and only.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

xoxo

The Prentices'.

the gift of gab.

Snowflake Lane.

We missed the entire thing.

We talked too much, ate too much, drank too much, enjoyed each other WAY too much...

and in return didn't see one drummer boy, one snowflake fall, or one candy cane sucker.

Oh well.

The company more than made up for it.
And so did the Pop Rocks I bought for the kids (one little girl was less than thrilled that she missed out on her candy cane sucker).

There's always next year...

and thus the tradition begins. 

But next time with an alarm clock...so we don't miss the show.

And perhaps a spotter for all the folks I knock over with Carson in the backpack.

reindeer games.

Guess Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen and Comet and Cupid and Rudolph had the day off. 

Lazy bums.

That's okay, it gave us plenty of time for every photo op imaginable.