Christmas recap

The girls had such a great Christmas! Starting with not being afraid of the Big Guy.

They asked me every morning, "How many more sleeps, Mommy, until Christmas?" I kept reminding them that we didn't want Christmas to get here too soon because we had so many fun things to do before Christmas to celebrate Jesus' birthday. One of these highlights was decorating cookies. They were so into it and asked everyday to do it. Here they are at our neighbors' house. She generously hosted the girls in one of their cookie decorating endeavors.

Another big highlight was decorating the house. Kate is still asking to play "decorate the house." Here they are putting out their favorite snow globes that Grandaddy and Mammaw Mamie gave them last Christmas.

We spent Christmas at my parents' bed and breakfast, Century House, along with my sister and her family. Here is Mammaw Mamie reading The Story of Christmas to the grandchildren. I'd say her lap is full.

The morning of Christmas all the cousins came down to see what Santa brought. Here's everyone waiting to walk into the present room!

Their first look at their new Lightning McQueen (Kate) and 2 Cute (Lily) bikes.

Katie examines the contents of her stocking. Phil's admin assistant gave us these stockings. They are HUGE. So lots of fun goes into them!

Here is Lily with hers.

Here's the boys' side of the room.

Santa wrapped everything in snowman paper. Lily's favorite presents were her ballerina nightgown, ballerina jewelry box, ballerina necklace and Groovy Girl dolls. Katie loved her bike, skates, Hotwheels race track and Nerf ball shooter gun. The toy they have both played with the most, though, was this random $15 toy I threw in at the last minute, the Croc Dentist, from Back to Basics Toys online. It is so basic, but they LOVE it!

It is just as much fun to be the parent as being the kid!

Afterwards, we had a scavenger hunt on all three floors of the bed and breakfast to find the last present.

Phil, Grandaddy and Mammaw Mamie wrote rhyming, fill in the blank clues for them to follow.

...and wha-la!, the newly renovated doll house that Grandaddy made for Mommy and Aunt Julie to play with when they were little girls! Complete with motorcycle parked out front.

Now out to test the goods...

Acting crazy....

The Asian Anakin Skywalker...

The girls in their new outfits (Kate on left)...

More bike riding the next day...

Kate and Lily loved playing with their cousins!

After my brother-in-law landed in the ER from a skateboarding accident that day, my dad and his buddy, Steve decided to play it safe on the skateboard...

Then Grandaddy gave all the kids a ride in the parking lot on his motorcycle.

I probably shouldn't post this next one, being a pediatrician and all...but since I used to do the same stuff on the back of my dad's bike as a kid, it is part of the Nobles' tradition.

Kate says she want to drive a motorcycle when she is "eleven-teen."

Next, trying out the new skates...

All the cousins on the back porch before bedtime...

Happy as can be. Thank you Mammaw Mamie and Grandaddy for making so many awesome Christmas memories possible!! We love you!

We finally had a fun time sitting on Santa's lap this year! Lily asked to go do it so off to the mall we went and both of the girls sat right on his lap and told him what they wanted for Christmas! I was in shock considering the last 3 years have been so different.

Here is their 1 year old picture with Santa...in shock enough to get a cute picture...

At 2 years of age, Santa had to sneak up from behind to be able to get in the picture at all.

At 3 years of age, they wouldn't go near without Mommy and Daddy.

And finally....4 years old, happy as can be and hamming it up for the camera. Kate asked for a Lightning McQueen bicycle and Lily asked for a bike with "2 Cute" written on it (she saw it in Toys R Us).

Thanksgiving

Phil's surgery was over Thanksgiving. We were most thankful that Grandpa and Grammie came to our rescue. They came over to our house for several days and then we went to theirs. Out of the pictures I took, I noticed there were none of Grammie (Phil's mom). This is because she was always up working...cooking, cleaning, buying or taking care of the kids. Thanks, Grammie!

The kids love Grandpa because he will sit for hours and let them tie him up. He'll play "good guy, bad guy" (poor Grandpa always has to be the bad guy), read to them, and even provide a lap for the cat to get some love.

Here is one of the Chambers' traditions...making candy in an assembly line. The picture doesn't do it justice as there are about 12 people in the line and loads of candy in the making (and the eating.)

Of course, all the cousins (and Uncle Lee) and neighbor kids played Red Rover, Red Rover and other classic games.

While in Georgia, I finally found some Georgia cheerleading outfits for the girls.

Here is Lily in her signature, ballerina pose...

And Kate in her signature, hop-on-one foot-while- throwing a ball pose...

As soon as we got back home, the girls wanted to make their Gingerbread houses.

Thanks, again, Grammie and Grandpa for a great Thanksgiving!