Oops! I did it again!

So, here is the situation: I've tried to perfect the best time to get to the mall to get the girls' on Santa's lap for three years straight. Our first year here, we went after afternoon naps-- by the time that the girls were up, dressed, and through the mall parking lot, we got to the magical Santa photo-op kingdom just as they were putting the chains up with the woman saying, "sorry! We have to stop here for Santa to get dinner." What?! It was only 4:30!! But the line in front of us was forever long and I guess that ol' Saint Nick would need a break by the time that the end got to him. So I pleaded with the elf-dressed-lady, and I guess that she had some pity for me- this woman who was still trying to figure out how to balance life with a toddler and a newborn. So we stood in the long line, got the picture, and left around (they were right!) dinnertime.

Last year, I opted to go one weekday morning after Caroline's morning nap. There were LOTS of kids there on field trips (I don't remember ever taking a field trip to the mall to visit Santa!), but the girls were older, and handled it well.

So, I wanted to repeat the same thing this year. I guess I didn't factor in the fact that Caroline no longer takes morning naps. We got there right at 10:00 and nuzzled in line right behind about 50 kids in matching t-shirts (another field trip). Suddenly, another elf-dressed-lady was tapping my back saying, "Sorry, ma'am. This is a special group with an appointment. Santa doesn't do pictures until 11:00." I guess I didn't seem as desperate this year, because I was sent away with an hour to kill with two girls who really didn't understand why 50 other kids could see Santa, but they couldn't. After riding the carasol and playing at the fountain for about half an hour, we finally just sat ourselves down outside the chain to ensure our place in line. When we were finally granted entrance into that magical Santa photo-op kingdom, there was indeed quite a line already forming behind us. The girls were giddy with excitement. They were practicing what they would say to Santa. They were laughing and I was feeling the Christmas spirit. Then we turned the corner and saw Santa, and they lost it. Aly was pulling on and hiding behind my pants, Caroline was screaming bloody-murder and burying her head in my shoulder. I let another family ahead of us so the girls could see that the old man really was safe. Finally, Aly went over and sat on his lap and started shyly listing what she hoped to get for Christmas. And this was where I made my fatal mistake: I took out my camera to take a picture of the moment. I snapped one really cute one, then Caroline started going crazy again. I could feel myself sweating. People behind us were getting frustrated. The elf-dressed-lady was trying to hurry us along and even Santa seemed a little impatient. So I did the only thing I could think to do: I threw my camera over to the stroller and sat down (for the second year in a row) next to Santa, my hair unwashed, my outfit not so cute, and my crying child. There, got the picture. The only problem is that I do not have the same basketball skills as my husband so the camera that I tried to throw into the stroller landed about a foot shy on the hard, mall floor.

So, again, for the third time this year, my camera is broken and unable to download pictures to my computer. Perfect timing: who needs a camera around Christmas?!? Chad's been on a roadtrip for several days, so he has yet to hear the disappointing, yet somehow unsuprising news that our family is again camera-less. Who'da thought motherhood could be such a contact sport?!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Nana and Papa! As I wrote in my last post, they drove all the way from New York to see us, spent two days, and drove back. And we enjoyed every last minute of it! Thanks for coming-- we love y'all!

Reading The Polar Express

Decorating Cookies

The tired cousins after a long Thanksgiving Day!

Carriage Ride Downtown

Caroline and "My Nani"

The cousins on the carriage

Two days ago was Rome's annual Christmas Parade. 100 floats, bands, clowns on bicycles and more make their way down Broad Street, followed at last by Santa Clause. We went with friends Lizzy and Sam and the kids loved every part of it...especially being out past bedtime! When I asked what their favorite part was, Aly said, "the cymbals and drums" and Caroline said, "When the horse went poo-poo!" (the beautiful Clydesdale horses stopped right in front of us and, er, used the restroom, so to speak! The kids thought that and the shoveling of the poop was just hilarious!)

All smiles!

Poop will make you laugh everytime!

Gobble gobble!

Last Thursday was the girls' last day of school and also their Thanksgiving program. Caroline's class was turkeys and Aly's was pilgrims! They sang a couple of cute songs and then we had a 'feast'!

We are ecstatic over at our house today: Daddy coached his last game before Thanksgiving last night so he is finished for a few days, holidays are in the air, and best of all: Nana and Papa are coming to visit tomorrow!! We knew they couldn't stay away until the baby comes in February! Thank goodness, because we need to see them! They should be leaving NY about an hour ago, and pulling into our driveway about dinnertime tomorrow night!

Happy Thanksgiving to every one!!

Our little Turkey

Best Friends, Aly and Lizzy

Daddy and his girls

Caroline's favorite part: the feast!

Sunday Matinee at the Warner Theatre

The girls are part-ballerina, part-concierge.

Lost in Translation

The Good News: Aly likes singing praise and worship music.

The Bad News: Her theology seems a little off! :-)

This was what she was singing throughout the house tonight:
Jesus, land of Gog. Woog-y is His name.

(Translation: Jesus, Lamb of God. Worthy is his name.)

Baby steps, right?!

Visit from Papa!

The girls' Nana and Papa live in New York. Stinks. But Papa has meetings in Birmingham this next week, so he flew in early to get some special time with the Warner family! The girls had been counting down the days until his arrival as if it were Christmas; on Friday morning when Caroline woke up, she asked, "Today Papa Day?!" Once he got here, they wouldn't allow him to be in a room by himself (I found Caroline laying face down on the floor outside his bedroom this morning while he dressed!) They followed him around like puppies and were giddy at his tickling hands coming to get them throughout the visit! While he was here, he witnessed two basketball games, lots of dances, Aly's tendency towards moodiness, Caroline's frequency towards being oblivious to rules, but also lots of laughter, cuddling, and playing. We are so thankful that he made the trip, and can't wait until February when he comes back and brings Nana with him!

Papa and his shadow

Just can't get enough!

"Syrup Sunday" with Papa

The Boys are Back!!

The season is officially here! It has been disguising itself as "Conditioning" since August and "Practice" since September, but last night the boys took the court for the first real game. Chad does a tremendous job of compartmentalizing: work at work, home at home. But I've been able to tell that the season has been creeping up on him as each day there has been more and more of that blank stare where, though I know we may be talking about one thing, his mind is racing with drills, plays, and statistics of some upcoming opponent!

We won our opener last night; for as much as I wish the season could end now with a 100% winning percentage, we have another tonight and again Monday. Well, here we go! Go Hawks!!

If you're interested in reading up on the team, you can browse through the media guide here and then click "complete version".

Our Coach

The Final Score