Granpapa and Kay Kay took Noelle and Mike to the Nutcracker this weekend!

Noelle was so excited to meet some of the dancers!

This was a very special night for sweet Noelle!

We had a blast at Noelle’s Christmas pj party at school!  Here she is with her friend Jacob after they just finished decorating ornaments!

Landry and Noelle are ready for the break – lol!

They decorated cookies and had a book exchange… earlier in the day they watched Polar Express… Noelle really enjoyed her last day of school! 

Anna Kate had a blast decorating cookies and seeing Santa with friends on Friday!

Anna Kate and Ava shared a chair and ate more icing than they put on their cookies!

Chris had fun loving on baby Rose!  Gretchen held Rose up to take a picture with the big girls, and she was smiling so big… she knew she was doing something special! 

During the night, if Anna Kate needs us, she will wake up Noelle to come downstairs and get us.  So, Noelle made this sign and taped it to her door with an arrow pointing back to Anna Kate’s room.  It made us laugh!

The Jenkins had us over to meet Santa this week!  It was a really fun night!

He was such a good Santa and even had a glowing thumb to entertain the little ones!

Santa asked Noelle all about her feather! (which she still has in, by the way)

Noelle told him all about what she wants for Christmas… again!  Ha!

I love this face!

Santa and Anna Kate REALLY hit it off… she was saying bye to him and then they both started waving at me together… it was so magical!

Mike took this video of Anna Kate jumping up and down when Santa arrived… it’s so awesome!  She was beyond excited… she was the one yelling “Santa Claus” over and over again at the beginning, and then she makes her way up to the front, and Santa asks her if he can have a hug!  If you listen closely, you can also hear her ask Santa why he has a beard, and then she yells out, “Santa Claus, I’m 2, I’m 2!” after Santa says he’s 1700 years old!  Noelle was proud of Anna Kate for speaking up and not being shy!  Thanks to our friends Chris and Robin for such a special night!!!

Aren’t these cool!?!  Noelle’s is the one on the left and Anna Kate’s is on the right.  Mrs. Peggy gave these to the girls to paint and decorate.  They turned out so cute!!!

After the party, we went to say “Hi!” to Jax and Poppa before heading home!

We aren’t going to Jacksonville for Christmas this year, and Rara still had it decorated so pretty… I just had to show you guys!  My Pawpaw built this modern looking barn and Granny made this manger scene… so special!

Rara has worked so hard stitching ornaments for all of us!  She has all the kids’ names on the back of them and has quite the collection.  Her mantle is even more gorgeous in person!

Here’s Poppa and Rose with “Happy Apple!” 

Rara even had their presents all wrapped!  I don’t know how Mom does all that she is able to do… she works full time at the office as Dad’s office manager, is the landlord for an entire street of houses (which is a full time job, let me tell you, something is always breaking, or needing fixed, or worse, disputes to deal with and evictions to carry out, crazy!), has several CPA accounts, does hospital, community and church work, takes care of all of us and makes her house so beautiful… I’m in awe!

May the spirit of Christmas fill your home, even if you think no one is looking! 

The PondFam5 made a quick trip to Jacksonville to go to the HAPY Girls Christmas party!  Aunt Polly was there from Baytown, and I wouldn’t miss seeing her for anything!  Saying she and Rose had a ball together is an understatement!

Rose had fun letting Noelle help her walk around! 

Yay!  Rara and the girls all dressed up!  Anna Kate is sitting in a family heirloom!  It was her great great great grandfather’s rocking chair!

Rose had fun meeting Maria Elena… these are the two newest HAPY Girls!  Their great grandmothers who started this fun group of friends would be tickled to see them playing on a quilt together at the family center!

Mike played gorgeous Christmas music on the piano for all the lovely ladies, and Anna Kate helped him out!

On our way out of town on Saturday, we stopped by Chick-fil-A and had breakfast with Mrs. Peggy and “her cows” as Anna Kate affectionately calls them.

Noelle is up for lots of cow hugs but Anna Kate won’t go near them.  She will wave and smile but if they start walking toward her, she will run and jump in my arms.  Noelle tells her that they are just humans in dress-up costumes, but Anna Kate does not believe her!

Friday night after school we got to go to Great Grandma’s Christmas party! 

Here’s Great Grandma with Rose and Mike!  We had a lovely family dinner!