Wonderful Times with My Girls

I wanted to remember this and didn't have time to post last night. 

I have spent two delightful days with my girls.  Wednesday was Lil's last day of school until January 3rd and we met up with Jen, Derek and the kids.  We went to Yankee and then Carrabba's for dinner (yes, Carrabba's for dinner two times in one week--none of us were complaining).  It had been raining all day, but finally stopped just after we began eating.  The temp was around 65 so it was quite lovely out. 

Jen had said they were going to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens and asked if we wanted to join them.  I had had neighbors turned away due to crowds and no parking (yes, they do that there) and was a bit concerned what with it being this close to Christmas, but decided to go ahead and join them.

I stopped by the house for pj's, passes and a stroller and we headed over.  It was DEAD!  The place was practically empty and it was WONDERFUL!  Oh how delightful Christmas Town was.  I have photos on my phone and I'll have to download them at some point.  BG really does the lights-thing up right.  I'm hoping we can get back by before the New Year. 

Then, last night, after we dropped "the girls" (aka Mattie and Zoey) off at Nan and Pop's, I decided to to a light tour.  Ellie fell asleep and Lil and I looked out for all that was wondrous and bright, singing Christmas carols and tunes all the way.  It is one of my most favorite things to do, and some of my most cherished memories with Papa are of riding around singing carols (he could harmonize so beautifully) looking at all the lights.  I hope the girls look back as fondly in years to come.  Alas, last night, Lil kept asking, "NOW are we going home??" :sigh:

We made it home, I got Beanie in her bed, and came down to make Lily some hot chocolate (not that it was cold or anything, because it certainly wasn't at 64 degrees--and to think we had snow this time last year...).  We snuggled in on the couch, watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and reading Christmas stories (A Bad Kitty Christmas, Mortimer's Christmas Manger, Counting Christmas).  Just as we were finishing, B came home. 

We planted the magic seeds Fisbee left (more on that in another post--they grew into candy canes!) and it was time for bed.  It was such a wonderful day and evening.  :o)

Today was a pajama day for my girl.  She has been wanting one and we haven't been able to indulge in one in forever.  Today was the day.  It was spent watching movies, reading books and just being a little kid.  It's a wonderful time of year. 

Tomorrow shall be long for sure.  I have a bunch of cooking I want to get done so I don't have to do it Christmas Day, and we'll go to church.  Lil will help me prepare the monkey bread for Christmas breakfast.  We'll track Santa and watch Christmas movies and read our books and do whatever we can to make the longest day of the year (I don't care what the calendar says about the longest day being in the middle of June, we all know it's Christmas Eve) go by just a bit faster. 

Oh, and lest I fail to remember, the past two days I've had to stop Miss Ellie from opening presents under the tree.  She too is ready for Christmas.  :o)

I do believe my potatoes are just about boiled so I had best be off.  Mushy potatoes do not a good potato salad make...