Merry Christmas!!

Still getting in the Christmas spirit, we did a quick little photoshoot in the back yard, we still needed something a little "Christmassy" for the Christmas cards this year... Here were some of my favorites!

The Fairy Elf & the Nutcracker

Rumor has it that Santa has been pretty busy lately.  He has been sending out some of his elves to help keep track of all of the little girls & boys and to let Santa know who has been naughty & who has been nice.  Our elf showed up right after Thanksgiving and after a lot of thought, Quinn has named him "Fairy Elf".  She looks for him every day but will not speak directly to him.  "Mommy, can you ask the Elf to sit in the Christmas tree tomorrow?"

Today Quinn and I had a very special morning together.  We went to see the Nutcracker put on by the Roswell Dance Theater (which is associated with Quinn's dance school).  We had breakfast there before the show and had a chance to visit with some of the dancers and even with Santa!  When it was time, she walked right up to santa and reminded him that she wants a jogging stroller and told him that we really like our Fairy elf.  

Quinn loved socializing with all of the "princesses" but her favorites were the Nutcracker & the Mouse King.  During the entire performance, she kept asking where those two were.  We also kept looking for her teacher, Miss Pam, but Quinn was convinced she wasn't a part of it, "No Mommy, they are dancers-- Miss Pam is a teacher & she doesn't wear dresses!"

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Forgive me-- this is going to be one long post of pictures, you know how I get with beach trips + family + TEN adorable children, I just couldn't help myself ;)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with the Driskell side of the family.  The kids had an absolute blast (I think Kelly or Poppy overheard one of the oldest saying "this was the best thanksgiving EVER!")

Anyway, it was so nice to be able to kick back & relax & have somewhere (beautiful) to let the kids all run & play.  Thanks guys, it was a great trip & we hope to see everyone together again soon!!

 

 

I know this one is blurry, but I wanted to look back & remember how much fun the kids were having.  On the first night, Quinn announced there was a party in her room.  All of the kids were in there with her from there on out-- reading, playing, and mostly the boys yelling "code red" into the monitor every time a grownup went near the stairs-- at this point, the girls would all hide under the bed.

the kids' "table"

couldn't resist the ice cream truck on an after-lunch walk to the beach

they even got a tour

 

we always say these three look the most alike, even more than they do their siblings!

this night, they decorated Quinn's bed "like a Christmas tree"

this doggie "teya", named after the neighbor's dog, went with us EVERYWHERE!

Quinn was writing her name!