Breakfast with Santa

Saturday morning, some friends and I took our girls (the older girls) to Breakfast with Santa at McLeod Hospital. It was such a great time. The girls ate pancakes while Frosty and some reindeer visited each table along with Ms. Claus and good 'ol Santa. The girls very excited to see Santa- he was such a perfect Santa, no fake beard or hair. After breakfast, the girls went to listen Ms. Claus read stories and they sang lots of Christmas songs with her. She even gave them a cookie that she brought from the North Pole! After that, the girls wrote wishlists to Santa and mailed them to him.

Then, it was time for pictures and one-on-one time with Santa. Hazel told him that she wanted a Baby Alive. I got some great pictures of her on Santa's lap. We went to make lots of neat arts & crafts after that. I don't know why I didn't get any pictures of these, but I forgot. The girls had such a great time and we can't wait to go see Santa at Disney World. That's right, Nana, Papa, Jimmy, Lindsay and me and Steve and the girls will be at Disney World over Christmas. I've never been away from home for Christmas, and I don't know if I will like it, but I'll make the most it. I guess Santa will leave everything at home for us so we can open presents when we get home. The girls coloring while waiting for breakfast to be served

Caityln is such a big girl, she even cut up her own pancakes!

Caityln & Hazel pose with Frosty

Everyone is so excited to see Santa

The children listen intently to Ms. Claus read her stories

All I want for Christmas is......

Let's mail it to Santa

What do you for Christmas?

Cheese!

Me & Katie (Caitlyn's mom)

Caitlyn & Hazel pose for a quick picture

Caitlyn getting her face painted...Everyone else waits patiently

The Nutcracker Ballet

Hazel's dance school, SCDT, is doing The Nutcracker ballet in town this weekend at the Florence Little Theatre. Hazel is too young to be a part of the show, so we went to watch. She LOVED it! I am so excited that Hazel loves ballet so much, I hope it continues. She could not get enough and she kept saying that she couldn't wait until next year when she could be in it. Mrs. Rowe did an awesome job with the costumes and choreography. We couldn't take pictures inside the theatre so we snapped some in the lobby. We were so glad that Nana was able to join us for this special evening. I'm in the Christmas spirit now!

Hazel and Nana

Ovis Hill Farm Field Trip

This morning, I went with Hazel's class on a field trip to a local farm. We spent the morning learning about cows, sheep, collie dogs (that herd the sheep) and learned how to make butter. The class had a great time and as always, I love spending time with Hazel. We don't get much time with just the two of us. We learned about wool, and even made bracelets out of wool. We went on a long hayride watched the dog round up to sheep. That was pretty neat!

Hazel and her friends petting the baby cow. I guess they're called calfs, right? Notice Carsyn behind Hazel holding her nose...the farm scent was very strong!

Hazel and Maddie listening very intently to the guide

This lady explained about the sheep's wool and how to cut it and how it is used to make many things

The calf was only 5 days old!

Mary Hodges feeding the baby calf a bottle of milk

The dog herding the sheepHazel on the hayride

I would hate to make this heifer mad!

Hazel tasting the homemade butter on a cracker

Carsyn and Hazel making wool bracelets

Fun Times on Halloween

This week sure was busy! I'm so glad it's over. We had so many fall festivals and parties and ate so many sweets that my pants won't button anymore. Hazel and Eliza both enjoyed Halloween this year. Hazel did get a little stomach bug on Friday, but was much better Saturday evening. Eliza didn't seem to mind her costume and she enjoyed riding in the wagon and going trick-or-treating. I think we need a sugar detox already.

Wednesday night, we went to Nana & Papa's church for their fall festival. It was a lot of fun. Nana worked at the face painting table all night and Papa worked at the Popcorn machine. Our good friends - The Rhodes and The Ateyeh's joined us.

Little E and I do the cake walk

Papa helps Eliza with the duck pond game

Nana paints a flower on Hazel's cheek

Hazel and Madeline

Waiting to play a game

Friday, Hazel had her Halloween party at school and it was a lot of fun, until she threw up in the classroom. Thank God, it was after all the games, party and costume parade. Just in time to go home. That night, we went to The Byerly's for some pizza and trick-or-treating. We had such a good time with everyone. Thanks for being such a great host, you guys are the best!!!!

Hazel plays the witch hat toss at school

Class Picture

Hazel decorating a cookie at school

The costume parade

Hazel and Carsyn Ridgeway

The cookie cake for the class party

Hazel enjoys the party food

Room Mom attacks the teacher

Hazel and her teacher- Mrs. Martin

My little Bumblebee

All the kids before Trick-or-treating at Ray & Katie's

Mr. Ray aka Micheal Myers with Caitlyn and Cooper

Steve and Little E trick-or-treating

Cole and Little E ride in style

Ready for bed....It's been a LONG day