I uh....am playing catch up again... December Photo Challege 7&8

Well I am playing catching up again as I was lucky enough to spend a night out with Friends for a book signing with The Pioneer Woman and her fabulous new cookbook. So I didn't make it back in in time to get something posted.

So here is my picture for yesterday....

Boogie found this nutcracker for Mrs. M the wonderful lady that watches her. Mrs. M loves nutcrackers and has quiet collection every year we try to add one for her. This is the first year that Charlotte has been able to pick it out herself and she was very proud of her little drummer. Mrs. M loved it too and that is the most important thing. :D

Last night as I said I met up with friends at a big bookstore for the book signing for Pioneer Woman, she was fabulous but that will be another post. :D While there I saw one of my favorite things about the holidays...books, tons and tons of Christmas books. The kids section is my favorite because my 3 year old loves the Christmas books. We have a pop up book that we read all year round that she can recite now because we have read it so much. So here are a few interesting titles from the kids section last night...

SO head out to the nearest book store and pick up your favorite holiday book. I'll recommend Christmas at the zoo, it is a fantastic pop up book. Happy Holidays.

Not me Monday

We as a family did not have a busy weekend, it was absolutely peaceful and relaxing. It did not begin with a sleepover for 3, 3 year olds hosted solely by myself, because I did not let my hubby bail on me. I did not let them stay up until almost 11pm before they zonked out.

On Saturday I did not wake up at the crack of dawn to jump in the shower before the above 3 year olds woke up and scrub off, only to find one 3 year old in my bed. I did not proceed to sit her in front of the TV while I made pancakes and poured bowls of cereal. I did not then dress all 3 year olds and drag the poor darlings to ride the Pink Pig. I did not make them, a five year old, one of my dear dear friends and my dear husband stand outside in 30+ degree weather and a cold wind for almost 2 hours to ride Priscilla the Pink Pig for all of about 1 minutes and 30 seconds. I did not then by 2 of 3 three year olds fast food for lunch, pack them back up in the car and head out to a baby shower for the rest of the afternoon, which meant that I did not encourage them to skip their naps.

And again I did not do all of this 7 months pregnant. :D There are some pictures but I will deny everything till my dying breathe.

Priscilla the Pink Pig

There is a great holiday tradition here in Atlanta for little kids that began in 1953. The holiday rides that can be taken on Priscilla the Pink Pig.

Priscilla at one time strolled along the top of the Rich's building in Downtown Atlanta, suspended from at steel rail frame. Now the Pink Pig resides at a giant white tent on top of the parking deck near Macy's at Lenox Mall. The interior of the tent is decked out in pink stars and pink lights and a little store area full of pink pigs.

A ride for kids allows children and adults if you chose to take a stroll through a Christmas wonderland on Pricsilla that is full of pink. Rides are very reasonable at $3 or 2 rides for $5.50 and if you choose to ride twice you don't have to wait in line, you can just stay on the pig train. A portion of the proceeds for the ride benefit Children's Healthcare of a Atlanta, so all in all a win win for many, right?

My husband and I thought that we were doing good to meet up with a friend and her kids between 10:30 and 11am on Saturday morning. I mean the pig doesn't start running until 10am and it was cold how bad could the wait be? Plus I had three 3 year olds the were very very excited about riding the pink pig for the very first time.

So we got in line and the wait started, and we waited in side the mall for a little while the girls were excited and we had Starbucks, life was good. Then we got outside, it had been a while, but the girls were still doing good and were excited if maybe a little chilly. It was in the 30's a bit cool for Atlanta, but the Starbucks was still warm so things were fine. Then we got to see Priscilla, herself, waiting near the tent after about an hour.

The girls were happy to see Priscilla and any grumps were temporarily vanquished. Then there was a nice sign to pose by and a nice banner, but things were starting to go downhill.

There were some tight smiles here that were coaxed out of the photo participants, but by this time DH was crouched down trying to keep Boogie warm, and B Bug was clinging to be shivering and crying that she wanted her mommy. The line was not moving but the wind was and the opening of the tent could not come quick enough. However, the best thing about the tent was that it cut the wind, there was no heat or heaters to be seen, and people were huddling close for body heat, by this time we had been in line for about an hour and a half, but by now we were also getting on that pig!

Finally, finally after an hour and 45 minutes we made it to the front of the line, and it was time to ride the Pink Pig. Was it worth the wait for the parents, nope, with all the whining, crying, cold and wind. Was it worth the wait for the girls I am not entirely sure but they seemed to have a good time, all in all.

Or perhaps not...there seems to be mixed reviews here.


I would just say that if you "THINK" that you might want to visit and ride the Pink Pig, either go in the middle of the week, before school is out, or be there before the ride starts in the morning and be one of the first in line. Other then that expect a nice long wait and quiet a few instances of telling your children that you are almost to the front. Work on your acting skills and pray that they believe you. Good luck and Happy Holidays. Oh and I got the sticker that says "I rode the Pink Pig" :D

December Photo Post 5 & 6

Yep I am playing catch up again but please cut me a little slack I hosted a sleep over Friday night for 3 3 year olds and survived by the skin of my teeth. The we took them on Saturday morning to ride this....

This is an Atlanta holiday tradition that now benefits Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. It was an interesting experience and I will post more about this, but suffice it to say, Saturday morning is not the best time to go with 3 year olds when it is 30 degrees outside and you have to wait outside.

Today however we did something a little new...we went to a Christmas tree farm and cut down a tree. We have never done this before and Jon and Boogie were ready to get that tree....

Again it was about this 30 degrees this morning and we froze our fingers off but it was a lot of fun and we all had a great time. :D We Georgians are not used to this cold weather this early in the season, but it does help put you in the holiday spirit. So happy holidays everyone.

Photo Challenge #4

I am going to carry through on my Peanuts kick. Tonight I got to introduce two 3 year olds with the help of my 3 year old daughter to the wonderful world of Charlie Brown. We got home and popped in Merry Christmas Charlie Brown and they kinda watched, enough to please my daughter anyway. My daughter's love of Charlie Brown all started with this:

On nice soft Snoopy that plays the peanuts theme and my 3 year old daughter is now hooked on a cartoon that was popular when my mom was a little girl. Just goes to show that the classics carry through to any generation. Good stuff Mr. Schultz, thank you!!!

Photo Challenge #3

It is not the Christmas season until I have seen Merry Christmas Charlie Brown. Now I just need to see Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and the season is officially on.

Day 1 and 2 of The December Photo Challenge

Okay so I dropped the ball last night. I missed the first day of the photo challenge so I am posting two pictures to make up for it.

First is the cutest person that I know and the whole reason that we celebrate Christmas. We want to teach her to give and to be appreciative of what she receives. Here is my lovely little elf.

For today's picture is my partner in crime with the little elf. He is not quite so cheery about the holidays and hates having his picture taken, but after 10 years of marriage he's getting better with the pictures. Still for our little Boogie, he would do just about anything for her including putting up hundreds of Christmas lights. Here is my DH who might look a little bit like the Grinch, but would do just about anything for the little elf.

Enjoy the photos and I will promise to be better with the picture postings from here on out.