Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, & Happy Snow Day to You

It's January 6th and I am just now getting around to recapping our Christmas festivities on the blog. You would think my excuse would be that I've been so busy I haven't had time to do it, but the truth is I have had three weeks of laziness and relaxing at home that helped me really hone my procrastination skills to perfection.

I spent the week leading up to Christmas at home with Amelia. We cooked, cleaned, napped, shopped, and played all week long and it was so great to have all that one-on-one time with my favorite girl. Just in that short week, I noticed a big jump in Amelia's speech and it made me realize how important and precious concentrated quality time is between us.

We also spent some of the time spreading Christmas cheer around town as part of Amelia's gift to her Papaw. First, we paid for a stranger's meal behind us at Chik-fil-a.

Then we dropped off some donations at the local animal shelter and visited with the kitties and pups. Amelia thought this was the best thing ever. Though the poor dog in the cone wasn't so sure about us.

And we also dropped off some laundry supplies at the local laundromat for anyone to use for free.

It was a feel-good day, and I hope we continue the tradition in years to come. Christmas came and went with lots of family time and eating too much food.

Amelia got so many presents, I think we are going to need to rent a storage unit to store it all. I think her favorites are a toy bowling set from Aunt Tammy and any of her many Minnie-themed toys. That girl loves her some Minnie Mouse. Oh and of course her new hot pink boots with the fringe that have her channeling her inner Reba.

Chris was off the entire week after Christmas so we all were able to stay home and lounge and spend time together as a family. It was so nice to not have anything to do or anywhere to go. For the second year in a row, I did not watch the ball drop as I was already snoozing away without a care in the world. Maybe next year I'll stay up past 10pm. #goals

I'm back to work this week and the re-entry into the real world has been rough after two weeks of sleeping in and staying in our jammies until noon. But thankfully Louisville had our first snow day yesterday so I only had to work half a day and then was able to go home and make a big pot of chili and frolic in the snow with my little Eskimo baby.

She didn't care much for the snow last year, but this year is a whole new ballgame. She oooohed and aaaahed over it all afternoon. I'm so glad she likes it - I love snow days and look forward to many days building snowmen and sledding with her! Although, every time I said the word "snow" to her she thought I was saying the word "no" and she would whine and cry thinking I was telling her she couldn't play in the snow. Sigh. No one ever said communicating with a toddler was easy.

Finally, my little snow baby is about to turn the corner of not being a "baby" so much anymore as we are one week away from her 2nd birthday. Excuse me while I go curl up in a ball on the floor and cry. Time slow down!

Sentimental crazy mama issues aside, I'm looking forward to celebrating her sweet 2 years of life with our family and surrounding ourselves with a Minnie-palooza themed party. Because what else would it be? A Reba-themed party perhaps? Oh wait, that would be for my birthday and every other day of my life #obsessed.

Happy New Year, y'all!