Tuesday, December 28, 2010
League Champ
No more posts tonight, I PROMISE! ha I couldn't let such a monumental night go by without recognizing my superstar husband, though. Andrew won his first Fantasy Football Championship tonight!!!!! Way to go Zamboni; Brett and I are proud! wink
Christmas 2010 continued
I am so frustrated with my Christmas Eve pictures. My batteries died 20 minutes after we arrived at Nana's house, so I seriously got like 10 pictures at the most of all the family festivities that day. I didn't get any pictures of the McAnultys or the Clendenins that day. I know some of my extended family is ok with this (ha), but I'm really sad! FROWN At least I got a few!
Christmas Eve morning, we head to Asheboro to celebrate with the "McAnultys." Andrew, myself, Ceilidh, and even Graeme look forward to "Nana biscuits" the entire trip from CH to Asheboro! If I were really honest, we start getting excited about "Nana biscuits" a few months before Thanksgiving! ha We eat, act out the Christmas story, play a fun game of White Elephant, and open presents. This year we performed the Christmas story twice b/c Jack and Phoenix both had to premier as baby Jesus!
After visiting with Nana and Granddaddy, we head on down to Pops and ZZ's house for dinner and presents with the "Clendenin" crew. Randy and Suzanne gave pajamas to their children every Christmas Eve when they were little. They have continued that tradition with their grandchildren. They never disappoint, as Suzanne can find THE cutest matching or coordinating clothing I have ever seen. Zion and Ceilidh had the sweetest coordinating Christmas outfits their first Christmas! Back to 2010 though.... This year the task got a bit more difficult as the brood grew to FIVE! Ceilidh and Zion got cute coordinating pajama sets, but the three little boys got the same pjs with their names on their rumps! We got some pretty adorable "rump" pictures around the Christmas tree. Of course I can't share those with you though, b/c my camera died! Hopefully I can grab one from one of the sis-in-laws.
After the pj unveiling, wrapping paper went flying as Ceilidh and Zion went to town! It was so much fun to watch their excitement. Graeme got into the whole gift thing too, when he started unwrapping dog books and trucks! We had a wonderful time that night, but had to head home so that Santa could visit CH. wink Ceilidh and Graeme both passed out before we pulled out of their driveway; but she still opened her eyes when we got in the house, just to make sure Santa had not visited yet!
The next morning when she saw her bike under the tree; she told Andrew that Graeme could use her bike when she outgrew it. Andrew told her to look in front of the chair, and she saw Graeme's bike. Ceilidh said, "He got a bike TOO?!" I love how she is always thinking/caring for buddy Graeme. It is really sweet. The rest of the day was wonderfully lazy and filled with good food, family, and falling snow! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas as well!
Ceilidh FINALLY got to see Zion. She had asked me 5 million times that morning when she would get to see him!
Winter Wonderland?!
Here are a few more pictures from our GLORIOUS snow day!!! We had so much fun that day playing in the snow, drinking hot chocolate, and watching daddy... oh I mean Ceilidh and Graeme (wink) enjoying the snow! Again, don't forget to double click the video. Also, to make sure the pictures are at the best quality for both videos actually, you need to make sure that you are viewing them in 720p. That button is located on the bottom right of the video.
Christmas 2010
These are a few of our Christmas pictures. We weren't able to get the video very clear when uploading straight from our computer. We posted the video to youtube with unlisted security so you all could see, but keep the photos from the general public. You can watch it on our blog, or you can double click it so you can make it full screen at the youtube site. I will post a few more later with a little commentary. Merry Christmas from the Clendenins!!
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Oh, that Ceilidh...
I will post our Christmas and SNOW (smile) pictures tomorrow, but I did want to jot/type these few memories down before I forget them. On the way home tonight, while Graeme was zonked out already; Ceilidh was keeping Andrew and me on our toes! She loves to listen to music loudly and is always complaining she, "can't hear" the music when we are in the car. I was messing with the volume and asked her if she could hear better. Just as serious as she could be says, "If you would stop talking, I could hear better." HA She wasn't saying it in a sassy sort of way, she was simply stating a fact. I asked a question, and she gave an answer... even if it was a hilarious one!
A few miles down the road, she starts saying, "Oh no, they are messing up my song!" Jingle bells was playing on the radio, but it was a version that she wasn't familiar with, and apparently didn't like! Then, just a few more miles down the road she asks, "There was nothing here when Jesus was born, right? God hadn't made anything yet?" Andrew told her that actually there were people and things on earth when he was born, b/c God had created the world in the beginning. He briefly went over the 7 day timeline for creation. She then says, "How? How did he make everything when he was in Mary's belly?" You could have knocked me over with a feather! I never cease to be amazed when she starts exploring biblical truths like the Trinity. She knew that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were the same person/Deity; but couldn't figure out how Jesus was born into a world that he created. These truths are difficult for me as a 27 year old to understand, much less a three year old. I love that she ponders these things. I love seeing God actively pursuing her heart!
A few miles down the road, she starts saying, "Oh no, they are messing up my song!" Jingle bells was playing on the radio, but it was a version that she wasn't familiar with, and apparently didn't like! Then, just a few more miles down the road she asks, "There was nothing here when Jesus was born, right? God hadn't made anything yet?" Andrew told her that actually there were people and things on earth when he was born, b/c God had created the world in the beginning. He briefly went over the 7 day timeline for creation. She then says, "How? How did he make everything when he was in Mary's belly?" You could have knocked me over with a feather! I never cease to be amazed when she starts exploring biblical truths like the Trinity. She knew that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit were the same person/Deity; but couldn't figure out how Jesus was born into a world that he created. These truths are difficult for me as a 27 year old to understand, much less a three year old. I love that she ponders these things. I love seeing God actively pursuing her heart!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Winter Wonderland?!
My husband is beside himself with excitement! This man literally sets his alarm to wake up in the wee hours of the night when there is a POTENTIAL of a FLAKE of snow. ha People, we are talking possible record breaking snow this weekend. Yes, that's right..... A WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!!! I have to admit I am a little giddy about this as well; but my husband is simply ecstatic. He is "just like a child at Christmas!" (- thank you Charlotte Patnode, wink). The last two days he has watched every news cast, followed blogs, twitters, and Facebook pages of his favorite meteorologists (who else has favorite meteorologists?! ha), and studied both the US and European weather models himself. I seriously love this man!
Here's to you and your family during this (hopefully) WHITE Christmas!!!
Here's to you and your family during this (hopefully) WHITE Christmas!!!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Celebrating at the Clendenin home....
First things first: Many congratulations, woohoos, and way to gos are in order for Caitlin Cook Clendenin as she has finished her undergraduate degree at THE University by the people, for the people, and of the people... The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill! wink Charles Kuralt would be proud Cait; but we are even prouder!!! We love you!
And along those same lines; Andrew Carpenter Clendenin will be finishing this semester with 4 perfect H's!!!!! I am so excited for you Andrew, and proud doesn't even begin to explain how I feel. T- minus four months and we will be sitting in Memorial Hall listening to Pomp and Circumstance. I can't believe it has gone this quickly, but I know you are ready to be done. wink I love you so much!
The celebrating doesn't stop there folks! I have waited a while to post this, only b/c I was waiting to make sure it was for real. If you know us at all, you know we have been anxiously awaiting the day Ceilidh would be "completely" potty-trained for a while now. She has been peeing in the potty by herself for a really long time; but for some reason was refusing to #2 in the potty. Anyway, about a month ago after literally reading, singing songs, shutting off the lights and playing with flashlights; we had SUCCESS!!!! I am very proud of her, and can't BEGIN to tell you how thankful I am! ha
And this list continues! Graeme and Ceilidh are sleeping in the same room now!!! I have mixed feelings about this, but mostly excitement. It is adorable to see them sleeping side by side, and I don't mind being able to turn my lights on and use a voice louder than a whisper at night now! ha I have to be honest though, I miss being able to see his sweet little face through his crib slats. Ceilidh LOVES that they are sleeping in the same room now, and asks every morning, "Can Buddy sleep with me again tonight?!" Graeme is enjoying it just as much as she is. I find him waving his little heart out at her every morning. Seriously, I could cry watching them every morning. ha My issue though, is the actual bedtime routine. He is doing wonderfully staying asleep, and not waking her in the morning; but it is taking me almost an hour to get them both to sleep now. Ugh! We have tried both putting him to sleep first, and putting them down together; but they are still getting used to each other's noises and rustlings. Maybe it will just continue to take time; but if anyone has any tips, I am all about it!!!
Yay for celebrations!
And along those same lines; Andrew Carpenter Clendenin will be finishing this semester with 4 perfect H's!!!!! I am so excited for you Andrew, and proud doesn't even begin to explain how I feel. T- minus four months and we will be sitting in Memorial Hall listening to Pomp and Circumstance. I can't believe it has gone this quickly, but I know you are ready to be done. wink I love you so much!
The celebrating doesn't stop there folks! I have waited a while to post this, only b/c I was waiting to make sure it was for real. If you know us at all, you know we have been anxiously awaiting the day Ceilidh would be "completely" potty-trained for a while now. She has been peeing in the potty by herself for a really long time; but for some reason was refusing to #2 in the potty. Anyway, about a month ago after literally reading, singing songs, shutting off the lights and playing with flashlights; we had SUCCESS!!!! I am very proud of her, and can't BEGIN to tell you how thankful I am! ha
And this list continues! Graeme and Ceilidh are sleeping in the same room now!!! I have mixed feelings about this, but mostly excitement. It is adorable to see them sleeping side by side, and I don't mind being able to turn my lights on and use a voice louder than a whisper at night now! ha I have to be honest though, I miss being able to see his sweet little face through his crib slats. Ceilidh LOVES that they are sleeping in the same room now, and asks every morning, "Can Buddy sleep with me again tonight?!" Graeme is enjoying it just as much as she is. I find him waving his little heart out at her every morning. Seriously, I could cry watching them every morning. ha My issue though, is the actual bedtime routine. He is doing wonderfully staying asleep, and not waking her in the morning; but it is taking me almost an hour to get them both to sleep now. Ugh! We have tried both putting him to sleep first, and putting them down together; but they are still getting used to each other's noises and rustlings. Maybe it will just continue to take time; but if anyone has any tips, I am all about it!!!
Yay for celebrations!
Friday, December 10, 2010
An all-time Christmas favorite
I was introduced to Andrew Peterson when I met Andrew (big surprise, huh?!). This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs.
Labor of Love by Andrew Peterson and performed by Jill Phillips
Labor of Love by Andrew Peterson and performed by Jill Phillips
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
This makes me laugh
I heard this song on the radio this morning, and I am still laughing about it. Just ask Andrew about a few of the packages we have had to open or toys he has had to put together! ha
"Toy Packaging" by Sara Groves
(The video is cheesy, but the song is funny!)
*Thank you to Andrew for showing me how to embed videos!!!
"Toy Packaging" by Sara Groves
(The video is cheesy, but the song is funny!)
*Thank you to Andrew for showing me how to embed videos!!!
Thank you Caitlin!
Thank you Caitlin for sitting with Ceilidh and Graeme Monday night!!! I think this was the first time Andrew and I had been out alone since our anniversary in MAY! ha This was needed and WONDERFUL! We put the kiddos to bed and enjoyed a later dinner and Target time together. Monday night half-priced burgers at Champps is hard to beat! I am so thankful (and it is fun to be publicly thanked sometimes too), that I decided to dedicate a whole post to you Cait! wink We love you!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....
Yay! I love the advent season! I also love the traditions of the Christmas season that Andrew and started for our family 5 years ago. Decorating the house and the Christmas tree is an event at our house, and I LOVE IT! We blare Christmas music, make cookies, drink hot cocoa, and decorate the tree together. Ceilidh was so excited, she couldn't stand it! ha Graeme was adorable through the process. To keep roaming hands busy while we decorated, I gave him a Christmas ball without the hook. He literally walked around the tree trying to hang it for 15 minutes. He would get so proud of himself when it would get stuck in a branch, and then it would drop. We let him hang a few at the end, and I think it was worth the wait for him! ha
We are also starting a new tradition (at least I hope it will become tradition), of hanging Jesse Tree ornaments each night of the 25 days of Christmas. I had never heard of a Jesse Tree until last year. Our Children's minister at church has created a Jesse Tree Devotional that you do with your children each night of December. The Devotional leads you through 24 Old Testament Stories that show why a savior was needed, and how the "road" was being paved for Jesus starting from the beginning of time. The 25th day (Christmas day) is the day you read the birth of Christ. Ceilidh has colored 25 paper ornaments that you hang on the night that it coincides with the scripture that was read. Someday I would like to become a "cool" mom who knows how to sew, and make the ornaments out of felt. Yep, I'm not there yet. frown I'm pretty proud of myself that we got all 25 colored and cut out before December 1st! HA
On Friday night, we traveled to Pinehurst to watch the tree lighting downtown and totally missed the lighting. frown I think a lot of people missed it though, as it was run a little differently than in years past. All was well though, b/c we got to see Jeanne, Taylor, and Kenley at their annual Hot Cocoa and Cookies party! We missed you Leigh, Chase, and Natalie!! I really miss my friends from Moore County, so it was great to see this family in particular. Their hospitality is always wonderful, and Ceilidh really enjoyed playing with Kenley's toys! ha
And then......Saturday afternoon it started SNOWING!!!!!! I mean, legit snow. Not a shower here or there; but buckets full of snow until about 6pm. The Chapel Hill Clendenins (and I think really all of them! ha) LOVE snow!!!! Ceilidh and Graeme are both being true to their name; and enjoying the snow as much as we do. Graeme walked outside and began making a noise that sort of sounded like Woody the Woodpecker for about 2 minutes straight. It was a "I don't know what to do with all this excitement" laugh. He broke away from my death grip at one point, and literally dropped to his knees and starting rolling in it! HA Ceilidh and Andrew built an adorable miniature snowman and threw a few snowballs. I hope we see a lot more snow during Christmas time!!!
Checking out the tree after bringing it home
Getting the cookies ready!
"I love cookies!" ha
Finally!
Ceilidh's turn!
Graeme playing with the Nativity Set
Silly girl
When something is in the oven that he wants, he pulls out the oven mitt and repeatedly says, "Hot, Hot!" ha
"Please hurry up cookies!"
Hanging the "world" ornament after talking about creation on Day 1
Nicole, Hudson, and Elam... Thanks for meeting us at the mall Nicole! We love you!
HA!
Snow is so pretty
Graeme loving every second of being outside!
Mommy and her babies
Building "Mr. Snowman"
Putting his arms on
Meet "Mr. Snowman"
One of my favorite 2010 pictures!
Our cute Tarheel who is wearing a 3T sweatshirt here! ha It is a tad big, and it must have shrunk at somepoint, but seriously she was wearing this last Christmas!
We are also starting a new tradition (at least I hope it will become tradition), of hanging Jesse Tree ornaments each night of the 25 days of Christmas. I had never heard of a Jesse Tree until last year. Our Children's minister at church has created a Jesse Tree Devotional that you do with your children each night of December. The Devotional leads you through 24 Old Testament Stories that show why a savior was needed, and how the "road" was being paved for Jesus starting from the beginning of time. The 25th day (Christmas day) is the day you read the birth of Christ. Ceilidh has colored 25 paper ornaments that you hang on the night that it coincides with the scripture that was read. Someday I would like to become a "cool" mom who knows how to sew, and make the ornaments out of felt. Yep, I'm not there yet. frown I'm pretty proud of myself that we got all 25 colored and cut out before December 1st! HA
On Friday night, we traveled to Pinehurst to watch the tree lighting downtown and totally missed the lighting. frown I think a lot of people missed it though, as it was run a little differently than in years past. All was well though, b/c we got to see Jeanne, Taylor, and Kenley at their annual Hot Cocoa and Cookies party! We missed you Leigh, Chase, and Natalie!! I really miss my friends from Moore County, so it was great to see this family in particular. Their hospitality is always wonderful, and Ceilidh really enjoyed playing with Kenley's toys! ha
And then......Saturday afternoon it started SNOWING!!!!!! I mean, legit snow. Not a shower here or there; but buckets full of snow until about 6pm. The Chapel Hill Clendenins (and I think really all of them! ha) LOVE snow!!!! Ceilidh and Graeme are both being true to their name; and enjoying the snow as much as we do. Graeme walked outside and began making a noise that sort of sounded like Woody the Woodpecker for about 2 minutes straight. It was a "I don't know what to do with all this excitement" laugh. He broke away from my death grip at one point, and literally dropped to his knees and starting rolling in it! HA Ceilidh and Andrew built an adorable miniature snowman and threw a few snowballs. I hope we see a lot more snow during Christmas time!!!
Checking out the tree after bringing it home
Getting the cookies ready!
"I love cookies!" ha
Finally!
Ceilidh's turn!
Graeme playing with the Nativity Set
Silly girl
When something is in the oven that he wants, he pulls out the oven mitt and repeatedly says, "Hot, Hot!" ha
"Please hurry up cookies!"
Hanging the "world" ornament after talking about creation on Day 1
Nicole, Hudson, and Elam... Thanks for meeting us at the mall Nicole! We love you!
HA!
Snow is so pretty
Graeme loving every second of being outside!
Mommy and her babies
Building "Mr. Snowman"
Putting his arms on
Meet "Mr. Snowman"
One of my favorite 2010 pictures!
Our cute Tarheel who is wearing a 3T sweatshirt here! ha It is a tad big, and it must have shrunk at somepoint, but seriously she was wearing this last Christmas!
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