Christmas sampler

I'm behind on my blogging. Time has gotten away from me! We had a wonderful Christmas, which started on Dec. 17th at Matt's dad's house. Even though it's technically over, it's still Christmas at the Wade house, as we haven't taken down our decorations yet. We usually leave them up until the new year, and this year is no exception. I always dread putting away the house decs because 1. It's just not as much fun putting them away as it is getting them out; and 2. The house seems so bare. (Boo.) Lola made this Christmas 100 times more fun. Of course, the little dumplin' was around last year, but she was so little... this year she was so entertaining! She quickly figured out how to open presents, and she gasped each time she tore the paper and discovered what was inside. It was a hoot. Santa brought Lola a play kitchen made by his elves (aka Pop, Mama and Dada - shhhh, don't tell). I'll post start-to-finish pictures of that soon. For now, enjoy these few pics from our Christmas. Happy new year, all!

Opening presents at Grandpa Dan's

Getting some pointers from cousin Maddox.

Swimming in Grandpa Dan's pool with M and M.

Christmas Eve brunch at Nana's - it was a beautiful day!

The night before Christmas...

Christmas morning...

Very excited about her new books...

We all got new mugs!

"Vroom, vroom" (thank you, Granny and Pop)

Watching Elmo videos on UC's phone (she is obsessed with Elmo)

Happy birthday to the best daddy in the world

Love,

Lola

Our little family

Jennie Wise (local photog) came over and took some family pictures for us a couple weeks ago. We got lucky and had a little snow on the ground. Love how they turned out! (And we even got Ossie in a few.)

The Graduate

We traveled to Columbia over the weekend to see my mom graduate from college. (Yes, you read that right.) She left college when she was 20 to marry my dad, and the two moved to Knoxville for his job. She took classes there, and when they ended up back in Ozark County she tried to commute to SMS in Springfield (now MSU) to finish her degree, but it just never worked out. A few years ago she realized it was one thing she really regretted, so she started taking classes through Mizzou online, and she finally finished!

(See, it's never too late to go to college.)

Exiting through the columns on her way to graduate.

It'll be 10 years in May since I graduated from this school!

Her "class."

Done and done!

Still looks the same... 40 years later. :)

A few recent snapshots

Crazy lady has crazy hair in the bathtub.

Lola loves to color in her coloring book... and on her bookshelf, changing table, storage bins, other (non-coloring) books, her socks, dining chairs, kitchen counter, Oscar and mama's head. Sigh.

We went to Gainesville for the Christmas festivities on the square a couple weeks ago (when Lola met Santa), but first we went by Matt's grandma's house for lunch, and Lola got to play with her cousins, Madison and Maddox.

Nana read Lola a Christmas story.

Madison and Maddox got to see Santa, too.

This was from today. Just enjoying the 60-degree weather in December.

(She was actually overdressed!)

Most of the time she stays out of the tree, and she still hasn't really noticed the presents. But, once in a while her curiosity gets the best of her.

Buddies

Just a glimpse at what it's like at our house some days when Lola and Oscar "play" together. Here he barks and chases her, she tries to kiss him, but he kisses her instead, and on and on. It's pretty funny. Matt (lovingly) says Oscar is the world's worst dog, but we sure are lucky that he's so good with our wild and crazy toddler. :)

Look who came to town...