Celebrating with the Fam.

We had a cozy little Christmas, here in the blue house, just us.

Then, on the 26th, we got up early to go start celebrating with the whole family! It is a ten hour drive to Huntsville, and Lily can't really handle 10 minutes in the car. SO...Lily and I flew there while the Burger (have I mentioned I call him Burger? Like a Huey Burger?) drove with Dixie. We had a million gifts, a dog, and a budget for only 2 plane tickets. ;0 Plus, we were leaving from Huntsville to go see the Knoxville crew, so we needed a car.

Lily was excited/indifferent (only 2 year olds can be both at the same time, I think) about our adventures. This is her new face that she makes when you surprise her with a treat/present/a stool in a public restroom.

*Side note: she refuses to take off this jacket, and I have given up on making her. She literally even sleeps in it most nights. Whatever.*

"What did Lily think of the plane??"

In true 2-year-old fashion, our expectations of Lily were the opposite of the reality. She was wholly unimpressed with the whole thing, except for the pull down table in front of her.

Lately, Lily has really developed a knack for looking homeless.

She REFUSES ponytails of all kinds and most clips/bows. She is also knotting and twisting her hair more than ever. My efforts are just futile. Sometimes I do get a tiny bit jealous when I see a cute little girl with pigtails or matching hair bows or no blue jacket. But, then Lily will break me out of my self-pity moment by doing something awesome like go potty by herself, and I remember that kids even out in the end. Right?

We had a layover and a delay, so we entertained ourselves and apparently the rest of the waiting passengers as well.

Lily loves this game I made up, called "Trash Can Relay"...I tear up a piece of paper, and Lily has to grab the first piece and run it to the garbage, then come back and grab the second piece, etc...

Once she throws all of the pieces away, we cheer and clap and yell, because WE WON! We beat everyone (no one)! Then, we bathe in hand sanitizer. Finally, we look up to see everyone staring at us. Haha! The looks are a mix of: amused, jealous, and disapproving (mostly jealous). After one pretty tense race, an airport worker came running down the terminal to give Lily a stuffed bear as a prize. It was really sweet.

After flying with a two year old, I have a new appreciation for Public. Honestly, everyone was AMAZING to us: patient, helpful, kind, tolerant. When Lily threw a MASSIVE tantrum ON THE PLANE, nobody was irritated (honestly) but instead kept trying to help me find a solution (they sang to her, offered chocolate, and constantly reassured me that it was okay). After a while they realized that Lily is extra persistent and doesn't play by the rules, so they quit trying to help and instead just smiled and nodded at me over the piercing screams and flailing legs. When I had to basically sit on top of Lily to keep her tantrum contained, nobody judged at all. Seriously. It really does take a village, I think.

Being crazy is exhausting, and she fell asleep (AS THE PLANE LANDED IN HUNTSVILLE! She is ridiculous). MeeMaw, Granddaddy, and Mama Gen were still so excited about their girl, though!

We surprised our parents, and we are all going on a cruise in March! We told them by having 5 gift bags (peanuts= airplane; chocolate= food, in general; sand=beach!; water=ocean!; picture of cruise ship= cruise!)! I numbered them 1-5 and sent Lily to get one at a time. The girl can be so much fun.

They thought it was just random stuff Lily had wrapped up but still made a big deal out of how excited they were.

We are SO excited about a cruise in just a few months!!!

How cute are these pants?

The Doodlus. Celebrating.

Family fun with Aunt Shannon!

We attempted family pictures.

After Huntsville, we made the trek to Knoxville...where I apparently only took 4 pictures that are decent. The boy is rocking it out.

Giving Noni and Bop a water bottle.

We are going on a cruise together!

My dad. Love him. He makes this Bowl Pick Challenge with our family, and it is his favorite part of the whole year.

We added two more days to the trip and went to look at houses in Bristol! (No house, yet...just checking out some things). We stayed with my friends, Sara and Aaron, and we had the best time. Sara is the best. (Ignore my Bob Dole hand).

Hughes and I are lame New Year's guests, because we literally changed into pajamas and were asleep by 11.

:)

Happy 2012!!!