Christmas Eve 2010

 We spent Christmas this year in Selma.  When we arrived, GA was thrilled with the inflatables that her Gandaddy had put in the yard for her. 

Cora Lee (the Swift's sweet nextdoor neighbor), Will, and GA

Ruth and Gandaddy

a cute group of three in the golf cart

After church that night, we had a gumbo for dinner (a Swift Christmas Eve tradition)

(the above photo is a snapshot from our new toy - our Flip video camera!  I'm love it, but I'm still learning how to use it!) Here is my attempt at posting a video.  You will need to pause the music player at the bottom of the blog in order to hear the sound.  As you can see, she is expressing herself very well and letting her wishes be known!

Mama and Grace Ann in our Christmas PJ's getting ready for Santa to come. 

More Christmas posts to come!

McWane's Santa Workshop

This morning, my friend Amy and I took our girls to the Santa Workshop breakfast at McWane center.  The food was good, but the girls weren't too big on seeing Santa (GA's love for Santa has definitely declined over this Christmas season-she gave him a wave, but that was it!) However, they had lots of fun playing in the museum after we ate.

Ga and Harris driving!

 checking out the train exhibit

 GA loved the kitchen area and the oven mits - maybe Santa noticed?

Sweet Harris in the cable car 

 GA loved looking at herself in the mirror.  She was cracking me up making faces in the mirror while she played on the piano.

 A fun morning!

In other news, tonight before bath, GA pooped in the potty!  I was thrilled and was cheering and clapping and making such a big deal out of it.  She looked at me like I was being silly, gave me a big smile, and said "I'm so proud of you, Mommy!" Ha

Random Recent Pictures

funny story -  After church on Sunday, we ate lunch at the country club.  While we were eating, GA looked out the window, pointed to the pro shop and said, "I go see Brian [our head pro] over there at his house".  She walked right into his office like she owned the place.  This is what happens when your daddy typically takes you the golf course instead of the park at age 2. (And so funny she thinks Brian lives there!)

  This was at the Christmas party at GA's school.  She is very serious about eating!

Don't bother me when I have CHEESE PUFFS!

And this is just a funny picture of how I found Minnie and

 Mickey the other day - each with their own bowl and paci! 

Kate's Birthday (mostly GA running wild)

We had fun celebrating Kate's birthday, but most of my pictures were just of the kids "running wild" as I call it. GA has SO much fun with with them and thinks that she is SO BIG!    Laudan shared most of these pictures with me - I think they are adorable!  I know we will love looking back on these when they get older!

Three Little Monkeys (Ben, John Henry, and GA) jumping on the bed!  I was so nervous that GA was going to fall into the wall, but she had a blast! 

 The sweetest friends!

GA hugging Kate

(a little too hard - we are going to have to work on that!) 

 Swinging!

(The above picture was taken about 3 seconds before we had a MAJOR meltdown because it was someone else's turn, it was past our bedtime, and we had to go home!)

Introducing. . .

Elizabeth Lea Swift

"Lizzie"

Due May 3rd, 2011

Ummm . . . .Santa, I think you are a little weird looking!

This one was taken at school.  I think GA was trying to figure out why this Santa didn't look like the one on the Polar Express!

Polar Express

Last night, we went to the ride the Polar Express at the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum.  We had a great time.  It wasn't too cold and our group (Hendersons, Apels, Ruschs, and us) had a whole section of the train car to ourselves.  It was great because the kids could walk up and down the aisles of the train, play together, and share snacks (or should I say share with Grace Ann who is like her mom and loves everybody else's food better than her own!)  The only bad part was that some of the kids weren't too excited about getting close to Santa, and we didn't get that many great pictures with him. Overall, it was a good trip and really fun to go as a big group.

We ran into a distant, adorable cousin Max when we got there!

 So excited to see the train!

sitting with Mommy 

Sitting with Daddy (apparently so much more fun!)

 Sitting alone! 

Laudan and Kate 

 All Aboard Santa and Mrs. Claus!

Santa hugging GA! 

 our best attempt at a photo