Whirlwind Weekend

Last weekend was literally a whirlwind.  Friday night was the firm party, Saturday Mac had two birthday parties back to back, then we all went to the downtown Christmas parade followed by supper club.  I got a handful of pictures but was generally too busy running around like a chicken with my head cut off to pull my camera out.

Sunday we had Breakfast with Santa at PCC followed by the Santa Party at Betsy Daniels’ house.  in the middle of all that we missed Beckett’s 2nd birthday party b/c we just couldn’t be at 3 places at the same time!  Breakfast with Santa has become an annual tradition with the Velianitis boys and this year was no exception.  We had a great time and got a few cute pics.

I got a few pictures at Betsy’s but not many.  It wasn’t due to lack of effort but more a result of uncooperative subjects.  Hopefully Richie got a few good pics of the kids in Santa’s lap. 

Despite everyone being exhausted Monday morning, we loved almost every minute of our crazy busy weekend!  

   

Quick change of the clothes and then onto the Santa Party at Betsy’s!  

This is one of my favorite pictures of the day.  As you can tell from the other pictures of Coe with Santa, he is not a fan.  He doesn’t cry when he gets near Santa but he refuses to smile.  Finley on the other hand made it very clear that she is not a fan of Santa.  I can just hear the thoughts running through Coe’s head here…look Fin I don’t like the guy either but why are you causing such a scene?

Christmas PJs

Ice Cream Date

A few weeks ago sweet Frances turned 3 and celebrated with a ballet birthday party.  Since Coe isn’t into ballet (thank goodness says daddy), he opted for an ice cream date instead.  We picked Frances up one Saturday after naps and the two of them had a blast loading their ice cream with toppings and then playing with Frances’s new Sophia dolls.  It is probably unrealistic wishful thinking to hope Frances will be my future daughter in law (one can hope though, right?!), but I do pray these two will remain friends forever.  They share a special bond that is similar to their older brothers’ bond yet unique in their own special way. 

Frances + Coe Coe = Friends Forever

Thanksgiving 2013

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Birmingham this year.  It was freezing almost the whole time we were there which I personally loved.  Its fun for us Floridians to wear our coats, scarves and sweaters…at least for a few days!  The boys and I were in town for a whole week due to a work commitment I had in Jasper, AL the Monday before Thanksgiving.  Shaw, Heather and the girls were in town by Tuesday afternoon and Albi rode up with Forrest and Ed on Wednesday. 

It was great having so much time in Birmingham and never feeling rushed to get stuff done.  We shopped.  We ate.  We played and then we shopped some more!  The boys even saw Santa one day at the mall.  The only negative of the whole week was watching Alabama lose to Auburn.  Admittedly it was a pretty big negative, but no one let it ruin their weekend.

Time is flying by and Christmas will be here in less than two weeks.  The holidays always make me nostalgic.  There are very few Thanksgiving meals that I specifically remember eating or Christmas presents that I remember opening, but I know I was happy, and I know I felt loved.  Forrest and I were surrounded by family during the holidays and the magic of Christmas was always alive.  I want my boys to look back and say the same thing one day.  During this season we have so much to be thankful for and by far my greatest blessings are my two little turkeys below!