With my birthday down...the official Christmas Countdown is on!

Payton made it to the GOOD list. (Griffin was already on it). WHOOP!

As all of you with children, or who have had children, will understand, Christmastime is SO completely exciting.  It's beyond awesome to watch it unfold through their eyes, and I believe this year will be THE best Christmas yet.  The kids are old enough to understand, better, what Christmas is really about, but they will still bound upstairs Christmas morning to see what Santa has left for them.  And just like Griffin and Payton, I.CAN.NOT.WAIT!  In the meantime, we watch Christmas movies and shows, they run upstairs to find Elfie first thing each morning, we wrap presents, and look at all the beautiful Christmas lights.  Maybe one of these years we'll be brave enough to head to McAdenville to see their lights.

Well, Payton evidently fell out of her bed, one night, and hit her chin on her nightstand, causing her to have a horribly black bruise, and chipped bottom, front tooth.  We paid a visit to the dentist, and after x-rays, they determined that all will be okay.  She was complaining about pain (the root was exposed) but that has diminished.  Hey, at least no stitches between the two....YET!  (Did I just jinx myself??)  Griffin has been sick with a cold, possibly the flu, for about a week.  Horrible, NON-STOP coughing, a fever, chills, and just plain not feeling well.  Of course, this all happened during my birthday week, so we had to adjust a few plans.  Playing nurse to my cuddly little baby boy was just fine though.  Payton now has a seal-like cough, but as long as the pukey bug stays away, I think we'll all make it.  'Tis the season...

Getting his nebulizer breathing treatment

Feeling better!

 We did go out to dinner with my parents Wednesday night (Griffin wasn't feeling great, but we were able to make it through dinner). And Thursday, my actual birthday, we had dinner and drinks with friends, to celebrate. Brian cooked some of my favorite food for dinner.  (Filet and chocolate cheesecake...duh!)  Friday night my friends took me to dinner at Baku (a HUGE THANK YOU to Shiela and Thomas for dinner and incredible wine, and to Nana and Granddude for babysitting!) Jace, Audrey, Celeste, Nick, and Jason all met us there. The place was AMAZING!  We all loved it, and I especially liked the nigiri and sashimi plate (I ate sea urchin and live diver scallops!)  A foodie's dream. I highly recommend!  Shiela had us all back to her place for some good wine, and then we all went to Whiskey Warehouse.  Saturday evening we were able to sneak out for a bit to see Uncle Gary's band play. Thanks to my family and friends for such a fun weekend!

Two of my favorite men!  Brian and Nick

My girls...Celeste and Andy

Brian, Jason, Nick, and Jace...at Whiskey Warehouse

Beautiful ladies...Audrey and Andy

Channeling Miley.  Okay, not really.

With the world famous Leisure McCorkle...the original "Lees..."  No, "Leighs."  HA!

With my boys...Nick and Uncle Gary.  Check out the tie!

Backing up a little, here are a few pictures I've taken since the Thanksgiving update.  Please enjoy and look for another update sometime soon....Have a VERY Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, in case I don't get around to another update this year!!

A DAY AT LATTA PARK WITH OLLIE AND NORIE GUTHRIE

And, anyone remember that "hot" front that came through on Friday, December 7th?  Well, we totally took advantage of it and went out on the lake with a couple neighbors.  Seriously.  Boat weather in December?  YES, PLEASE!

They can really be sweet, sometimes ;)

We took the kids to have breakfast with Santa, at Brio.  Mr. Twister, the balloon guy, was there.  Griffin wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with this Santa (in his defense, he was pretty creepy looking)...so I'm surprised I was able to get the camera out and get anything one-handed.  Brian was paying the tab, and Payton was busy telling Santa all the items on her long list.  Good thing she made it to the good list!

After being on the lake, Griffin wouldn't go out the door without his life jacket.  He was in tears when I said he couldn't take it with us, so he won, and off we went with the life jacket!  Thankfully he agreed to leave it in the car!

Do you remember the turkey that chased me when I was out running?  Well, he's back!  And apparently he's a permanent resident.  I was out running last week, and he was standing in a driveway.  His "momma" came out on the front porch yelling, "Stanley!  Stanley!  Get back over here!"  I about died.  As I was laughing, running down the street, I looked back and guess who?  I don't think he likes me very much, but I did find out he has a Facebook page (which I have been unsuccessful in finding) and that he came from the fire department down the street.  His "daddy" is one of the firemen. So, when you come to visit us, please watch out for Stanley, HA!

Elfie was busted trying to steal tree ornaments!  Griffin kept saying, "You're a bad boy, Elfie!"

Payton and I went to church with Aunt Miss.  When we got home, both boys were still in bed.  One was sleeping.  I'll let you guess which one was not.

Bad luck?  She doesn't care.

And here's G playing basketball.  I still can't say, for sure, if he likes basketball or baseball better, but I'm pretty certain he'll be an athlete!

We are off to Virginia to see Nana and Granddude this weekend, for the Christmas festivities to officially begin.  We're looking forward to seeing The Gregory Brothers for their annual Christmas show, and spending time with the grandparents.  Then, Christmas in Charlotte with Granby, Grumps, and Uncle JP, and off to the mountains for mommy, Griffin, and Payton to try out our new snowboards!  WHOOP!  So, Santa, what I really would like for Christmas is for snow to DUMP, DUMP, DUMP!  Please, and thank you!

If I don't get around to updating this again before Christmas, please have a wonderful holiday, and Happy New Year!!  xo I'll leave you with this....(and our very late Christmas cards will be going out tomorrow.  I ordered them December 2nd, and am JUST to receive today.  Grrrrrrr!)