I Was On The NICE List!!!

Santa came to see me and I was on the NICE list! I got everything on my wish list. I love my baby alive. Mommy and Daddy have already threatened to remove her batteries. She talks all of the time and has too Poop and Pee incessantly. I have not had her 24 hours yet and she has already had more diaper changes than Ella has needed in a week. Santa set up my jumpy castle under the carport since it was raining this morning. I got a little wet but I can jump really high! Mommy got in the jumpy castle with me. I can jump higher than her already. She and I enjoyed making funny faces at Daddy when he was taking our pictures. I love my VSMILE game. I must get my computer gaming skills from my Daddy. Mommy still can't figure out the games but, I have gotten to the 3rd level on the Ariel game already.Santa also left me a Christmas bell and a note. Mommy is going to post my note from Santa below. Santa ate all of the cookies and drank the milk we left out for him. The reindeer ate all of those carrots, food and candy canes we left out side too. They must have been hungry!!! I LOVE SANTA!!!

We went to Gaga's house for breakfast Christmas morning. It was lots of fun. I got a pretty pink dress coat with white fir trim, a pink warm up suit, a pretty outfit with a snowflake on it, a beautiful Sleeping Beauty Madame Alexander Doll, a princess craft kit, a book and some other great surprises. Gaga's birthday was Christmas eve. Since we were in Charleston this year, on Christmas Eve, we couldn't be at the birthday party that Sissy had for Gaga. I was upset that we were missing her birthday party. Mommy promised me we could do something special for her when we got home. I told Mommy that I wanted to have Gaga a Tea Party Birthday. With Mommy and Dadddy's help I had a tea party birthday for Gaga at our house Christmas night. I helped Mommy and Daddy cook, set the table and clean up. We used the "good china" and I even got to drink out of the crystal. I selected Gaga's Birthday present this year- Green stripe PJ's (which she loved). For dinner, I fixed beef tenderlion, baked potato, broccoli, cabbage and cressent rolls. I said the blessing all by myself. For dessert we had tea (in real tea cups) and birthday cake. Gaga needed my help blowing out the candles and I certainly didn't mind helping her. Gaga and I both dressed up fancy. Gaga wore a gorgious black outfit, her fur coat and a black hat. I wore my Barbie dancing princess dress and crown, that Santa brought me. We looked so beautiful. I did have to take off my dress before Gaga left, it was itching me. What a FUN CHRISTMAS NIGHT BIRTHDAY TEA PARTY FOR GAGA!!!

Santa Claus
1 Christmas Lane
North pole, Alaska 11111

December 25th, 2006

Dear Mary Catherine,

Ho! Ho! Ho! Thank you for the wonderfully decorated Christmas cookies and chocolate milk you left me. They were Yummy! My reindeer loved the candy canes, carrots, and food. Candy canes make Rudolph able to fly so much higher.

Old Santa has been keeping his eyes on you this year. You have really been growing up and trying to be a good girl. Zip has been giving me some good reports this year from your house. Looks like you have been a good girl and you were on the “NICE LIST”, I brought you a Baby Alive and the Dancing Princess and her Cat. There is a BIG surprise under the carport for you and Ella. Enjoy it! I also added in a few surprises. I hope you enjoy them all. Next year, work on just a few things. Watch that sassing, use your good manners, and always obey Mommy and Daddy. Also, be very careful with baby sister, Ella. She is a new little one and no poking or waking her up when she is sleeping. Santa will be watching to see how you do with these things this year.

I am so proud of how well you are doing at All Saints. I talked with your teachers, Mrs. Justice and Mrs. Crouch. They tell me you are a good little perky puppy. I can tell that you are smart as Blitzen all ready. Mrs. Justice tells me you can run as fast as Dasher. You should continue to work hard in school and learn all that you can.

This year you and Ella are receiving A Christmas Bell. When you put out Christmas decorations this special bell should be placed on the door of your room. Each time the bell rings, be reminded of the true spirit and meaning of Christmas. The ringing of this bell is a reminder that God sent his son Jesus as the greatest Christmas gift of all. Merry Christmas!

Love, Santa

HO! HO! HO!

Christmas Eve at our house was busy this year. When we got home from Charleston we had lots to do. We began by putting away all of our goodies from Charleston. Then we had some soup. While eating supper, the phone rang and it was for me. It was Santa on the phone. He told me he was packing the sleigh and wanted to make sure he had everything in the sleigh that was on my list before he left the North pole. I repeated my list- BABY ALIVE, JUMPY CASTLE, VSMILE and CHRISTMAS BELL. Santa told me to go to bed and he would definitely be by to see me a little later.

I put on my red Christmas Belle dress and sat down with Mommy, Daddy and Ella to read the Christmas story from Luke. This is the first year I really understood what the story was about. I ask lots of questions about Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Angels. We also discussed our goals for 2007. My goal is not to just look like a princess but to act like one too. This year I am going to work on being beautiful inside and out. This includes using my good manners all of the time.

Uncle Jay and Aunt Flo came over and brought Ella and I presents. They gave me this really cute pink and brown outfit, a popup wizard of Oz book and a tinkerbell sippy cup. I gave Aunt Flo a silver business card holder with her initials on it and Uncle Jay a yellow tie. I picked out both of their gifts myself. Before bedtime, Uncle Jay helped me put out reindeer food, carrots and candy canes for Santa's reindeer. He also wrote Santa a note that said he was a judge and he thought I had been a very very good girl this year and that by his order as a judge Santa should leave me everything on my list. We left the note right next to the cookie plate. Mommy helped me put out cookies and chocolate milk for Santa. Uncle Jay read "T'was The Night Before Christmas" and then it was bed time. Momma laid down with me. Gaga came by to help tuck me in bed. I said my prayers. I prayed for everyone I know and Santa. After I said my prayers, I got very quiet. I then asked "Mommy, do you think I have to many frowny faces on my behavior chart on the fridge?" Mommy assured me that I didn't have too many so I went to bed with confidence that Santa Clause was coming to Town!

Christmas in Charleston

We went to Charleston to spend sometime this Christmas with Meme & Mel, Pop Pop, Aunt Pam and Uncle David. We left on Thursday when Daddy got off work. I was very excited about this trip and was looking forward to snuggling with my Meme on the pull out sofa. When we got to Charleston, I was very wired up. I kept Meme up til after midnight. Finally Mommy and Daddy made me go to bed. I enjoy going to breakfast with Meme & Mel every morning at McDonnalds.

On Friday, Mommy and I baked and decorated Christmas cookies at Meme's house. They were so pretty when we finished. I ejoyed helping roll them out and put the cookie cutters on the dough to cut out the cookies. We made Christmas trees, Snowmen, Snowflakes, Gingerbread men, Candy canes, and hearts. We put white icing on some of the cookies and then decorated them with colored sugar. On some cookies we used piped icing to decorate. Did you know you have to turn the light on in the stove to make the cookies cook? That is what I told my Mommy.

On Saturday morning I went shopping with Daddy to pick out Mommy's Christmas present. Ella and I got Mommy an apron. She needed one since her old one broke. I picked out a pretty green one for her at Target. I told her when we got home that I wasn't going to tell her about the apron that Ella and I got her for christmas because it was a secret. My Mommy says I am just like her--->can't keep a secret for anything! On Saturday afternoon, we had Christmas with Meme. I got a Mickey Mouse Club House and all of the mickey mouse club house friends. I also got the Tune Car. It is so neat all of the friends talk to each other. I know I am going to have a great time playing with it.

We went to see the Christmas lights at James Island with Pop Pop Saturday night. I had a little accident as soon as we got there but Mommy helped me get dried up. I got to ride the carousel. I liked the Christmas lights very much. I just wish Ella would have stopped screaming. On Sunday,Mommy and Daddy took me to First Scots Presbyterian Church for Christmas Eve service. It was so beautiful. The music sounded like angels singing. After the children's message, I went to a special birthday party for Jesus. We had cupcakes and juice. I made a little necklace with a cross charm on it. After Church, we met Pop Pop, Aunt Pam and Uncle David at Cracker Barrel for lunch and then we went to Aunt Pam's to open presents. Pop Pop gave me this really cool fisher price digital camera. I love taking photos! It is a great gift that I am sure I am going to enjoy for many years to come.

Christmas with the Perky Puppies

The perky puppies class performed their second chapel program on Wednesday, December 20th at 8am with both the busy bees and friendly frog classes. They dressed as reindeers and they sang four songs. Their first song was "Happy Birthday Jesus". The second song was "SANTA"(to the tune of Bingo). They then sang "Where is SANTA?" and "Five Little Reindeer". We then went back to the classroom and took photos of the children. They did so very good and sang so loud.

Santa is Watching Me!

Everywhere we go these days Santa Claus is there. Mary Catherine thinks Santa is following us. We saw him at the Mall twice. He was at Effingham Presbyterian Church after the Candlelight service. He was peaking in the window of our perky puppy class at All Saints for two days. I really like santa these days. I call him "Santie."

Christmas Party At RJ Lee's House

Today I went to a Christmas Party at RJ Lee's house. This was a very special party for the children at Epworth Childrens Orphanage. It was so much fun. Tallon Goff, RJ Lee, Josh and I attended. We are all buddies from Central Mothers Morning Out. I had not seen Tallon or Josh in a few months since RJ & I go to All Saints. We are all growing up so fast! Everyone in attendance brought a gift for one of the childen at Epworth. We helped our Mommys wrap the gifts for the children at Epworth. Tallon was a pro with the tape. Once all of the gifts were wrapped we made crafts with stick on foam Christmas designs, stamps, hole punchers and markers. We made some really creative art projects. We then had snacks. Mrs. Cathy Lee gave us wonderful cookies, cupcakes, veggies and sparkling grapejuice. We loved the snacks and then we went outside to play. While we were outside, another guest arrived at the party. IT WAS SANTA!!!! He heard we were doing something special for the children at Epworth and he came by to check on us. Santa talked to us about the children at Epworth. Then he asked each of us what we wanted for christmas. We told him all kinds of neat things. RJ told him he wanted three different kinds of lunch boxes. Josh wants some kind of spiderman thing, Tallon wants shoes with rollers on the bottom. I told him I wanted a Baby Alive. RJ told Santa I wanted a sleeping beauty dress, crown wand and shoes. It was really cute. RJ and I danced ballet twirls for Santa. Josh showed Santa how he could do the spin around trick he had been working on. Tallon gave him five. Santa was very impressed with all of our energy and willingness to entertain him. We all thanked Santa for the candy canes and bouncy balls he gave us. What a great Christmas Party!

Lighting the Hope Advent Candle

Mary Catherine lit the first Candle of Advent today at Effingham Presbyterian Church. This was the Hope candle (the right, back purple candle). While we were lighting the candle Daddy read about the candle and this is what he said "We light this candle as a symbol of Expectation. May the light sent from God shine in the darkness to show us the Way to salvation. O Come, O Come, Emmauuel!" Mommy assisted Mary Catherine with the candle lighting. Mary Catherine is enjoying learning about advent this year. She has a little book called "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" that she got at All Saints school. We will read about one part of Advent each day and attach a new Advent sticker each day until Christmas.

Hello Santa!

Today Mary Catherine sat on Santa's lap for the very first time. We were Christmas shopping down at Coastal Grand Mall when Mary Catherine decided it was time for her to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what she wanted for christmas. She took Mommy and Ella with her. When we got up to Santa, Mommy walked up to Santa with Mary Catherine and said "Santa this is Mary Catherine." Santa said " Oh I know Mary Catherine she has been a good little girl this year." MAry Catherine said "Well, Santa I have been really trying hard!" Then she said "This is Ella my baby sister." Santa said, "I heard Ella had arrived." Mary Catherine was a little scard so Santa held out his hands for her and told her there was nothing to be afraid of. She held his hands and told him what she wanted for Christmas. She told him that she wanted a Baby Alive, a Jumpy Castle, a Barbie Dancing Princess Doll & Dress and a V Smile TV game. She then told him she wasn't really sure what Ella wanted. Santa said "Oh don't you worry, I know what Ella needs. Don't you think she needs a passifier and some baby toys?" They agreed!Mary Catherine then crawled up on Santas lap and Mommy put Ella on his other knee and we got a photo. Santa gave Mary Catherine a candy cane and told her to be a good girl. We were very proud of Mary Catherine.

As we were driving today, we also found out that Mary Catherine can spell SANTA! She sings a song called S-A-N-T-A to the tune of BINGO! Just a slight word of caution for those spellers we know!