Sunday, January 03, 2010

A Cutting Christmas

On Christmas Day we headed over to Grammy & Papa's house! We had a great day eating, opening up gifts, eating more, playing with our gifts... you get the idea! Soooooo many gifts it was borderline ridiculous! The girls loved it!

Anna opening her stocking!

Claire with her stocking!

So pretty!

Our family on Christmas Day 2009!

Aunt Sharon & Uncle Brad... their first Christmas!

Aunt Beth & Steven!

It is a Cutting tradition to hide the gifts!

I think the girls had as much fun finding the hidden gifts as opening them!

Anna was good at this game of hide-n-seek!


Grammy & Papa! Thank you for all you do for our family!


Grammy opening her photobook from our Christmas Tea! She loved it!

Grammy always gets the boys a silly gift and this year she found these hats with dreads. Ben rolled some wrapping paper to make it look like a dooby. We were cracking up! Funny stuff!!

Sweet! The girls love their Aunt Bethie!!

The "Dooby Brothers"! haha!!!

We had a FUN Christmas!!

Nativity Dresses

Okay... maybe I'm crazy, but wouldn't you think it'd be EASY to find clothing with the nativity on it at Christmastime? Well, the answer is an astounding "No". It's nearly impossible! Anyway, I can appreciate all the commercial subjects of Christmas, but I like to remember and incorporate the TRUE meaning of Christmas into the festivities! So... I found these nativity dresses and I love them! May we all remember to keep the birth of Jesus at the heart of our celebrations and throuhout the year!



Glory to God on the Highest and peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

Christmas Morning

We had a magical Christmas morning at the Cutting house! The girls were sooooo excited about Christmas morning. There was much anticipation about opening up all the Christmas gifts! Ben & I had fun buying and assembling their gifts. I have an all new perspective on Christmas now that I am a mother and see Christmas through the eyes of my girls! All ready for a two & three year old to rip into!

So excited they can hardly contain themselves!

I love how they're in their own little "'Claire & Anna World"! So sweet!

A little help from Daddy!

...and from Mommy!

Claire was so excited about her ironing board and iron! Such a helper!

Anna playing with their new kitchen!


Opening up their stockings!

Claire asked Santa for pink roller skates! Somehow... he was able to deliver even if it took LOTS OF SEARCHING!!

Probably one of the most entertaining gifts was the puppet theatre! Mommy & Daddy put on several puppet shows for the girls! Claire is really into puppets right now!

The girls each got a stick horse!

Giddy Up, Horsey!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve evening at Grammy & Papa's house. Uncle Brad & Aunt Sharon came into town that afternoon from Atlanta so it was fun to spend some time with them! The girls in their Christmas nightgowns that Grammy bought for them!

My sweet Claire!

Getting sooooo excited about Christmas morning!

They have so much fun together!

Merry Christmas (almost!!)!

Saturday, January 02, 2010

Birthday Dinner

On Anna's actual birthday, December 21st, we went over to Grammy & Papa's house for her birthday dinner! I decorated with the Elmo theme to make it more festive amidst all the Christmas activities that surround her birthday. As I've mentioned before... we COMPLETELY separate Anna's birthday from anything holiday related!! I think we did a good job this year!
Sesame Street decorations!

Grammy made the cutest Cookie Monster cupcakes!

Anna the Birthday Girl!

Our family!

Grammy holding the birthday music box that has become a birthday tradition in our home!


The birthday music box! Love it!


Grammy made an "Anna's Favorites Dinner". It included chicken tenders, carrots and mac-n-cheese! She loved it!


Anna blowing out her candles with the help of Big Sis!

Daddy's girls!

Aunt Beth & Steven with the girls!

Digging into her birthday cupcake!

'Stick the Nose on Elmo' game. Notice Grammy doing it correctly with a blindfold...

...and the girls breaking the rules without a blindfold!

Opening her gifts!

Aunt Bethie got Anna a Radio Flyer scooter! Both girls love it!

Taking her new ride out for a spin!

Grammy & Papa got her this tent with a tunnel! Lots of fun!