Festival of Trees

This is the 2nd year we have gone to this at the Orlando Museum of Art.  I love seeing all the creative trees up for viewing and sale and Kennedy loves the kids area...which also includes a special man with a white beard.  He is so awesome too, so great with the kids.  He did have candy canes which worked in his favor with two hesitant 2 year olds.  My aunt was in town at this time so I left Presley at home for some QT with my big girl.  We went with our friend Lisa and Grace and had a great visit!

Here we are!  We took this picture because the girls insisted on switching strollers, they are too funny.

 

We stopped in front of the Dr. Seuss tree for a photo op and Grace was not having it!  She's not a fan of group pictures, haha.  Oh and the little boy to the right is Ben, Lisa's friend Kristen's little one.

 

 Look who else was there?! Photo with JT, yes please!

 

 I loved this Santa.  If you have candy, they will come....  He was also showing them a picture of his pet squirrel on his iPhone.

 

 Grace's turn...

 

 Maybe not...

 

 Sure why not!

 

 Group photo with mommy.

 

 Such a big girl, she went all by herself next.  I think he may have given her another candy cane :)

 

 Kennedy is next!

 

She did it...for a candy cane for sure, haha.

 

 Momma had to tell him what she wanted for Christmas too.  She has been extra good this year!

 

 

Everyone had so much fun!  Definitely recommend The Festival of Trees to get you in the holiday spirit! 

 

 



The Graf Family Christmas Tree Tradition

This is the 3rd year in a row that we pre-ordered our Christmas tree from the Eola Indian Federation through the YMCA in Orlando.  We have had the best luck with this and it is so easy.  Order, pay, pick up!  You are guaranteed a great looking 7-9 foot tree!  We had our hands even more full this year so with a baby on my hip and chasing a toddler and snapping photos (yes I am talented), Rusty picked up a tree to show me, I said "That's it!", and we walked out with it!  Yep, all me this year and I have to say, it is perfect!  Since my mom and aunt were still in town, everyone got to help decorate it too.  I heart the holidays. 

 On our way to get our tree!  Presley is wondering why she is actually WEARING a tree on her head, haha!  That face.  Those lips.  She is perfect.

 

It was a little chilly.

 

Rusty caught this picture of Auntie taking a picture of me and the girls.  She is so funny trying to take a picture!

 

Discussing the tree...this was THE ONE!

 

 

Kennedy approved too.  We had to measure to make sure it would fit in our house, haha.  We don't have those 12 foot condo ceiling anymore!

 

Waiting to have the end trimmed a little.  I love how Kennedy is holding Rusty's hand.

 

The Graf Family Christmas Tree 2013. Look at the sweetness in this picture!!  

Loaded up in the truck, baby and all!

 

 Getting the tree ready to bring inside.  Rusty looks thrilled and Matty was so into it, haha.  Look how perfect shaped it is, thank you very much.

 

 Checking the lights...

 

 Eric was just chillin' listening to the Christmas music!

 

 As I said before...thrilled.

 

 I have to get pics of the girls in this hat.  I have done it with Kennedy the past 2 years, so fun!

 

 Nini and Auntie getting their decorating on!

 

The next morning the girls woke up to the tree decorated and all the fun musical things underneath (I need a tree skirt ASAP).  They loved it and yes, Kennedy took ornaments off all day!

 

So. Thankful.

Thanksgiving day we were able to see both of our families...in one day!  We traveled to DeLand first to see Uncle Johnny and soon to be Aunt Morgan and also Aunt Nicki, Uncle Clif, and Asher. They were celebrating at Johnny's soon to be in laws and they live on some gorgeous lake front property as you will see below.  Kennedy was in heaven with all the dogs running around too!  Morgan's dad made me his famous drink the "Vicki" and then I was in heaven too and ready for the day, haha.  We had a nice short visit and then it was onto Ormond Beach to eat turkey dinner with my family.  Uncle Bucci's mom June hosted the dinner at her house and it was a full house for sure!  My mom (with the help of a few others) overdid herself as usual cooking for the army that we are, or she thinks we are (love you mom).  It was so yummy!  Kennedy was so happy to be playing with her cousin Landon that Rusty and I actually got to SIT and eat.  Presley even got to try some turkey baby food!  Both the girls had a great day and loved being with all the family, no nap for Kennedy and all.  We were just missing a few people from each family and the day would have been completely complete.  We felt blessed to have been with so many loved ones that day.

SO much to be thankful for this year.  I love everything in this picture so much.

 

Checking out the lake with Uncle Johnny and the dog.

This is the canoe Johnny asked Morgan to marry him in.  Look at my little turkey here!  I really want to eat her.

The girls :)  I was so happy it was actually cold that day!

 

Rusty helped them inject their turkey Cajun style.  We didn't have to cook again this year, kinda nice!

Presley having a snack with her new turkey bib!

 

Meet Morgan, my soon to be new sister in law on the Graf side.  She is so great!

Almost all the Graf's, love this! 

Almost all the Birnie's, love this too!  Kennedy looks like she is about to dig in...I don't blame her!

 

Hope everyone had a  Happy Thanksgiving!  Now it's time for Christmas, wow!!

Kennedy's school Thanksgiving program!

I mean they already had me at the Halloween costume parade...and now a Thanksgiving program with the cutest little turkeys and Indians ever singing and dancing to the cutest little songs ever??!!  I. Can't. Even.  I had to laugh while I was videoing to keep from crying.  We were so proud of Kennedy, she knew exactly what to do in each song and was one of the very few from her class that wasn't too shy to stand up with the bigger kids to perform.  If I can figure out how to post a video of the performance I will, it was that cute!  Nini and Uncle Eric (or carrot as Kennedy says) even got to come watch since they arrived that morning for a Thanksgiving visit.  Kennedy recognized them right away in the audience and started waving.  It was such a great day and kick off to the fun family week to follow...take a look and see! 

 Here she comes!  They had to move the show inside at the last minute due to weather so we were a little packed.  Kennedy was so cute looking for us.

 

 There she goes, our big girl!

 

 She sat right down. In the wrong spot.  But right next to our friends the Sharons at least. 

 

 This is when she realized where we were in the audience.

 

 That sweet face.

 

 Doing her moves, she did so great!

 

 Her hat kept slipping down, too funny.

 

 Yay Kennedy!

 

 This is her teacher Ms. Amber.  She moved closer and closer to her.

 

 This is her teacher Mrs. Andi.  We are so blessed to have them as her teachers!

 

 Our friends, the Sharon Family.  The twin girls are a year older than Kennedy.  Jeremy works with Rusty and this is how we found out about this great pre-school program at Maitland Presbyterian.

 

 Uncle Eric was there too!  Kennedy calls him carrot, hilarious!

 

 Nini with Kennedy's turkey hat!

 

 Love!  Kennedy looks so grown up! Tear.

 

 Rusty was there too but can you believe we didn't get one good picture??!!  Auntie stayed home with Presley since it was her nap time.  So thankful for family.