Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Oh, the weather outside is frightful,

but playing in it is so delightful

And since all the roads are closed,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It doesn't seem like it's staying,

So let's pick up some snow for tasting

The taste is really kind of gross

But let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

When we finally get to work,

I'll stop to make an angel of snow,

Then I'll ride down the icy cold slide

Then in a while to sleep I will go!

The storm it is slowly dying,

And hot chocolate I soon will be trying

But as long as I keep myself warm,

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Big Girl Bed!!

Tonight is my first night in my brand new big girl bed. Even though my new room isn't completely finished yet, I was so excited when Daddy put my bed together that I knew it was time to leave the crib.

Mommy cuddled with me in bed for a few minutes after my nighttime story. I kissed her goodnight and told her that is was OK for her to leave. After she left I read another book or two on my own before I fell asleep.

I think I just heard Mommy and Daddy check up on me. I'm sure they were delighted to see that I was sleeping smack in the middle of the bed - no rolling off the side, yet! I was too tired to tell them not to worry, so I went right back to sleep.

As I always say to Mommy,

Sweet Dreams!!

Pug Love

My good pal Trixie has had a rough few weeks. She has a corneal ulcer in her left eye, which is a very painful injury for a dog. It's basically like a hole in her cornea. These ulcers can spread rapidly and cause blindness. Luckily we were able to get Trix to the vet quickly, and her wonderful doc put her on a regimen of strong drops and antibiotics. She goes back to the vet for her third eye visit tomorrow, and hopefully we'll learn that her sight in that eye can be saved.

I always help Mommy take Trix to these visits, and I have been very concerned about my pug pal. This injury has made me realize how much I love both of my puggies and how lucky I am to have such loving, loyal pups in my life.

For once, Emmet isn't the one with an eye problem. He had his eye surgery three years ago, and has been looking in an east-west direction with clarity ever since! Well, when his eyes are open, that is...

Just to prove how much I love my puggies...I let Emmet sleep with my beloved Blankie and Ninny recently. NOBODY gets to sleep with Blankie and Ninny, but Emmet looked like he could use some cuddly friends that day!
I used to be very protective of my Elmo chair, too, until I realized that Trixie found it to by comfy for her old bones.

Mommy hopes that I share my favorite things with my baby sister as well as I do with my puggies.

Feel better soon, Trix. I love you!!!

Guitar Hero

Daddy and I are real Guitar Heroes - not the fake kind with the videogame. Every so often we'll rock out to some music on the radio. I love playing Daddy's big guitar.

Someday I'll be the first guitar playing ballerina the world has ever known!!

Everything I Need to Know About Life...

...I learned in preschool!
I am proud to announce that I am now officially a school girl :) Last Monday I started class at a great preschool. My new classroom is in the same building as my former daycare, so I still get to see my old friends and teachers - how lucky am I?!?

What I learned at preschool:

1. Stick with your fashion instincts. Even when Mommy wants to take a photo of you wearing your backpack on the first day of school, ignore her pleas if the backpack does not match your outfit!


2. Obey your Mommy. When you arrive and your new teacher shows you where the dollhouse is, humor your Mommy and smile for a photo (even though you really want her to leave so that you can play in your new classroom.)

3. Be thankful. If there are two other girls in your new class, and you're used to being the only girl, give thanks. (I loved my boys in daycare, but was SO happy to play with my new girlfriends Nora and Evie!)


4. Be patient and wait for your turn to speak. It will be difficult to hold in all of the exciting things about school that you WANT to tell your mommy when she picks you up, but it will be a few minutes before she is finished speaking with your teacher about your first day. When she is finished, though, try to speak slowly even though you are bursting with excitement.


5. Demostrate your new knowledge.

We learned about shapes in class on the first day, so what better way to apply new learning in a real life situation than by going to "Old McDonald's" for lunch! My cheeseburger was a circle shape, my drink box was a rectangle...


6. Play nicely with others. I dropped my "boys have cooties" act and played very well with Drewbie at Old McDonald's.


7. Always be gentle.

I guess my mind was wandering during that lesson!

The 12 Joys of Christmas

The 1st thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...Drew and I admiring the Nativity

The 2nd thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...pumpkin pie after Christmas Eve mass

The 3rd thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...butt flap personalized jammies from Aunt Amy

The 4th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...a posh hat like Fancy Nancy's

The 5th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...a Leapster 2 under the Christmas tree

The 6th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...a cottage to pretend to be a mommy

The 7th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...a freaky, life-like pet call "Fur Real Kitty"

The 8th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...Uncle Mar giving pizza-making lessons to me

The 9th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...quality time with far-away family

The 10th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...

...showing JoePa how to play WWE

Mommy did a poor job of keeping the camera battery charged - the last two will have to do without photos. Sorry!!

The 11th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me...spending the day at Grandma Betsy's

The 12th thing at Christmas that's such a joy to me... spending New Year's with my friends Evan and Avery (although the Rose Bowl was NOT a joy to me!)

Thank you all SOOOOO much for a wonderful holiday season. I am so happy that I was able to visit so many family and friends, and I feel so special to have received so much love (and so many great gifts!!)

I had a wonderful 2008, I can't wait to see what 2009 has to bring!

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

I know that I haven't actually spoken to you this year. I don't really know why I won't sit on your lap - maybe it's the long beard.

Anyway, I just wanted you to know that I've tried really hard to be a good girl this year. If you get a chance and are flying around my neighborhood, I'd be very happy if you dropped by my house and left me a few gifts.

In case you do drop in, I left some chocolate chip cookies that I made for you. I also made some chicken and stars soup for your reindeer to help warm them up on this cold December night. I hope you all enjoy the goodies!

Have a safe trip, Santa.

Love,

Charlotte

Nuttin' For Christmas

The title, of course, is not referring to me. I have been a VERY good girl this year, so I'm sure Santa will be stopping by with lots of presents for me. The title refers to a Christmas song that I've been listening to almost as much as the Disney version of "Deck the Halls."

Mommy decided that since she has to listen to this song 20 times a day, she might as well share it with everyone else. Enjoy!!

Clarice

Meet my new favorite holiday obsession - Clarice the reindeer!! Yesterday Mommy bought me a Clarice doll, and today at Santa's Workshop I went to visit the big Clarice statue. I told Mommy that I want to change my name vote for my little sister from DeeDee to Clarice!!

Even with my friend Clarice by my side (cousin Drew, too!), I still wouldn't go near the big guy to tell him what I want for Christmas. Good thing he has email!!

Fa La La La La

Do you need some holiday spirit? I, Charlotte the Dancing Fairy Elf, can help you! Just come to my house. We play "Deck the Halls" nonstop! If that doesn't get you in the holiday spirit, nothing will...

I only stop dancing to check up on my little sister!

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

To work off the ridiculous amounts of food that I ate this weekend, I decided to help decorate our Christmas tree. I managed to break out of my turkey coma, slap on my reindeer antlers and get to work.

Choosing the first ornament to put on the tree is a very important task. This year I decided to go with the beautiful Tinkerbell ornament that Nana just bought for me!

After taking approximately four minutes to choose the perfect branch, my tongue helped me to hang Tinkerbell very carefully. You did know that you have to stick out your tongue when hanging an ornament, right? It helps with balance.







Minutes to choose the perfect first ornament: 6

Minutes to find the perfect branch for the perfect first ornament: 4

Minutes spent admiring the perfect ornament on the perfect branch: endless

Why do I have to be so yittle? Someday I'll be able to reach the higher branches!















I found the very first ornament I received when I was just a yittle baby!! I am going to have to buy a matching one for my sister next year!

This was me two years ago helping to decorate the tree. I haven't aged at all, have I?!


I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!

The Name Game!!

Now that we know that I'm going to have a baby sister, it's time to come up with a name! Instead of surprising everyone with a name that only Mommy and Daddy knew at her birth, Daddy decided to make a game of it!

Daddy wants you all to take the survey in the sidebar on the right side of my blog. Once you submit your favorite name for my sister, you must then refer to her by that name until she arrives. Mommy, Daddy and I will then choose her name from that list, so choose carefully (that means no "Orlanda" suggestions, Uncle Mar!!) Mommy, Daddy and I will also submit our suggestions, but that doesn't necessarily mean that her name will be one of those. I included two photos of my li'l sis to help inspire you!

RULES:

1. You may submit only ONE name!

2. You may not repeat a name on the list - if you do, it will be deleted! Check the link provided in the sidebar BEFORE you submit so that you know you aren't repeating.

3. You must refer to my sister by your suggestion until she is born.

4. Submit only serious suggestions!!

***the link with all of the votes updates every 5 minutes, so if your vote doesn't show up right away, don't panic!! :)

Have fun!!

PS - Check out my Santa picture below!

Strength In Numbers

I love Santa. I really do. I just don't want to sit on his lap, make eye contact with him, or tell him what I want for Christmas. I can send him my list on email.

Mommy really wanted me to talk to him this year. Sorry, Mommy, not happening.

My BFF Avery, my future husband Evan, and my newest friend Madelyn went to talk to him yesterday at the King of Prussia Mall, so I VERY reluctantly decided I'd pose for a photo with all of them.

This was as far away as I could get from him and still be in the photo. Are you happy, Mommy??? Now, off to write my email...

Princess' Night Out

It felt like Christmas morning last Saturday when Mommy told me that we were going to Hershey to see Disney on Ice. Even better, she said we were going with my good friend Genna and her mommy. I was SO excited that I could barely make it through dancey dance class in the morning.

After nap, we drove out to Genna's house and got ready for our princess' night out. I became Sleeping Beauty and Genna turned into Snow White. We couldn't have a princess' night out without looking the part!!


After a yummy dinner at Red Robin, we arrived at the arena and walked around the Princess Pre Show. We saw all of the Disney Princess' beautiful gowns. If only I were a little taller I could have tried on some of them (when the guards weren't looking at least!)

After the pre show, Mommy found out that Penn State had lost to Iowa with one second left in the game. I could tell that Mommy was crushed, but she put on a brave face and took us to our seats.


I tried to console Mommy by showing her how excited I was for the show. Do you think this face made her feel better?!












As the lights went down, I forgot all about Mommy's disappointment and couldn't concentrate on anything but the beautiful show in front of me!!


As I watched everyone from Cars, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid and Tinkerbell (my new favorite!) glide across the ice, I didn't even realize that I had eaten half of Genna's popcorn. It was the first time that I'd had popcorn - I just couldn't help myself!!








I was so cute during the show that Mommy couldn't help buy buy me a special new Tinkerbell cup and an Ariel magic wand. Not only did I get to see great figure skating, but I received some great new toys, too!


As the Tinkerbell set came to a close, I realized that I have a new favorite Disney Princess. She is just so cute and fun!



What a great show!!!!


Mommy was so impressed by the show that she (almost) forgot about the Penn State loss!










Genna and I had a BLAST on our princess' night out - let's do it again soon!!



During my night out, I was thinking of my friend Alyssa, who is not feeling well right now. I hope you are better VERY soon, Ally. We're all thinking of you!!! :)

Rock Obama!!

On Tuesday, November 4th, Mommy let me go with her to the voting booth to cast her ballot for Barack Obama (or as I like to call him, "Rock" Obama!) We were both so excited when he won (Daddy is another story...!) We were just as excited for Auntie Tara, since she worked so hard in southern Virginia to help get him elected. Virginia looks good in blue :)

I haven't been able to see Auntie Tara in MONTHS, but I understand that she had a very important job to do. We are so proud of what she has accomplished!!


Auntie Tara's mom wanted to put together a care package to get her through the LOOONG election day, so I got to work on my Obama art. I wanted to do my part to help Auntie Tara get through the day.



When we went to Mama and Papa Gibson's house to deliver our care package items, I of course had to stop and visit my favorite kitty - 21 year old Patches. She gets my vote as the cutest kitty in the world!!

I can't wait to see you, Auntie Tara!! Tell Rock Obama it's MY turn to have you now!!

IT'S A...

I am so happy!! The very nice ultrasound tech said that the baby looked perfect. We got some great photos that we'll share once we get them scanned into the computer. It was hard to get good shots because the baby was SO squirmy. More details later...!!!