December around the house

December around the Bartholomew home was B-U-S-Y!! We began preparing for Christmas on Thanksgiving night, once all the food was eaten and all the thanks had been said. Mason and I shopped and shopped on Black Friday - in shifts of course! Mason hit Toys R Us at midnight and didn't finally get through their line and out the door until 4:30 am, just in time to hit Target at 5:00! Once he got home at 7:00 am, he tagged me and I was off to the mall! We got a lot done that day. A lot of people think shopping all night long on Black Friday is insane. I will agree, it is. But I guess I am insane because I LOVE IT (and although Mason will deny it, he does too!)!

As I have already posted, my baby girl turned 4 years old on December 8Th. Then, to make matters worse, my baby boy turned ONE YEAR OLD on December 18Th. The kids are just growing up way to fast. It is sad, because I realize this but yet I still find myself shushing them when they are too loud, or trying to coralle them upstairs to the toy room to play rather than them dragging the toy room to the living room to play. I often question that and am conflicted. I REALLY want a moment of quiet and cleanliness now but, at the same time, I know the day is right around the corner when I will be BEGGING them to come downstairs, spend some time with me, climb on my lap, and make some noise (I think I will still be able to do without the mess though). Then I also find that I am getting mad at myself because I am spending so much time dwelling on the fact that they are growing up, won't like me soon, and should enjoy it now .... I am spending too much time in the "what is to come" nostalgia portion rather than just enjoying the here and now. I need to work on this. OK, enough pathetic-ness (yes, I like to invent words)....

For Max's birthday, I took him to get his first hair cut. He did fairly well. He cried off and on but I guess that is expected.

Mason can no longer call him a "Hippie Baby"!!

Max got his first taste of cake. He ate a little but didn't really tear into it and make a big ol' mess like most babies do. He tried a little, squished a little, and was done!

Max and his presents!

Becky, don't have a heart attack that he is sitting on the table. We were right there and I sanitized it first!! ;)

Max opening presents. He looks thrilled doesn't he? A little more excitement would have been nice! :)

Well atleast the other two enjoyed Max's new toys!!

Happy Birthday Max!!!

Mason's Uncle and Aunt treated all of us to a Stone Mountain Christmas. We got to enjoy a Polar Express 4D movie, a train ride, a parade (well SOME people got to enjoy the parade, others of us had to take a little girl to the bathroom RIGHT as the parade was about to start and miss the whole thing because they are standing in line then can't make their way back through the crowd to the family. This is the same little girl who did NOT have to go when asked 15 min. BEFORE the parade started ...), food, and the beautifully light Stone Mountain Village. It was fun but crowded and SOOOO cold, but I guess it would not have felt right if it weren't so cold.

Poor Max was bundled up SO much he looked like the Marshmallow Man and couldn't move!

Oh wait. That IS the Marshmallow Man that I made for Tyler's cake! (hehehe, I will take any opportunity to re-post that darling little guy won't I??!!) Here's Marshmallow Max!

One night Mason was working late, so the kids and I had a McDonald's picnic in the living room. We have learned that Max LOVES McDonald's chicken nuggets and tried to keep stealing Isabella's away from her every time she turned her head! :)


As we entered into the week of Christmas, we all got hit with the stomach flu! YUCK! First it was Tyler and me, then two days later Isabella, then the day after Christmas it struck Mason. We thought it was very nice of the bug to allow Mason to celebrate Christmas and his birthday before striking. Although the bug had a BIG, STINGING bite, it only lasted 12 hours. Max never got it that we know of, THANK GOD. He slept a whole lot last week so we do not know if that was his version of it or what but I will continue to hold my breath until we clear this week!

On to the random pictures:

I got bored and decided to color my hair!

Max LOVES to climb out of everything. He is a master at figuring out how to get out of seat belts. Falling out of his high chair TWICE has not even deterred him!

Reindeer Isabella!

Isabella's favorite Christmas present: her ballerina outfit!

Tyler opening presents:


Happy 33rd Birthday Mason!

A little bit of this, a little bit of that!

Tyler is learning how to vacuum!! Yea! It is about time!

Max is meeting Santa for the first time at Isabella's Breakfast with Santa at her school (she was very crabby this morning and wouldn't crack a smile which is why there are not any pictures of her!!)


Rough night Max?

The day after Thanksgiving we went to Chateau Elan to watch the fireworks and the lighting of the Chateau. I got this picture of Isabella and just love it!


The lighting was SOOOO cold!


My boys!


Just because we are in Georgia now doesn't mean that our children do not need to learn important hand symbols! 'Hook 'em Horns'

My 4 year old big girl!

So my daughter thinks she needs to continue to grow up and is now 4 years old! "4 years old?" you say??? I know!!! Can you believe it??!!

On Saturday, December the 5th, we celebrated Isabella's birthday with a Princess tea party! Isabella had 7 friends join us in the celebration and they all had a great time! The girls started by making tiara's, necklaces, and bracelets. Then they moved on to dressing up in their princess gear, getting makeup on and painting their nails. On to the tea party where they found their seat marked with a cookie adorned with their name on it. The princesses dined on heart shaped PB&J sandwiches, oreo truffles, chocolate covered strawberries, cupcakes, and pink lemonaide. The girls even got to use real china! It was very cute how carefully they handled their tea cups~ very dainty! The good-bye gift was a crown shaped cookie, nail polish ,and lip gloss ~ all fit for a princess!

On Tuesday, December 8th, we celebrated again as this is her actual birthday. She had school that day so I took a cookie cake to school to share with her class. That evening, we KIND OF let her choose where she wanted to go for dinner. She picked the mall .... yes, the mall food court! Unfortunately, it was rainy, windy and COLD and it is a very long walk from the car, through the outdoor village, to the entrance of the mall .... soooo..... I talked her out of it and we decided on Cracker Barrel!

Isabella had a great time celebrating her blessed 4 years of life. We are so thankful to have her. We just wish she would stay little just a little while longer!