Movie with my Besties:)

I LOVE gift cards! The past few years we exchange gift cards at my grandparents house and we all have differing opinions about whether or not we like "gift card" Christmases... Well, just so ya know, gift cards are my favorite kinds of presents.:) Thanks to our good friends, Jessy and Danielle, the kids and I had a great night going to the movies... Because ya see without a gift card, I NEVER take my kids to the expensive movies... Yes, we may go to the free movies during the summer... but even there, they NEVER get to get stuff from the overpriced snack bar. But thanks to a surprise gift card, we not only got to see a current flick, but they also got to pick out candy. I LOVE splurging and doing things you normally don't do... so I LOVE gift cards. Have I mentioned I love gift cards? HA!


After a morning full of a LONG playdate, we went to see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. Both kids really sit through and enjoy a movie now, so it's nice to be able to go. I was so proud of myself doing all this without Brendan on a crowded Friday night. I thought I had it all together until I noticed that we were looking for a seat and the movie on the screen wasn't a "kids" movie. I then noticed that all the adults in the theatre also had on 3-D glasses. Oops... we had moseyed on up the stairs to find the perfect seat in the wrong theatre. Ha!


After our tiny mishap, we all enjoyed the movie... and it was an easy night. We went to Blue Ridge Grill to grab a salad and a chicken kid's meal for carryout and it was there that Chris threw a huge fit because he didn't want to wait for the food. I mean an all-out fit. Luckily, I kept my cool... and just realized that Chris is my very own little Alvin- He's always a handful... but most of the time he means well. :)

Pearsons in the City!!!

Ya know how the Clampetts moved to Beverly Hills, well, tonight the Pearsons did Washington D.C.! We trekked down to visit Ra-Ra and Dave at the Kennedy Warren and then ventured out to experience city life. We walked almost three miles- and I was so nervous because I was afraid the kids were going to be hit by a car. Luckily, all the kids are safe and sound... and my Dad was the only one that had a mishap- Papa accidentally tripped, fell off the curb, and a car stopped for him and he only put both hands on their hood- very close call!!! We ate at the Mellow Mushroom- Mmmm, Mmmmm good- let's just say Paleo went right out the window- but it was worth it... and then we walked the entire zoo to see it decorated with Christmas lights- ZOO Lights...






Sweet Eleni was the best baby ever. She literally stayed in her stroller for hours just as happy as can be and even napped at dinner. So precious- and absolutely beautiful.:)

And what's the best way to finish off a fun family night??? Frozen yogurt bar of course... Not to mention they had cake batter ice cream, Captain Crunch cereal as a topping, and an open kid's table where the kids could sit by themselves and we could act like they didn't belong to us... Just kidding.:) Such a fun night- Thanks Sarah and Todd for showing us life in your world.:)

Christmas Morning 2012

Let's just say Santa was very, very good at the McCullers house... and we are very blessed. And more than anything I'm so thankful for these two little munchkins that drive me crazy... I mean bring me joy every day. Thank You Jesus!:)

Christmas Eve 2011

Though we missed Nanny more than anything, I know she would be happy that we spent Christmas Eve like we always do- and how I hope we always will. Christmas Eve just wouldn't be Christmas Eve without my family- I've done this for 32 out of my 33 (one year we lived in Mass-a-freaking-chussetts and were too poor to take off work or to travel- ha!) years and I'm thankful that I have in-laws that understand how important and special this day of the year is for me.

While the night was sad without Nanny, we still celebrated and the kids had a great time. Nanny would have loved to see Baby Callan as Santa (the same suit that Averey, Chris, and Mage, and Jack have all worn as babies), she would have smiled at Eleni in her darling tu-tu- even if it was UVA, and she would have beamed at us still lineing up from youngest to oldest- Yes, even my cousin Brian who is 40 has to line up since he's a grandchild.:) And I realized more than ever how lucky I was to have a grandmother that raised us as one BIG, way too close and backwards for some, family.:)

McCullers Family Christmas

After a few busy weeks, we were lucky to be able to have a Christmas spending time with those that we love. We asked Gram and Pop Pop to travel this year instead of us making the haul to the lake... It was nice not to have to spend the holidays in the car, but the main reason is because we had arranged for Sean to come celebrate with us. It was so nice to have us all together.
The kids had a grand Christmas- Addie finally getting her own roller blades and Chris was surprised more than ever with his own BB gun!!! He had a blast shooting targets in the back yard and could NOT believe he got a gun... We did send it back to the lake so it's locked safely in a gun cabinet for use on our trips to the lake.
We made a trip to see the Bull Run Christmas lights and then spent time looking at lights in Ashburn and of course made our yearly trip to Juniper Street in Sterling.
I actually cooked Christmas dinner without burning the house down... and after going through all the trouble, I realize that spending a few hours in the car is not troublesome at all compared to what all Joanie goes through every.time.we.visit... Entertaining is work... It was fun doing it once... but we'll see how things play out next year.:)

Happy Holidays and Merry Everything

We wish you a Merry Christmas

And a Happy New Year!

Love, The McCullers Fam

Class Holiday Partay

Chris had his class party today and of course Addie and I tagged along- He's such a good big brother- especially since Addie insists that she participates... Chris takes it much better than I would... or maybe he's just trying to have us not make a scene.:)


And the infamous, yes, My child is tall and yes, he's supposed to be in first grade picture.:)

My Topher

How did my little baby boy grow up so fast? So, so handsome.:)

Sweet Addie Tay Tay

Such a sweet little girl.:)

Christmas Play

My little Christmas Bunny did an amazing job at her Christmas play... and her brother tagged along playing hookie from school for an hour to see his sister. So sweet.:)

Attempt #2

We attempted to try Christmas pictures one more time for my parent's Christmas card. Since it was on a whim and we didn't even have intentions of taking them this day, the kids were all in play clothes and jammies... Being the brilliant people that we are, we thought we'd tie our "bundle of joy" up in a package. Yep, that quilt was supposed to be wrapping paper and the rope was not to tie them up for how they were acting, although that might have been a good idea- Ha! Needless to say, may parents don't have a Christmas card out yet either....

Um, no.

No.

No.

This one has potential... if it didn't look like they were bound by a rope.

And we definitely didn't pick this one. Ha!

And when Mage wanted me to take a picture of a dead turkey and all the other kids then turned into animals- we gave up! LOL.