Helen, GA

We also visited Helen, Georgia. As you can see, Helen is a town that is decorated like an Alpine Village. It was a fun place to visit. In the summer, they are known for the awsome tubing runs they have. A river runs right through the town. Everything in the town looks like a German village-- the hotels, the miniature golf courses-- everything! Very cute! It is also a tourist trap, and charged a little too much money for some candy at the Hansel and Gretl candy shop:-)

Cabbage Patch Hospital

A new Cabbage Patch baby was born right before our eyes at Babyland General Hospital! They asked for names of baby girls in the audience, and the name was announced: Julie Cora. It is quite a site to behold, and the girls were enthralled.

Babyland General Hospital

Since we were in northern Georgia, we HAD to go see the Cabbage Patch Doll Hospital to see a baby born. As you can see, they have moved to a new, GIGANTIC facility. The girls thoroughly enjoyed all Christmas decorations and all those babies!

Danielle

Anna's friend Danielle was brave enough to join us at the cabin. This is her making an "exciting picture" of us having fun:-)

Trying out roasted Starbursts

Anna, displaying the fine art of roasting Starbursts, then dipping them in cold water. Mmmm!

Campfire in the Mountains

Our friends the Roos' were kind enough to let us use their cabin in the mountains of NC/GA for a few days, and can you believe we forgot to take a picture of the cabin?!? This is the best we have-- of the girls around a campfire in the freezing temps!

Christmas with the Elders

Elder Jensen and Elder Stromburg joined us Christmas morning so I thought I'd include them in the photos. They got these fancy North Carolina t-shirts that they are proudly displaying. I wonder who could've given them those? Elder Jensen had never seen an American Girl Doll and couldn't believe they made glasses for them. This picture with him holding Jane's American Girl Doll cracked me up!

Christmas Morning

Here are various photos from Christmas morning. Trouble is, Mark and I always get so enthralled with watching the kids open gifts that we forget to take pictures:-)

Santa gets decorated

As we were getting ready for Christmas, I came upon this Santa and just started cracking up! Notice how the star got Polly Pockets books put on it? That is awesome! No one 'fessed up to it, but we have our suspicions:-)

Christmas Eve- pinata fun

Not the greatest photos, but you get the idea... pinata, bat, candy, fun!

More Christmas-The Nativity Story

The Nativity re-enactment. Who is the mystery donkey, you ask? Now seriously, do you really need to ask? :-)

Christmas Eve- Chimes

In true Savoldi tradition, we did all the Christmas Eve activities. Doesn't this look like a lively crowd playing the chimes? It must be that deep concentration... yeah... that must be it!

Eve's Bunny Ears

Eve is always working on some type of craft. These bunny ears are her latest creation. She wanted one ear up and one ear down, after a character she had seen somewhere. She always keeps us laughing!

Ward Christmas Party- Santa

Cute pictures of the girls with Santa:-)

Ward Christmas Party- storytime

The Bishop, telling a story to the children as they get ready for a "very special guest."

Ward Christmas Party- Singing Angels

Look at all these little angels!

Porter's new passion- percussion!

After struggling with the trumpet, Porter realized that his true love is percussion. We have since realized that it is in his blood... He taps on EVERYTHING! Here are some pictures from his latest band concert.

Eve's Smiley Face

Eve insisted that I take her picture like this one day. I couldn't figure out why she was so determined, but then she explained that she had to have her picture taken just like the picture she had drawn on the chalk board. Ha ha. She is so funny

Holly Springs Christmas Parade

It has become an annual tradition for our family to go to our little town's Christmas Parade. We've watched the parade grow from a little, tiny thing to a bonafide parade! The only problem this year was that I came home with pictures of our family, but not of the parade!

The Finished Gingerbread House

Now THAT is a gingerbread house!

Porter is taking Foods at school and came home with some gingerbread dough to make the pieces to construct a ginger bread house. I pulled out our Hansel and Gretl Bundt Cake pan my mom had bought us a few years ago and we made a "real" gingerbread house! It turned out beautifully, and the house became the hit of the class! Thanks, Mom! Who would've known we'd ever need that pan for a school assignment?!?

Home Depot Craft Day

More track out activities. The girls had a blast making these little wagons at Home Depot. They were a perfect addition to their American Girl Doll collection:-)