Santa and Mrs. Claus made their early trek down to Statesboro today.  For over 20 years they have taken a break from their incredibly busy schedule to visit with us and spend some time with a few VERY special boys and girls.   Again tomorrow, the very best girls and boys will get this early opportunity to give Santa a little advanced notice of their Christmas list.  Edie Grace and her cousin Olivia were the first to greet the Clauses on their arrival.  Edie Grace told me after Santa and Mrs. Claus had left for the day that they were both “magical”! 

I can not think of one word that describes this annual visit any more perfect than that.  Everything about Christmas is MAGICAL and having the opportunity to host this very special meeting with Santa is definitely extraordinarily MAGICAL for me – as it is for every child, parent and grandparent that experiences this with me.  There are few things in life that you will never forget – tomorrow for a few very exceptional children – I will create and document artistically one of these rare moments. 

Tonight was the ninth visit with Santa for Edie Grace and nine years later – it was just as magical as the first.  She has an annual tradition of exchanging books with the Clauses and giving them her list – this year in her own hand writing.  She also purchased the book for the Clauses this year with her own money that she earned working at the studio. 

As crazy and difficult as life is for all of us right now – this is the one experience that grounds us and allows us to step back and remember just how precious childhood really is.  We also can celebrate the incredible gift of parenting. 

Attached is the photographic journey down memory lane of the past nine years of Edie Grace’s Santa experiences!

We hope this year Santa brings you much health and happiness and a few of the most needed things on your Christmas list!

Please take a second and comment on your Lori Grice Santa Experiences….so other’s that may never have the opportunity to experience this firsthand can get a feeling of how magical it really is!  Many of our friends and neighbors do not and will never have the opportunity to have children of their own.  They share with me often how wonderful it is to get a peek into the world of parenting though this blog and through your stories.  Thanks for sharing these with them and me!

Summers seem to get shorter and shorter…and Edie Grace is growing up WAY to fast!  Many of you have told me to savor every moment of Edie Grace’s childhood – because it will be gone before you know it!  First days of school have become a tradition of daddy/daughter photographs.  In just five years of “formal” school I can not believe how much she has changed.  Enjoy these photos as we walk back through photographs of a her First Day’s.  DeWayne does have more than one shirt.  It seems that he is wearing the same color shirt – but obviously it is not the same size each year.  He jokes that it seems Edie Grace is not the only one growing.

She will miss Mrs. Royal and Mrs. Bradley  – but is so excited about moving forward this year with Mrs. McCall.  Her cousin, Brooke had Mrs. McCall last year and she LOVED her.  I know Edie Grace will also.

Last year we began an amazing project at Believer’s Church in Statesboro.  The Backpack Project is a project where we gave backpacks filled with school supplies to under-resourced kids in our community.  We learned that one of the reasons that lots of kids are hesitant to go back to school was because their parents did not have the money to purchase their school supplies.  In a few short weeks, last year, we raised enough money to purchase and fill 500 backpacks.    The cost of a filled backpack is $10.

This was a HUGE success.  The kids & youth of our church helped “pack” the backpacks and as part of this they wrote a personal note to the recipient of the backpack and placed it inside.  I can not begin to tell you how incredible this project was.  Click here to see pictures and read my blog about this from last year.

Due to the challenging economy – our church as decided to stretch our goal this year to 750 backpacks.  Edie Grace has set our “family” goal to purchase 50.  Last week we hosted a garage sale and we have sold Lemonade and popcorn at events downtown.  So far she (we) have raised over $300.  We need your help to meet our “family” and church wide goal.

There are two ways you can help.  Email us at info@lorigrice.com with a pledge of a contribution of $10 for every backpack you want to sponsor.  Please have your children write notes to the recipient for each backpack you sponsor and we will include it in “your” backpacks - if you wish.

The second way – is to book a full session with me.  The next FIVE sessions booked – I will donate HALF of your sitting fee directly to the project in your honor.

Mark your calendar and bring your family out on Saturday, August 1st as we meet these families and remind them of God’s love for them with this gift.

Our world has really changed quickly lately.  Kids need our help…not just in Africa and other parts of the world…but in our own towns too!  Jesus said, . . . I tell you the truth whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me (Matthew 25:40, NIV).

Edie Grace completed week Four of Summer camps.  Camp Snipesville was the first – which took them on a fictional journey through the Victorian Era.  The following week, she spent outdoors and in the Wild – at the GSU Raptor Center.  The next week was Circus Gymnastic camp and this week was all things Arts at the Averitt Center.  Today Edie Grace and her class mates had their “exit” show.  She had a blast and made some incredible pieces of Art.  We want to thank the Averitt Center and all of our family and friends that came out to support Edie Grace today.

For those of you who have been living under a rock (or maybe do not have a school aged girl living in your house) you may not know that Miley Cyrus – AKA Hannah Montana  is filming her “break out” movie in Savannah.  The move titled “The Last Song” has begun filming on Tybee.  They have transformed the pier area into a sea food festival – complete with a carnival with real rides set up on the beach.

One of our client’s sons is involved with the movie and his mom worked it out for Edie Grace, DeWayne and I to come on set yesterday as extra’s.  We spent the day on the beach with Miley.  Edie Grace was in HEAVEN.   When Miley first came up to her and winked at her and waved at her - Edie Grace was definitely star struck!  I thought for a second that Edie Grace was going to pass out.  But she survived it!

I was amazed at the level of detail and the transformation of the pier by the production team.  It was really neat to see the “behind” the scenes of a major motion picture.  It certainly helps you understand why the ticket prices are so high!

It is our understanding that they will be continuing to call for extra’s throughout the filming which ends in August.  You can learn more about being an extra by visiting the Savannah Film Office by clicking here.  It was a very long, HOT day – but it was well worth it for Edie Grace to have the opportunity to see Miley up close and personal.  Several of the pictures posted here, you will notice the crowds and the paparazzi.  Edie Grace was allowed to see first hand how hard Miley really works and how challenging it is to be a star, as a teenager, when your every move is being watched.  Most importantly, she now understands that this larger than life person - that she is a HUGE fan of is a real person – just like her.

A couple of weeks ago when we were in New York Edie Grace was fortunate to get to see Prince Harry and President and Mrs. Obama.  That was a wonderful experience for her – but it pails in comparison to this.  It did create the opportunity of some great dialog with her.  She now realizes that these are ordinary people who have experienced some extraordinary opportunities.  This confirms to her that she can be anything she wants – if she works hard and continues to apply herself in school. 

Miley was so personable on set and was really sweet to all the children on the set.  It was refreshing to see how she handled herself and how she just loves to blend in with everyone there.

Our hope is that this movie has the impact on Tybee that “the Book” had on Savannah.  Thanks Stephanie and Jacob for the opportunity!

Edie Grace always thought it would be super cool to design her own Barbie.  Well thanks to a little magic from FAO she did it today.  They have a really neat computer system which allows you to walk through the steps of designing your very own Barbie.  Once you complete the process, your Barbie is featured in a special run way show and then she is presented to you in her own custom case.  All of this takes place right before your eyes with a little Barbie and FAO magic.  How many times did you dream of creating your very own Barbie as a girl?  The entire experience is larger than life.

Just a few more steps down New York’s Fifth Avenue we stepped into the doors of the flagship Tiffany’s.  I have always dreamed of owning a piece of jewelry from Tiffany’s.  One of my favorite places to photograph is the chapel on Jekyll Island that features the Tiffany stained Glass, a gift from the original Tiffany family.  It is one of the few original Tiffany signed Stained Glasses still in existence.  A few weeks ago, a client of mine shared how as a child she would travel into the city with her parents and walk through Tiffany’s and dream of owning a piece of jewelry from there. When she received a recent promotion – she was finally in a position to achieve this dream.  She flew to New York and made the purchase she had dreamed of.  I have studied their exceptional customer service – complete with the WOW of the little blue box with the perfect hand tied bow and matching bag.  Well today, I received a surprise early birthday gift from DeWayne and Edie Grace.  They have been planning this visit for months.  I am still in shock.  I do not feel worthy!  Now the experience is complete.  Every time I wear my gift I will remember how powerful and wonderful today’s experience was!  What a great DAD and husband Edie Grace and I share.

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Edie Grace got to pick lunch today so she treated us to lunch at the Cafe inside American Girl Place.  The dining room is so incredibly cute.  It over looks 5th Avenue and 49th street.  They have special seating for your American Girl doll and they make EVERYONE feel like a princess (and prince).  I think we were the only folks there not celebrating a birthday.  What a great place to have a birthday party!  The four course meal was exceptionally planned.  The napkin holders doubled as keepsake hair band ribbons.  So the next time you want to have some mother/daughter time or you want to feel like a little princess again – I highly recommend lunch at the AGP.

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This is our first trip back to NYC since September 11th and it was even more powerful than I imagined.  Edie Grace was 4 months old when the attacks occurred.   I purchased a book with photo’s of the attack and went through it with Edie Grace.  You simply can not understand the magnitude of it all – until you stand there.  From there we took the Staten Island Ferry past the Statue of Liberty and back.  Lunch at Pier 17 and then we walked the entire Brooklyn Bridge.  After dinner we took in the M&M and Hershey stores on Times Square and people watched for a while. This city really doesn’t sleep!

  I think Edie Grace is a natural for Broadway!  The lights and the energy in a city that never sleeps is pretty amazing.  We visited the NBC studios in Rockefeller Plaza, Broadway, Fifth Avenue, Times Square and of course – Toy’s R US.  They have an operating Ferris wheel inside the store.  That should give you and idea of how big the store is.  The weather is perfect and the crowds…WOW – where did all these people come from?

Of course we are in New York so we have to do a little (LOT) of shopping!  Since part of this trip is a reward for a great year in school and a celebration of Edie Grace’s 8th birthday – she was allowed to pick the first place to go.  She has been saving for months for us to take her American Girl Place “Emily” to the store.  Of course the store is located on the renown 5th Avenue adjacent to Saks Fifth Avenue.  Three stores of incredible – breathtaking – marketing genius!  They have everything you can imagine for American Girl dolls, including a hair salon, photo studio, restaurant, gift shop, bakery, etc..etc.  We were lucky to get Emily in with one of the TOP American Doll hair designers at the salon.  After a nearly TWO HOUR wait it was her turn.  She got a fabulous do and she also was brave enough to get her ears pierced. 

We spent nearly THREE hours in the store.  It was a wonderful experience for all of us – even DeWayne enjoyed it and did not complain (well maybe a little) about being in one store for three hours.