Saturday, December 31, 2011

Home With Mommy For Christmas Break....

Lauren and I spent a week together at homr before we left for the holidays!  We had a great time playing around the house, going to library, and meeting friends for lunch!

I saw this idea on Pinterest to make a Christmas tree out of felt material so a child can decorate and redecorate their tree as much as they want!  I thought this was too cute and made one for Lauren!  She has had a blast decorating her tree! 
Lauren was really proud of herself one afternoon!  She got on the couch with her gyro-bowl, pulled a blanket around her, and ate her snack while watching Clifford! 
Lauren has also become very interested in the potty over the last couple of weeks! 
I'm thinking potty training is in our new future! 


I took Lauren to the library on one of our days off and she had a blast!  The kids got to play with instruments, sing songs, and listen to a few stories!  She also went into the library and read books and played with puzzles!  After we were finished, we met some friends for lunch and had a great time!  Here are some pictures from the day at the library!
Dancing to the songs! 
Playing with Clifford! 
Back to singing during story time! 
That book must have been very interesting! 
Really enjoying that book!
Total concentration! 
This girl loves to read!
Having fun with the rainstick!!!

A Bluebell Christmas....

We took a day trip to Brenham to see my cousin Heidi and her husband Kris before we left for Christmas!  We ate at a great restaurant in the Brenham square and then walked around some of the little shops.  Before going home, we took a trip over to the Bluebell factory for some ice cream!  The tours were closed that day but we could still have ice cream!  The foyer was decorated with a great ice cream tree so we got some cute pictures of Lauren with the tree too!
Posing with the tree! 
Taking it all in! 
Cool tree decorations! 
More decorations! 
Ice cream Christmas cutie! 
Daddy and Lauren (and the oh-so-scary cow...) at the Bluebell factory! 
Kris, Heidi, and Lauren having fun at Bluebell! 
And check it out!  PIGTAILS!!!

Our "Christmas Morning" 2011....

We had our family "Christmas morning" before we left to New Mexico for the holidays and had a great morning!  It was so much fun to watch Lauren open her presents and play with all of her toys that Santa brought her!  Here are some pictures of our day!
Waking up our baby girl!
I asked her if she was ready for breakfast and she started licking her lips! 
Ready for pancakes on Christmas morning!
Yummy! 
Time for presents!  She took her present out of her stocking and made this adorable face! 
She was so excited for her present! 
Opening up more presents!  I love her expressions! 
"Oooooooh!  Pay doooo!" 
Payton got me an IPad!!!  I was so excited!
A little family picture! 
Daddy did a great job recording Lauren opening her presents! 
Using her presents as a seat to open her tea set!
Lauren got a princess dress-up set from Santa!
The princess needed "uhhhh wiiiiidde"..."A ride." 
Playing with her new tea set! 
Princess Lauren!
We moved to the table to have a real (with water) tea party! 
Pouring us a cup of tea! 
Yummy!  What a fun tea party!

Breakfast With Santa, 2011....

It's hard to believe that a year has passed and it was time for Breakfast With Santa again at Payton's work!  I love that his work does this and it's such a fun morning (plus--no standing in line at the mall!!!)  We met our friends, Justin, Tiffany, and their two boys and had a blast!  Lauren was a little shy to see Santa, but did really well--NO TEARS!  It was great fun and we already can't wait for next year!  And as Lauren would say... "Ho, ho, ho!"

Daddy and an excited Lauren ready to see Santa!
Waiting to see Santa!
"This way to Santa!!!"
My litte sweet by the sweets!
Mommy and Lauren waiting to see Santa!
Just posing for pictures!
About to enter Santa's Workshop...
Not so sure...
Daddy helping her out...
Still a little nervous....
We made it through with no tears!
Playing in the train!
Baby Brayden!  Lauren loves him!  He is her new boyfriend!
Posing in front of the firetruck that Santa rides in on!
Justin showing Zach and Lauren the firetruck!
Take one...Trying to get a picture of Zach and Lauren...
Lauren was dancing and Zach was watching her dance!
Take two...Lauren is still dancing, and Zach just doesn't know what to think of her moves!
Take three...We got it!!!  Two little cuties!
"I dunno why I wouldn't stop dancing to take a picture, Mom!"
So cute!  We'll be back next year!