The Christmas Program....

Lauren's class put on the cutest little Christmas program for the parents!  I had heard all of her songs in the car and at home, but I was really excited to watch her perform.  Her teachers even kept saying, "Lauren knows the songs the best AND the loudest!!!"  Great...

Cutie at school that morning... 

Finally got a little smile... 

And then a cheeser... 

Since we got up early to get our special dress on, do our hair pretty, and get to school on time, we made a special trip to the donut shop too... 

Lauren was very excited about her special treat! 

Lauren got a little shy during the performance (I know...I was shocked too!!!) but the entire class did a great job!

Right after the program...she was so serious! 

Mommy and Lauren! 

My sweet little girl!

Miscellaneous Christmas Fun....

Here are a few miscellaneous pictures from our holiday season...

Lauren loved sitting by these snowmen, talking, and playing with them every morning before school! 

And playing with her Christmas activity books... 

Lauren and Payton have several "things" that are just their own...movies, iPad fun, and the chimenea.  These two go and collect pine cones and needles and then sit and talk in front of their little fire.  It's actually very cute!

It was a little rainy, but not cold at all.  Lauren decided she needed a little something to keep her "warm."  The Grinch towel was just the thing to do the trick... 

Poking at the fire... 

Working together... 

"Mom...get outta here!!!"

Bundled up eating smores!

Lauren also spent a lot of time playing "Christmas songs" on the piano while using a candle to point and "conduct" from her Little Mermaid piano book...makes perfect sense, right?!  Her little "Rudolph" stuffed animal also joined her for much of the singing and playing.

I'm Trimming The Christmas Tree...

I knew it would happen soon enough...my very pretty Christmas tree would no longer be just mine (now I know how my parents felt).  Lauren wanted to be VERY involved in decorating the Christmas tree this year, and of course, we let her!  The bottom two feet of the tree was hers to decorate and the other seven feet was mine!  She had a great time and many memories were made!

Helping Daddy with the top of the tree! 

Standing with her decorations! 

Lots of ornaments on her part of the tree! 

Being silly! 

Lauren's class made angel ornaments and placed on their school Christmas tree.  We looked and looked for her angel on the tree and could not find it.  I had just about given up hope thinking hers was misplaced when the teacher said, "You might check the angel on top!"  And there it was...my little angel's angel on the top of the tree.  Lauren was SO EXCITED that her angel was on top.  It was really cute to watch her little face!

Right after we met Santa at Breakfast With Santa, we left in a hurry to head downtown for The Hip Hop Nutcracker!  A mom from my work had extra tickets and thought the music teacher might like this--boy, was she right!  The Houston Symphony is outstanding but they also perform "family shows" where it's a bit more relaxed in the audience.  Lauren knows the music from The Nutcracker (from her Barbie DVD; don't judge), and was excited to see the dancing and listen to the music!

Almost show time with Daddy! 

Excited with Mommy! 

The show starting...for 2 years old, I was very impressed with how long she sat and listened before she got up.  She only moved to be held by either Payton or myself. 

The conductor dressed as a nutcracker!  Too funny! 

We had a fantastic time and I would highly recommend any of the family series performances by the Houston Symphony to anyone!!!

Breakfast With Santa....

Going to Breakfast With Santa at Payton's work has become a little tradition of ours.  I'm so thankful the company he works for does this every year (it saves me from going to the mall)!  Lauren had a great time eating breakfast and chatting with her friends.  Then we headed outside to watch Santa arrive from the North Pole on the firetruck!  And then...we had to stand in line to see Santa!  Of course, we had to take some cute little pictures while we waited in line (as best as a 2 year old can...)

Breakfast With Santa, 2012

Here's how the day all started before we met Santa...

The fire truck arrived...

With Santa!!!

Back inside now to wait in line...

Kissing Mommy under the mistletoe...

Daddy and his little girl...

And the moment we've all been waiting for...SANTA!!!

Right after Breakfast With Santa, we left in a hurry to go watch the Houston Symphony perform The Hip Hop Nutcracker (check the next blog for more on that)...Lauren needed a picture (or seven) by the nutcracker before we left...