Santa!

We went to Northpark with Aunt Lauren & O and Shelley and her boys to see Santa this year. It is another Christmas tradition we would love to keep! Northpark mall has the REAL Santa, he is amazing! It was quite a day, including a 4 1/2 hour wait to get on Santa's lap (even after jumping ahead in line), visiting the train display with all of the DISD preschools, Charlotte requiring a dress change half way through the day, battling half of Dallas for a spot to eat our Chick-fil-A and Lauren and O having to leave just before we made our way to Santa. It was still lots of fun and the adventure was certainly worth the wait, I love our first Santa pics!

Charlotte checking out the trains

Reconvening after the train chaos

Changing into a new dress in Hanna Anderssen. Note to self - try on all clothes from the resale shop and make sure they are actually the size marked! I think her dress will fit when she's 10!

Santa telling a story

Thank goodness we had a bottle and lovie to help survive the wait without a nap!

Charlotte decided that Warren would look much cuter in her bow than she would!

Charlotte loved Santa!

My favorite - so sweet!

St. Nicholas Day

We are so excited to pass down the tradition of St. Nicholas Day to our children. My Grandma Ruth's family is German and has always celebrated this day and it has been passed down through the generations. It is on December 6th which is also a special day for us because it is my mama's birthday. Here is a little bit about St. Nick for those who don't know of him ;)

"St. Nicholas lived in what was formerly Greece and is now Turkey in the third century A.D. He is most commonly known as the patron saint of children; but he is also the patron saint of sailors, merchants, archers and those wrongly imprisoned. His rich parents died while he was young and left him a large inheritance. Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist those in need, following Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor.” In Germany, children put a boot or shoe called Nikolaus-Stiefel (Nikolaus boot) outside their door on the night of December 5. St. Nicholas fills the shoes with gifts and sweets if the children have been good. If they were not, they will have a tree branch (Rute) in their boots instead."

I think besides just another day of gift giving and presents, St. Nicholas should remind us all of our call to assist those in need each year, especially during the Christmas season.

Charlotte was definitely a good girl this year and St. Nicholas did fill her stocking with treats! She got a remote control, a cell phone, a little car and 2 books. Of course she still prefers real remotes, i-phones and laptops but her new toys come in a close 2nd.

Charlotte's nursery

We finally got Charlotte's nursery finished. It was definitely my first priority after we moved in, it killed me to have to wait until she was 6 months old to do her nursery! It is the only room in the house that is done and I love seeing it every morning when I go get my girl. We are so blessed by our family and friends who have made it so special. Karsen Lane passed down her beautiful chabby chic crib and dresser set. Antique white is my favorite furniture for baby girls. I love that we are getting to use it, it seems like just yesterday I was picking up Karsen out of her crib! Grace and Wyatt gave us their glider - it is sooooo comfortable and I think most of my favorite memories over the last year have been sitting in that chair. JaJa gave Charlotte her adorable little chair from when she was a little girl, it is so cute! I love that the back is shaped like a heart, so girly. She even had it recovered to match her bedding. I picked out the fabrics at a store in Dallas and Jeanne Ann whipped it up into a crib set and curtains in no time! She is so talented and we are so thankful for her labor of love! And of course we can't forget to mention the crystal lighting thanks to her grandmothers ;) Just a tiny bit spoiled Lotte Lou!!

11 months going on 3...

At 11 months, you are growing up into quite a brave and wild little lady. It appears that you take after your daddy in more ways than just your darling face. You are quite the dare devil! You have taken your first few little steps - yay!! It is so much fun to watch you try, it takes so much effort and you are so proud of yourself afterwards even if you fall. You can climb up and down the stairs by yourself and like to climb on anything. You can climb up the steps at the park and slide down the big kid slide by yourself. You have figured out the dog door and love to get outside any chance you get. You prefer to walk everywhere if anyone will hold your hand and you still hate to be restrained in a carseat or stroller. You are done with baby food and can eat anything we eat although you are already starting to become a picky toddler, boo hoo. You drink out of your straw and sippy cups without help. You sleep from 8 to 8 now and still love your bed and your lovie. You babble and yell all day long and your little language is sounding more and more like words everyday. You still have quite a strong personality and we have learned that you are also quite persistent. You think "no" and even spanking your little hand are hilarious... great. I better get to reading "How to Raise a Strong Willed Child" pretty soon. Nana and Pops consider it payback, ha ha. You hate accessories - bows, socks, shoes, sweaters, etc. It makes your Mama quite sad. I keep trying the bows every few days and you just pull it right out. If you had it your way, you would be in a diaper all the time. You are so much fun and we spend most of our time watching you and laughing at how silly you are. Love you to pieces, Charlotte Grace.

Regents Knights.... State Champs!

After 4 months of hard work, Regents football claimed yet another state title on Saturday! I sure have one proud hubby strutting around my house! The game was a blast, a beautiful Texas December day (75 and sunny!) and the Knights came to play! They dominated the game early on and Sammie's defense only let one touchdown by them. Final score 38-7. Charlotte had a blast at her first game before bedtime. She played pretty hard herself including the post-game party where she ate 2 whole quesadillas, chicken and rice and beans after a tiring day of cheering. Her favorite feature of the game was the endless staircase on the bleachers and we spent the whole second half going up and down. Nana, Pops and Owen joined us in Temple, we are so thankful that they drove down and joined us for our special day! JaJa and Papaw gave Charlotte and I a lift and a hand throughout the day. Sam and David's old friend Matt and his family came all the way from Houston to cheer Sammie on. It sure meant a lot to the Thompson's and Charlotte and Owen had so much fun with their adorable little girls! The day was certainly sad, Uncle David never missed a state game. We sure missed his sweet face cheering the Knights on. But we know that he was there in spirit and gave the boys an extra hand on the field.

Ready to cheer in their blue and gold!

Coach getting ready for go-time!

Quick hug before the game got started

Here they come!

Action shot

Nana and Pops cheering with their babes

Me and my girl

The kiddoes playing

3rd quarter bottle break

Post-game kiss (Yes, Daddy got the gatorade dunk. No, he didn't pee his pants!)

#1

The boys

Touchdown!!

Playing peek-a-boo with Papaw's hat, one of your favorite games!

Give Thanks

Each year during the holidays, I spend a little extra time thinking about how fast time has flown by and what I am thankful for that particular year. This year I found myself reflecting much more and feeling far more grateful than I have been in awhile. My memories of the last few years of my favorite season includes post-call Thanksgiving dinners (trying to stay awake at the table), drinking my holiday Starbucks drink in the ER and looking out of the hospital windows at the Christmas lights with tears in my eyes wishing I was with my family. This year the holidays have kicked off to quite a different start. I have spent the last 4 days sitting around an outdoor fire laughing with my hilarious siblings, eating my mama's delicious Thanksgiving meal (for 3 days straight), visiting with old friends, getting the biggest hugs from my sweet nephew, snuggling on the couch with my hubby, doorbusting on Black Friday with my mom and favorite holiday Starbucks drink and best of all laughing all day long at my adorable little peanut and her toothy grin. I sure hope days like these teach her from a very early age that the best things in life aren't thing at all... they are love and laughing and giving, they are family and friends, they are hugs and cuddles and smiles. When I say my prayers this year, I am so so thankful that my life is full of these wonderful things.

Playing upstairs in "boys club" with Uncle Vinny

Pops and his 2 buddies

Uncle Vinny brainwashing my little longhorn!

Wild child

Our little family

Mouth full of turkey!!

Cash is the sweetest dog ever, much more patient than Miss Macy.

Charlotte and Aunt Lauren have matching tummies!

Reading with Nana, her rocker is one of your favorite spots

Lauren, Justin, Baby #1 and Baby #2!

That silly Pops can sure make you laugh

Playtime with your sweet friend Lofton

Precious face, I love her!

Two mama's that love love love their baby girls