Daily Livin..

I've been wanting to get a shot of this apron since Christmas. She wears it all the time when she "helps" and somehow in those moments I don't seem to have time to take pictures. Ashley, my sister-in-law made coordinating aprons for the girls & they are adorable. I am trying to convince her to sell them. If you are interested, I'll get you her number :)

I finally put all of the dress up clothes together in a trunk that is accessible to LK so now she comes out in a new outfit about once an hour.

BATH time = FUN time

I'm sorry, what month is it???

Freezing, then warm, cold again.... who knows... we had a beautiful day the other day and Lily Kate begged to go swimming. We settled on a little splash mat and some running around.

So, the other day Kate was eating tuna fish and an apple for lunch and she mentioned that she liked eating those two things together, I said, "when I was in college I used to eat tuna with apples all the time" - that has led to Lily Kate now begining many of her phrases with "when I was in college..." It's really funny... My favorite so far is "Mom, when I was in college I had a baby in my belly, it was Emma (her doll)." That's just wrong...

Dessert downtown with the Young Life ladies

All these pretty ladies are our YL leaders. The picture below is of me and my dear friend, Emily. She hasn't lived in town very long but we have become fast friends. She and her husband love our family well.

If you are a girl, you know that getting ready to go out is half as fun as the "going out" itself. Since Brittany has moved in with us I have had all the benefits of another female opinion in the house (ie "belt or no belt?" kind of questions are always answered with thought and care) Lily Kate LOVES getting into my clothes and wearing my tops like dresses. She usually chooses the
"shiny" ones because they are "fancy". I had a precious time with her playing with shoes and earrings. She adores all of the YL leaders and what better girls for me to have her look up to. She did cry when we left without her but I have made a promise of a "lady ice cream trip" in the near future, so hopefully, more pics to come...

Happy Birthday Charlotte. The big 0-1

Charlotte was a fan of cake, but really, who isn't? It was a fun day to celebrate her. She may have liked us singing to her throughout the day even more than she liked the cake.

Post-cake bath. What a cutie.

Lily Kate is in the background opening Charlotte's present "to help her". She was very involved with the whole birthday.

Charlotte finally getting to play her new bongos from Nona (which have continued to be a hit). She loves to dance and with this toy she can create her own music.

After presents we went to dinner for a "Family Date" which we like to do once a month. It has become a fun tradition. We go to place the kids will love and talk about how our weeks have gone. Lily Kate loves it (and so do we!)

Merry Christmas

Pop Pop and Charlotte, and the pic below is with our fun cousins on the Knight side, Jack & Scott.

This picture is just to document the abundance of presents and fun that was had by all. We had a great trip.

The Houston Zoo

We mostly took pictures of all the animals, very exciting while you are there but not really blog-worthy. This last picture is Lily Kate on stage during a little presentation in the children's petting zoo. She was chosen out of the crowd to come up because she was answering all the questions so loudly that she was quickly noticed. This picture is after the little stunt she helped with. The lady asked to go back and sit and she said that she would just stay up there. Of course :)

Little Family Christmas

I love this face, this was Lily Kate's face all morning, so much amazement and excitement.

Lily Kate has been asking for chocolate goldfish for over a month now, when we saw Santa that was the only thing she asked him for so.... here they are, the coveted chocolate goldfish!

Sweet Charlotte looking at her new lovey from Aunt Becca & Uncle Patrick

Look at those pretty girls

Can you feel the excitement

This picture is just before our trip to to the Nutcracker. Lily Kate did very well. She talked a little loud but she was enthralled and enjoyed herself very much!

Front Porch

Some shots from our time at Lane's for Thanksgiving

trampoline

reflection

cousins

mischief

We Have a Walker!

So, Charlotte has been standing on her own and even taking 3-4 steps for the last month. But tonight while Parks had some guys over to watch football Charlotte just walked across the room. It was so exciting. She was walking more the rest of the evening, gaining more confidence. I'll try to get some video soon. She'll be 11 mo in a couple days - our tiny one's growing up :)

Sugar Cookies

This Christmas season has already been really fun. Lily Kate will be 3 next month and we've really entered into a new season of being able to do things together. We made sugar cookies yesterday. I have learned that we share a love of cookie dough - when Lily Kate stared eating fist fulls I had to move us along. She put every color sprinkles she could get her hands on every cookie. It was pure joy for her and such a sweet experience to share with her.

Kate kept confusing the word decorating with the word celebrating. It was so cute, "oh, I love celebrating these cookies, Mommy, they are very beautiful"

Also, you can maybe see in the top picture that one of our wedding pictures we in Lily Kate's sightline as she was decorating and it must have gotten her thinking. I was icing cookies and she said...

"Mommy, when did you first get married?"
"It was actually almost 5 years ago"
"I like your flowers....but I want to have red flowers at my wedding"
"oooh, that sounds really pretty, I think we should do it"
.....long pause..... "who will I get married to, Mommy?"
"We don't know, babe, we should pray for him though. We should pray that he's a good husband."
"Yea, we should pray for him.... and I want to have cookies at the wedding.... red flowers and cookies"
"Sounds good to me"

PS isn't that little apron with a "K" cute, I found it in a yard sale!

Elmo Panties

Matchy Matchy - thanks, Nona!

Again with the grainy look on the blog. I still thought these pics were too cute.

Save this one for the slideshow at the rehearsal dinner someday...

Learning to Assert her opinion....

Childrens' Museum

Happy Halloween

Family picture on our front porch. Kate's not smiling but it was the best of the bunch of shots. The two shots below are at the Laniers' house. We went trick or treating wiht our friends and their kids. Don't be alarmed by the little duck who apears to be falling, that's Samuel and his parents caught him in time :)