And a few more.....

Lily stayed the night at my moms

I should be cleaning,

but this is much more fun.

2 reasons I love vacation

I have time for my hobby!

Scrapping makes me happy

more to come I am sure!

Christmas 2010

Lily spent the night at Nonnie and Papa's.

She woke up at their house on Christmas Eve.

Papa went to the store and while he was gone Santa came for a visit.

She was willing to sit on this particular Santa's lap.

He brought her some toys and some chocolate bunny milk.

When I asked her about it she told me that Papa was inside Santa.

I said you mean Santa ate Papa.

She said NO, I mean santa was a papa. Well a different Papa.

A Santa Papa.

Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house.......

well these creatures were stirring at Nonnie and Papa's.

Where we got to open presents first!

After dinner we decorated some cookies for Santa.

Then we drove home the long route and we looked at all the sparkling lights.

Some were timed to music and some were just, well, just plain tacky.

I mean really they were featured on HGTV's tackiest lights episode.

I could sure see WHY!!

To see click here

Santa came and was good to Lily.

He couldn't help but leave Wally and Stuey a little something.

Stuart woke bright and early and could hardly stand that his girl was sleeping in.

He just knew this was gonna be his!

The girl eventually awoke.

She needs her beauty rest you know

she can't be bothered to awake early even on Christmas morning.

Santa listened she got her fire dragon and her Deadly Nadar.

The only two things on her list.

One happy pink tutu wearing girl surrounded by dragons.
It just doesn't get much better than that.

Christmas baking

I've been a bakin and a steamin'!

A certain little someone has helped every step of the way.

We've made plenty of cookies and

too many tamales.

I think the secret is in the sauce.

Each year I try a new pepper in the search of tamale nirvana.

This is the first time I've tried dried peppers.

I think perhaps I've done it.

I think I say that every year!

But, each year, I'm a little hesitant to actually share them with friends.

This year I think I'll gladly share.

It is Christmas Eve.

Lily is bursting at the seems with excitement.

She's tried to coerce anyone who will listen to let her open her presents.

Part of the fun is torturing the poor girl.

It's so much sweeter when you wait!

Merry Christmas

Wanted to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas

and a happy start to 2011!

Christmas catch up

We've been busy around here lately.

Last night our friends had us over for a gingerbread house party.

It was a lot of fun.

Last weekend we headed to art beast and played with some of our friends.

We also took cousin A. to a place called Santa's secret adventure.

We had a horse and carriage ride.

Listened to some elves read us the night before christmas.

And helped Santa decorate his tree.

We also helped the elves wrap some toys.

It's been a busy few weeks around here and now we are all ready for vacation!

Our Little Christmas Performer

I am so proud of my Lily.

She does not like crowds or new places or noise. The place she performed was a spot the children had not been before, it was packed to the brim, and loud.

I knew that if I could get her with her teachers she would perform.

She put up a slight fuss when her teacher came to get her but once I was out of sight

she decided to go with the flow.

At the beginning of the performance the children held flashlights and walked down

the center of a packed room.

Some children smiled and waved and hammed it up.

My girl did not want to walk down the aisle, but she does what she is told when at school. She is a good girl. I almost burst into hysterics when I saw her coming down the aisle. She had a huge scowl on her face and she marched as fast as she could down the aisle without running into the person in front of her.

Obedient she is happy about it not so much.

I am happy to report once on the stage and shoulder to shoulder with her friends her spirits were uplifted. At the end of the show

she bounced off the stage and into our arms.

Papa sped through rush hour traffic with heroic speed to

see his girl sing her heart out in the Christmas show.

I think it was well worth the harrowing trip.

Only have eyes for eachother!

A little Feliz Navidad for your enjoyment.

Polar Express

We took a ride on the Polar Express this Thursday.

A certain someone was in a bit of a mood.

Well to be honest this mood has struck our fancy quite a bit lately.

She had a good time despite her efforts to not crack even a hint of a smile.
This is our friend Jake.
I am happy to report that after our train ride Lily stated,
"Did you see my friend Jake. We had fun on the Polar Express"
What a relief!

My camera ran out of battery mid ride.

So there is no photographic evidence

but let me assure you that we are still not a fan of ol' St. Nick.

Now let me clarify that we are a fan of him bringing us presents and sticking them under the tree and inside a stocking as long as he doesn't come near her door, but even a glimpse of him sends us into ear piercing shrieks. We covered her with our sweatshirt while he was aboard and accepted the first gift of Christmas on her behalf. Now the ghost was also aboard the train and he was not scary. (I assure you he looked scary to me!) He asked Lily if he could have her bell and she handed it over. He gave her his coal. Then he proceeded to walk up and down the train car and rant about how her bell didn't work. He gave it back to her and the next time we saw him Lily stuffed the bell in the pocket of her jammies as quickly as possible. This is the one and only time she forgot she wasn't supposed to be having a good time:0)

Sneak peek at some christmas shots

It's a bird its a plane....It's Santa Clause.

Some Wally love.

And some love for Lily.