..the box!
Merry Christmas!!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Landrie & Tatem's 1st Nutcracker
I think many moms of little girls dream of taking their daughter to the Nutcracker! I thought about taking Landrie this year for about 2 seconds before deciding that she's too young. Then, we were at the library, and the sweet librarian told us that a shortened version of the Nutcracker would be coming to the library!
We were on the second row of a packed library! The girls were just captivated. Well, Landrie was for most of the 30-40 minute show. Tatem liked the dancing and music, but she really liked the Smarties that I secretly fed her to keep her still and quiet. :)
Landrie was a little shy about meeting the ballerinas, but she introduced herself. Do you remember that feeling? I remember teaching elementary school when a high school choir came to perform. My kids all were thrilled to get their autograph because they thought they were REALLY famous!
The ballerinas were so sweet!
It was way past bedtime, but Tatem chatted with some ballerinas too. :) Her physical therapist suggested that we enroll Tatem in ballet when she turns two to help keep the flexibility in her neck and help her to use the muscles on both sides of her body. I think she would love it, but two seems SO young!
Of course, Landrie's been twirling around the house ever since! She tells everyone, "We went to the Nutcracker Buh-lay!!"
The line to see Santa was ridiculous, so we went outside to check out the REAL reindeer!
What a fun mommy/daughter date night!
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Landrie's Birth Mom's Graduation!
Oh my! I can't believe the day finally arrived. Just a little over 3 years ago, we met precious Brianna, a college student who selflessly chose us to be Landrie's parents. I remember being with her in hospital as we waited for Landrie to be born. She said that she wasn't worried about falling behind, because she was already several weeks ahead of schedule on all of her classes. With Landrie's open adoption, we've gotten to see Brianna's HARD WORK and determination as she has worked multiple jobs, raised her daughter Brynn, and done an outstanding job at school.
Saturday, we were all able to CELEBRATE Brianna and all that she's done as she graduated from MSU! Do you see those cords on her shoulder? Yup, she graduated Magna Cum Laude! She missed the award for the highest GPA in the whole college of nursing by only 0.01 points! We are so proud of you, Brianna!
Mark, Landrie, Tatem and I watched with Brianna's daughter Brynn, her husband, parents and in-laws. She had quite the cheering section! We had lots of stickers, toys and snacks to keep everyone busy, but that didn't stop Landrie from throwing the world's largest fit EVER. I didn't have a watch handy, but I'm pretty sure it lasted 17 hours. It was such a proud moment as a mom. haha!!
Brynn, Brianna and Landrie!
Brianna and her husband, Brian!
We went out to lunch afterwards, and of course these cuties had to sit together. I love watching them grow up together!
So, what's next? Well, there's no rest. Brianna is going on to work as an RN and starting her coursework for her masters next semester!
Monday, December 17, 2012
Happy Turkey Day!
Happy Thanksgiving! I had to borrow most of these from my brother, since I left my camera memory card at home! Oops!
Mark surprised Braiden with this really artsy OtterBox for his new phone! His OtterBox connection made for one very happy nephew. :)
Of course, my mom got right to work making her famous pies. I think there were maybe 6?? Everyone else helped by either baking with her or tasting. :)
One of our big Thanksgiving traditions is to all make the dressing together. Each year we throw in something new to try it out. It's kind of like wine. You never know if it will be a good year! haha!
Brookie is quite the chef!
Landrie used that purple plastic pizza cutter to cut some apples. She was pretty proud. :) Can you tell what word she is saying?
My brother, Eric and Bennett chopping away!
Busy, busy!
Melissa with her beautiful (and oh-so-tasty) truffle butter turkey.
My mom and Eric getting things ready!
The cuties at the kid table, with their grown up place settings. The china was real, but the glasses we poolside ones and they were filled with sparkling cider. We aren't that crazy! :)
Melissa's parents spent Thanksgiving with us too! Gotta get the whole table shot with the camera on self timer. :)
Look who came to visit the day after Thanksgiving!! Bennett told Landrie all about the elf. Of course, an elf came to visit our house when we got home too. Landrie, and even Tatem LOVE it!
Bennett got a new Connect 4 game from our black Friday shopping. Have you played the new versions?? They are so much more fun that the old kind! There are bombs and ones that let you go twice and all kinds of stuff. If your little one likes strategy games, get this for Christmas. :) We played it for a long time!
As were were saying our good byes and I hugged Braiden, something felt a bit off. Look at this!! My formerly little bitty nephew is taller than me! Braiden is 14 and so sweet. I just love him!
I hope y'all had a great Thanksgiving too!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Good Times with Grandma
We love our grandmas! One of Mark's grandma's lives in Houston, so we try to visit her when we are in town.
The girls love to visit Grandma! We went out to lunch. Grandma has SIX kids. I love that eating way into nap time with two little ones doesn't stress her out a bit. :)
Such a sweet one of Mark with Grandma!
Landrie and Tatem thoroughly enjoyed themselves. :)
Every time we visit, we hear new stories. I knew that Mark's mom and her siblings were spread out in age, (well, some of y'all are!), but I didn't realize that Grandma had her last baby at 42! No wonder she acts so young. :)
We love you, Grandma!
Sunday, December 9, 2012
WHOOP!
Our friend shared her Aggie season tickets with us, and we've been looking forward to this game all season! We went to the Sam Houston game, which was just one week after the HUGE Alabama game. The game that almost gave me a heart attack because it was SO exciting! Going to an Aggie game is always a good time, but you know it was even better knowing that our Ags were on top of the world!
We drove down to Houston, dropped the girls with my parents, and were off to Aggieland first thing in the morning!
I know there's a Freebirds on every corner now (including a corner reallllly close to our house), but somehow it tasted better eating it in College Station! Can you believe they sell chips and queso now?? Anyone else remember when all they had were burritos? :)
The game was AMAZING! We had a ball. You know that perfect football weather?? Oh, yes, that's exactly what we enjoyed. :) It was also military appreciation day, so they did all kinds of things to honor members of our military. That combined with Aggie football made for a very patriotic day!!
If you've been following the Aggies at all, then you know about "Johnny Football." This FRESHMAN is just incredible. It seems like he can do anything! At one of the many field goal kicks, the Aggies started chanting, "Let Johnny kick it!!" He's the quarterback! We cracked up after the next touchdown when we realized they actually let him kick the field goal! Of course, he made it. :)
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Thankful for the ZOO???
Everyone knows that you go to the zoo in the spring and summertime, but I don't think I've ever been during the week of Thanksgiving! After the Aggie game, we spent several days with my parents before we all headed out to New Orleans. The weather was just beautiful, so we headed to the zoo one day!
It's zoo day!
Checking out the seals
This one cracks me up! We were surrounded by beautiful, rare animals. What made the girls squeal the most?? All of these Dora advertisements! Even Tatem can say "Doh-uh" and lit up when she saw the larger than life cutouts. :)
We tried to recreate a picture with this scary Komodo Dragon, who will stare you down! Landrie was not excited about it.
Baby Landrie wasn't too scared!
Neither was Baby Tatem!
This mama elephant came over after her baby laid down for a nap and stood over her. So sweet!
Another Dora ad!
So proud to be a big girl out of her stroller!
The girls love their P-Pa and GranJan!
Happy girls!
These little guys were quite the acrobats.
Going ape!
She was so excited to wear her new necklaces.
the fam
"No photos, please!"
This was part of a new exhibit. I can't remember what these huts were, but Landrie loved running in and out of them!
My little drummer girl!
Yup, you should adopt! It'll be one of the most amazing things you'll ever do! :)
Riding a "rhino!"
Twinkies!
Mark and Landrie playing in the prairie dog tunnels!
Landrie and her P-Pa!
my mom and me :)
my sweet parents
We got a sneak peek of all the Christmas decorations. Maybe next year we'll have to visit at Christmas!!
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