The Man in the Red Suit

We've turned an exciting corner with Anna this Christmas! For the first time, she truly understands the whole Santa Claus thing. So for the first time ever, she was super-enthusiastic about seeing the real guy and telling him all about what she would love to see under her tree on Christmas morning.

I have to admit that I was cautiously optimistic as we headed to the mall this afternoon, because Anna talked a big talk last year, then screamed her head off after getting just one glimpse of St. Nick. And even as we arrived today and got a look at the crowds, Anna looked over at me and said, "Maybe later". So we did some shopping, and I honestly wasn't sure if we would be going back.

But she did ask to go back. And her excitement this time was unwavering. Even after waiting in the dreaded long line that does not move, she still could not wait to get her turn with the man in the red suit. . .

Even as I put her on his lap, I was still half-expecting her to change her mind, but it never happened. She just sat and smiled for the camera like she was with a familiar friend, then rattled off her ever-changing list.

It's so amazing seeing the stars in her eyes. Makes the season all new and sparkly for me, too.

So thanks Anna...just one more way you're making my world a better place.

Love, Mommy

Happy Turkey Day!

Last Friday, Anna's class had a Thanksgiving lunch that the parents were invited to. MawMaw and Anna helped me make these cute little turkey cupcakes from the book "Hello, Cupcake!" to bring to Anna's friends in her class.

They were so adorable, but by the time I got them to the school, the icing was softening and some of the heads were falling off! To that, all I can say is Oops! But hey, nobody's perfect. I'm no exception to that - and neither are my turkeys :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thankful

It's easy to get caught up in all the things in life that aren't going the way you would like, but as I'm trying to figure out what to write about this Thanksgiving, I'm overwhelmed by all of the blessings that we have to be thankful for.

Derek posted this on his FaceBook page today, and I think he said it very well. . .

"As we reflect on the many things for which we are thankful this Thanksgiving
season, I thank God for family & friends, I thank God for the freedom &
liberty we enjoy every day, I thank God that we live in THE UNITED STATES of
AMERICA and I thank God for the United States Military for the protection of our
home land and freedom across the world.

Happy Thanksgiving America!"

And a big, huge Happy Thanksgiving to all of our friends and family - we wouldn't have nearly as much to be thankful for if it weren't for you.

Love, Us

Charles

Derek went fishing on Sunday, so Anna & I met my friend Ashley, her husband Paul, and their gorgeous little boy Charles to try to get some pictures of him in his oh-so-cute Kelly's Kids corduroy blazer. And I have to say...he definitely was oh-so-cute!

It was really fun for me because we took Anna to this same location for pictures this time last year. I can remember being really frustrated because Anna wouldn't stay still, wouldn't look at the camera, wouldn't do anything at all that I wanted her to do. And all I wanted was a nice picture of her smiling in her pretty dress.

But I never did get that shot that I had envisioned in my brain, and in retrospect, I'm glad I didn't. Because what I did get was even more valuable - pictures of Anna being Anna. Exactly who she was at that moment. Completely priceless memories.

And being in that same place a year later with Charles, I was armed with the knowledge that my experience had given me.

So maybe he didn't sit still. Maybe he didn't indulge us our every request. Maybe he chose to flash his biggest smiles at me when I didn't have my camera in his face. Maybe he was way faster than I could possibly move.

But I know that what I captured is purely Charles being wonderful Charles.

Exactly who he is right now: A sweet little energetic thing, with sparkling blue eyes and a contagious smile. Who looks at the world with such wonder and excitement, and tries to take it all in at once. Who blows a seriously mean air-kiss and who just loves my Anna to pieces.

Ashley and Paul, I hope the workout was worth it. . .

It certainly was for me.

Electricity

This is what Anna looked like every single time she came down the slide today. Every. Single. Time.

I'd like to see you try to keep a straight face! I certainly didn't fare so well.

Note to self: Maybe a ponytail next time?

Hiding

Yesterday morning, the strangest thing happened. I couldn't find Anna, but there was the most peculiar Anna-shaped lump in my bed. . .

Luckily, although Anna loves to hide, she is terrible at doing it quietly, and it didn't take long at all to smoke her out with a little "If you're happy and you know it". . .

Man, I live for that smile!

Passing the Torch

For as long as I can remember, my family has gone on a Halloween camping trip to Jellystone Park every single year. I have the best memories of riding bikes, carving pumpkins, hay rides, ghost hunts, campsite-decorating, dummy-making, trick-or-treating, sorting through and trading loads of candy (snickers for a smarties, anyone?), and even doing a little "Thriller" and "Monster Mash" from time to time.

It's been a couple of years, but we finally got the old group back together this year and had a blast. The weather was absolutely perfect for Anna's first Jellystone Halloween. It was kind of strange being the parent there instead of the child for the first time, but it was so fun experiencing everything with her and helping her make memories like the ones I hold so dear.

I was the only one there with a camera this year, so there has been a lot of pressure to share pictures. Hope this little slideshow will do. (Hope it makes you smile, too!)



The song from the slideshow is the title track from Ingrid Michaelson's newest CD "Everybody". Such a cute, happy, catchy little song. Thought it was perfect for this!

Enjoy!

Thank you, Shipley's!

This morning, Anna wanted a donut for breakfast. With pink glaze. And sprinkles. ALL the colors. (She was very specific.) So on the way to bring her to school, I stopped at Shipley's near our house.

The grand total for a donut with pink glaze and sprinkles is just over a dollar. So I hand the lady my debit card (because I NEVER have cash), and she informs me that there is a $3 minimum on debit card charges.

So I just wanted to shout out a big sarcastic THANK YOU to Shipley's for MAKING me eat a kolache this morning just so that my sweet daughter can have a pink-glazed, sprinkled donut! Oh, and my big butt thanks you too!

Sofa in the Woods

A couple of weeks ago, we did a "Sofa in the Woods" session with Mackenzie Wheatley of Chubbyfoot Photography in Kingwood, TX. I just got my proof CD late this week, so I'm very excited to share a few of my favorites with you!

Disclaimer: I have a full copyright release for these pictures, so I did so some of my own editing in Photoshop. If you do not like the editing, please do not hold it against Mackenzie - she knows not what I do.

Anna was in a great mood, and Mackenzie did an excellent job of keeping her engaged and smiling. Even for a generally happy kid like Anna, it looked exhausting! There was a dog puppet that kept "falling" off of Mackenzie's head that I think got really genuine smiles from all of us.

I really love this one of the three of us for some reason. It's probably my favorite of the day.

I like this one because it features Anna as the little show-stealer that she is, and has Derek and I in the back seat (which is where we usually are where she is concerned anyway!).

And who doesn't love some sweet little Daddy-Daughter time?

Of course, I couldn't resist a big squeeze with my little bug. I'm all about equal opportunity cuddling, okay?

Those first two outfits were Matilda Jane. Anna had no problem putting either of them on; however, a total meltdown ensued (cars were actually slowing down to ask if everything was okay because they thought someone was injured!) when she was asked to take that last one off. My theory is that perhaps we were a little too enthusiastic in telling her how cute she looked in it. Live and learn, right?

Alas, she finally recovered and flashed us a few smiles in this last outfit. . .

I'd be smiling too if Mini Boden made that red cord jacket in my size!

I would love to share more, but as of right now, I'm planning to use pictures from this session on our Christmas card this year so I want to save a few surprises.

More pictures. . .coming to a mailbox near you in December!

Good Witch or Bad Witch?

When Dorothy arrives in Oz, Glenda the Good Witch asks her the question, "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?" Dorothy innocently replies, "I'm not a witch at all. I'm Dorothy Gale, from Kansas."

I took Anna outside of the daycare on Friday for these pictures in her witch costume when I visited for her Halloween Parade.

After we were done and were headed back to her classroom, I asked her the same question, "Are you a good witch or a bad witch?"

She just as innocently replied, "I'm not bad, Mommy. I'm nice!"

I couldn't agree more, my sweet Anna!

Happy Halloween

Anna was so excited to go to school today because they're having a Halloween Parade this afternoon. She brought her witch costume, and they will put it on her after naptime for trick-or-treating. Her little Build-a-Bear friend Curly is wearing her witch costume too and went along as show and tell.

This is the last time I'll be able to post until after Halloween, so I wanted to go ahead and wish everyone a Happy Halloween! Hope yours is spooky, safe & fun!

Witchy Woman

We're rapidly running out of time to get in all of Anna's Halloween-wear before the day has come and gone, and I just remembered this morning that I bought this shirt on mega-sale from Orient Expressed at the end of last season. . .

So Anna wore it today, and she was more than happy to pull her sweater back to show off her cute little witch for me before we left for school this morning.

She was pretty excited about the shirt because she's going to be a witch for Halloween this year. Hopefully, I'll have some pictures to share of her in her costume after the weekend!

Are You Okay?

Back in the Spring, Anna had a little choking episode with a Lifesaver candy that was honestly one of the scariest moments of my life. So I have to admit that I now have the tendency to overreact when she has a coughing fit. I immediately start asking her, "Are you okay? Are you okay?..." until she answers me. And she's young, but I've made sure that she understands that I'm asking because I'm scared and how important it is to let me know that she's alright.

That little backstory brings me to this morning. . .
I had just gotten Anna dressed for school, and she was awake but still stumbling around a little. She was cutting through the dining room to get to me in the kitchen, and I heard Derek yell, "Whoa, Anna!" just as she apparently almost walked head-first into the corner of the dining room table. So when she emerged in the kitchen, I said, "Anna, are you okay?"

She looked up at me with a confused look on her face and said, "I not cough, Mommy!"

How do they get so smart?!

Here Comes the Sun

We have been really busy this month, and I'll be the first to admit that I am way behind. I still need to post pictures from our camping trip weekend before last, and this past weekend was just non-stop - two birthday parties, a visit with some friends, and a long overdue family portrait session with Mackenzie Wheatley of Chubbyfoot Photography.

Hopefully, I'll have some pictures to share from our Chubbyfoot session in the next week or so, but until then, here are a few that I snapped of Anna at a park near our house on the way home from one of her parties on Saturday. I can't seem to look at them without humming The Beatles' song "Here Comes the Sun" not only because of the beautiful warmth in them, but even more so because of how darn happy they are and how much fun she had!

Anna made fast friends with this stick as soon as we got there.

She played in the water with it. . .

. . .and she even put her "game face" on and used it to fend off trees, monsters and Mommies!

Then she got distracted by all of the other fun things around her. Like pine needles. . .

. . .and peek-a-boo trees. . .

. . .and she even built a "house" for me out of pebbles from the walkway.

Then just before we left, I begged her to give one last smile for Mommy. I was shocked, but without a fight, she cocked her little shoulder up and just smiled away for me. I'm not sure where she learned that pose, but that's not unusual because I don't know where she gets most of what she does!

Then we hopped in the car and headed home. . .in the sunset.

"Here comes the sun. . .doo doo doo doo"

(Stuck in your head yet?)