Seriously?

She found a new toy in grandma's pantry....and yes it is almost as big as she is. Even the look on her face shows that she knows it isn't quite what she should be playing with.

Gorgeous day

It was a fantastic 75+ day here yesterday. Here is happy hour on the new deck. This is why we live in Texas. I wouldn't trade days like yesterday for the overcast days of winter elsewhere.

This is of AG and Grandpa shelling a couple of pecans to enjoy right out of the shell. It is one of her favorite treats lately.

New outfits

AG has a couple of new outfits to wear. Here is one from Grandma and Grandpa V. Look for the other outfits later this week.

Cinnamon rolls

One of my family traditions is to eat grandma Weedie's famous cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning. I remember standing in the kitchen with her learning just how to make them. It's one of the things I am truly grateful to have had the time with her to learn.

So whenever Christmas season comes around it's time to start the batches of cinnamon rolls. I think that Matt loves this particular tradition, and Anna Grace seems to have taken to it as well. Matt shared a little of his rolls, but with Gigi and Grandpa here there really weren't rules.

Here she is sitting on grandpa's lap "sharing" his roll. It was cracking me up. I am glad she loves grandma's rolls as much as the rest of us.

Merry Christmas!

We had a present filled day. We started opening presents at about 7:30 and Anna Grace lost interest before 11. So we finished tonight after supper. That meant about 7:00 tonight.

Here she is opening a tea set from Gigi and grandpa.

This is a cute cupcake puzzle from Gigi. It is so fun.

Probably one of biggest hits is the stroller from grandma and grandpa. If we don't run into my china cabinet any more, it will be able to stay in the house :)

We were so glad that Gigi and grandpa could be here with us today. I hope you enjoyed a blessed holiday. Merry Christmas!

Getting ready

I got out the curling iron last night prior to bedtime. I know that sounds strange, but we were heading to midnight mass and I wanted her to be ready to go. So we snapped a few pictures right before bedtime.

Sorry for the lack of Christmas pictures. Matt and Grandpa Tom left early to save us seats and so by the time AG was dressed it was just Gigi and I on the way to church.

Mittens!

Daddy bought AG some new mittens (and a hat) to brave the weather. She isn't fond of the hat, but the mittens are great.

Lunch

I am usually quite the stickler about what AG eats. Today we went to Wendy's of all places. She was cracking me up, sitting in her own chair etc. Anyway, here she is. Notice the bracelet on her wrist. We wore it last night to a Christmas party and she was so excited, I had it on again today.

Books!

I love this picture of her reading to herself. This also was yesterday even though it's a different outfit.

Daddy's park outing

Here is a picture for the park yesterday. I think they had a great time without me. (I was running errands)

Dwayne said to keep posting, so here they are!

Lunch with the girls

I met Jacque, Becky and my old boss Dick for lunch today. The lunches aren't quite the same as they used to be getting to visit and catch up. Now they involve 3 little kids, getting them fed and paid attention to. Matt came along for the company. It was a fun lunch, even if it isn't as relaxing as it used to be.

Jacque has this adorable little boy, Marek (who was born in the same hospital as AG, 4 hours later.) who loves to give hugs. Here he is waiting for a hug. Arms open wide, it is the cutest thing ever.

Here Marek is hugging Anna Grace, I know it's blurry, but I only had my camera phone and it was too precious to miss!

At the other end of the the table was Jacque's other child, Maddie and she seems so grown up! She was carrying a purse and showed us her painted fingernails. Oh my, she is all girl and such a cutie!

We always say we will get together again soon, and I hope this time we mean it. It is so fun to see them, and well, it's only been 12 months now.

Instant friends

Amy came over yesterday to go to the Pat Green concert. (Daddy was nice enough to stay home since the babysitter fell through, haven't times changed?)

After we came back it took Anna Grace all of 2 minutes to charge over to Amy with the Napping House.

We're so glad that she could spend the afternoon/evening with us. Thanks for coming over Amy.

O Christmas Tree

Just to keep in the music theme. We got the tree on Friday and decorated it during nap time. Most of the sturdier ornaments are at the bottom, just in case. So far the only one that really interests her is the sparkly candy canes.

Anyway, the house truly smells like Christmas to me now.

Christmas Music

We love listening to the Christmas music. And now I have another excuse to play it on repeat :)

Climbing...

We put the computer in the front room for a week, and it is just way too easy for someone to get up to the keyboard.

30 seconds

So most of you will find this hard to believe, we just got our Christmas decorations out! I am torn about how well AG will leave some of the things alone, but thanks to Gigi we have this great nativity just for her. Matt set it up for her during nap time, and within 30 seconds the whole table was cleared.

Anyway, she loves the new nativity! Thanks Gigi.

Santa visit

So after a trip to the park, we went downtown to see santa. It was the perfect night to be down there! So perfect in fact Tyler and Weston were right behind us in line with Honey and Pop (their grandparents). Small world!

As you can see Anna Grace was thrilled to see Santa...He was a great santa though. Very patient and talked to her about her dress and his fur. Still Anna Grace wanted no part of that.






But then we went and ran around the rest of the decorations and she was perfectly happy. It was a nice night and we were glad to share it with Tyler and Weston.



Merry Christmas Y'all!

Park trip

It was a gorgeous day here and daddy was home early from work. We headed down to our favorite swings and I think Anna Grace would've stayed there all day. Here she is laying back and taking it all in.

She also had a few quick rides down the slide.

Soulja Boy

I couldn't resist!

Canton trip

Matt and I took an impromptu trip to Canton yesterday. Anna Grace is such a trooper for things like this! We went for First Monday, shopped until about nap time, loaded into the truck and headed to see our friends for a quick visit. Here's AG enjoying lunch at Canton.

It really feels like the holidays for me now. I wrapped presents last night and have to get some in the mail today. But I wrapped some for Anna Grace too. This morning she started to unwrap those! It will be a fun year!

Mama Don't Allow

One of the guys that Matt works with gave us a CD with a bizillion kid's songs on it. One of the songs is called Mama Don't Allow, yesterday AG decided to show us that she knows just how to stomp those feet.

Drum?

or grandpa's head...We were so grateful to have an extended visit with grandma and grandpa. They left this morning and we miss them already.

Thanks for the countless stories and made up toys. We love you!

Not for Anna Grace.....

It's a common phrase in our house. On Thanksgiving AG was getting into one of my things which was not a toy. Matt told her, "not for Anna Grace" and in frustration said, "go love your baby doll". Seconds later, Matt was in the other room and this was what she was doing.

Perfectly obedient, right? :)

A&M 38 - tu 30

Matt and I drove to College Station on Friday morning. We met Grant and Amy in Hillsboro and spent the day at the game and eating at our favorite places in town. (AG stayed home where it was warm.) We snapped this picture at the end of the game, even though I broke the maroon out for warmth.

I cannot talk about the game without saying Howdy to Coach Sherman! (It was the highlight of the aggie win for me to hear the press conference afterwards.)

SNOW!

Matt and I ran outside on Thanksgiving day as the snow started. It was short-lived, grandpa tried to join us, but it was too late :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here is AG watching the Macy's Day parade with daddy. (His rules are obvioulsy different on holidays, because usually there isn't any tv!)

Here is Anna Grace enjoying some turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing. Yummy!

And of course, just being a ham, as usual.

We hope this day finds you filled with reasons to be thankful! We certainly can count many reasons why we are blessed. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Silent Night

I took Grandma shopping yesterday and she could hardly wait to give Anna Grace a new book. It lights up and plays silent night (over and over and over!). Although this is one of her favorite books right now, you will have to ask Matt and I in a week if we can still stand it!

Zoo trip

We took AG to the zoo today. Matt has been off all week, and we were super busy with house projects. However, we finished and had a fun outing today.



Here is Anna Grace petting the goat.

And here she is peeking at the bears, which she didn't want to leave.

Saturday

I just took this yesterday morning when they were hanging out watching Game Day.

Sticker fun

Our ads today had a few stickers in them.

AG loved putting them on her nose.

New trick!

Anna Grace and I always play a little game. We have done it for months, "where is your ____?". As she learns a feature we add another. Today, I asked "where is your belly button?" It was a new one that we have never tried before. Anyway, she lifted her dress and pointed straight to it. I almost fell over. I took her in to daddy and made her do it again and again. So the question is, if Matt and I haven't been showing her belly button, who taught her this?

Gigi's heaven

I think in every way this is Gigi's idea of fun. Here she is reading to Wade, and Anna Grace felt the need to interupt.

Here is Anna Grace hanging out in the play "house". She loved getting in and out of it, with or without Kyle.

Anna Grace and Wade hanging out on Matt's lap. He had his hands slightly full!

And lastly, the 3 kids together. As you can see, I am better at snapping pics of my child. The other two seem totally uninterested. I must have taken at least 8, one right after the other trying to get something. Wade cried through the first 4, and at least he isn't upset in this one.

Friday with Kyle

Anna Grace really enjoys being around Kyle and I think the feeling is mutual. The first picture I snapped when they were hanging out on the sofa. AG was patting him, "Good Kyle" . I think they had a great time hanging out at Gigi's.

Here they are looking out the door. Anna Grace loves to stand in front of the door, and I was in the kitchen. I heard Kyle in there saying, "it's dark outside Anna Grace. Ouch you hit your head on the door. Ouch, I hit my head on the door!" :) It was too cute!

Party favors

At Stoney's birthday party, Shanon had these great party favors, one of which was a pair of sunglasses. It has been hilarious watching her walk around in them.

The funniest part for Matt and I though is when she put them on top of her head like Matt and I wear them :)

Gigi's new outfit

So I think I need a lesson on how to put these headbands on. She is walking around with it still on and just looks too cute! Thanks for the adorable outfit, Gigi. I think that the pants are supposed to be a little tight, but those skinny legs aren't quite filling them out.