Thanksgiving and the Day After

I didn't take any Thanksgiving pictures. Shame on me. Because it was fun! Everyone, from both sides of our family, came over…we missed Bud and James, however, because they were both sick, but everyone else came. All the cousins, all the aunts and uncles (even Uncle Matt from New York!) and my parents and Ben's parents. It was great. Here's a picture of our table…it's a little off (note the left-hand side there) but I think it looks pretty! :) Lainey even set the table for me! She's very eager to do that type of thing! And she likes taking orders, too. She and Ella took all of our dessert orders and even delivered them to us (well, with assistance). 

The Taco :)

(We now all have Mexican-food-style nicknames…Lainey-dilla, Daddy-guacamole, Mama-chilada…we're a cool family.)

All the kiddos, and a glimpse of the bright late-afternoon sun.

Yesterday morning (Friday), Walker came into my room and told me something bout Lainey…I couldn't totally understand him, but I was sure it was a tattle. About a minute later, Lainey came in saying, "What was Walker saying? It sounded like he was telling you that I was doing a scorpion on the island in the kitchen." (Thanks for clarifying, Lainey.). Anyway, I couldn't help but laugh. A "scorpion" (which she actually cannot do, but certainly tries to do) is where you grasp one leg, pull it up, and then straighten it behind you (up over your head) all while keeping the other foot grounded. Anyway, bottom line - the kitchen island is not the place to practice such things. And then, about an hour later, I found her dancing on the table with Reagan.  Poor dog. I'm not even sure how they both got up there. Lainey is a bit of a free-spirit…and she is creative…and definitely has to learn the hard way. She's not likely to listen to me or my warnings and admonitions about doing tricks and climbing. :-/

These two laugh the hardest and the loudest while in the bathtub. They are silly, start talking crazy, and get super hyper. And most of their conversations revolve around potty words. :) I see them laugh and I just can't help it…I let them do it. It's just too funny. I am a sucker for belly laughs. :) 

Snow Tubing

Snow Tubing in two words: SO FUN!

Lainey and Morgan :)

Walker had school on Monday, so the girls and I went to play at the Gaylord Texan. Is it bad that I've never been out there? It was awesome. I'm glad we went!

I took this picture in the bathroom. The colors all coordinate and it's just funny…proving that when you least expect it, you can still get a good picture! 

Birthday Party Cuteness

Lainey and Kaitlyn

Pretty face paint!

Thanksgiving Feast

Walker's class had their Thanksgiving Feast on Wednesday. My sweet friend Jessica was kind enough to forward me the pictures from the feast since I wasn't in attendance! I love this class of kids. They are so sweet and wonderful…and so are their parents!

Walker is on the top row, far left. He is the only one not wearing a vest or face paint. But he did wear his Indian headdress thing. I consider that a major feat!

Walker and one of his best friends, Brayden.

And, the two boys with Clayton. I love little Kasen's face in the background. Cute smile, Buddy! :)

This morning (Friday) Lainey got her third set of ear tubes. She did great; her other "non-functioning" ones were removed, and hopefully this set will do the job for as long as she needs them. She woke up very upset (just sad, not mad) and she vomited several times as a result of the anesthesia. Lesson learned there. Thank goodness for Zofran…it is truly an amazing drug! She came home and took a good nap and now she's narrating (to herself) how to make a bracelet with her Rainbow Loom (she has watched a "how-to" video once or twice on You Tube). She is pretty content aside from a little ear pain here and there. I hope that clears up soon. :) In this picture, she's holding a gift - Snoopy - from her teacher's son, Jacob, who is also in Kindergarten. "Mrs. Molnar's Jacob" is such a sweet boy; he has the best heart! He got this for her so she wouldn't be nervous! :) And her whole class made her cards. And we gave her an Itty Bitty Boo this morning to love and cuddle. :) She had a big support system going into this surgery! Glad to have it over with…and now I can try to focus on Thanksgiving!! :)

SANTA!

Yep - we took advantage of the opportunity to see Santa while at the mall yesterday…no line, no fuss, easy. Is it just me or does Santa seem to appear earlier and earlier every year? Lainey and I had been at a birthday party at the mall and stopped to see Santa on our way out. We invited Walker to join us (by phone) but he declined. :) I may try to get him to see Santa another time!

The girls LOVED the Snow Queen/Snow Princess…not sure what her "official" name is. Lainey is pictured here with Emerson, the little girl who had the birthday party. She and Lainey dance together. :)

Recently...

sitting on the giant turtle at the Heard Museum

Walker's riding his bike! And Lainey is laughing at the dogs barking in the neighbor's yard.

Walker is obsessed with playing Candy Land. However, he likes to win. Go figure. :) He's actually really good at playing the game and moving the pieces, and he does legitimately win about 90% of the time. Sometimes, if he gets a card that sends him back to the beginning, he fusses and will try to move his piece somewhere else. Ha! At that point, generally we stop playing unless he's in a cheerful, good-sport mood and then we'll keep on going. Just gotta play that one by ear. :) 

We got to get on stage at The Shops at Legacy Christmas Tree Lighting. (The perks of having a husband who is on Plano's City Council!) Lainey was terrified of Santa; she didn't want to be near him.  At all. She stayed on Ben's shoulders the whole time. Kinda goes with her theme of being afraid/wary of people who are dressed in costumes… Even though she was scared, she assured me that she did sing some songs. So that was good. ;)

First School Picture

Loving it… :) 

Walker's Family Picture

Here we are! (I helped him draw the Pooh Bear…part of a journal assignment for school.) Not sure why we are all armless and legless or why Daddy is so short, but I am SO proud of Walker for attempting to draw us. This is a big step! He was so happy and excited to do his "homework." My favorite thing in the picture is Reagan…over there on the left. That small mark underneath Reagan's nose (the dash mark to the right of her name) is her "hiccuping." As in, Reagan had just thrown up and Walker felt it appropriate that he should add that into the picture. And yes, "throwing up" is "hiccuping" according to Walker. :) He still recalls the time that he "hiccuped" Oreos all over the wall next to his crib in our old house. So do I, Buddy. So do I. :)

The Hokey Pokey and Hula Hoops

Gotta love Babe's Fried Chicken. And the Hokey Pokey. :) Even Walker participated. I never thought I'd see the day! :)

And Lainey's become quite obsessed with her hula hoop these days. She is always practicing. Lately, she's been trying to keep it on her arm. Sometiems she's successful, sometimes she's not! :) And thanks to falling back for Daylight Saving Time, I got to witness these tricks at 6:00 a.m. :) Lucky me!

 

Last Lainey story…yesterday she set up "stations" around our house…basically, there were stations all over the floor downstairs and even some up the stairs. My favorite station was the one where "you have to stand on the stool for 15 seconds without falling." Ha! :) I told her we could keep out a few of the stations overnight but not all of the stations. She had numbered all of them, so we kept out the numbered ones. But of course then I misplaced the sticky notes with some of the numbers and rearranged some of the stations…and Lainey noticed…so who knows where we stand now with the stations. ;) 

Hair, Makeup, and Walker's Name

Friends at their hair and makeup class at the dance studio on Saturday...

silly Morgan and Lainey

And Walker wrote his name!!! He just needed a little help with the R and the K. But LOOK! I'm so proud of him! (This is his "Star of the Week" poster for school.)

Lainey's Story

I love this little "book" that Lainey wrote at school. I'm glad to know that she loves dancing. She's never really expressed herself in that way - I know she loves it, and she does it all the time, but she's only recently said the words "I love dancing." It's a good thing, considering the time (and, ahem, the money) that we spend at the studio. ;) Anyway, this story was sweet and it made me smile so big. So, of course, I did what any mom does when they love something - I laminated it! (Ok, maybe that's just me!) And here's the story...

"This is me at my recital." (I think this is the title. In the picture, on the stage floor, are little letters. Lainey's standing on the "L.")

"I am eating waffles."(This is the first page of the story.)

"I am ready for my recital." (I think that's me, in the brown dress, putting makeup on Lainey's face.)

"I love dancing." (And the studio's name is in the back - Dance Industry.)

LOVE it! :)

Halloween Happenings!

Walker's Halloween party at school :)

We went to a neighborhood Halloween party after school on Wednesday. Guess who didn't want to wear a costume? 

Every party has a pooper…

Love you, Buddy. You're cute.

In our old neighborhood for the annual Halloween pre-trick-or-treating party. It was so great to see our friends. We miss that group! Glad we're all still at the same school!

Lainey and Ainsley

Jacob (the policeman) is Lainey's Kindergarten teacher's son. Lainey loves him. They were at the annual neighborhood party, and Lainey insisted that we stop by to see "Mrs. Molnar and Mrs. Molnar's Jacob." She never calls him "Jacob," it's always "Mrs. Molnar's Jacob." Those two have fun together. :)

Back at our house…ready to GO. And folks, we have a skeleton two years in a row. As predicted, Walker didn't want to put on his furry porcupine costume. So, he opted to wear his skeleton jammies for the second year in a row. We'll take it. :)

Ironically, Walker claims that Halloween is his favorite holiday. He loves "sfooky" (spooky) books and is fascinated by all of the decorations. I don't think he wants to get too near the "sfooky" things, but he likes talking about them. :) 

Yes, both kids went trick-or-treating barefoot around the neighborhood. Mother of the Year. :) 

Because she can't take a picture without posing. Or, rather, she has to try really, really hard not to pose. 

with Kate and Brooke :)

Morgan - um, Dorothy - came to join us for the second year in a row. These two are such sweet friends!

Disco Queen with the disco ball.

scary faces

saying hi to Uncle Greg and Aunt Tisha's vampire :)

*****

I hope everyone had as much fun as we did. A crazy, fun night that left me slightly stressed at times. :) It was all worth it, though - the kids had a blast! :)