Family at Heart

We did something this morning that we hadn’t done before…we went to the Chuy’s Blue Santa parade in downtown Austin.  We had talked about it yesterday a bit, but it wasn’t until after A was asleep last night that we decided to definitely go.  We had a great time.  The parade was really long and had so many characters and fun things to look at and listen to.  A just loved it all.  We took a book to give and she and Hubby took it over to the truck.  It was awesome to see so many people giving to children that are less fortunate and to know that many children will now have a brighter Christmas because of the parade this morning.  It made me cry to see all of the pick-up trucks running over with toys.  Loved every second of this morning and we will definitely be adding this to our holiday tradition list from this year forward

We followed up the parade with a very yummy lunch at the 1886 Bakery and Cafe in the Driskell.  We ate outside and just had a great time.  I love my family!

Daddy and A on the Congree Street bridge.

We were walking to our parade watching spot

Sweet girl waiting patiently for the parade to begin.

A with one of the many volunteers.

Sweetness.

I love parades. A had never really been to one before.

The idea behind the parade is amazing. I was so happy to see all of the giving. It restores one's faith.

One of the big balloons. They were cool.

Loved Mr. Potato Head, the fireman

The is the book we took to give to some other child who is less fortunate than our own. Love, love, love it!

One of the many truckloads of toys.

Austin Police Chief with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

This is where A got to give her book.

Giving time!

My sweet buddies.

The Horton balloon was very cool and very large!

Snow White is giving high five to A!

The Biscuit Brothers.

Joe McDermott!!!! He nodded to us. I know that he recognized us. It's hard to forget Hubby's hat

Hubby really liked this float since it had a cool airplane.

We told A that her car would look like this one when she starts driving. It had stuffed animals all over it

An Austin parade wouldn't be complete without the King himself.

The red Mr. and Mrs. Claus

This balloon was cool too. I just loved the balloons. Can you tell?

A at lunch. What a great day we had!

Each year we have a tradition with A’s Christmas ornaments.  She picks a special one at the store.  She is really into helping to decorate the tree now.  Her pick for this year’s ornament was Bolt.  Last year’s was Wall-e.  I guess next year’s will be whatever character is in the next big Disney movie   The Bolt ornament is very cute and was a very easy choice.  So on Friday, she and I dug into our decorations and put up the tree.  I love this tradition and she just loves looking at the ornaments that we have collected thus far.  Enjoy!

Since A was off school beginning on Wednesday, we set up a playdate with her best school buddy, T.  Those girls had been begging for a playdate for weeks, but with T’s mom’s work schedule, it is difficult to do sometimes.  We met up for lunch and then headed to Kiddie Acres.  We all had a great time.  They even played mini golf.  Great day with friends!

Lunch at Opal Divine's was divine indeed!

First ride of the day...

T is such a sweetheart.

A loves the merry-go-round.

Cutie pies.

Fun...they rode this twice.

Jeeps were next...

Treat time...A had an ice cream sandwich while T stuck with cotton candy.

So much fun!

Mini golf was fun too. We had never played here before. A had a great time with her school buddy!

The other  day while I was working on my computer, A made a book and brought it to me.  It is called My Care Book and it’s all about how to take care of her.  I guess they do come with instructions after all:-)

Here is a picture of the pig costume that I made for A’s school play.  It is December 9th and I will certainly be posting pictures.  Here’s a sneak preview…

Well, it’s hard to know where to start when I think of everything that I am thankful for.  I thank God everyday for my sweet little girl and my husband, for my mom, mother-in-law and our entire families, for our home and business, for our dear friends.  My list truly goes on and on.  We enjoyed a wonderful day together and had a great dinner too.  I served turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, baked and green beans, corn, rolls, and cranberry sauce.  I followed it all up with chocolate pie for A and I and pumpkin pie for Hubby.  We were blessed with a great dinner and with being able to share the day together.  I just love Thanksgiving.  Thanks be to Him who has provided us with such a beautiful family and life.  I vow to never take it for granted and to cherish it everyday.

And to top off our great day, UT beat the Aggies.  Good Thanksgiving indeed!

Her favorite is the chocolate pie. She gets to lick the bowl and whisk when I am finished.

The turkey was delicious!

We used our new dishes that I got late last year. We also drank out of wine goblets

Waiting to be served...

My buddies getting ready for some turkey.

It was truly yummy! Great dinner and great day!

I did have a funny story to add to all of this sentimental stuff…I picked A up from school earlier this week and she had a huge paper turkey to bring home with her.  She had written something she was thankful for on each of the turkey’s feathers (long strips of paper).  The whole thing was very cute indeed.  Some of the things she’s thankful for…

…her sweet parents

…toys

…candy

…several classmates’ names

and last but not least,….boogers

This morning I went to school to have Thanksgiving lunch with A.  I wasn’t originally going to go since I didn’t think she would eat anything at all and I didn’t really want to eat turkey twice (or more when you count leftovers) in the same week.  But the more I thought about it, the more I hated the idea that she would be sitting alone with her packed lunch while other classmates were having lunch with their mommies and/or daddies.  So I changed my mind and off I went.  It was very nice and I am sooooo glad I went.  She was so happy and she actually ate some turkey and ham.  We had a great time.  After we finished, the teacher said that we could leave if we wanted.  A wanted to stay for recess, so I waited for her and then we came home.  Great day with my sweet girl.

She was so happy I was there. She loves having Hubby and/or me at school.

Silly girl!

A and two of her classmates buddies.

I wanted to post A’s school picture and the family pictures that we just took this past weekend.  I loved them all.

Kindergarten 2009-2010

I love my family!

This makes my all-time favorite list.

We went to R’s 3rd birthday party at Chuck E Cheese’s on Monday evening.  It was so much fun!.  A always has fun there.  She even got extra tokens because we took her report card and showed them her great grades.  She got 15 extra tokens for that and thought that was the absolute coolest thing.  A and Z (and eventually all of the kids) played a lot with these cameras they had there.  They could pan around and zoom and just had a great time playing with them.  R’s cake was made of cupcakes and was Hello Kitty.  The cupcakes were in the shape of a purse.  It was simply adorable.  Fun party!  Happy Birthday Big 3-Year-Old!!!!!

The birthday girl with her Hello Kitty cake.

She was clapping and saying Happy. The other side of the table was clapping and saying Birthday

I took A to the mall on Saturday while Hubby was working on the computers at A’s school.  We had planned our girls’ day out as soon as I found out we were on our own.  We started out with Santa pictures.  From there we went to Hallmark where she chose her special ornament for this year.  The winner is…Bolt!  It is very cute and was an easy choice.  Last year’s choice was Wall-e.  We have had a special ornament for her every year and I was telling her than when she’s grown that she may have them all to put on her own tree.  She’s thinking about letting me keep them though.  After the ornament, we went several other places – the play area, she wrote a letter to Santa in Macy’s, we browsed the Disney Store, picked an angel from the Salvation Army tree (we do this every year), etc.  We had lunch at Dragonfly.  We finished our mall day with Dippin’ Dots for A.  It was a superb day at the mall.  After that, we went to HEB and did the shopping for Thanksgiving dinner.  I had such a great time just being with my sweet girl.  I miss her so much while I’m away from her that it hurts.  I am so thankful that we are now on Thanksgiving break and I have her to myself for a few days.

Same Santa, different year

She wore her reindeer ears. They looked adorable.

A is writing her letter to Santa at Macy's.

She doesn't want much. I think we can handle this list

Ready to send...

Off it goes.

Lunch time!

Dippin Dots - rainbow flavor is the best!