Christmas 2012

We spent Christmas at home in Florida this year. It was a strange Christmas season all around. It was in the 80's most of December, we had to have a "Lila-proof" decorated house, which included a tree on top of the dining room table, and Chris's family had a bout with stomach flu on Christmas Eve and Christmas! We were taken in by our friends, the Alvarez's on Christmas and were able to celebrate with Chris's family the day after and had a good time. I loved having Christmas on a Sunday this year because we enjoyed beautiful music and great messages. Here are some (or a lot) of our Christmas pictures:

On Christmas Eve we went to a place about 30 mins away called Christmas Card Lane where a guy completely decks out his land in Christmas lights, trees, trains, moving decorations, carolers, a snack bar and everything else. Best part...free admission!

Christmas morning. I wish I got more pictures of her with her Santa toys where Chris or I weren't holding her in our pj's. Not posting those!

(I love that in the morning, her hair makes her look like a Dr. Seuss "who")

Relaxing with a candy cane.

After church, ready to open presents!

My parents got Lila a baby doll with all the accessories. It is quite apparent that Lila is still the baby. All the accessories became hers.

Trying to get into the baby stroller.

There we go.

Baby went for a ride in Lila's new train.

My grandma got her pots and pans for her new kitchen that Chris's parents got her. She LOVES them. She puts binkies, balls, food and everything else in them and stirs it all up.

Relaxing on her new, huge, elephant pillow pet.

This is the day after Christmas right before leaving for Chris's family get together. Lila is sporting a new bow and shoes that go with a whole line of clothes I have been dying for her to have! My mom got her lots of the pieces and I am way too excited about it!

Her new kitchen!!! She is in love with it. She got a bunch of food for it too that she walks around or fills her doll stroller with. Maybe she thinks it's a shopping cart?? Whatever works.

Finally, I just had to post a picture to prove we finally got some cooler weather yesterday! Yay for having to wear a jacket. And yes, we take family outings to the putting greens. Sigh.

Merry Christmas!

I know, I know

I know it has been too long since the last post. We haven't been doing anything amazing as an excuse, but here's an update on us anyway:

Chris works, teaches most Saturdays, still putts on the fake, green putting foam in my family room (sigh), dotes on our daughter and keeps up on all things sports, cars and other manly things.

I get to play with Lila everyday, spend lots of time doing primary things, tutor every Tuesday, read good books, salivate over all the gorgeous clothes I want to buy for my daughter, try to think of fun things to do with a 1 year old and try to throw some cooking and cleaning in there.

Lila loves to play outside and throw balls in the street for me to chase, has finally learned what "stop!" means, putting an end to my near- heart attacks as she would dart into the street to chase said balls, she loves to snack and knows where the pantry is, has a sweet tooth like no other, is slightly destructive, has the cutest 4 -toothed smile I've ever seen, can't wait to dance to her favorite movie credit songs, jabbers incoherently to herself except for mom mom, dadda and her perfectly understandable and audible "no no no", has a screech that is close to ear-shattering, is desperately attached to her binkies and prefers to have at least 3 at a time to rotate, likes to walk around the house with random objects that change daily, loves to play "I'm gonna get you" (her running around the house as we chase her) and hugs her daddy like she hasn't seen him in weeks every night when he comes home. I could go on, but won't.

My friend, Jenn is getting into photography and offered to take our family's picture for free. Yes please! Here are my favorites:

Lila is a water baby. Always has been. We tried to take pictures by this beautiful fountain surrounded by flowers and iron gates but Lila had other plans. Notice her wet hair? We had to physically restrain her from climbing over the side to go swimming but she still managed to get soaked from being so close to the fountain spray and throwing her arms in. Now we know not to go near water if we want her to look at the camera.