Merry Christmas!

Lola was very happy to see all of her gifts from Santa! She got a piano, a pink corn popper, clothes for her baby doll, a tool box, a stacking block thing and in her stocking she got a Disney Princess plate, fork / spoon and cup; coloring book and crayons and Animal Crackers.

Grandma Paula showing Lola our very white Christmas!

Lola and her cousins

Lola's new princess ride-on toy.

Her new rocking chair.

Christmas Eve

We started the Christmas Eve festivities at Brian's parents where Lola got all kinds of fun stuff!

Brian and Lola (he is holding her mixing bowl from the baking set she got).

This wasn't a new toy, but just something random she found and really seemed to enjoy!

Back to my parents to stay all night. Here is Lola and Brian with their Christmas Eve gifts - new ornaments!

Leaving her treats for Santa
























She couldn't quite figure out why these treats were on a plate in front of her, yet she wasn't allowed to eat them! Poor girl!

Showing me her empty stocking.

Christmas Candids

Brian and I are like giddy little kids when it comes to Christmas, so we always do ours a little early. This year we actually managed to wait until 12/23, which is really late for us. The three of us had dinner at Chili's and then home for presents while listening to Christmas music and eating Christmas cookies.

Lola was in such a good mood so we were trying to get some pictures by the tree.

I love this one!

Getting ready to help her daddy open his presents.

She loved her new mittens and purple and silver Nike's!

Grandpa Larry's Little Girl

Yes, friends... that is a John Deer hat on my little girl's head. She found it in a sack of presents I still needed to wrap and put it on her head.

Wyatt's Birthday

My family's little Christmas baby - my nephew, Wyatt - turned 7 years old last week! So we started our Christmas week by going to his Star Wars party. For as long as I could remember, Wyatt has always had the best smiles!!

It's no secret that Lola is pretty shy around some of my family. Angie, Janell and Denise have tried their hardest and poor Logan... he's tried almost everything to get her to come to him. So far, only one thing works...

Lola's First Christmas Present

Lola's first Christmas present was this cute little table from her Grandma Donna and Grandpa Larry. We were planning to have it go in her room, but she really likes sitting at her table so we have it in the kitchen for now. She sits there to have her afternoon snack of pretzels or Teddy Grahams.

One evening when Brian and I were being bad parents (too engaged in the TV), we were surprised to look back and find Lola hanging out ON TOP of her new table.

Christmas Tree

This weekend we braved the cold to pick out our Christmas Tree. So far, Lola has done pretty well with it, she definitely likes to point at the ornaments and she's pulled a few off, but overall - not as bad as I was expecting.

These pictures are very candid and hopefully I'll have some nicer pictures soon.

Lola... just playing around with the Christmas decorations...

Picking out our tree

Lola and her daddy putting the star on

Checking the tree out

Cara's First Birthday Party

Last Sunday, Lola and I drove up to Elmhurst for Cara's first birthday party. Amanda did such a great job with everything and Cara was adorable!

In 15 short years, the girls will be celebrating their Sweet 16 together! :)

Family Pictures

Here are a few of our recent family pictures (also Lola's one year pictures)!

A Little R & R

Brian and I just returned from a 5 night Royal Caribbean Cruise, our first trip without Lola. I was a little emotional (and by a little, I mean really crazy) before we left at the thought of leaving her. The last few days before we left, I kept waiting for Brian to give me a little wink and tell me that we could take her, but the wink never came so off we went, leaving Lola with Grandma Paula and Papa Dana.

I don't think an hour went by that I didn't think about her, but Brian and I had a great time together! We sampled some authentic Rum Cake and relaxed by the Caribbean Sea while in Grand Cayman and swam with dolphins in Cozumel. We also got a very strong lesson in patience on the way home - due to late flights and long delays, it took about 14 hours to get home. We got home about midnight, slept for about six hours and then went to Clinton to get Lola. She was very happy to see us and has not let us get out of her sight over the last three days... somewhat annoying, until I remember how much I missed her while we were gone! :)

Relaxing on the cruise ship

The park in Cozumel where we swam with the dolphins

The view of Cozumel from the boat.

Happy Halloween!

Lola's second cousin, Angi sent Lola an adorable little Halloween outfit. It said "Wickedly Cute". Lola spent the day playing with her new toys, carvings pumpkins with her friends and then Trick-or-Treating at Grandma Paula and Papa Dana's with her cousins.

Here she is playing on her new little pony.

Lola and Alina before pumpkin carving.

Miss Tinkerbell!

Playing hide and seek with her bag.

With her cousins.

Lola is One!

Lola had a great first birthday! Her and I spent the day at my parent's house and I got to see her play with all of her friends at "day care". She also shared her cupcakes with her friends, Grandma Paula, Papa Dana, Grandpa Larry and Grandma Donna. She got a few gifts from both grandparents, but most were saved for her party.

That evening we stripped her down and let her go after her cupcake. She got a handfull of icing and kept shaking her hand, trying to get it off. I had to let her know that it was yummy and that she could eat it! Then she started to enjoy it!

The last of the number pics... I debated whether to do "1-2" or "1", but decided to go with "1" so I could show the comparison.

Her party was on Saturday and it was a fantastic day! Lola was a little shy, but she enjoyed all of her family and friends being there and loved playing with her new toys. Halfway through the party, my camera's memory card was full so I'll put a few out here, but as other people's pictures are sent to me, I'll probably include those, as well.

The first (and last) 3-tiered purple cake that BRIAN AND I MADE! :)

One of Lola's gifts.... a shirt that says "Best Friends - Lola + Cara". And, of course, Cara has a matching one! :) Lola is busy reading the card.

Lola's new hat