It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Christmas is one week away, and one pint-sized person couldn't be more excited!  Every year gets more fun with her as she truly "believes" and brings back many wonderful Christmas memories to our family.

Here we are working through our Christmas checklist...

Toured the neighborhood Christmas lights.

The Elf on the Shelf has been flying to and from the North Pole for over a month (bribary at its finest).

Lauren and Daddy made the perfect gingerbread house.

Went and told Santa all about the Barbie Boat we want.

We also told Santa, we are ready to get moved up to the "Nice List".

Snow is on the way.

Decorations up.

Stockings hung.

Family arrives next week.

We are ready Santa. Come quickly!

Love the hair for proper gingerbread decorating!  One pony tail in. One pony tail out.

Who would believe we've been a tad bit naughty this year?

Santa, can you bring my Mom a trip to the local shoe store

so I don't have to wear pink crocs with my holiday dress?

Happy Gotcha Day!

Four years ago, on December 3, we officially became a family by the state of Texas although we were already one deep in our hearts.  "Gotcha Day" is such a fun day to be thankful for how far we've come, to forget the challenges that we've faced as parents to this beautiful child, and to just celebrate being brought together.

With balloons and a fruit bouquet, a princess cake (apparently Mom picked out the same one we had for Lauren's fourth birthday - sigh!), and a fun filled evening at Chuck E Cheese, we played and ate and laughed.  Until we passed out!  Our little family of three...Perfect, complicated and just as it should be.

A Day at the Farm

Lauren and her good friend, Ashlynn, spent last Saturday at a local farmstead soaking up the warm October weather.  She seems right at home with the wildlife.  Clearly the families Iowa roots are taking effect.

I'm not sure who is happier.  The goat who's about to eat a leaf or Lauren?

Peak a boo

Fish for dinner?

A great day with a great friend.

Whipped!

Happy Halloween 2014

Well as in years past, the morning of Halloween, Lauren awoke and promptly stated "I don't think I want to go Trick or Treating today".  Based on year's past, we expected nothing less.

But that night, she put on "part" of her Doc McStuffin's costume (minus the braids, stethoscope, and pink pants) and off she went.

Her and her Dad were gone trick or treating for over and hour and have a candy bag filled to the brim to prove it.  So glad that she enjoyed the holiday and here's to many more.

Happy Thursday

Here's hoping your day is as "sporty" as Lauren's is.

A week in the life of Lauren

Whew!  Once your start updating the blog with all of Lauren's updates, you see that she is a VERY active child and we are a very busy family.  Our week in review.

Last weekend, we took Grandma Susie for Saturday morning donuts.  

Of course we had to put on our princess dress and make cat whiskers before leaving the house.  

Doesn't everyone do that?

Sunday, Daddy took Lauren to the Irish Fest.  

Lauren has developed a new fear of wolves and vampires.  

She is scared to walk into another room alone, has slept in our bed for the past two weeks,

and always needs a light on.

 I'm pretty sure this won't help Daddy!   

Mid week, we said good-bye to our good friend Bubbles, the goldfish.  

Bubbles lived much longer than most carnival prizes. 

Lauren learned all about how fish get to heaven via the toilet, 

and we've since moved onto some new fish and a slimy, brown water snail.  

Thursday, Lauren started her first gymnastics class.  

I swear she runs across that balance beam like a road runner.  The girl has skills!

It's RED FRIDAY in Kansas City.  First home game of the season.  GO CHIEFS!

Avery and Me

Over the past year, Lauren has developed a very special friendship with her classmate, Avery.  Avery will be in a different preschool class this year, so we spent this past weekend getting in as many play-dates as we possibly could.

We made home made pizzas with so much cheese that they weren't even edible.  Even by Mom.

We used "Bubbles" fish aquarium as the Barbie swimming pool (Bubbles will likely be in heaven by week's end).

We used Mom and Dad's closet as a playhouse, and then proceeded to use Mom's white/dry-clean only jacket to drag each other around the house.

We stole the neighbor's car (Barbie Jeep) to go hot-rodding around the neighborhood.

We put "Hello Kitty" stickers on Opus the cat.

And when our weekend of fun was over, we both cried huge crocodile tears this morning when we couldn't be together at school.  Best friends!

Back to School

Today, Lauren has officially started back at the Goddard  School as an Alligator!  The Alligator class has two lead teachers and about 20 of Lauren's closest 3+ foot friends.  This year we vow to be quiet during story time, to not hit our friends on recess, and to learn how to write our first and last name with fun colored crayons.

What a difference one year makes!

First Day of "Elephant" Class - 2013

First Day of "Alligator" Class - 2014

Go Fish

Please welcome the newest member of the Thomas family..."Bubbles" the Goldfish.

Daddy won this fine fish at the County Fair this past Friday, and it was love at first sight for Lauren.

Turns out goldfish can't just be put in a bowl of tap water any more (anything huge change from the 1970's).

Now your $3 goldfish needs $40 worth of rock, food, special drops for the water,and a princess castle in order to live more than 48 hours.

So far so good.  Or at least until Opus the cat discovers it...

Birthday(sssssssssss)

Lauren is lucky enough to have her birthday the day before July 4th. So in the past, we've always celebrated her special day all weekend.  But this year, true to family form, she decided she wasn't quite ready to turn four so we extended another week. I'm happy to say that effective, July 12th, she is now officially a year older.

July 3 -
The big day!  After having a small family party at home (Thank you Grandma Keren and Grandpa Jim for joining us for Lauren's birthday) we wrangled up the neighborhood kids and had a block party in the driveway.  Hot dogs, cupcakes, juice boxes and a "Frozen" themed pinata were just the ticket for a fun night.

July 4 -
We started the day with our 4th of July neighborhood bike parade.  Of course Lauren insisted on wearing teal instead of red/white/blue which could be an indication of things to come.  Pool time, child-friendly explosives in the cul-de-sac (with no mishaps), a BBQ, and then off to the city fireworks which Lauren still believes are all for HER.  Of course they are!

Fast Forward to July 12 -
We had a small tumbling party for Lauren complete with the perfect princess cake and our closest 3-4 year old friends.  It was 1.5 hours of complete chaos, but the kids had a ball.  Even Daddy managed to do a few back flips on the trampoline.  Gifts in tow and completely exhausted, Lauren went to bed at 7:30 announcing that she was finally four.  Whew!

Happy Birthday little girl.

Happy 4th Birthday Lauren

Happy 4^th Birthday Lauren Thomas. 

On July 3rd, you turned four-years old.  This past year has been another wonderfully chaotic whirlwind of watching you become the little girl that you want to be and it just keeps getting better. We love to hear the silly things that come out of your mouth, and the way you are exploring and trying to navigate the world around you.  You are determined to grow up SO fast. 

This past year, you no longer need a little bed with “four walls”, you are almost fully potty trained, you can brush your own teeth, and have learned to ride a three-wheel bike and swing on the big kid swing.  You put on your own shoes, dress yourself (pink, pink, pink) and have fallen in love with Justin Bieber and the movie “Frozen”.

You've been diagnosed with allergies, and learned to write your name.   You enjoyed your first dance class, went to your first daddy/daughter prom, and are just about to go under water at swim class.  You had your first school program, and still dislike Halloween.  You've been grounded, cut off your own hair, and locked your parents out of the house.  Silly girl!

I wish I could bottle you up and never forget what you’re like at this age, but at the same time we can hardly wait to see what the next year holds for you.

Thank you for the love and energy you bring to our family. We love you to the moon and back.

Your family!

Happy Heart. Heavy Heart.

Normally, writing this blog makes me so happy. Happy to remember the fun events that I'm now able to share, and happy that Lauren is growing and thriving every day.  But something about this latest round of "firsts" is just making me sad.  Sad, that she looks different every month as she grows into a little girl.  Sad, that I can no longer call her a "toddler" or "our baby".  And sad that the time is going all too fast as she approaches 4-years old next week.  And to think...all of this happened in June!

Her first "wooing" in our cul-de-sac by the neighbor boy (flowers and all)

Learning to write her name

Water Wednesday at school.  What is that pose???

Milking her very first fake cow 

(because you never know when you'll need to know how to do this)

First Minnie Mouse face painting 

(Daddy said we could do without the red lipstick)

Her first week long visit from Cousin Sam

Off to your next adventure little one...