First School Picture

Ahhh...The long anticipated first school picture.  

Welcome to a lifetime of bad photos and blaming your parents for your "bad hair day" little Lauren.

The "Next" Big Girl Bed

This past weekend, Bryon and I decided to put up the Christmas tree.  And as these things normally go, that meant we had to rearrange the furniture in our living room to make room for the tree.  

Which meant we needed to move Lauren's toys out of the living room into her bedroom.

Which meant we needed to remove her crib/toddler bed.

Which then meant we had to go and buy a new comforter, sheets and pillows for her new "Big Girl" bed. 

Which now means, Lauren is wanting to sleep in OUR bed, has decorated her own room, and we are no longer allowed to come in. Exhausting!

The finished product

Straight out of the design magazines.

A dresser adorned with a princess tiara, 

a lone "Hello Kitty" slipper, 

and a fake watermelon.

Sleep tight baby girl!

Thanksgiving 2013

Lauren's preschool asked all of the children what they were thankful for this year.  Thank goodness our little girl has her priorities straight!

Not quite up to snuff

This past week has graced the Thomas house with pneumonia for little Lauren.  Three breathing treatments a day, a round of antibiotics and $35 in bribery toys later, we are finally feeling better.  Poor thing!

Halloween - Take 4

It's Halloween (or at least it was when I started this post)!  The funnest time of year where we decorate the house with pumpkins and witches, Grandma Kathy makes us a custom-made costume, and we have access to an endless bowl of chocolate candy. What's not to love right?

We started out with high hopes the day the costume arrived!

But after numerous pre-Halloween events we started to lose our purr.

And by Halloween Eve...

we were done with candy (I had to carry her to three houses), 

done with the scary decor (Lauren has been in our bed ever since), 

and certainly done being a cat!

Better luck next year!

Staycation 2013

As you are all likely aware, Bryon and I have been traveling ALOT this year. Traveling alot without Lauren.

So once she made us aware of this mishap, it was time to plan a "staycation".  Last weekend we packed up the Dora suitcase (including everything but clothes and jammies) and off to downtown Kansas City we went.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. we....

• Went to the planetarium to see the "Elmo & Big Bird Moon and Stars" show
• Dined at the train restaurant
• Toured the aquarium and held a star fish
• Played at the indoor play place
• Saw a 30 minute puppet show
• Snacked on chocolate ice cream with gummy worms on top (not the parents...we had a glass of wine)
• Checked into the hotel
• Went up and down in the elevator four times
• Jumped on the bed
• Went out for dinner
• Came back and rode the elevator
• Jumped on the bed some more
• Played hide and seek in a 220 square foot hotel room
• Watched a movie
• Read Books
• More snacks (in bed)
• Slept (as much as you can with a horizontal toddler in the middle of your king size bed)
• Went to breakfast
• And then headed home for Halloween crafts and decor

Note: If you are exhausted just reading this, then you should imagine how her parents felt.

Lauren had a ball but was ready to come home, and her parents are still recovering till the next staycation. Fun!

Monthly Results

First, I want to apologize about the delay in not providing a blog update in well over a month. But spend one afternoon at my house and you will quickly realize that Lauren is not the picture-loving, captive audience that she once was.  We are running/tending/soothing/playing/feeding day and night!

Since my last post in early September however, we have had a slew of "firsts" and new successes.

Monthly Results:

1) Tour de Lauren!  Lauren has finally graduated from her infant tri-cycle  (thank you again Aunt Coni) to a real big girl bike complete with helmet, basket, and those stringy things that every kid in the 70's HAD to have coming out of their handlebars.  We are proud to say Lauren has had no major falls, and can even use her body weight to get herself up to the top of the cul-de-sac.  "Go Lauren Go"!

2) Off to the Fair!  Lauren rode her first carnival ride.  Although she still claims how scary it was, we know it's just the start of 10+ years of roller coasters. Oh my aching back!

3) Everyone Poops!  We are almost officially potty-trained.  True, we've been trying for the past six months, but Lauren now seems to prefer panties over pull-ups and we are well on our way to visiting every public bathroom in the Kansas City metro.  Whew!

In typing this, I see how quickly time passes and how quickly Lauren is growing.  We are so proud of you Lauren and look forward to the next month of "firsts".