Happy Fourth of July

After ridding ourselves of the Me Me, and continuing Lauren's ongoing birthday party you would think the Thomas family would be done celebrating right? Not true!  After all, it's the Fourth of July and time for some more fun.

They tell me this "parade" thing is fun

I' m not convinced

A homecoming queen in the making

Daddy its hot out. Where's the Popscicles?

Here's to life, liberty and cuteness for all

Happy Second Birthday to Me!

On July 3rd, Lauren celebrated her second Birthday and her official launch into toddler-hood.

As if two birthday parties in San Diego weren't enough, she was loved and celebrated yet a third time for such a big milestone.

We ate cupcakes, wore our party hat (and our orange headband sideways for good measure), blew out candles, opened gifts, went to the swimming pool, and then finished off the evening with dinner in bed in front of her favorite show.  Not a bad day for only 730 days on this earth.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl.  It's going WAY too fast!

Bye Bye "Me Me"

As most of you know Lauren has long held a long and fond relationship with her "Me Me".  The Me Me is also known as a pacifier, binkey, or straight out addiction to sucking on a piece of plastic for soothing purposes.

How the Me Me got its name is still a mystery, but as Lauren approached her second birthday, we decided it was time for Me Me to hit the road (or in this case the friendly skies).

So last Sunday, we purchased three perfect red, white and blue balloons in order to send Me Me off to the heavens in patriotic style.  We told Lauren that she was a big girl now and there were babies up in Me Me heaven that needed them more than her.

One balloon popped on the car ride home, one ended up in the grocery store rafters, but the third balloon did the job.  Just two sleepless nights later we are free of Me Me and on to new toddler adventures.  Relief!

How it breaks my heart to leave you dear friend

Are you sure we have to do this people?

Ready, Set...

Wait!  I've changed my mind

Good-bye long lost friend

California Dreamin'

Last week the Thomas family headed to San Diego for four full days of sun, fun and pre-birthday festivities.  We were joined by Aunt Jerris and Uncle Mike, Cousin Sam, and Grandma and Grandpa from Tucson...SURPRISE!

Here are the highlights of Lauren's perfect vacation...
- Blue candy for breakfast (thank you Aunt Jerris)
- Popsicles for lunch
- Skipped all of my naps (I'm almost two after all)
- Stayed up until 10 p.m. every night (that's midnight Kansas City time people)
- Played with Cousin Sam
- Swam every single day
- Went to Sea World and the Safari Park
- And managed to squeeze in TWO birthday dinners and cakes (the ladies in my family are already teaching me at a very young age how to draw out my birthday)


The adults were whipped but Lauren had the time of her life.  Thank you to our family for such a special week!

Candy.  The breakfast of champions.

Moving onto Popsicles for Lunch

Ready to take on Sea World

Here fishy fishy

Aunt Jerris will protect me

I've waited my entire life to meet you Elmo.

Or not...

The San Diego "Crew"

Safari Park with my BFF, Sam

Birthday presents for me???  You shouldn't have Grandma

Tequila, tacos and a two-year old birthday celebration. The picture says it all.

Happy Father's Day Week

"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty" -
Author Unknown

Happy Father's Day Week to Bryon because one day just isn't enough to celebrate what a wonderful Dad he is. How can we ever thank you for all the things you do for our family? Not only does Lauren adore her "Daddy" but you do so many things to make our life easier...

Thank you for being the park/pool host, story book reader, frequent "Yo Gabba Gabba" TV show watcher, Tickle monster, sunglass finder guy, ice cream cone purchaser, and all around great man.

We love you!

A, B, C, Delayed

According to our good friends and family, it's been 22 days since our last blog post.  We have many excuses for this delay including our camera being out of whack, spending more time playing outside with little Lauren, and of course learning how to sing the A, B, C's. 

We hope you find this rendition to be worth the wait.  Nobody does  "l, m, n, o, p" any cuter than this...

May 24th...our favorite day!

On May 24th exactly nine years ago today I was married to my wonderful husband, Bryon.  BLISS!

On May 24th exactly two years ago we received the call that we had been matched and would soon be parents to a baby girl.   DOUBLE BLISS!

Yeah for May 24th!