Dora, Dora, Dora

You just can't plan this stuff.  Enough said.

Our Month in Review

Lauren officially graduated from preschool in May, so the Summer festivities are now in full swing. Although she goes to daycare full-time until Fall, we have found a way to pack in many fun things (hence Mom's inability to keep the blog updated). In just a couple of short weeks we have...

Said good-bye to some great neighbors and our next door crush

Found a new Summer crush

Won the lottery 

Spent our lottery winning on shoes (of course!)

and got reacquainted with ice-cream after a cold Winter.

Yeah for Summer!

The Wheels on the Bus

Ever since Lauren first started in-home daycare she has dreamed about riding the yellow school bus like the "big kids".  Clearly we've read "Wheels on the Bus" too many times to count.  

Well today her dream came true!

Today, Lauren will start riding the bus to her new afternoon preschool and boy was she excited.

Rebecca (daycare provider) who has taken care of  Lauren from "birth to the bus stop".

Lauren and Elias (aka:  her daycare boyfriend)

Waiting patiently...

Next stop - College!

Off we go.  

At least we don't have to worry about her falling out of her seat 

with a 5-point harness and confining neck strap.

Enjoy the ride little girl.  

Staycation Round 2

The Thomas Family had a pre-Spring Break "Staycation" this past weekend her in Kansas City.  

The night before our adventure we packed Lauren's tiny America Girl suitcase with hints of all the fun things we were going to do over the weekend.  Ice skates, a swimming suit and jammies!  Needless to say she was pretty excited.

Off to Disney on Ice.  

Lauren loved it, while I kept thinking how much my ankles hurt just watching them.  

A hot dog and snow cone for breakfast anyone?

Off to a fun lunch, and then we headed to the Hotel to get settled and find the pool.

After we bought snacks and got checked in, Lauren get her first exposure to a hide-a-bed.  I'm not sure if she was more thrilled that that she was going to get her own bed, or that a couch can actually turn into a bed.  

Oh the things we older people take for granted!

Two trips to the indoor swimming pool later, chips and snacks at the Manager's Happy Hour, and a movie in bed, and Lauren was OUT!

The next day we made one more trip to the pool, had a delicious breakfast

and it was time for Lauren and Grace to head home.  Fun for all.

And Baby Makes Four?

Well what a difference a couple of weeks and a visit from Aunt Jerris makes.  Item #1 - Teddy has been located!  Daddy found him sleeping comfortably (buried and smashed) in the far corner of Lauren's sleeping bag.   Whew.  That was a stressful couple of days.

Item #2 - Aunt Jerris and family came to visit Valentine's weekend and Lauren had a very calculated plan by which to get her Aunt to buy her her first American Girl doll.   We all agreed...She's too young.  It's not yet her birthday.  This is a BIG deal.  Will she appreciate it.?  And what about the very large expense?  One look at these cute cheeks and all reasoning went out the door, so off to  the doll store we went.

The "doll of the year" is named Grace Thomas and she works in a bakery in France.  

So it was very important to first get into character.

Then, hug everyone in the family with excitement.  This might get you more stuff!

Aunt Jerris explained to the sales person that this was a very big decision for such a little girl, so we started out with four potential candidates.  How to choose?

Down to two!

We found the perfect doll.  

Not only does she live in Paris (where Aunt Jerris promises to take Lauren when she turns 18), but she looks quit a bit like Lauren and her last name is "Thomas".  

What could be better?

Packing up to go home with Grace Thomas (and an accessory or two, or four)...

The bag is bigger than Lauren. That's a good day of shopping!

We could't get home fast enough.  Lauren told her Aunt "I'm amped up!"

Sharing the fun with Cousin Sam.

Best day ever!  Thank you Aunt Jerris.  Lights out.

She's a little runaway

As we continue to scour (and I mean SCOUR) our house for Teddy, Aunt Coni suggested that I may want to look in all of our suitcases.  Reason being that the last time Teddy went missing, he was found in Bryon's suitcase as Lauren wanted Teddy to travel with her Dad.

So as I'm looking in the very back of Lauren's closet today, I came across a new suitcase that clearly was packed to the rims.

Rewind to last month, when I continuously asked Lauren where all of her underwear had gone as we were down to only a few pairs.  "Lauren, where are the brand new Frozen panties that Aunt Jerris gave you for Christmas?"  "Rebecca, do you have extra pairs of Lauren's panties at your house by chance?"  "Lauren, we are going to have to go and buy some new panties this weekend as I have no idea where they have all gone."

Back to present day, and although Teddy is still missing, 9 pairs of panties, 6 pairs of pants, 5 shirts, and 3 pairs of socks have been found.

Clearly she is planning to run away when we least expect it!

MISSING

When you first become a parent your smart-parent friends will tell you "If your child has a favorite blanket or stuffed animal that goes with them everywhere, comforts them in times of need, and that they must sleep with every night, then get TWO of them".  Because inevitably on a cold winter's night, when it's late, and time for your child to go to bed, that favorite item will go...

That's right.  Teddy has been missing for the standard 48 hours and now we're sending out a search team around the Thomas house to find him.  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we find him before another sleepless night.  The reward is getting bigger!