Hanging out in Texas!

We've been enjoying our time in Texas!
Uncle Mike finally got to meet Jackson!

From Texas Dec 2008

And Sara showed Jackson the ornaments on her pants

From Texas Dec 2008

Baba and Daddy tried out the new Wii while we all watched. Sara said "Daddy, you're silly"

From Texas Dec 2008

From Texas Dec 2008

Gingerbread house

Nonna and Baba built a gingerbread house with Sara! She patiently watched all the things that had to be done BEFORE she could decorate it!

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

She tried to help by showing them the picture on the box.

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

Sara decorated it with the candy that didn't end up in her mouth!

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

And she tried to help Nonna with the icing

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

Jackson slept through all the decorating... I am sure that next year he'll be ready to help!!

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

Sara couldn't take her eyes off all that candy!

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

Later on, she stole a piece.

From Gingerbread house 12/22/08

We tried to get her to eat the house, but she told us that "Santa hadn't seen it yet!" So maybe after Santa sees it we'll eat it :)

Jackson's Baptism

Baby Jackson got baptized this weekend! Isn't he handsome?

From Jackson's baptism

Sara behaved so well!

From Jackson's baptism

From Jackson's baptism

But she wasn't sure what to think about the deacon pouring water on Jackson's head. I am sure that she felt sorry for him since she hates having her own hair washed...

From Jackson's baptism

From Jackson's baptism

From Jackson's baptism

Three handsome fellows!

From Jackson's baptism

Christmastime!

Daddy, Sara, and I all made it to Louisiana despite Mother Nature's best attempts to prevent us. We are having a great time! So far we've been to Uncle Nathan's graduation and Jackson's baptism and its not even Christmas yet! Right now we are in Texas and since I had a few minutes, I thought that I would update the blog :) Unfortunately, all my pictures are on Paw-Paw's camera so I don't have many pictures from our time in Louisiana. Here are some pictures of Sara hanging out with Leanna:
Here she is crawling like Leanna

From Around LA dec 2008

From Around LA dec 2008

I promise to update again soon with pictures from Uncle Nathan's graduation and what-not :)

Santa!

Today we went to the Parents Network to see Santa! 

Sara wasn't sure about Santa

From 12/13/08 4:48 PM

And wouldn't see him alone (I guess this is a step up from not seeing him at all!) She also wouldn't smile (that isn't any different from normal though) 

From 12/13/08 4:48 PM

Santa gave Sara a book!

From 12/13/08 4:48 PM

We had a great morning!

From 12/13/08 4:48 PM

This week!

We hung up some Christmas lights

From 12/12/08 4:33 PM

Sara tried on some sunglasses (not that we saw much of the sun...)

From 12/12/08 4:33 PM

We got some presents: 

From 12/12/08 4:33 PM

From 12/12/08 4:33 PM

Since Sara got a tea set, we all have had lots and lots of tea! 

From 12/12/08 4:33 PM

From 12/12/08 4:33 PM

We also hung out at Kidspace a little:

From 12/12/08 4:33 PM

And Sara showed off her jewelry!

From 12/12/08 4:33 PM

Um?

Isn't it weird that the one year we're in the North, it snows in Louisiana??? Enough for Mike the Tiger to lay in and for Paw-Paw to build a snowman? It hasn't even snowed that much here yet! The last time I remember it snowing was in 1997 (I think) and I was at morning practice at Southside (that means I was swimming in an (heated)outdoor pool).  It didn't stay around long enough for us to play though! Oh well! I am sure we'll see plenty (but apparently not until after Christmas...) 

Cookie decorating!!!

Today we went to a cookie decorating party! Sara loved the cookies!

From 12/9/08 4:53 PM

She even made one to take home to Daddy :) But she had to taste a little bit!

From 12/9/08 4:53 PM

She had fun playing with the nativity scene (I know Paw-Paw, we're all in trouble...) 

From 12/9/08 4:53 PM

And then she had lots of fun singing and dancing!

 

(I love how she stops on her mouth...) 

She made a new friend to play with

From 12/9/08 4:53 PM

and dance with

From 12/9/08 4:53 PM

St. Nicholas Day

While we were in NY we missed St. Nicholas Day! So on Monday night he visited us!

Sara was busy watching Charlie Brown, which she LOVES! it is the only show that she actually laughs at! 

From 12/8/08 4:50 PM

When St. Nicholas knocked on our door and left a bag of goodies

From 12/8/08 4:50 PM

She got some Christmas pajamas and some other goodies (her favorite was the M&M's)

From 12/8/08 4:50 PM

 

 

Thanks St. Nicholas :) I liked the fruit even if Sara didn't! 

New York!

After the Winter Funfest, we headed to: 

From New York Dec 2008

(New York City, not New London :) ) to visit Stephen and Christina and see the city!

We drove to the NY state line and then got on a train! It sure was cold while we were waiting for the train!

From New York Dec 2008

From New York Dec 2008

When we got to Stephen and Christina's they had cupcakes! Which is apparently part of New York culture and Sara's favorite!

From New York Dec 2008

On Saturday, we got up and grabbed some breakfast in Brooklyn then we headed to the craziness that was Manhattan! 

Here is The Plaza, isn't it super fancy? 

From New York Dec 2008

Our plans had included a trip to FAO Schwarz, but we hadn't anticipated the long line to go in, so we settled for a trip to the Disney Store instead!

From New York Dec 2008

We finished our hike up 5th Avenue with a trip to Rockefeller Center

From New York Dec 2008

Sara was having fun!

From New York Dec 2008

Don't we look like tourists?

From New York Dec 2008

From New York Dec 2008

Sara loved watching the ice skaters!

From New York Dec 2008

Next, we walked through Central Park

From New York Dec 2008

And Stephen and Daddy got Sara to play on the rocks

From New York Dec 2008

Sara loved Stephen and Christina

From New York Dec 2008

Isn't this so pretty? I was so impressed!

From New York Dec 2008

We stopped and got some hot chocolate and then Sara feel asleep.  So while she took a nap, we visited at a bar (don't worry I didn't drink!)

From New York Dec 2008

Then for dinner we went to Chinatown and got "hot pot." You order raw meats and veggies and cook them in this:

From New York Dec 2008

It was SO good, but a little spicy for Sara, so she had a happy meal from McDonalds (her first one, well her first one from McDonald's!) She got a pony! 

From New York Dec 2008

Later on, Stephen taught Sara how to play guitar!

From New York Dec 2008

 

On Sunday, we decided to leave earlier rather than later because we had a snowy forecast! In fact, as we were walking to the subway, it started snowing!

 

From New York Dec 2008

Here is a picture from our drive home! We are in for it!

From New York Dec 2008

We would have taken more pictures, but we were busy trying to fight our way through all the people also visiting NYC at Christmastime :) Well that and it was FREEZING!

We had a GREAT time! Thanks Stephen and Christina :) We can't wait to see you soon!