Hello 2011!

December has flown by as it always does.  I was going to title this post "Christmas 2010" and then decided I should just wish everyone a Happy New Year since I'm writing this on New Year's Eve.  We have such an exciting social calendar, let me tell you.  Chase is in bed, Jesse working and I am sitting with in front of the TV watching a "Back to the Future" marathon with a mug of hot chocolate and the computer in my lap!  Jesse should be home just in time to ring in the New Year with me.  We are sooo exciting!  Anyway, below is a recap of our month in pictures.  We clelebrated Christmas with lots of family, including family from Maryland.  What a treat!  Jesse's brother Stacy, and his family came to stay with us for a few days after Christmas as well.  We had a great time visiting and Chase had a blast playing with his cousins. 

We took Chase to ride the "Polar Express" train in Grapevine the weekend before Christmas.  With his love of trains, we couldn't pass this up.  The adventure was complete with Christmas singalongs for the kids and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus!  The kids wear their PJ's just like in the story and they read The Night Before Christmas while the train is in motion. 

It's "snowing!"

 Mrs. Claus is a family friend of ours, so Chase received extra special treatment from her. 

Here's Santa again!  Chase couldn't get enough of him!

Here is Chase on Christmas morning.  Someone was very good this year!

 He understood the concept of opening gifts MUCH better this year.  He was a pro by the end of the day!  This is the highly anticipated guitar...complete with Woody from Toy Story.

He wouldn't put it down....

I just couldn't resist this picture.  :)

Santa also brought an extra special surprise this year.  He and his elves were very cold in the freezing rain on Christmas Eve! 

2010 was a great year and we are looking forward to an even better 2011!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The BIG Guy

We went to see the BIG guy this afternoon.  This was Chase's first encounter with Santa.  I have to say, I wasn't quite sure how he would react, but he climbed right up in his lap and even talked to him!  He was so comfortable in his lap, that he let me take a lot of pictures! 

Chase is also going through a stage where he won't smile for pictures.  He says simply says "no."  I have figured out though that if I offer candy, he will crack a small one. 

Here is Chase with his friend Reagan.  This is when I offered candy.  Haha.  It was a great day!



Merry Christmas!

Feeding the animals

Last weekend Jesse's brother, Stacy, and his daughter, Kaley, came in for the weekend.  Jesse and Stacy wen to the NASCAR race on Sunday, so the kids and I headed to the Zoo.  We arrived just in time to feed the giraffe.  Chase and Kaley thought this was great! 

We stopped to feed the goats and other small animals. 

Hi.  Do you have any food?  You can tell this one gets fed a lot.....haha

Chase and Kaley had a great time.  Kaley was such a big help too.  She can come back anytime!

Holidays, Here we come!!

Well October has come and gone.  We had a super busy month.  I finally got Chase into bed early enough to sit down at the computer for a while, so here we go. 

I can't believe it is already November!  I was picking up Halloween Decorations earlier and thought briefly about the daunting task of Christmas Decorations.  I decided to forget about it for a while longer.  As  much as I love the Christmas Season, I am not ready to clutter up the house.....yet.

Now for what you want to see...pictures of our little man.  He is getting so big.  I see less and less of that tiny baby that came into our lives just a little over 2 years ago.  I know, I know, he's still a baby, but you know what I mean.  My pictures uploaded in reverse order, so we'll go backwards. I'm not going to start over at this point. :)

Chase was a Pirate for Halloween this year.  I have to say he was the cutest Pirate I've ever seen!  He also got the hang of trick or treating a little better this year too.  After a while, he would hold his bag open and say "candy?" when he walked up to each door.  I guess he got tired of saying

Trick or Treat.  Haha.   

 Here are Rece and Chase...I mean Batman and a Pirate.   You may rememeber them fom last year as Woody and Buzz. 

 Wait mom, I'm straigtening my hat. 

 On Saturday, we walked up the street to a Halloween party.  Chase was a Pirate that night too, but it got cold so we had to cover up a little.  He didn't mind though, he found a new favorite toy...guess we know what Santa will bring this year!

 You got it....Jesse and I actually dressed up.  Believe it, but this is probably the only proof you will see!  Here are Minnie Mouse and a few Rodeo Clowns.

Earlier in the month I had the opportunity to attend a conference in Las Vegas.  Yes, I actually mostly worked while I was there.  Below are some pictures taken while out on the town.  For those of you who have been to Vegas, bear with me....it is an amazing place!

 The Bellagio and amazing water fountains

 

Bally's

Ceasar's Palace

Paris, right....Bally's, left

Below are pictures from the Bellagio atrium.  They change the decor for each season.  It was beautiful!

 These flowers are blown glass.  Amazing!

We took Chase to the Pumkin Express Pumpkin Patch in Argyle....a well kept secret and will be a MUST for years to come.  Well worth the $5 per person admission.  Jesse and I like to take Chase to ride trains when we find new ones in the area.  This by far tops them all for a 2-yr old. 



His face says it all.

I thought this picture turned out pretty cool.  He's looking out the window from inside the train.  The tracks are a reflection from the outside. 

Chase had more fun playing on this train car than anything else in the pumpkin patch.  No bounce house, no hay maze, no running around, no climbing, nothing but playing on this old train car.

Again, he likes to pull the wagon more than ride in it.  :)

 ALL ABOARD!!



Happy Fall!