my new camera!!!

I need to give a shout out to Santa who was sweet enough to give me a new camera BEFORE Christmas this year so I didn't miss out on any photo opps during the holidays! I haven't quite figured out how to work it but my sister took a photography class this fall and I can't wait for her to give me some tips! She says, "Good cameras don't take good pictures... good photographers take good pictures!"
For now, some are good, some are bad...hopefully, I will be a pro in no time!

Smith got to open his first Christmas gift! Gannie sent him a present to open!

I need to get a picture of the precious Christmas train that she gave him to put in his room. It is so cute and makes him so excited! He can't decide if he needs to say "ho ho" or "choo choo!"

Thanks Gannie!

my little man...

-LOVES taking a shower with his daddy!

-LOVES cows and can do animal sounds for cows, horses and dogs!
-LOVES driving in the pasture with POP to see those cows!-points to his eye and says "AAAHHH"

-loves looking for his belly button!

-His favorite trick is to get your seat when you get up!
(He will jump in your chair and just laugh and laugh!)

-says "Tizzie" ALL. THE. TIME.

-LOVES mickey mouse

-is OBSESSED with the vacuum cleaner!
If he lays his eyes on it, you're gonna be cleaning all day
because he will NOT let you put it away!
He LOVES it!

-climbs on everything!

-loves marching and likes to march with this bowl on his head!-LOVES playing with Anne Parks and gets so excited at the sound of her name!

-talks on the phone all the time!

-loves to give me kisses and LOVES to "hug my neck!"
I hope this lasts forever! ;)

-LOVES Christmas, just like his daddy!
We decorated the tree together and he wants the lights to be on ALL the time!

-says "ho ho" every time he sees a Santa!
-loves "taking pictures." He holds the camera up to his nose and says "cheee!"
(note: this is why my camera is broken!)

We just love our sweet little man and he is such a blessing.
Christmas is going to be so much fun this year with TWO boys on my hands!

sweet potato casserole and a golden egg

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, but I don't think Christmas counts because it's everyone's favorite holiday! I love the food, the time with my family, the weather, the football, and of course, taking the time to give THANKS!

We had a great time celebrating the holiday and

also celebrated a wonderful EGG BOWL victory!

These pictures are in reverse order of the actual weekend,

but honestly I am too tired to put them in order!

Grandpa taking the kids for a ride...

just a swangin'

and on to the game...

our attempt at getting a family picture

I LOVE these next two pictures.

Smith had a great time at Ganne's and loved playing the piano with her!



Thank you, Lord, for the countless blessings!

california dreamin'

My sister and I just spent five wonderful days in LA visiting our "grown-up" baby brother.
I had to share lots of pictures of our fun trip so please enjoy!
(Don't give up...you don't want to miss the pics at the end!) Our wonderful host and tour guide. I am so happy for Andrew that he is loving LA!

Santa Monica Pier

"Thinking" I am looking like a tough football player when my skinny little arm is hanging out! Why didn't someone tell me???

The Griddle is a "hole in the wall" joint that serves a great breakfast and is known to be a celebrity hot spot!

WE were the celebrities on this particular occasion!

We were seated in the VIP room which was super fun!

And our "cheesecake" french toast....

and our "say cheese omelet..."
Are you jealous yet?

How about now?
"Teacher's Pet" pancakes with cinnamon apples and powdered sugar!
YUM!

Andrew in the iFLY...
a sky-diving simulator

He even got a certificate!

One of the funnest things we did was going to the wax museum.
There were a lot of people there but NONE of them were having as much fun as us!
I actually think some of the tourist had more fun watching US pose for pictures than they did taking their own!!! (my family is so much fun!)

Besides the fact that the figures were SO real looking,
the one thing I couldn't believe was how TINY everyone was!!!
The girls were so short and petite.
Even a lot of the men were little...like Mel Gibson...he could never be MY leading man!

This is what I'm talking about...

MOST people were just "standing" next to the figures...NOT us!

Andrew making the move on a girl MADE OF WAX!

I think this is when the other tourists started taking OUR pictures!

Okay...for all of my friends who make fun of me for thinking George W is so hot......

"A-Ha!" Here is the smokin' hot Paul Newman who HAPPENS to look just like my man "W!"

Stare-down with my favorite vilian.

Our absolute favorite picture!

At the set of one of my favorite shows, Brothers and Sisters.
Andrew's friend, Emily works at Disney and took us on a personal tour.
We didn't get to see any of the cast because they were off for Thanksgiving. Tear.

The first time I have EVER seen my sister eat a FAST FOOD hamburger!

Laura and I had a great time teaching Andrew to cook.
We took him grocery shopping and then gave him some tips.

We had a great time visiting with Andrew and enjoying the city! We can't wait to go back!