December 2016

We are nearing the end of 2016 - an amazing year for us as we navigated the world as a family of four.

And like each year before this, December finds a way to fill itself up with tradition, twinkly lights, and the joy of family and friends
while making us pause to take in the pure magic of the moments with those we love.

I adore December for all of those reasons
and she was so good to us this year.

We kicked off December with all the things that make us giddy about the holidays...

advent calendars & letters to Santa

pajama walks to look at lights

Gingerbread houses




celebrations at school

christmas tree pictures

Matt's Christmas Party

Our visit to Santa was our most magical yet,
two little girls on Santa's lap at Disney World.

Lauren asked for a blue flashlight.

The day we returned from our Disney trip, we had another Christmas celebration...
Lauren's Holiday Dance Recital

It was so good - everything you would want from a 3 year old dance to Candy Cane Christmas.


And since it's Christmas in Texas, we still enjoy walks to the park and swinging in the backyard



We traveled to Tennessee for Christmas this year and decided to go a little early,
which meant we celebrated as a family of four
(or six if you count Char & Bella)
a little early as well.




Celebrating early also meant that Santa had to find us in Tennessee.
Lauren prepared some reindeer food at school,
so we decorated Papa & Grandma's yard just to make sure they would locate us.






Santa found us.

Lauren got her blue flashlight.

Santa brought both the girls new dolls.
Lauren and Morgan were fast friends,
wearing matching jammies and watching Polar Express in 3D.


The 3D was a big hit this year.

Christmas Day brought a traditional Christmas meal and a soccer game







{that run}

We spent the rest of our Christmas vacation
celebrating Caroline's birthday,
{& snuggling that baby while we could still call her that}

enjoying Tyler & Holly's surprise visit,


planning Caroline's birthday party,
and saying good night to 2016.
Old tradition meet new tradition.
Grasshoppers

followed by champs & Catan.

Caroline is One: A Birthday Party

Still, weeks later,

I can't quite believe that sweet 'day after Christmas' baby we call Caroline,

is in fact a year old.

With all the joy that planing a one year old celebration brings, we also got to experience celebrating the day after Christmas for the first time as well. 

While we were in Tennessee for the holiday, we decided to celebrate her birthday with a trip to the zoo, some presents and cake, followed by a small little party later in the week. 

The girls loved the zoo, especially the red panda exhibit, the penguins, giraffes, elephants, and those baby gorillas. We visited the Knoxville Zoo right after they were born and now they are active little toddlers... 

just when I think they can't get cuter. 

They do.

Kinda like a couple of other little girls I know...

After a trip to the toy store and cupcake shop for some birthday fun, we returned home for a delicious dinner, the birthday song and a blue cupcake chosen especially for Caroline by her big sister.

It was a hit.

We spent the rest of the week in disbelief that our baby Caroline was officially one and preparing for her party.

Since we held the party in Tennessee, there was some extra steps to ensure that all items were checked off the list, but my Mom was a huge help in preparing and executing each birthday task. With all the joy and sweetness that Caroline brings, we decided to go with a floral theme, much like the pretty little C that hangs above her bed. 

It was a lovely little party, perfect for that lovely little girl. From the fresh flowers on the cake to the adorable little 'one' cookies, it was pure sweetness. She danced to Stevie Wonder, ate strawberries followed by her own little smash cake, and played hide and seek in her birthday basket.

I don't know who loved it more, myself or Caroline.

I tried to smuggle it, balloon and all, to take home with me, but after Christmas + a one year birthday celebration there wasn't any room...

... for the balloon.