Call me a scrouge but I'm not huge on the sitting on Santa's lap thing. So last year, I didn't have LaNea do it. This year though, it was very convinent (meaning no line! no cost!) so we did. She didn't do as terrible as I expected. Santa was down at McDonalds in Spring, TX and didn't have candy canes but had cookies and happy meal toys. What a great idea! Eric loved the cookie and LaNea loved the toy.
As you can see, she really not sure what's going on and probably debating on whether she's allowed to touch his beard.
And here, she's given up completely! Next year I expect to be better.
(As a side note: Eric packed her clothes and I didn't fully explain that I wanted cute clothes or that just because they say 18month, doesn't mean they'll actually fit! Yeah, she looked like an orphan.)
Over the summer LaNea and I started attended our ward's Play Group on Tuesday mornings. It was during these days that LaNea discovered her love of water (just like her mommy!). I know these pictures are way out of order but I just received them from another mother in our ward.
This is a park near our home that has the water fountains. I hadn't realized it before but we live within 3 minutes of two of these types of parks. Yeah, we're pretty lucky!
I love how independant she is. She is so daring and will go off on her own to explore her surroundings!
If you look closely you'll see her face is scuffed up. She got run over by another little boy just moments before. But of course, my happy little girl can't stay mad for very long!
Once again, she didn't want to hold my hands in the pool. I couldn't stray too far from her side as her butt kept going up, causing her face to go down.
I love her happy smiles and her friendly personality!Most who know me, know that I keep a journal. My mother forced us to keep one since the age of eight and somehow that became a great outlet for all my thoughts. I've gone through many journals since and this last month I finished up, yet another, but haven't found the time to head to Deseret Book to get another. This morning I thought of something that I really want to write down to memory, so this will have to replace my journal for a moment.
I just wanted to remember how grateful I am for individuals who are willing to do more than is asked. A few different memories have come to mind that have caused this sudden appreciation and I'll just briefly mention them.
The first was a neighbor we had while living in St George, Utah. She was always kind to everyone, incredibly patient with my younger brother and just a very good person. These are attributes that could make her praiseworthy but this was who she was. What I loved most though, was that every Christmas, she invited all the neighbors to her home for breakfast. She would spend the whole morning cooking for everyone else and never complained or asked for help. The more I take on the role of mother and housewife, the more I realize how amazing that is. That was such a wonderful way to bring Christmas alive within her home as well as bring that feeling of love and family to a neighborhood.
The next is totally different but still just as important. After we were married, Eric and I spent several months up in Alaska. We arrived earlier than the majority of cruise workers. The small LDS chapel there only had maybe fifty members total during the winter months but that number would easily triple as all the young workers came up. That last meeting before they were expected to arrive, the bishop spoke to his ward members and reminded them that they needed to make sure they had their food storage up to date, BUT not only food for their family but that they were required to have enough for those who would be here for the summer and would be unable to bring a supply with them. As I still don't have an effective food storage, I was shocked that he would ask so much of his members. But there was a group who truly understood what it meant to be a ward family. They foresaw a need that could arise and provided for those that would be in their care.
Lastly, living in a college town has a lot of pros and cons. Its always good and bad that people are consistently moving in and out of our ward. Most don't live near family and are poor college students unable to travel to family during the holidays. Last week, a sister in my ward approached each member who she knew lived far from family and invited them to her home for Thanksgiving Dinner. Even though there were three families on our row, she asked each of us in turn, letting us know that she welcomed each family into her home.
I know most of us don't live in college towns where majority of wards are made up of students far from home or in far off locations where food only arrives once a week if the weather is good. But I LOVE how each of those involved took in their surroundings and saw something above what they were asked and chose to fix it. Someday, I hope I gain the courage to do as these others have done. With Thanksgiving not even a week away, I'm just feeling incredibly thankful for knowing such great examples of pure charity.
So I got to be very busy during the month of October by spending a couple weeks out in California. It was a lot of fun seeing friends and family.
Before we left, we had to have one farewell dinner. 
Along with one last lecture before we left...(I seemed to have a LOT of these pictures from my childhood.)
The night my parents left Kara, Steph and I decided we needed a girl's night. So we got some ice cream, Letters to Julieit and facial masks (thanks Missy) and enjoyed ourselves completely. 
LaNea did really well sleeping in her Pack 'n' Play most the time.
After Six months I FINALLY got to meet Gracie and she was just as darling as the pictures appear.
Eric started getting anxious to see pictures of LaNea and wanted to know what she was up to. So that day we spent a lot of time in the following situations....
And the Result....
Its never a finished trip unless I get to steal some of the kid's homework. Wow, I miss school work!
I had perfect timing in being able to attend Kara's 1st Band concert. Let's just say she was the best dressed band member in her whole group! (Even with her cast!)
Looking amazing playing her flute!
We also got to attend Aunt Joan's Trunk-Or-Treat! We didn't stay for the whole thing but it was fun letting everyone dress up and look adorable. Kara as the Candy Corn Witch with Lanie as a little 50's girl.
She was really tired by this point and didn't feel like smiling all the much! She was a good sport though and even went through the Spook Alley with Kara and I.
She was really good the whole time at the airport and even slept for an hour on the second plane.
I also just had to post this last picture because LaNea has developed this love of necklaces. She will constantly put this on and take it off then put it back on. She gets it caught on just about everything but she doesn't seem to realize and keeps wearing it! Who would have thought my little girl would be a dress-up girl!
So LaNea has been thoroughly enjoying the better weather as it means mommy is more willing to venture to the park each day. Last week she even went with daddy who showed her a new trick! Sorry in advance that its not the best video but this girl is quick and Izzie hasn't taught her the meaning of the word "stay."
Also, sorry for the poorer quality but the better it is, the longer it takes and I'm still working on my patience!
Can you believe my little girl is already a year? Time really does go by way too quickly. Being the terrible mother I am, I did take LaNea to the dr today where she got 3 shots and some blood drawn. (Any ideas on why the blood was drawn, I kind of forgot to ask! :)) She was really mad about that part as she could see the needle and it wasn't quick like all the others.
She's definitely getting bigger though. As of today she weighed 20lbs10oz (sure that was with shoes but we're counting it!) which is in the 43%!! No more under 20%! She is 30 1/2 inches tall which was the 90% and her head has apparently grown and is 18.4 inches which is 85%.
Within the last little while, LaNea has started walking. She still takes her time about it and prefers to hold my hand but every now and then she'll choose to walk some place all on her own. She loves attention and will accept it from anyone. Loves forcing Izzie to cuddle. Still climbs on just about anything. The other day she started climbing into a kitchen chair. Then, in the time it took me to grab my phone for a quick picture, she was on the table. Pretty soon I expect to see her on the fridge!
Eric had to do cub scouts tonight so we aren't doing any big birthday things yet. On Saturday though we're throwing a small party for some family and a few friends which will hopefully be fun. Never realized how much actually goes into planning a child's party.
