Shopping for Our Angels

For Hanukkah this year, our family picked out 2 Angels from the Salvation Army Angel Giving Tree. We picked an 8-year old girl who needed a coat and wanted shoes and a 13-year old boy who needed a coat and wanted a camera. It was so hard to pick an Angel because each one touches your heart when you read what they need which most need a coat and what they want. But, we made our choices and headed out to fulfill and hopefully exceed their expectations.

Unfortunately, we kind of waited to finish at the last minute - so unlike us, right :) So, we put on our shopping hats and made sure we had enough food and drinks for Avery while Mom, Avery and I went out to finish up our list. Let me tell you, it was so hard to find a coat for both of the kids. Everyone has been having these huge coat sales and we had to go all over to find them their coats. Target, Old Navy, Penney's, Macy's, Kohls, Children's Place, etc. Next year we will know better.

Here's Avery blowing off some energy playing hopscotch in the mall.


Here she is waiting her turn in line for the Train they had running at the mall. I think she rode it 8 times while we put everything together to drop off at the tree in the mall. She had a ball!

I can't wait to pick out our Angels next year! We take for granted how when we want something we just go out and get it for ourselves and it was so nice to get something for these 2 children who truly needed it. I hope our Angels had a wonderful Christmas!

Ice Skating!!

I can't believe I'm actually posting a blog with the title "Ice Skating" in it!! I would never have thought to take the girls ice skating so young, but Alicia used to teach ice skating and they taught kids as young as the girls so after gymnastics off we went to the Galleria for some playtime and ice skating.

Watching a movie and eating popcorn on the way....what could be better!! We even got them both to wear their super comfy matching jogging suits - we're such dorks :) Notice Avery's baby who goes with her everywhere now. It's so nice to be rid of the shovels!!


Here they are at the play area in the mall. It was so cute and the girls had so much fun playing on the rocks and sliding down.


Hanging out on the zebra


Checking out the beautiful X-Mas tree, well at least I was! Avery and Shea were too wrapped up in looking at the panda from Panda Express that was hanging out in front of the restaurant. They both couldn't stop talking about it!

This poor guy was just trying to learn how to skate and the girls kept following him and waving at him as he passed our table

Alright...time to put on our skates and hit the ice. Trying to walk around in their skates...a little different then her shoes!

I decided to stay off the ice this time and let Alicia do all the work! I mean she does know what she's doing and it would be terrible if I fell on one of the girls!! So I happily took the photos and stayed with the girls as they took turns.

Avery just liked to hold on and glide along the ice with Alicia

We were able to get a few photos while the ice was being cleaned by the Zamboni.

The girls were being so patient while the Zamboni was out there. But, once it was gone they were ready to keep going around.

Look at these old school skates and they are so freaking tiny!

Shea was having a blast and is a natural just like her Mommy. I really wanted to see Alicia do some tricks-maybe next time :)

After taking the girls around Alicia decide to do some one-on-one training with them ;) We'll have pros here before you know it!!

Check it out - NO HANDS!!

Aaaah, how I am supposed to walk in these things again??

Plano X-Mas Parade

Saturday morning was the annual Plano Christmas parade and though the weather was kind of yucky, we thought it would be fun to take Avery out to watch it. I was pretty excited too!! We made it just in time and saw almost all the bands which Avery just loved - her favorite was the Tubat (Tuba's). Everyone was so friendly and the kids were passing out candy. Man, this girl raked it in!

Lots of waving and Merry Christmas


Who's next?? She doesn't really get the whole glove thing but she kept them on until she got candy of course!

Here comes the Band!

Her 1st tootsie roll - sure to not be her last :)

Bags of candy handed out by some of the churches. It was like Halloween all over again!

Holiday Neighborhood Fun

We've really been enjoying the holidays around our neighborhood and checking out all the fun Christmas lights. It's so fun to just hop in the car and go drive around after dinner. I Love this time of year!

Here's the big X-Mas tree up at Watters Creek. They always decorate this area so pretty and it's so nice to be able to enjoy it so close to home.







They are also having "snow" flurries on the green so we decided to check it out. It was just okay, but the kids seemed to love it!




Daddy and Avery enjoying the snow


Rounding the corner on the beautiful, big tree near Mi Cocina. They added blue ornaments and snowflakes to it this year. It's one of my favorites!




Taking a break on the rocking chairs


Here is our favorite house that we go see almost nightly in Watters Crossing. It must take them forever to put this all together! There is so much going on but not in a cluttered, crazy kind of way...it all seems to go together.

Something for Ms. Amanda

Ms. Amanda is Avery & Shea's gymnastics teacher and she has been out for the past month because she hurt her back doing some complicated tumbling move (or that's what I like to think). The girls have really missed her (well at least Alicia and I have) and today she was at the gym working in the office.

The girls were excited to see her after class and sweet Shea had made something for Ms. Amanda because we thought she would be back to teach today. She asked Alicia for her drawing and went over to give it to Ms. Amanda. Well, Avery watched all this and looked at me and said, "Where's Mine?? I want one too for Ms. Amanda!!" So, I had just paid for the month and the receptionist had given me my receipt so seeing as I had no other papers on me - I gave it to Avery and she took it over to Ms. Amanda and gave it to her with a big hug!

Alicia and I just looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh. Ms. Amanda looked at the receipt and of course played along and thanked Avery so much. Then, once Avery turned around to play I retrieved my receipt and we were on our way. I mean we couldn't let her see me get it back, she would have been so crushed and/or confused?

Ah, what we do for our children :)

Avery Convos

When I pick Avery up from school she always has to go show Kathy, the school director, what she has made that day. Today they used snowflake stamps (how fitting since it snowed this morning) and painted a blue piece of paper.

Ms. Kathy: I love your picture did you see the snow falling this morning??
Avery: I did and I saw fireworks too!!
Ms. Kathry: Fireworks too??
Avery: I did...I saw fireworks at the beach with Sissy.

Where does she come up with this stuff??? That was only 5 months ago!!

Then we got home and before nap she was having a snack and I asked her if she heard the sirens at lunch. Every 1st Wednesday of the month the city does a test on its siren system and I figured she had to have heard it. This is how it went:

Me: Did you hear the sirens today at lunch??
Avery: We did and the firemen came in their truck
Me: You saw the firemen too
Avery: Uh-huh and they had on their jackets so they could go swimming
Me: They were going swimming in their jackets??
Avery: Yes, and I like to go swimming in my bathing suit and swim diaper in my pool. I don't like to wear a jacket when I swim.

First of all-no firemen came today and I think it's great that she thinks they are wearing "lifejackets" when she does see them at school!!

I love talking with this girl!!