2014 Catch-Up: Lindsay is 3!

Since everything is in boxes, we had a pretty low-key 3rd birthday with family.  She didn't really care, but she was happy they had cupcakes. :)  I also took some treats up to her preschool class to help celebrate.  The highlight of the birthday weekend, though, was that Lindsay got to be the flower girl in my cousin Kaitlyn's wedding!  I'll share those pictures in the next post. :)

Grandma went all out with the princess theme!  Lindsay was in heaven!

She was amazed by the pink candles, and loved that everyone was singing just for her...

It's really not a party without balloons and glow sticks!

Some 3 year old stats...
fave foods: cheese, juice, goldfish, peach yogurt, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
fave toys: princess or fairy anything, princess castle, legos, stuffed dog named Reveille
fave movie/show: Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue, Daniel Tiger
fave color: pink
sleep: still a GREAT sleeper... bedtime around 9, gets up around 9:00, and takes a good solid afternoon nap

Lindsay is funny, happy, smart, and mostly sweet (with a little sass thrown in for good measure!).  She loves to sing and dance, and has finally mastered how to jump where BOTH feet come off the ground!  Lindsay talks a mile-a-minute and has no problem trying to "convince" you to see things her way.  She is a girly-girl through and through, and she loves to do art projects.  We couldn't have asked for a better baby girl! :)

2013 Catch-Up: Christmas Festivities

We love Christmas!  Lots of food, fun, and family time. :)  Here are the highlights!

Success visiting Santa this year! 

Christmas Eve with Lollie and Pops

Lindsay loves re-decorating Lollie's tree.  Anything at her level is fair game!

Grammie joined us for Christmas Eve dinner.

Our Christmas tradition - matching pajamas and cookie decorating!

A close-up of the shirts -- it's a quote from Elf  (Pops' and Aunt Abi's favorite Christmas movie)

Well, it wouldn't be a nativity scene without Cinderella watching over Baby Jesus!

Santa brought Lindsay a Barbie Jeep... after watching her drive, I'm glad we have 13 more years to practice before she is let loose on the roads!

Christmas Morning at Our House
Since both sides of the family are in town, Christmas is always over at other houses.  This year, we thought it would be fun for Santa to visit us at our own house and leave just a few things. :)

Santa had it easy at our house this year -- one very sparkly princess dress and a big book of princess stories! :)

Christmas Day with Grandma and Grandpa

Visiting with Uncle Dustin

They're both so excited about getting musical instruments!

Checking out all of the Tinkerbell movies from Uncle Dustin

Grandpa and Uncle Dustin made an AWESOME dress-up closet for Lindsay!  And it came with a Tinkerbell costume!

Here it is, back at our house, fully loaded with all of our dress-up gear. :)

Santa brought Lindsay this fun dollhouse to play with at Grandma's!

2103 Catch-Up: Out of the mouth of a 2-year old...

(Editor's note: I found this post that I wrote last summer and saved as a draft... oops!  Publishing it now so we don't forget about the funny things she said...)

Now that Lindsay's talking a mile a minute, Todd and I are constantly cracking up at her funny comments!  I'm going to try to document a few of her best lines before we forget just how funny a 2 year old can be!

When a waiter brought her a dish of ice cream with sprinkles at a restaurant...
L:  Wow, that's crazy!
Todd:  What's crazy?
L:  It's a birthday cake!  But it's not even my birthday!  Wow, that's so crazy!

One grumpy morning, after answering "no" to several of Grandma's questions...
L: Today is a no day, Grandma.

At that magical bedtime hour...
Me:  It's bedtime!
L:  No thanks, Mommy.  Not yet.  I just need to play a little bit with my princesses.

While playing outside at my parents' house...
L:  Oh!  I need to go potty!
My mom:  OK, let's go inside.
L:  No thanks, I'll go in the grass.  Like a dog.
(side note: at that time, we were not potty training in any way, shape, or form... but it was a good time to explain that animals go outside and people go inside!)

When talking about her upcoming birthday...
Me:  How old are you going to be on your birthday?
L:  Hmm...
Me:  Are you going to turn 1?
L: No.
Me:  Are you going to turn 2?
L:  No, I'm gonna turn bossy.

Funniest random words this week:  ele-gators (elevators) and ga-zebras (gazebo)

2013 Catch-Up: Christmas Parties and Performances

It wouldn't be the Christmas season without parties at school and dance!

School Party
I didn't get many pictures, but Aunt Abi came to the party and surprised Lindsay!  They made some macaroni necklaces, decorated snowmen, and had some great snacks.

Snack time -- the only time she was still enough for a picture!

Lindsay and her teacher Ms. D'Lynn

Lindsay and her other teacher Miss Lindsey

Dance - Christmas Performance
Lindsay has had such a great time in dance this year!  She loves her little dance friends and her teacher, Ms. Marsha.  Her class put on a Christmas performance for us, and almost everyone was able to come... Lollie and Aunt Abi, Grandma and Grandpa, and even Grammie.  The girls were absolutely adorable!

Showing off her ballet skills.

She is very serious about staying on her tape line... my little rule follower. :)

Getting down!

Apparently we need to work on the bow...

We love Ms. Marsha!

Mommy and Lindsay after the show -- blurry, but cute :)

Frozen

Like most little girls on the planet right now, Lindsay is obsessed with Frozen.  We watch the movie regularly and listen to the soundtrack even more often.  Today, she even made a Frozen joke!

I was in the bathroom and had the door closed.  She knocked on the door and started singing the "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" song from Frozen...

"Please, I know you're in there
People are asking where you've been.
They say have courage,
And I'm trying to.
I'm right out here for you.
Please let me IIIIINNNNNN!"

It's never a dull moment with a three-year-old around!

2013 Catch-Up: December at Disney World

In early December, it was time for our annual trip to Walt Disney World!  Lollie and Pops (my mom and dad) joined us for a short weekend trip to see the mouse.  We were lucky enough to have a room in the new Grand Floridian Villas, and they were absolutely gorgeous!

Safety First!  Glad someone reads those safety cards...

View of Seven Seas Lagoon from our porch.

Watching cartoons in the lobby of the Grand Floridian Villas with Pops.

Day 1:  Magic Kingdom - Very Merry Christmas Party

We love Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party!

Pretty sure we rode the Carousel at least 30 times...

Teacups!

Dumbo was the favorite ride this year!

Chatting with Doc during the Christmas parade

Day 2:  Lollie's Birthday - Breakfast at Cinderella's Castle, Hollywood Studios and the Spectacle of Dancing Lights

Happy Birthday, Lollie!  Lindsay took this picture all by herself. :)

She wanted to wear this Snow White dress every day of the trip, and for the most part, we let her.  Easier than arguing with a 2-year-old!

We felt like VIPs when we were able to go into Magic Kingdom before park opening for our breakfast reservation.  So  peaceful and quiet.

Lindsay LOVES Snow White -- she is always so sweet when we meet her!

Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios.  Lindsay is almost big enough to see over the side of the car now!

Lollie's birthday dinner  -- California Grill at the Contemporary Resort

Day 3:  Epcot and the Candlelight Processional

We found a Lindsay-sized sombrero in Mexico in Epcot!

She loved watching the fish at the Finding Nemo aquarium.

We always have fun meeting Chip and Dale!

Day 4:  More Magic Kingdom Fun

Merry Christmas from Magic Kingdom!

Lindsay's second favorite ride -- the monorail!

Lollie and Pops on the Astro Blasters at Magic Kingdom

We are so glad Lollie and Pops were able to come with us to Disney World this year!  We had a blast!

And We're Back!

Whew!  It's been awhile since I've blogged... for good reason!  We have packed up and moved halfway across the country to beautiful, sunny California.  Now that I've gotten most of our boxes unpacked and my computer set up, I'll start posting more about our fun adventures out here.  I also have a few events to catch up on from 2013 -- a Disney World trip, Christmas, and L's 3rd birthday.  Glad to be back online! :)