White Christmas

This year we went to Texas for Christmas. Matt's sister, Nikki, usually comes out to CA for Christmas with her husband and their 3 kids, but this year we all made the trip out there. Papa(Matt's dad), Grammy(Matt's mom), Matt, Lennon and I left a week before Christmas, luckily we had a direct flight from Sacramento to Dallas. Lennon did O.K. on the flight there. She was a little fussy the last hour or so, and fell asleep about a half hour before we landed. The first weekend we were there Matt, his dad, and Brent(his brother in law) went to a hunting ranch. Both Matt and his dad caught a deer. Luckily the hunting ranch butchered it and mounted the antlers, so we didn't have to figure out a way to get it home. So, we should have a box arriving soon full of deer stuff. While the guys were away hunting, we took all the kids to go see Santa at the Fire Department. Lennon was not a fan of Santa. Unfortunately, Matt had my camera, Robin(Matt's Mom) had left hers in Sacramento, and Nikki's was having memory card problems, so I don't have the Santa picture to post, but they did take a picture there and said they would email it to me...but I am still waiting, so I will post it when it comes! We did a lot of shopping while we were there. Robin, Nikki and I took Matt's niece, Karlee, to the American Girl Store and Bistro for a surprise lunch. She had no idea, and was so excited when we got in the parking lot and realized what we were doing there. She was even more excited when Nikki pulled out her doll. So, we all had lunch at the Bistro there, American Girl Doll in her high chair and all! We also went to Fort Worth one day. Nikki and I took all 4 kids to the Fort Worth Stockyard to see the cattle drive. Nikki and the kids rode the mechanical bull, and we all did a maze that was on the show The Amazing Race 4. We didn't finish, we gave up to see the end of the cattle drive and we were all hungry. We had lunch there at a BBQ place, and made our way back to the car. There was a store called Leddy Boots there, so I had Nikki take a picture of Lennon and I before we left. Christmas Eve was eventful. We went to Fort Worth the previous day, and it was nearly 80 degrees. We woke up on Christmas Eve to snow. It is the strangest thing. Nikki said that if you don't like the weather in Texas, give it an hour and it will be different. She was right. So, Matt, Karlee, Nikki and I made a snow man in their front yard. We were quite the sight. It was freezing and we were trying to use cookie sheets to collect snow...I am sure their neighbors that we were crazy, but all that matters is that we made a snow man! We had a huge dinner with some family and some of their friends and TONS of kids. After dinner, we tracked Santa and then it was off to bed. Christmas morning, Lennon was the first one up, which surprised me being in a house with a 9 year old, a 6 year old and a 2 year old. When I was their age, I would have already been through my stocking! We all opened presents and then it was on to breakfast. Nikki wanted me to make Cinnamon Rolls and Orange Rolls for breakfast, which I had never made before. She made the cinnamon and I made the orange roll, and they actually turned out really good! I might make it a tradition in our house...Orange Cinnamon Rolls Christmas Morning! We flew out that night, and Lennon was out the entire flight...which seemed to take twice as long as the flight there! The next day we went to my parents house for more presents and dinner with my mom's side of the family. All in all, we had an amazing Christmas...and as much as I can't wait to see Lennon's face next year, when she actually understand Santa and all the presents a little better, my wallet is dreading it! But I am sure it will all be worth it. I know I am a few days late but,

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

Matt and Lennon jumping on the trampoline




Lennon and Cousin Cannen helping with the Christmas snacks


Matt's 8 Point White Tail Deer


Bath Time Buddies


All the kids in the car, ready to go to Fort Worth








Lennon in her Christmas outfit


Loving the snow




Christmas Jammies


<3


Our homemade cinnamon/orange rolls...yum


Lennon playing with her cousin's drums


Lennon and Matt "cheers-ing" with her new tea set...and a beer!


Lennon and Uncle Danny


Lennon and Great Grandma Ju Ju

And I think to myself...

I have been watching Lennon a lot lately. She has such a personality. It blows my mind to think how big she has gotten in the last year. She is such a happy little girl, always tip toeing around, playing with all her books and toys. She amazes me every single minute of every single day. I wish I could have bottled this past 13 months to relive it over and over. Matt and I were talking tonight about what our favorite thing is that Lennon does. He said his, and then I told him that I loved whenever she took a bit out of anything she says "Mm mm" afterwards...but it didn't stop there...I kept going and going. A few minutes ago I was messing around on the computer to start the template for what I hope to be our Christmas cards (we will see if that actually happens this year!), and came across the lyrics to Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World". I have heard this song a zillion times, but reading the lyrics, I noticed something new, or at least something I have never noticed, and it made me want to look at all of her pictures. Hope you enjoy a few as much as I did!

"I hear babies cry...I watch them grow
They'll learn much more...than I'll ever know
And I think to myself...what a wonderful world"


And I think to myself...what a wonderful world.

I want a RECOUNT!

I can't believe that Lennon is a year old! It went by crazy fast! I look at her and don't see a one year old at all...I see my sweet little girl, until she starts screaming at me to move! I was looking at her pictures from when she was a little tiny baby and it totally blows me away how big she has gotten. She was this little 6lbs, 18" long baby, that was in the 75th percentile for height and weight, and now she is 25lbs, 30" long crazy kid! She has learned so much this past year, it amazes me. She is still really close to walking, so hopefully within the next month she will be running around causing trouble. We had her lady bug birthday party at Matts dad's house (Papa). I was surprised how many people came, although I shouldn't have been being that I mailed out the invites! My Grandma Savoy came from Fresno, my best friend Carly drove from Boise, not to mention the local family that Matt and I have that came, and some really close friends of ours. We had a really good time. Lennon wore her special lady bug tutu and customized onesie that said "Happy 1st Birthday Lennon" on it...well, until the cake...then she had to be bathed and switched into a different Birthday Girl outfit! She got TONS of toys...and EVERYTHING makes NOISE! I am not sure how they find the lady to sing the songs on these baby toys, but I am definetly not a fan of hers! She also got alot of clothes and some money that we are putting in her account for a rainy day.
I am so lucky to have her sweet little face to see everyday...everytime you walk in a room she greets you with a big smile and a wave...and loves to give kisses (well, she loves to kiss her baby's face...everyone else gets kisses on the arm, legs, foot...where ever she wants!). I am so excited to watch her grow this next year, and for all the changes that she is going to go through!

Happy Birthday, Baby...Mommy and Daddy LOVE you tons!

Happy First Birthday, LENNON!

Lennon in her ladybug party tutu.

Playing in the jump house/ball-pit.

YUM...cake!

She was a mess!

YAY for presents!

Apple Hill!

Matt, Lennon and I went to Apple Hill a few weeks ago and met up with my cousin Kelly, her husband Chris and their almost 2 year old, Katelyn. Apple Hill is about a 45 minute drive in some direction...I am awful with directions! We stopped at a few places: Boa Vista; so Matt could get some of the hottest hot sauce ever, High Hill Ranch; where we walked around all the crafts and goodies, Kelly gave Lennon her first bite of a Carmel Apple, which she LOVED, and we bought an over-priced elephant pillowcase for Lennon (but, it is really cute and soft...it is lite pink and super soft, it has legs that hang off of the sides and a head with a big trunk and floppy ears...Lennon unfortunately isn't too impressed with it...go figure!) and walked to a pumpkin patch. Lennon isn't really walking on her own yet, but Matt held her hand and she walked through the patch and picked out a pumpkin. We also went to my Uncle's winery. It was really neat getting to see the behind the scenes of wine making. My parents have been up there to help pick grapes and all that fun stuff, but I have never been, and am really glad I got to go. After the winery, we split up and Matt, Lennon and I went to the Jack Russell Brewery. It isn't the biggest brewery, but it has lots of little random vendors surrounding a huge grassy area. Matt and I have been to Apple Hill almost once a year for 6 years or so, and found the brewery last year when we went, so it is going to become one of the "stops" we make on our Apple Hill adventure. The funny thing about the day trip we took is that I don't really like apples, wine or beer...but I still had a great time with family that I don't get to see nearly enough, and am excited to make this day trip part of our little family tradition!


At Boa Vista

Walking @ the Pumpkin Patch

Getting SO BIG!

Picking out the perfect pumpkin.

She LOVES her daddy!

Catching Up...

I know it has been awhile since I have updated my blog. So, here is a quick run-down of what we are up to...

Matt is going back to school a few days a week and watching Lennon. I am working, decorating cakes again. So far it is working out really well for us. Matt loves being with Lennon, and I am enjoying working again. I actually started to miss it a little bit after not working for a year!

Lennon is getting so big! She will be one in a little less than a month. I am so excited. She is the smartest baby I have ever seen (and I am not just saying that!). She says a few things, like Mama, Dada, Baba. We think she is saying Hi and Bye, but she is definitely waving when she sees someone or is leaving somewhere. She even has a different wave for Hi and Bye...which I just noticed the other day...told you, smart baby! She finally started crawling about 2 months ago. She is on her way to walking anytime now. She will walk back and forth between people, and from someone to the couch or table, but can't stand up all by herself yet. She is pulling her self up on everything though, laundry baskets, coffee tables, couches, cribs, toys...she will find a way to be standing!

Here are some pictures from the last few months...and I will update again after Lennon's birthday!


At the park on Fourth of July.

Fourth of July with cousin Karlee.

All of us at Burney Falls.

She loved playing in the sand and lake up at the cabin.

What a cutie!

Lennons 9 Month Pictures

Here are a few pics from Lennons pictures we had taken earlier this week. My Grandma Irwin made her the cute dress, with the petal skirt...unfortunatley Lennon is a big baby, so the matching hat didn't really fit, and the little sweater that my aunt knitted was too small! Dang, that girl is getting big! She didn't do so well for her pictures...and she had a little break down, but here is what we got! Enjoy~

And I should have more postings soon...4th of July, Cabin, Hanging out with Lennon's cousins, etc!!