Merry Christmas Break 2010

As always the Christmas Break is filled with fun and exciting times! At the start of the week, the kids and I made a quick trip to the zoo and then met my dad and Lonnie for lunch at The Aquarium.

One day the girls and I made a gingerbread house.

Saw the lions

Played at the house. My friend Tiffany has started making embroidered items and this one for Case was so cute.

The first weekend of the break I went to Kansas City to watch one of my players, Katie play in the Under Armour All American match. It was really cool getting to see her play and then I got to watch the NCAA national championship where Penn State won their 4th straight title! Another bonus was I got to hang out with my bestie from 7th grade Jill who is now the head coach at West Virginia!

For Christmas we celebrated at church on the 23rd, (so mad I forgot my camera because the girls were all dressed up) then xmas eve we had my parents over and I cooked while the girls opened gifts from mammy and papa Marc. Christmas day the girls found the presents Santa left bright and early! We spent the rest of the day hanging out at the house playing. Lonnie's parents came over Xmas day and we ate at our house again enjoying our presents.

Lonnie and Leslie Christmas 2010(Our 11th Xmas together!)

We have multiplied in that 11 years :)

Mom and her handsome fella

Trying to get one with my sweet peas

Mamaw got Case his first Polo outfit and he was sooo stinkin' cute! I just wanted to eat him up

He is standing here but it is hard to tell

Mamaw, Papaw and the girls

Santa brought Mallory a Fur Real doggie and Morgan a Rapunzel

Mammy brought Case a 3-1 walker, rider, scooter

Wondering why he can't keep moving!

LOVE this picture. Such a ham and showing off his teeth

Mallory was cracking up. The girls got some Madame Alexander dolls from my mom(I also have a collection) and then one of our babysitters Adriana gave them princess oven mitts and aprons.

Barbie make up!!!! A huge hit :)

Morgan loved her doll and the dress mammy gave her. We are so thankful for all of our blessing this year and the real reason we celebrated Christmas. Happy Birthday Jesus!

Mallory Turned 6!!!

This past Saturday Mallory Ann turned 6 years old! What an eventful weekend we had to celebrate. Here is the birthday girl in her birthday shirt from Janna and her adorable hat that Paige gave her that she wouldn't take off :)

The weekend started Friday afternoon when Mallory had invited her old best bud Rylie and her new best bud Katie to spend the night. We started off making pillowcases with paint, stencils and sponges. After that we had dinner and cupcakes followed by a strawberry shortcake movie. When the girls finished the movie it was time for bed. Here is Katie, Mallory, Rylie and Morgan

Silly girls!

Mallory is such a cheese these days. Lots of personality :)!

Saturday morning the girls woke up bright and early and had some color time while I went to pick up Shipley's for breakfast.

Showing off their pillowcase masterpieces:

Saturday was also my mom in laws birthday Evelyn. We had lunch with her, my father in law, and my mom at Cheesecake Factory. After that we went to build a bear at Mallory's request. We then went by Lonnie's Aunt Diane's for her annual Christmas get together.

Mallory, Evelyn and Case

After stopping by Aunt Diane's we headed to College Station to meet up with the McKinney's and the Perroni's. We went to Gattiland with the crew: Kate, Abigail, Hannah, Mallory, Morgan, Case, Hudson and Bella.

Hi Morgan!

Mallory and Kate(Kate turns 8 this week)

We were celebrating Morgan's bday which was in Nov, Mallory's actual bday, Kate's upcoming and Hudson will be 6 on December 28th.

Bella, Morgan(she got a hat too and LOVES it), Hannah

The crew minus Abigail and Case

When we finished up at Gattiland we returned to Casa McKinney which was decorated so beautiful for the holidays. I felt like we were at a bed and breakfast somewhere!! After getting the kiddos down we had some enjoyable adult time and paid for it most of Sunday ;)

We headed home Sunday morning in time for church and the annual Christmas offering. The girls went on the stage to give money they had collected over the past two weeks. Mallory even took $3 out of her piggy bank to put toward's her collection. We adopted an angel and took the presents and it was amazing to see the 10+ FedEx trucks filled with Christmas presents for the underprivelaged kids. AMAZING! After our service Lonnie and I took the membership class to become official members of Fellowship of the Woodlands!!

Like I said an extremely busy weekend but one full of blessings and good times. I love this time of year

10 on 9

Last weekend I celebrated my 33rd birthday. At 33 God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, three beautiful children and happy life. I am very thankful for everything I have.

This past Saturday one of my good friends captured my treasures on camera. I would highly recommend Sarah to take your family photos. She is just starting out but is a natural!! If you want her information just let me know, thanks again Sarah....I LOVE the pics.

I am only posting a few of the pics because a lot of the others will make their debut in our Christmas card so you will have to wait to see.

And my main reason for posting is Case is 10 months old today, December 9th. I can't believe he is so close to turning one. I know I just updated a few weeks ago about his 9 months so not much has changed except that he is getting cuter and cuter and into more stuff! I love my little man to pieces.

Case 10 month Fun Facts:

Tricks: Standing alone for long periods of time, has taken 1 or 2 baby steps with little support from mom and can squat to sitting from standing

Like to plays with toys he can push- cars, tractor, anything with wheels(already such a boy)

Likes to take things out of something(clothes out of basket, dishes out of dishwasher, etc)

Funny Face- I will have to capture a picture of his new face he likes to make, he's squints his whole face like he is growling- too funny

Food: Does not want to eat any baby food so is completely on regular food diet. I guess once he tasted the good stuff good bye to the bland! Very good eater

MilK: Formula x 4

Sleep: I can't believe last post I didn't put that FINALLY Case is sleeping through the night. He typically goes down at around 7 and will sleep until 6ish. Sometimes he will go back to sleep after a morning bottle. He will wake sometimes during the night but will get himself back to sleep- so glad I am finally sleeping again :)

Teeth: 6 still

Attached to: Mom!! Case is experiencing a little bit of separation anxiety and usually wants mom and wants mom to hold him. This has become a bit challenging in the mornings when I get ready and he is climbing up my leg! I wouldn't trade it for the world however :)

Santa's Wonderland

A few days before Thanksgiving I was checking status updates on FB(addicting) and a friend of mine had posted pics of Santa's Wonderland in College Station. We have driven by many times and actually went about a decade ago before we had kids. So I suggested to Lonnie that it would be fun to take the kids and head up there. So the night before Thanksgiving we loaded the car when he got off work and headed that way.

Lonnie and the kids about to enter Santa's town

It was so much fun! We entered Santa's town which is like a western little village with campfires, live music, food, shops, Santa, etc. The weather was still warm so it was perfect outside.

Luckily my girls like to have their picture taken :)

When Morgan heard there was pony rides we had to do that right away. Mallory was on Red and Morgan rode Lucy.

Morgan loved her pony and kept petting her the whole ride.

There was also a petting zoo.

I love Morgan's face here as she was trying to get some love and right when I took the pic the animal went the other way.

This is better!

You can drive your car through the lights or take a hay ride. We opted for the hay ride which played christmas music the whole time. (And thanks Bec for my super cute hat!)

Case loved the hay ride and the lights too.

The lights were awesome as was the whole experience. I think we will go back once more before the holidays are over. I highly recommend it! (Thanks Candace for posting pics and giving me the idea)