April 2011

April was a busy month.....here are some highlights:

Our annual fishing/camping trip at Lake Murval (courtesy of Tracy & Mike!). Micalee learning some fishing tips from Papaw.

We found this little critter under the tent when we were packing up after the weekend. Micalee named him Tuck (after the Wonder Pet's Turtle Tuck), and we brought him home to live in our small pond. Five months later (because it's taking me this long to post), he's still there & growing!

April was also the last month of soccer! Micalee would still play, but seemed less interested at each game, but I really believe it was because she had such a small team, she never really got a break during the games like the other teams' kids did!

Micalee's preschool held a Trike-a-thon to raise money for St. Jude's Children's Hospital. She had so much fun riding around the parking lot with all the other kiddos!

Mid-April, we went to Brayden & Pressley's 2nd birthday party! Micalee loved the Mickey Mouse jumpy house!

And of course, dying Easter eggs is always fun!

And so is finding your filled Easter basket on Easter morning!!!

Getting ready to head out to the Easter egg hunt at First Baptist Blanchard (such a diva)....

Last year, Micalee only found a few eggs. This year? She filled that basket up!!!

Posing for a picture Downtown at the Asian Festival.

And the month wouldn't be complete without a trip to ArtBreak! This is the best place to take any child you loves crafts (and Micalee is one of those kids!)! There is SO much to do, that even with two trips there, we still didn't see it all. Best of all, it's FREE!!!

And I had to post a few of these! We finally decided to get some "professional" pictures done of Micalee! I had such a hard time narrowing down the seventy plus shots to about thirteen! Here are just a few of my favorites! For those of you who are on Facebook, you can see even more of them there!

March 2011

Spring is back......Here are some pictures of some of how we spent our time....

Back to the Alligator Park to feed the animals & enjoy the nice weather!
Micalee loves this place! And I love watching her with the animals.

I love her profile....

That's right! She is holding that baby alligator all by herself!

Digging for treasure at our favorite park...

Most Saturday mornings (and Wed afternoons) were spent playing soccer. And many times, Micalee was the only kid on her team willing to play, so it was all up to her. Eventually, she got tired of that & decided she could just sit out some, too!

Spending time at the park with friends, Isabella & Lillianne......

February 2011

Highlights from the month of February:


Don't laugh, but yes, we waited until Micalee was home almost 18 months before we got her hair cut for the first time. It as just SO short when she joined our family & I just wasn't sure how she would do. So I took her with me when I got mine cut & let her get a little trim. She did great (as usual!)! I love her hair long, so it may stay that way a while.....until she asks for it to be shorter.

On the actual day of Chinese New Year, we put up a few decorations & made a little Chinese dinner (with dumplings , of course, but not homemade....)! We want her to always be proud of being Chinese. That's why we love her so much! She is just her!!!

We got a little more snow in February, so we got to play a little more! This time, there was enough for a snowball fight! It was a little too soft pack & build a snowman, though.

My little artist! If she's not drawing, coloring or cutting (her absolute favorite thing to do!), she asking for the paint! She's getting pretty good, too!

Micalee started her first organized activity.....soccer!!! The uniform swallowed her! She put so much effort forth & laughed the whole time she played! And she is NOT afraid to get all up in there with all the kids! She was sick for her first game, but didn't miss too many more.

Jace chose glow-in-the-dark bowling for his birthday this year. Micalee was the only girl, but held her own against the guys! It was alot of fun!

I just LOVE this picture of Micalee! She looks like a little model! We were just leaving for a birthday party & a Chinese New Year party.

And here's a shot of Micalee at Lillianne's birthday party. It was at Acrosport (gymnastics), and Micalee had so much fun, we decided to sign her up for gymnastics a few months later!

At the Chinese New Year party put on by the Chinese Mission at First Baptist Church. This is our second year to attend & Micalee remember how to make the dumplings! This year, we brought Jacob. He really had a great time & learned he liked Chinese food!!!

My little dumpling maker! She's just a natural. Look at that concentration!

January 2011

Happy New Year!!!


Micalee reading books to her babies in her reading nook...

What is this white stuff falling from the sky?!?! We hardly EVER see snow, but since Micalee has been home, it has snowed, at least a little, both winters she's been with us!!! I knew she must be good luck!!! Here she is trying to catch snowflakes on her tongue....

And now trying REALLY hard to catch snowflakes on her tongue!!!

Trying out her car on the ice & snow! How fun!!!

And checking out the ice on the trees.....so pretty....

Now this was the funnest thing I think we've done in a while! A little nature park close to home had a nighttime owl trail walk. It was SO cool! They had a different owl at the end of each trail with a guide to tell you all about it! Micalee had a blast!!! So did I!!!

As much as I wasn't sure if I was ready, we decided it was time to convert Micalee's toddler bed to a full size bed. She loved it & has slept in it every night without a single problem. We did have to put fold down rails on because the bed is so high...

December 2010

December just speeds by, with all the shopping, planning, cooking, activities, parties.... Here are some images from our December:

I somehow got some of these out of order, but this is actually New Year's Eve at Sci Port. They have all kinds of activities for the kids, a Chinese dragon dance and a balloon drop at noon! So much fun...

I just love this picture. This was at the Boardwalk. Micalee was checking out the decorations around the light pole and I loved how you can see her reflection in the ornament!

Early December brought Disney on Ice Princess Wishes to town. This was Micalee's first time to see ice skating & she loved the show!

One of my favorite December activities is to go to Christmas in Roseland & see all the lights & giant Christmas cards made by all the local schools! It's cold, but so much fun & we always get hot chocolate to help keep us warm.

Each year, we make Turtles for our family & friends. It's fun & makes the house smell so good, too! Micalee got to help this year!

Ok, I walked into the kitchen to find Micalee with a gardening hat on & hanging on to the leg of the island. I swear this girl has pole dancing potential! I will have to redirect her natural talents to something a little more sophisticated!

Aunt Jeanie gave Micalee this elf costume & she loves to put it on & watch The Polar Express! This time, she had her "little" Teddy Bear friend watch with her!

Getting ready to go to her Preschool Christmas Program. She did so good!

Making a gingerbread train (or eating the candy while Mama tries to get it all together!!!)....

Christmas Eve at Aunt Jeanie's. I love seeing the kiddos in their matching jammies!!! The grown ups had some matching ones, too!!!

A look at the what Santa left before the fun begins.....

And after Micalee got to get into it all......

This was my favorite Christmas photo shoot picture, especially after I got done playing with it some!!!

This year, Santa left the little ones a very special gift....tickets to the Polar Express!!! So we all jumped in the car the day after Christmas, to take a drive a few hours away to catch the train...

Here we are on the train.....

Oooooh we got it.......Hot, hot, hot, hot chocolate!!!