Anna's 4th Birthday and Family Ski Trip

When we asked Anna what she wanted to do for her birthday this year, she was adamant, "I want to go to Mamaw and Peepaw's cabin!"  Last year we planned a family ski trip in Ruidoso, New Mexico that just happened to be over Anna's 3rd birthday, and she enjoyed it so much that she wanted to go back this year!  Sidenote: The cabin doesn't really belong to my parents (mamaw and peepaw); it belongs to some sweet friends of ours who rent it out as a vacation rental and were kind enough to let us stay there.  Because my parents were there last year, Anna just assumed it belonged to them.  I started to tell her how that particular birthday celebration was a one-time thing, and we probably couldn't do it for her birthday every year.....and then I put on my "cool mom" hat, looked at the calendar and the budget, invited mamaw and peepaw, and we hit the road!  We had so much fun (see pictures below).  We love you Anna and are so thankful for the joy that you add to our family.

Birthday morning!

We went snow tubing on Anna's actual birthday.  It was one of her favorite things we did!

We took a family gondola ride to the top of the mountain and played in the snow!

Dave and I even got to have a ski date while my parents watched Anna and Katelyn was in her ski class!

Katelyn took went to ski school for a few hours one morning...she ended up being the only one in the class, so she got a private lesson!  This instructor was the same one my sister Brittany had the year before!  Katelyn did awesome!

The girls loved feeding the deer with peepaw...those deer were so spoiled!  I think there were up to 20 deer gathered around the porch at one point!

Deer Feeding Time!

Peepaw teaching Katelyn how to play Sudoku

The girls and I built a snowman...if you look closely, you can see it. :)

"Mamaw and Peepaw's" cabin 

This is such a fun, scenic park!

Picnic on the porch!

Hot tub time!

Birthday Dinner! 

Singing Happy Birthday!

We had Anna sit in the middle of the living room, and as is our tradition at birthdays, we all went around taking turns sharing about what we appreciated most about her.

Family Pic!

Our Little Mermaid!

Katelyn performed in her school's talent show this year!  She sang "Part of Your World" from Disney's Little Mermaid movie, and she showed that song who was boss! :)  We are so proud of you, Katelyn!

The performance!

 Our sweet neighbor Halle came to support Katelyn and even brought her flowers!

 Katelyn's fan club!

Mommy Daughter Road Trip to Beaumont!

The girls and I took a road trip to Beaumont to see my grandmother and my uncle (my dad's mom and brother) over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend in January.  We had a great time, and we always leave wishing Beaumont wasn't so far away. :(  We love you Gram and Uncle Brad!

 Playing at a local park

 Laughing...most likely at something Katelyn and Anna are doing!

 The girls with their Great Uncle Brad

 Girls with Uncle Brad and Gram

 Playing soccer

 Snack time on the gardening cart.  The girls LOVE this gardening cart!  In the videos below, you will see one of their favorite things to do with it....

Katelyn pushing Anna

Anna pushing Katelyn

Playing on Gram's Ipad

 Playing Sara's Cooking Class on the Ipad

 Sara's Cooking Class: In action!

Playing "The Fish Game."  Not sure where this rule came from, but when it's your turn, you have to wear a green colander on your head. :)

 Sunday lunch at Luby's!  

Remembering Pop (my grandfather).  Katelyn is old enough to remember his funeral, but Anna was only a few months old.  It was a very sweet visit to the cemetery.

We went to the Cotton Bowl!

Through her business connections, Dave's mom was offered four tickets to the Cotton Bowl on New Years Day!  She wasn't able to go, but she gave the tickets to us to enjoy the game!  We got to see Baylor play Michigan State at Cowboys Stadium...with front row parking and seats 14 rows up from the field!.  Although Baylor lost (so sad!), we had a great time and were so grateful to be the recipients of such a fun experience!  Thank you Granny!

 The Baylor Golden Wave Band

Talk about a BIG screen!

Watching the blimp fly around was one of Anna's favorite parts of the game!

 Go Baylor!

 Sic em bears!

My college roomie was at the game too, so we made our way over to her section to say Hi!

Christmas in Austin

We enjoyed celebrating Christmas in Austin this year (a few days early)!  It is always fun when we can all be together for a holiday....

 Katelyn got a science kit for Christmas!

 My grandmother and uncle came to join us from Beaumont!  What a treat!

 Opening presents...so fun!

 Dance party!

 Counting Mamaw's spare change collection from the year and dividing it evenly between the grandaughters!

 Christmas lunch (the "kids" table)

 The "adult" table

Mommy daughter pic

Anna's Christmas Program

This was Anna's first Christmas program, and she did great!  Even when her garland halo fell off, she just kept on singing!  She is in the first row of bleachers (fourth from the left).

 Singing Jingle Bells

 Anna's fan club

 Third from the left (second row)

 

 Celebratory ice cream at Braums!  A tradition since Katelyn's first Christmas performance when she was three!