2 Parades + Disney On Ice

Saturday was one busy day!  We started it off with the Holly Springs Christmas parade.

 Taya met her boyfriend Owen there.

 You can see Teagan's one tooth in this picture.  Plus she has one right beside it breaking through.

 Getting candy!

 Excitement over a lollipop

 In awe, over the miniature ponies.

 A pink haired pony up close.

 Taya sees someone special!

 It's Santa!!!

 Right after that parade, I had to rush to the Cary Christmas parade.

 Someone wanted to join me on my work float.

 She had her position on the float.

 This parade was MASSIVE, and there was a lot of waiting.  Not the perfect place for a 3 year old!

While we were waiting for the parade to get started, we practiced our wave.

 Once Taya saw all of the crowds, she was a different kid.  She grabbed handfuls of candy, and she threw it to all of the people...all while yelling, "Merry Christmas"!  I wish I had video of it, as it was so cute...but I was too scared she was going to fall off the float that I had to focus my attention on her, all while I waving to everyone.

Once we were done with the parade, we had to walk a mile and a half back to my car.  Taya was a trooper,  as she walked the entire way.  It didn't hurt that we saw Santa along the way.

 Then, we went home and picked up daddy.  Off we went, to see Disney's Princesses On Ice!  

 Of all of the princess things she could pick out, she wanted a beast sword.

I forgot my good camera, so I had to use the one on my blackberry (which is not good)  but you can hear that she was excited to see the show.

 She LOVED every performance. At the end of every act, she shouted with excitement and put her hands up in the air for more!

After the show, we got out favorite treat...a milkshake from Cook-Out.

It was an exhausting day, but an awesome one!

Christmas Fun

We took Taya for a special treat, and we headed to Pullen Park for their Holiday Express.  We had to ride the trolley to get there.  It was her 1st time on a trolley, and she has already told me she wants to go again! 

 She ran right to the lion on the carousal.

Two silly kids sticking their tongues out at me.

 What a great picture!

 Click on this picture to see their awesome expressions.  Taya is loving how fast it's going, Bart...not so much!

 We could not believe it...BUT...Taya sat on Santa's lap.  When she was done, she said, "I did so great.  I did not cry!"  She told him exactly what she wanted.

 Taya made some special food that she will sprinkle on our yard for the reindeer on Christmas Eve.

 She also made a pretty ornament for our tree.

 The three of us on the train ride to see all of the lights.

 I had the camera on the wrong setting, but Taya was in awe over all of the colorful lights.

Thanks to Nana Gail, Teagan stayed at home all snug in her crib.

Taya's Ornament

Our tree is filled with homemade ornaments.  I still have the ornaments that I made when I was in preschool.   Taya just made her 1st preschool ornament.

 She is so proud of it!

Teagan Walking

We have been trying to get video of Teagan walking for at least the last two weeks.  The minute we start rolling, she sits down.  I finally got her!

 

This girl takes after her daddy as she is a climber!

The Perfect Christmas Photo

I had these grand plans of taking the girls to get the "perfect" photo for our Christmas card this year.  Bart and I even decided to take a shower, and look somewhat decent so we could have a family photo for the card.  Before leaving for Portrait Innovations, I practiced posing with the girls.

 As you can see, I even went all out and got the girls matching dresses.

 The practice didn't go so well...as I couldn't get both girls to smile at the same time.

 Teagan finally smiled right before getting ready to go, but as you can see she only had one shoe on.  I wasn't worried, as I had faith we could get the "perfect" photo.

Well here is that "perfect" photo!  You ask, where is Taya?  The stubborn 3 year old refused to take any pictures.  I tried every trick in the book, and she would not budge.  She wouldn't take a photo for chocolate, a new barbie...even when I threatened no gifts from Santa...she just said OK.  We actually got a good photo of Bart, myself, and Teagan, but I thought, "How could I buy that since it only had Teagan and not Taya?  While we got many great pictures of Teagan, I only bought this one below...as I thought it was just adorable.  (Too bad you can't even see the special dress I got made for the girls!)

So if you're looking for that "perfect" Christmas card from us this year...I decided this was a sign that I had too much on my plate right now to send any.  So Merry Christmas from Bart, Diane...the cute as a button Teagan....and naughty Taya!

9 Months!

Wow...my little bugger is 9 months old!

 It's been a rough nine months for me, as while Teagan is a blast and full of energy...she is not a sleeper like Taya.  Taya has always slept at least 12 hours straight....Teagan...at 9 months old...I'm lucky to be getting a combined total of 4 hours a sleep at night!  The girl just loves to wake up at all hours.  Trust me when I say that crying it out does not work for Teagan!

 Oh well, as for 9 month milestones...she is walking everywhere.   You'd think I would have video or pictures, but she is such a stinker that the minute I grab the camera to capture, she just smiles and sits right down until I stop filming her.

 And you may wonder why she has a tooth brush....she's brushing her 1st tooth!  It's not all the way through, but you can see the tip of it!

Her favorite word is of course...MAMA!!!  She can also wave bye bye!  Here's to hoping...her next milestone is sleeping through the night for many...many...many....nights!

Winterfest

We decided to be crazy, and skip Teagan's afternoon nap and head to Raleigh's Winterfest.

 Waiting in line to see Santa.

 We didn't know how this would go as Taya said she was too scared to sit on his lap.

 Taya did her standard thing and just looked down.

 Teagan was GREAT!

 Taya decided she didn't want to see Santa.  Teagan made sure she checked Santa out.

 But then when Santa told her he wouldn't know what he should bring Taya for Christmas...

 she perked right up, and she started rattling off a list of things she wanted.

 She wouldn't sit on his lap, but she did make sure he knew she's been a good big sister!

 Daddy and Taya in a LONG line for the Ferris wheel!

 Taya LOVED it!

 It was her first time on a big one, and she was smiling from ear to ear the entire time.

Click here to see Taya and Daddy high above!

 Taya and I on the carousal.

 A rare good picture of the two of us!

Click here to see Taya and Mommy go round and round

 It was so nice out, Taya wanted to play in the fountain.

 Later that evening...it was time to bundle up.

 And what would a festival be without a bouncy house!

We had a fantastic time...and when we got home Taya told me we had to go visit Santa again because she forget to tell him she wanted a pink IPHONE!  Really???  Where did she learn that as no one in this household has one of those!