Today, G and I were at the mall foodcourt eating. She was looking at something and saying HO HO HO.... I look around my friend, and what do I see???? A big biker with a HUGE beard, and mustache, eating behind us... quite funny.

I LOVE CHEERIOS!

Cheeeeeese. Where's Gates??

Mallie and Gates

Sunday Night, Brandon's mom and sisters came over for dinner and Christmas. They brought Gates lots of gifts and she LOVED unwrapping them!!!

This is Laura, I have asked her to come dress up as Dora for Gates's bday party. Laura the Explorer.

Gates took each and every gift to Becca for help unwrapping. It was so funny. She would pick it up look at it, and then go to Becca for help.

Aunt Alison and the only sorta picture I got of Susan....

Polar Express

Sunday, Mom and Dad took B, G, and me to the Polar Express in Grapevine! What a fun thing to do at Christmas! Now, there is a preshow, which Brandon hated. So did my mom. And so did Jenny. Gates actually liked it! She danced in the aisle. Here is a preshow pic of mom and dad with Gates. Dancing in the aisle. I thought I was videoing, but alas, I only have this picture...

In total awe!

Laughing with BoPop

We kept this guy yards away. But, isn't the train cute??

Family Picture. Hopefully Jenny got a better one. ;)

My Darling Little Caveman

Toddler years are not that neat. Well, there are some fantastic parts. If I do not cut my ears off from the screaming and yelling, then listening to her learning to talk is nice. If I do not gouch my eyes out from the lack of sleep, then watching her dance is pretty cool. If I do not pull out all of my hair, then it is kinda fun when she brushes it. OK, there are fun parts of the toddler years. I have decided (or maybe I heard somewhere) that my toddler is like a caveman. She does not know all the graces of life yet. She does what she must do to survive and goes on instinct alone. This makes me want to teach her everything all at once. Unfortunately, that is not realistic. The reality, I am afraid, is that it is a long, slow, process.

Just to clairfy, I am joking here... (mostly) and I am amazed at my toddler. However, next time you see me, I might be deaf, blind and bald!

2 neat houses

Also, I wanted to spread the word about 2 really cool Christmas decorations...
The first one is on Norwood, between 183 and Harwood. It is on the corner, and it is griswold out, and the guy built a train and they let your kid ride it. Gates LOVED riding this train, in the Christmas Light Mecca.... The other one is called Noteboom Estates. It is on Hurstview between MidCities and Glade. They have a huge house and estate and it is all decked out. They have Santa there, and you can take your pictures for free... Both really cool, if you live or are ever near the Mid-Cities....

Family Pictures

Our friend, Jenny, took these pictures for us. We were hoping to use one for a Christmas Card. This was the card..

Hello?????????? I want to read your book...

I love this one b/c we are making the exact same face....

Thanks Jenny! You do good work!

Sunday Funday

We started the day off by putting out Christmas lights. I must tell you something.. See those pigtails?? Brandon did it! It was his first time trying, and he did a great job!

Then we went to the Ft. Worth Science Museum. This is an amazing place! We got a membership, and I would say it is going to be well worth the money! They have a little grocery store, that Gates was totally digging!

Driving the ambulance

They have a 3D show. I was shocked that she actually liked it and watched it!! We sat near the exit just in case...

Riding a faux horse. B was really trying to herd those cows... so serious...

Decorating the Christmas Tree

Yesterday we decorated our Christmas Tree. Gates opened up the box and saw all the pretty baubles! ohhhhhh!She got the hang of hanging them on the tree, although she now wants to unhang them...

Finished product...

Brandon's Family Christmas

Gates feeding her new baby some water. The girls (most of them) in Brandon's family.

Boys in his family

after 3 days of being inside my house with my darling, sick, kiddo, I feel like that picture of my mom yielding the butcher knife.... ;)

The flu is here. Gates had a seasonal flu shot. She did not have the H1N1 flu shot. I feel like that is the strand visiting our house. I feel terrible for not being more proactive and finding the H1N1 shot. I urge you mothers to go and find it. Get them both. It is so pitiful to see your little baby so sick. Trust me on this, too, you do not want your baby to have to get a chest x-ray. Getting shots does not hold a candle to this business! It was terrible for everyone involved. Gates is feeling so much better today, and the motrin is keeping her fever down. Please keep a speedy recovery and as my MIL put it a "strong resistance" for Brandon, Grandear, and me in your prayers!