Build a bear

The kids always BEG to do build a bear at the mall.  I finally decided to let Emma use her birthday money to do it.  We took a break from Christmas shopping this weekend.  Little brother was with us so he also participated ;)

There was no doubt that Emma would select Hello Kitty.  Initially Owen was very concerned that there was no stuffing in his bear....

Stepping on the stuffing machine pedal

After giving him a heart

All fluffed up :)

"Bathing" their animals

Hello Kitty outfit and accessories galore

Owen wasted no time selecting a Batman costume for his bear

CHEESE!!

Leaving the mall with our much anticipated gingerbread boxes :)

Santa's Wonderland 2012

Last week we loaded our church people mover and took a fast trip to Santa's Wonderland!  Check out our past visits here  and here :)

Since it was a school night and we didn't have much time to spend we let Emma choose what we did first.  She wanted to go to the petting zoo!

Each year we enjoy dutch oven peach cobbler with Bluebell vanilla ice cream.  YUM!  

God Bless Texas!!

I took my eyes off this boy for half a minute and then find him on the floor making gravel angels....

Yay for snow!!  The kiddos loved it :)

Photo below by Emma 

Merry CHRISTmas from the Smiths!

Merry CHRISTmas from the Smiths!!  

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  ~Isaiah 9:6

Kindergarten Christmas party

Emma's Kindergarten Christmas party was last Friday morning.  I am so thrilled to be her class room mom this year and had lots of fun planning all fun things reindeer!!  First the kiddos decorated their very own pair of antlers:

The reindeer herd is all here!  :)

What's a party without reindeer games?!  We played pin the (red shiny glitter) nose on Rudolph and the winner even took home his very own light up red nose!

The kiddos also enjoyed reindeer candy canes....

Reindeer noses (8 Whoppers and a cherry sour)....

Reindeer juice boxes...and all other sorts of mega sugar loaded goodies :)

Emma was happy to give Ms Thornton her gift!  Since her classroom is decorated in owls she picked out an owl print monogrammed lunch tote and owl jewelry to give her, among other fun treats :)

I am excited to have my very own red nosed reindeer home with me for a couple of weeks!

A big birthday celebration...Hello Kitty style!!

For quite some time now Emma has been a huge Hello Kitty fan so there was no doubt how we would celebrate her sixth birthday.  We invited lots of family and friends, including her entire Kindergarten class!  December is always such a busy month for everyone but we were thankful for those who joined us.

I loved how the cake turned out!!  It was fondant and made by a local lady.  It fit the color scheme perfectly and was delicious!

What's a party without games?!  The kiddos enjoyed 'hot potato' and 'pin the hair bow on the kitty'.  Check out the kitty that the birthday girl's daddy free handed!  I was super impressed.  We also had a couple of bounce houses set up in the gym.

Blowing out six candles!  (I love little brother's face in the bottom right hand corner!)

Love this Hello Kitty duct tape!

Emma got lots of fun new things including her first American girl doll, Barbie stuff and, of course, lots of Hello Kitty!

Favors for our friends...

Our family of four

Our birthday girl had a fun time and that makes all of the planning and preparation worth it :)

Jarrod Smith, M.Ed

For the past eighteen months Jarrod has been working diligently on his masters degree in Educational Administration online through Lamar University.  That time span included two full football seasons as well as a huge move, a career upgrade and lots of other life going-ons.  Words cannot express how very proud I am of him.  This past weekend we traveled to Beaumont to watch him participate in the graduation ceremony.  Although it was the first time for him to step foot on campus we thought it would be neat for the kids to see him walk the stage :)  Afterwards we enjoyed a delicious seafood meal!

Where's Waldo Jarrod?  ;)

Little man curled up in his seat pretending to nap :)

Funny story:  as we were waiting for the ceremony to begin Emma asked "Where's the other team?"  She is a true coach's kid :)

So proud of daddy and excited that he is all done with homework and deadlines!

The four of us :)

Thanks for making the trip, Big Daddy and Lita!