Well, we better start looking around for a trophy case. Because with performances like these, she'll be bringing home the trophies in no time...
Some holiday cheer:
Love how she grabs herself at the end- we made a race to the bathroom as soon as I stopped the camera!
And for all those Disney-lovers (and thanks to Aunt Jane for the card!):
To translate, at the end she says that her baby feels better because she sang to her. Pretty sweet, huh? Maybe she'll handle this Audrey Lou thing alright...
Long overdue and all that... I've misplaced my card reader, so I've had some trouble getting these pictures OFF of my camera! Plus, we've just been crazy busy, and this has been the first (and last) weekend home for a long time!
On our busy weekends, we've mostly been traveling! We went to Springfield for our annual beginning of Christmas shopping trip. We also went to Illinois to celebrate Thanksgiving with my grandparents. But, we forgot to take pictures in Illinois, so I'll have to get some from Ruth! Meanwhile, here are pics from SDC and Springfield!
This trip is one Josh and I look forward to all year long, because our weekends are so full with youth stuff and family events, and this trip is a weekend just for us. We love visiting family while we're there, but we mostly want to go and hang out with each other for an entire day (we leave Laney with Grandma & Grandpa Looten). This year we had dinner with Grandma De & Grandpa Don on Friday night, which was fun. Always enjoy visiting with them, and love when we have a longer weekend so that we can!
Saturday Josh and I headed out early and hit CPO, the mall, and then headed to Branson for The Landing and SDC. All some of our favorite places, and we love to get our Christmas shopping started early! Josh's mom & dad met us at SDC with Laney, so that she could watch the tree lighting, which is amazing there! To see a video, check out this post from last year. Or, just get the general idea from this picture from this year:
Prett amazing, huh? Laney was totally enraptured by it... and, even though she'd seen it last year, she didn't seem to mind! That's the great thing about toddlers-- not much memory!! ;) She spent a lot of the time on Daddy's shoulders, just staring. She loves lights and music, so this was perfect for her!
After the tree lighting, we wandered around and shopped for awhile, until the light parade started. Always lots to buy there, especially at Christmas time because there are TONS of ornaments!! :)
Laney with the snowmen outside the Christmas Shop!
And, of course, during the shopping we found time for some yummy snacks! I tell you what, it's hard to be diabetic at Silver Dollar City during the Christmas Festival! Though, I must say, I did indulge a little... Laney & Grandma & Grandpa shared this apple dumpling, while I shared one with Daddy!
Ahh, there are no words...
The required self portrait... harder to do in the dark! :)
Sunday we went to church with Josh's family, and then headed back to their house for lunch. Jess, Luke, & Leila came over, too. It was fun to see the girls hang out with each other, Leila thinks Laney is hilarious, and I tihnk Laney might be a bit of a ringleader when they get older. Definitely going to have to watch out for that! :)
Laney loves to do Ring Around the Rosey with anyone who will spin around with her. Leila wasn't too sure what game they were playing, but Laney helped her... especially with the "fall down" part at the end... where Laney flings her to the ground! Thankfully, she missed the coffee table, and Leila got up laughing! Enjoy...
On the way home we swung through Krispy Kreme for a latte for Josh, and Laney decided that donuts from Krispy Kreme are AWESOME, and they have cool hats, too! :)
Anyway, it was a great weekend, and definitely the relaxing start we need for our Christmas season! Already looking forward to next year!
