HAPPY BIRTHDAY CIE-J!!!

So it's not technically the new year yet, but I couldn't let this day go by with out blogging about the best daddy, husband, and friend I know.  I'm so honored to be his wife and I love him with all my heart.  He is the best daddy to Alanna and works so hard so that I can stay home with our girl.

Happy Birthday Babe!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE BROWNS!

Remember that JESUS is the reason for the season.

I will be taking a blogging hiatus until the New Year.  See you in 2013!

Jingle All The Way:

We watched a Christmas Hallmark Movie called "Jingle All The Way" about a cute little dog.  We thought Alanna would love it.  Here's what the website said about it...

Jingle the Husky Pup is a very good dog who does everything he is told. Unfortunately, the only thing Jingles can't do is go home, because he doesn't have a home. But this holiday season, Jingle and all of his friends come home to Hallmark Channel, America's family network.

In "Jingle All the Way," a spirited Husky puppy looking for a home at a Christmas tree farm instantly bonds with a young boy visiting with his parents. As the boy rides away, unable to keep him, the pup escapes and embarks on a snowy journey to find his friend again. Guided by a wise cardinal and the sound of jingling bells, he eventually receives the help he needs from a big man in a red suit just in time for Christmas morning.  

We sat and watched it together as a family and low and behold, at the first commercial break, Alanna was in tears!  Sobbing and bawling for the little puppy that was all by himself and didn't have a home.  OH NO!  I asked if we needed to turn it off, but she wanted to keep watching it.  It was the saddest and cutest thing ever.

I've since discovered that they make a cute little book and husky puppy that comes to life when you read the book.  I may just have to get it.  Or maybe not.  I don't want her to cry again.  Hmmmm.  We even had to pray for the little puppy at bedtime!! 

 Poor sweet girl.

 Santa:

 We don't really "do" Santa at our house.  But I guess all of Alanna's friends at school had been talking about him and she asked if we could go and meet him.  She said she wanted to ask him a question.  I took her to the mall and she was THRILLED to see him.  He winked at her and she squealed.  She kept saying that she had to ask him a question though.  When it was her turn, she ran up to him and had a grin ear to ear.  Her conversation went something like this:

S: Have you been a good girl this year?

A: Oh yes! Can I ask you a question?

S: Sure!

A: Santa, do you REALLY say 'Ho ho ho?"

S: (laughing) Yes, I really do!

A: Okay, good.  I thought so.

That was her big important question that she wanted to ask Santa.  So cute!!  As we were walking back to our car, Alanna said "Mom, I really think Santa is really real.  He's so nice."  =)

Christmas:

So.....we did Christmas while Mamaw was in town...

 And look what she got!  She was just a tiny bit happy.

Let me just add here that we got this at the Mattel outlet in Fort Worth and paid 30% less than what it retails for.  We were so excited!

And look who sat and played with her.  He loved putting it together at midnight too.  It took three grown adults to do it.  Haha.

Monkey Monday:

VeggieBath:

Alanna wanted to watch a Veggietale movie, but it was bath time.  What to do?  

Daddy to the rescue!!!

He drew a TV on her bathtub wall and made his own Veggietale scene.  If you look closely, you can see the remote he made for her down on the blue tub itself.  So sweet!

CUTE GIRL!

 I cannot believe how BIG she is getting.  And just how darn cute she is too. =)

She asks me at least 3 or 4 times a week if she is almost 4 yet.  NO!  Not even 3 1/2!

There are still a few cute things she says, like Bluestick= lipstick.  Or she tries to use big words but isn't sure what they mean.  I told her one day that if I drive too fast, I will get a ticket.  She chimed in, "Yeah, daddy would be angry.  And he would be jealous!"  HAHA.  She also likes to use the word 'actually' too.  It just cracks me up coming from someone so small.

 

 

Christmas Parade:

 Mamaw was here to visit last week and we had our Christmas with her.  It was a lot of fun!  She went with us to our city's annual Christmas Parade and Alanna had SO much fun.  She spent the majority of the time on daddy's shoulders so she could see everything.  Christmas is super fun this year because she is three and really understands it all this year.  The lights, the trees, the presents, Santa!  The first Santa in the parade was a pretty convincing one and Alanna enthusiastically waved to him.  Then came another, and another, and another.  Each time she was a little less enthusiastic about him.  Our parade had a total of 9 or 10 Santas in it.  HAHA.  Each float seemed to have their own.

Then HE came.  A cute old convertible came by with Mickey Mouse riding in the back of it!!!!  Along with Minnie, Pluto, and Goofy.  Alanna couldn't say anything.  She froze.  Her mouth was open and she barely could wave.  I didn't even get a picture because I was so excited for her.  I kept saying, "Alanna, do you see who that is?  What do you think?"  She was starstruck.  It was the absolute cutest thing!  I can't wait to take her to Disney World someday!  

I love seeing Christmas through the eyes of a child.  It could be a strand of plain white lights on a dead tree (WEST TEXAS FOLKS!) and she is amazed at how beautiful it is.  Love it.

<3 <3 <3

Hoorays!!!

We were in Dollar Tree and Alanna spotted these pens with pom poms on the ends of them.  As I walked by the isle, Alanna yelled "MOM, go back please!  I saw something!!!!!"  As I turned around, she grinned ear to ear and exclaimed "Mom, look!  Those are 'hoorays' and I need some!!"  Over Thanksgiving, Alanna went to her first football game and she LOVED every second of it.  I think these reminded her of the cheerleaders from the game.  She cheered HOORAY the entire rest of the day.  All through Wal-Mart, Sams, and at supper that night.  She was cheering as I snapped this picture. =)  When daddy got home, Alanna wanted to go and cheer for him as he was in the bathroom.  HA!

Monkey Monday:

Monkey Monday:

Iphone self portrait.