Christmas Day & Beyond

Santa was so good to us this year! Here is a picture of what we woke up to Christmas morning...

Cooper was super excited about her yellow mini cooper! Santa purposely put all her other presents into the seat of her car so that she had to open those first.

 

During the month of December, we asked Cooper several times what she wanted Santa to bring her. She would look around and request the first thing she saw..."I want a magazine or I want a pencil". She knew who Santa was and I think she understood that he was going to bring presents to her house, but I don't think she quite understood that she could make a list of specific requests.

A new Christmas tradition that we started this year was the Elf on the Shelf. Cooper named our new friend Barney! He came to stay with us at the beginning of December and brought us lots of entertainment. Cooper woke up every morning excited to find Barney and to see what he had gotten in to. I don't think Cooper really understood that Barney reported back to Santa each night because we threatened he with it a couple time and she didn't seem to be too concerned!

After spending Christmas morning together, we drove down to Tuscaloosa for the weekend. Lunch at Nanny's has been a Christmas tradition since I was little. Now the kitchen table is filled with another generation of girls!

We tried to get a picture of Nanny and the great grandchildren but Cooper decided to throw a big temper tantrum right about the same time. After lunch we went over to the Stripling's to spend some time with Wes's family.

We had a nice, relaxing Christmas break and got to spend lots of time with our family and friends! I am so thankful for the time we were able to be together.

Courtney & Cameron had us over to the Tidmore farm for dinner after Christmas. We used to get together all the time but it is a rare treat these days! Of course, both the adults and kids had a great time together!

Family Christmas

The timing of all our family Christmas gatherings worked out suprisingly well this year. After last year, Wes & I said we wanted to slow down and be able to enjoy time with family on Christmas day instead of running from house to house. Well, we didn't really plan for it, but that ended up happening this year.

The weekend before Christmas, Jack & Diane kept Meredith & Evan. They stopped by our house on the way back to Dothan so the cousins got to open presents together!

Christmas Eve we went down to Bebe and Papa John's house for dinner. Our family was there along with Susan & Rick and Grandmaw. We opened presents after dinner. Cooper helped pass out gifts. She was able to recognize the first letters of the names on the gifts and pass them out accordingly!

Papa John refinished this desk for Cooper. It stays in the kitchen so she can sit and color or draw while we are cooking or just hanging out in the kitchen.

Cooper and Gram! Great picture! A little gift that Grandmaw got Cooper seemed to be her favorite of the night. It was a small pink car that winds up and rollls across the floor. Who knew??!!

Throwing in a random of me & mom!

Cooper helping Papa John open his gift. She loved to help everyone open their gifts!

Cooper and Bebe. She changed into the pajamas that Bebe & Papa John got her. She and bitty baby have matching PJs.

It is somewhat of a Thomas family tradition to ice cookies, so after dinner we sat down at the kitchen table and iced the cookies that Cooper & I made earlier that day.

We came back to Birmingham after so that we could spend Christmas morning at home. Cooper was ready for Santa to come!

ThE BiG 30

It's official...I'm old! I turned 30 on December 18th. Really, I don't feel much different. I tell people all the time that I started feeling old after I had Cooper ( I was 26). That's when our lives really changed from always being out & about to staying home enjoying our time together as a family. It's funny that it still feels like just yesterday when I graduated from high school, started college, and got married...that was 12 years ago! I totally believe that you are as young as you feel/act so I'm sure I will continue to think of myself as "young" for years to come.

Insert photo from high school, college & wedding here (they have to be scanned in)

My bestest friends Courtney & Lauren, with the help of my mom & Wes, threw a wonderful birthday party for me! (Love that I remember saying this exact same thing when I scrapbooked my 21st). They know me so well that they knew EXACTLY what I wanted to do...Mexican, margaritas, small group, just chill.

We had dinner at Margarita Grill. Courtney & Lauren made the cutest centerpieces that had pictures from my 1st Christmas to my wedding day. My closest friends, including several girls from the neighborhood, came for dinner & drinks. It was so much fun! There are a few other long time friends that I would have loved to share this time with me (Leslie, Karin, Alye) but unfortunately they live too far away. They were there in spirit though because those girls were on my mind!

After dinner Courtney, Cameron, Wes & I went to Ross Bridge for the night. Thanks Mom! Again...it was so much fun to spend some adult time with my bestest! I wish we could do that more (and we should make the time to do it!)

I am so blessed with a wonderful family and fantastic friends and I can't wait to find out what God has planned for my 30's!

3 year old pictures

Our favorite photographer Carly came to take pictures a couple weekends ago. I have to say that this year's pictures are my absolute favorites and the best ones yet! There were so many good ones that it is really hard to narrow down my favorites, but here are a few.

Carly is doing our Christmas card this year too and I can't wait to send them out!

It's the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

When thinking about a theme for Cooper's 3rd birthday, I immediately thought about her favorite TV show...the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Cooper still isn't really into watching movies or TV shows (although she now loves Monsters, Inc.) but the one show she will watch and loves is Mickey Mouse.

Cooper's party was at the Cahaba Lilly Park in Helena. We invited family and a few close friends. I scaled the party decor way down this year. Just a few balloons and table decorations. 

 Instead of a cake, we had cookies from Sugar City Sweets. Not only were they super cute, they were delicious too! And, super easy to serve to the kids.

Each of the picnic tables had a Mickey head.

Bebe made this cookie cake for the adults.

This was the first year that Cooper actually realized the party was for her and she loved it! She was so excited that all her family and friends were coming to see HER and she felt so special. The park ended up being a perfect location for the party. Cooper and the other kids ran all over the playground!

Here are a couple pictures from snack time and opening gifts.

And a few family pictures...

And the besties!

Monster Mash

Happy Halloween! I have to say that Halloween is one of my favorite holidays because I love to dress up and challenge myself to get creative! We had a fun Halloween this year that started a little early. Courtney had us over to her house for a Halloween party. We let the kiddies decorate cupcakes and then dress up in their costumes. Cooper liked decorating the cupcakes, but liked eating the icing better!

Ha, ha...I love this picture!!

Our cupcake masterpieces. Can you tell which ones the kids decorated?

Cooper was a mermaid, Addy was a fairy, Tucker was Captain America and Talon was a sweet pea. These have to be the absolute cutest kids in the world.

We had a neighborhood Halloween party this year, hosted by the Adams Family! Wes & I dressed up as Brandon & Andy from the Goonies!! It was fun to see everyone in their costumes.

Sunday night we went to the church Trunk or Treat. Cooper thought she was such a big girl because she got to get her face painted!

Halloween was on Monday night, so our neighborhood did trick or treating that night. Bebe and Papa John came up to go with us! Cooper loved knocking on doors and having people answer with candy. After walking around the neighborhood, we came back home to hand out our candy. Cooper seemed to like handing out candy the best! She kept making  Bebe and Papa John go outside and ring the door bell so she could answer and give them candy!

The days following Halloween Cooper asked for candy all the time. The first thing she would say when she woke up in the morning was, "Can I have some candy?". Thankfully that only lasted a few days and then she forgot all about it.

August & September in Photos

This summer was so much fun and we hated to see it come to an end (we are looking forward to the cooler weather though)!

Cooper's favorite thing to do this summer was go to the swimming pool. We will miss the pool until next year! Real swimming lessons are in our future.

Loving on blankie after a day at the pool.

We went to Santa Rosa Beach over Labor Day weekend for Tiffany & Jason's wedding. Tropical Storm Lee decided to join us. Although we didn't get to enjoy the beach, we had a great time with the family & friends.

Cousins at Summer's birthday party in August. I think Summer & Cooper look so much alike in this picture...could it be the hair?!

Bebe & I took Cooper to the zoo in September. Ever since Nanna & Aunt Barbara took her in the Spring, she hasn't stoped talking about the zoo. Mostly the gorilla...for some reason she thougth the gorilla looked sad. Cooper wanted to give him a kiss to make him happy!

Roll Tide...football season has started!

During the first week in August, Wes & I went on vacation to Boston & the coast of Maine. Cooper stayed with Nanna & Papa Jack this time. We were trying to stuff her in our suitcase so she could come too!

The coast of Maine was beautiful! One of my all time favorite trips!

Sending a message from the coast of Maine back home to Cooper! We love you!!