All five of the kids acting silly!
Connor enjoyed every minute of it!
Jack loves his new Razor!
Sunday night after a busy day with our Brantley Family Christmas at mom and dad's house we took our kids home and changed them into their pajamas, loaded up in the van, went to Starbuck's for hot chocolate and drove around to look at Christmas lights. I had seen this fun tradition on a friends blog last year and decided then it was the one thing I really wanted to add this year. We always look at lights, but in PJ's with hot chocolate in hand was really fun. All three kids were oohing, and ahhing at every house we passed. Connor kept yelling at Ro Ro everytime we saw a reindeer and yelling EAT!!! at all the Santa's we saw. I guess I should explain the EAT. Connor's favorite show is Rudolph and he loves his Ro Ro. In the movie Mrs. Claus is always telling Santa to EAT, nobody wants a skinny Santa! So, Connor thinks his name is EAT!
Bailey had expressed an interest in seeing the Nutcracker Ballet and so mommy got two tickets and after school was out last Friday we headed to the Eismann Center to see it. She enjoyed dressing up and going to a "fancy" place with mommy. Bailey sat on the edge of her seat the entire time and clapped very loudly after each section. During intermission we shared a drink and a snack and took a few pictures with the nutcrackers. After the performance we headed out the doors and to our surprise there stood the dancers and Bailey's favorite, Clara. She hugged Bailey and talked to her for a few minutes! She loved it.
This month is packed full of fun things! Two family birthdays, anniversary, Christmas, New Years Eve, tons of parties and book club!
Greg planned a weekend in Ft. Worth for our anniversary! Of course, it was a really wet and cold weekend, and we had to have our brakes fixed the day we were to leavc. So, after waiting for our car and finally deciding to take Larry and Joy's van we sat in horrible traffic for almost 2 hours! Once we got there we checked into our wonderful hotel suite and changed to go out to Sundance Square and walk until we found a place to eat. Well, since I like the cold so... much we didn't walk far and I said just pick a warm place to eat. While we were waiting at a red light to walk to the restaurant, we looked up and we were caught up in the middle of a Santa's Helper Toy Drive. Troy Dungan from Channel 8 was standing next to me and looked over and said Hey, how are you doing? At that moment I realized where we were standing and that cars were pulling up and everyone around us was reaching into the cars and pulling out toys! So, we moved down the street a bit and crossed. After a good dinner at Risky's Bar B Que we headed back out and now it was raining. Of course, I forgot the umbrella so we walked very fast one block south and one block east and stopped at the biggest Barnes and Noble I have ever seen. After some nice hot chocolate we braved the cold rain again and headed back to the hotel room. The room was very large and truly romantic and we both enjoyed each other's company with no little voices calling for us or little feet jumping into bed with us. 
With Christmas upon us I usually scrapbook my kids likes and dislikes at this time in their lives. I thought I would blog them this year.
Greg and I decided to make it a special night for the kids. First we went and got our number to see Santa. (They were on around 200 and we were number 260 something) So we then headed to Maggianos for dinner. The kids were so impressed with the "fancy" dinner. They were so well behaved. They used all the correct manners and Connor didn't even throw one piece of food! All my friends know that Maggianos is my very favorite special place to eat and it was really fun to share it with my kids.
After walking the mall, shopping, and seeing a crazy singing group who scared me a little bit, we headed to wait in line to see Santa. Connor entertained himself on Greg's head! The other two just watched everyone else get pictures taken. After about 4 hours of being at North Park it was finally our turn. Again, well worth the wait. I am not a patient person and Greg is definitely not patient, but we always agree that these are such good pictures that we don't mind to wait.
Again this year all three were perfect. Connor wasn't the least bit hesitant and the other two couldn't wait to tell Santa exactly what they want. I just love the traditions of Christmas and hope to pass them on to my 3 special kids. Bailey is already a lot like mommy. She stayed on Daddy to get the lights up early this year. I never had to say a word she got him to get them up the first weekend of December! And he added some to a front window along with outlining the whole house. So, I guess you could say the French House is ready for the Holidays.
The last day of school before Thanksgiving is the Turkey Trot at the kids school. They were also having an Olympic Gold Medalist come to talk and to hand out the ribbons. Connor, Mimi and I went up for the talk that Gold Medalist, Bob Beamon gave that morning. An hour later Connor, Daddy and I went back to watch Jack run his mile. He did really well. He started out really fast. You know what comes next, he started out too fast and lost his energy by the back stretch. He still came in 12th out of all 2nd grade. This mommy was cheering really loudly. Someday that might embarrass him, but this day he was thrilled! After Connor, mommy and daddy caught a quick lunch, we headed back up to watch Bailey run her mile. I wasn't so sure what to expect out of Bailey. She has not always enjoyed physical things. She gets really tired after two quarters of a soccer game, so I really expected her to walk! She started out how I wanted Jack to start out. She had the most elegant, smooth run, at an awesome pace. Surprisingly, at the back stretch, Bailey hadn't walked yet. Her pace was still smooth and she didn't really look tired. On the last turn she thought about stopping and her sweet teacher ran up beside her and encouraged her and she didn't stop. She came in 15th out of all Kindergarten! Honestly I would never have expected Bailey to do as well as her rather athletic brother, but she took me completely by surprise. Way to go Bailey!
The grounds were beautiful and very clean!
We met many, many fun characters. Buzz was one of Jacks' favorites when he was younger.
Both Jack and Bailey were chosen for Jedi Training Camp! It was so fun to watch them fight Darth Vader and Darth Mal.
The highlight for Bailey was getting to meet all the Princesses.
There is also a Russian Submarine docked by the Queen Mary. Both were just a few blocks from our Corporate Apartment. The pier and boardwalk were really fun!
Our time in Hollywood and Beverly Hills was the most fun for me, not so much for the kids.
I wanted to take the kids to see the footprints and hand prints at Graumans Chinese Theatre. Well, we couldn't get to the prints because they were having a movie premiere. We actually stood behind the barricade across from the red carpet. The premiere was "Fred Claus" I love Vince Vaughn and actually got to see him up close. This picture below is of Paul Giamati, who plays Santa in the movie.
After the premiere was over we walked Hollywood Blvd. and then drove Sunset Strip and Rodeo drive. After a rough start this day ended up being a great day for all of us.
Our family trip to LA (minus Connor) started out bumpy!
Here is the bunch! Emma (Hula Girl), Bailey (Laura Ingalls), Jack (Dirk!!!), Brooke (Beautiful Ballerina) and Connor (Lion). What a cute crew!
After shoving food down us, and playing a few games and riding one slide we were off to Jack (I mean Dirk's) baseball playoffs.
All afternoon we played in the backyard. Our "cheap" pool has already gotten a hole in it so we just squirted the hose and ran around. Jack and Bailey made a "water slide" out of Connor's little slide by putting the hose at the top and then sliding down it.
Connor was a little devil all afternoon. He loved to grab the hose and squirted us. He and Jack fought for it and Connor won! He chased us around and got us really wet. He really loved squirting Jack and Bailey while they jumped on the trampoline.
After a really busy day I had all three in bed by 7:30 and it was really quiet around here!
Connor could not stand to watch the pictures and had to push in between his big brother and sister for a picture. He actually starts Sunshine School next Thursday and he will have so much fun with his little friends in Mrs. Leslie's Class.
Jack did not want me to take his picture with his new teacher! He wasn't crying or complaining but he just acted like he didn't care. It made mommy sad because he seemed so sad. But, knowing Jack he is already the life of the party and has made tons of friends! My adorable 2nd grader is growing up so fast. He is smart, funny and happy almost all the time. His teacher is Ms. Bradley and she seems really nice.
Bailey was thrilled and couldn't wait to get to class. She loves her teacher already and didn't shed a tear. I am happy to say I didn't shed a tear until I drove away! Her Kindergarten teacher is Mrs. Lehner. She is newly married and very cute. It was an easy transition for her, but I am sure that next week it will hit her and she will be asking if she has to go to school today! Bailey constantly amazes me, she is reading and writing tons. She loves school and being "bossy".
Connor loved being outside and didn't want to come in for nap time! He followed me around while I hosed down all the outside play toys and ran in front of me so he could get sprayed. He was soaked in a matter of minutes.
The older two love to pretend in the backyard. I think yesterday they were pirates or something and were trying to build a fire on top of the Little Tykes playhouse. It is plastic so I was glad they were there and not on the wooden swing set building a fire!
Elements-Shabby Citrus @ The Shabby Shoppe
