Who's Missing?

Who's missing from this post?? Those camera shy Bend family members need to start jumping into pictures. It's hard for me to remember to take pictures at every family get together, so start getting in there! : ) Here are my two favorite pictures from our most recent trip to Bend.

The first one of Mimi and Lennon, because I can rarely get them in a picture together (usually because Mimi is also manning her camera to capture the moment for her picture collection). Here Mimi is explaining to Lennon the all important Luiz tradition of hanging Hallmark holiday ornaments on the tree and the proper way to "look gently" at them. I gave my mom full warning that anything within Lennon's reach on the tree may never see another Christmas, but she assured me that Lennon would surely listen to her Mimi. I have to say that Lennon was very gentle with all of Mimi's ornaments.....up until our last night visiting. R.I.P. Sugar Plum Fairy.

The last picture is just too cute to not post (at least I think so!). Uncle Aiden is always such a trooper when Lennon comes to visit. The poor guy thought he was getting it easy having a big sister 15 years older than him. Little did he know that nieces can torment you just as well, if not better, than siblings. Lennon loves to order and wrestle her Uncle into submission and on this trip she could not have her bath without her Aiden. Of course, ever the loving/doting Uncle, he humored her and jumped in----on one condition, he had to wear his swim trunks. So here they are showing off their muscles to one another.

Ringing in the New Year

Well it took my a bit longer than I would've liked (you can thank food poisoning for that), but here is our first update of the NEW YEAR!
The three of us headed on down to Bend to finish off the 2009 Holiday Season and celebrate Mimi's 50th Birthday. What a trip it was!

Lennon got to experience her very first snow. The long 3 hour car trip to Bend certainly built enough pent-up energy. As soon as we opened the truck door and unbuckled her car seat she was off and running into Gamma and Papa's frosted lawn. If Josh and I had known better we would have given her the all-important "Yellow and Brown Snow Lesson", because the first thing she did was promptly gather snow and shove it into her mouth. Here's hoping she caught some good mountain antibodies to get us through the rest of this cold/flu season. Unfortunately, that was her only experience with snow this trip. The next morning it had all but melted away and by our third day in Bend the snow was completely gone. Good thing we made the trek to Target for a snow bib and snow proof mittens...
After unpacking and unloading the truck at Gamma and Papa's house we hurried off to open presents at Mimi and Baba's house before the big birthday bash. Lennon made sure to pack appropriate party clothing--as you can see she chose to wear her orange tu-tu. Lennon could hardly believe Santa remembered to bring her gifts at Mimi and Baba's house (he sure over did it this year!). Every gift was ripped open with a "Yay!" or "Awesome!" and then celebrated with a dance. Thanks to all the little elves who made her 3rd Christmas
gift opening a memorable one! I don't know how we got the truck packed up so well.

Lennon then wiggled and giggled the night away at Mimi's Birthday Party. I think Mimi's guests really got a kick out of seeing our little munchkin order the big kids around while toting her new "baby" Reese. I have to give a huge thank you to Gabby Foote, a second grade party go-er, who took on the daunting task of babysitting our little Beastie, so Josh and I could try to have some adult social time. She did a fabulous job and is welcome at our house anytime!

The three of us partied our pants off till 10:30pm!!