Toot 2 a Happy New Year 2016!

2016 will be a year of great adventures!
But before we end an amazing year, I wanted to thank the sweet friends for wonderful celebrations for our final days of 2015.

On NYE we gathered for dinner with two sweet couples from our ABF, the Ogles and the Hanks'. I loved watching the sweet babes play together as we wrapped up 2015 and celebrated the upcoming year. With sweet friends, sweet treats, adorable babes, and an early NYE (counted down NYE at 7PM), we had a wonderful evening of celebration and fun.

When we returned home, I put the babe in bed and enjoyed a glass of sparkling grape juice. Ray and I rang in the New Year together but I quickly faded after midnight. Just so happy and thankful for our year together. It definitely had its ups, its downs, and everywhere in between. I'm reminded and humbled for the memories made and those to come in this brand new year.

The next day, we met with our college crew for a New Years Day celebration and play date. Thank you to our Fant friends for hosting our afternoon together. It was filled with a delicious lunch, play date, Bean Boozled Christmas gift card exchange, and time spent together with sweet friends who are more like family. While the kids played, the adults gathered for a great afternoon of conversation and bean boozled fun! From jelly beans that had the ability to taste like skunk smell, toothpaste, grass clippings, barf, and more, this game surely held a lot of fun and some pretty sour faces. This may have been the best gift exchange yet!

Thank you to our sweet friends and to our final days of 2015. We are so thankful for the sweet memories made with great friends and littles. I look forward to seeing what next year will hold for these great groups.

Auby, my HEART!

 {"Mommy, I silly!" Morning play before school}

This silly, little munchkin has my heart. From shy to loud, to cuddly to running around the room shouting, "I got my mama and daddy" while giving Mattie the sweetest little hugs, you are a constant source of entertainment. This winter break, while mommy struggled a bit with baby boy, I have to say my time spent with the hubby and little was so memorable and fun. While daddy was at work, mommy and Auby enjoyed some fun time together. I definitely want to capture these little moments just the two of us before our new adventure begins in just a few short months.

 While on Christmas break, Auby and I enjoyed a mommy and me play date at Play Street Museum. While it was a bit on the full side and we did have to wait half an hour before entering the play area, it was so worth it. I loved Aubrey calling my name as she made me a yummy hot sauce ice cream sundae without cherries in the dinner, drive the Frisco school bus, had me help her get a pup ready for walking, and played with letters in the school house. It was fun to watch her speed past all the stores with her grocery cart that was full of wooden pickle jars and wooden fruit. I love her sweet little independence and huge smile on her face. Plus after a Subway lunch and a quick cup of milk, you were out like a light and so was mommy.

 These little hands I could truly hold for a lifetime. 

"I love you for always. My baby you'll be."

To my little girl. Thank you for making me a mama. For showing me that the simplest of moments can be the best. That life can never be boring spent along side you. You make each day magical. And while being a parent has its challenges and struggles as does being a toddler, I couldn't be more thankful for you!

Our Winter Waldrup Wonderland: Christmas 2015

This holiday season, we enjoyed a Waldrup Wonderland. While our trip was a bit short and a bit muggy with our 75 degree holiday, it was so special to spend quality time with my family and extended family. From lunch trips, family photo shoots, Christmas Eve movies, play dough fun, a good green dinosaur play date, princess play, and relaxed family fun with holiday traditions, I truly cherish the wonderful memories made this Christmas. This Christmas I truly learned about love, grace, and the true reason for the season. We are so blessed!

On Christmas Eve we made our way for a very special lunch trip. We met my Aunt, Uncles, and cousin at Larry's Mexican Food Restaurant. While we missed a few of our my family loves this Christmas visit, we were so thankful to see who we could and look forward to the next time we are all together again.

{Oma & Aubrey}

{We celebrated a very belated birthday for my Aunt Erlene}

{Sister Sister}

{Aunt Erlene, Uncle Don, Chris}

{Oma, Aunt Erlene, & Uncle Bruce}

After a delicious lunch, Auby took a nap, and the boys made their way out to Willies for an afternoon drink and afternoon hang out. I am so thankful Ray had an opportunity to spend time with my brother and cousin. It also gave me time to spend with my mom and dad. Once they returned and little miss woke up from her nap, it was time for a play-dough competition. From velociraptors, race cars, and cowboy snowmen, my family can make some pretty legitimate play-dough creations. I do love this adorable little moment where my mom became a play-dough clown. Silly Oma.

We said our good nights as wen prepared for Santa's arrival.

Merry Christmas in our Waldrup Wonderland.
Aubrey let us sleep in Christmas morning which truly was a great gift. After our morning breakfast and a mug of hot wassle, we began to open stockings.

{Chris, Oma, Opa, Ray, Alicia, Aubrey, & Liam Stockings}

{Bubba helped Aubrey look through her stocking.} 

Aubrey was my brother's little shadow this trip.

{She loved that her stocking adorned Olaf, her happy snowman.}

{Bubba, Aubrey, & Ray}

{Star Wars M&M Candy/Fans}

{Bubba, Aubrey, Ray, & Alicia}

{"I could not agree more!" said the pregnant chick}

{Oma & Opa on Christmas morning}

This year was so fun to watch Aubrey look through her stocking and open her presents. She loved tearing the paper and finding what treat was inside. Another special little moment was seeing Liam's stocking filled with goodies. It will be so amazing to see what another year will look like for our growing little family.

{Liam's stocking}

{Liam's stocking goodies- I surely loved this little helicopter onesie}

{A special ornament for our baby boy!}

{Bubba's gift to our little cowgirl}

  {Aubrey helps daddy open his gift}

{Aubrey's new shoes}

{Opening up gifts with Mommy}

{Love my little mini. Oh how she loved her necklaces and bracelets.}

While I missed her original reaction in a photo, she was in LOVE with her green dinosaur, Arlo. She carried him around everywhere.

{Aubrey took Arlo to see Opa}

{She even laid down on her new Olaf mat for a pretend nap.}

{Liam received some adorable little onesies. From dinosaurs, our little hero firetrucks, and a little brother onesie, this little boy sure is loved. }

{Talkie Talkies from Bubba}

One of our longest Waldrup family traditions is having a scratch off in our stockings. Ray was our $5.00 winner this year. Love his handsome smile!

While we did not receive any money, my lucky charm and I surely were winners this Christmas season!

{Bubble Fun}

After presents and our Christmas lunch, it was time for a family photo shoot.

{Ray, Chris, Opa, Alicia, Oma, & Aubrey}

{Oma & Opa with Aubrey}

{Bubba & his niece}

{My beautiful family of four}

{Aubrey and her Arlo}

{Reading stories with Bubba & her Arlo}

Thank you to my amazing family. We are so thankful for this Christmas season and for the memories made! You are a true blessing to our family and we look forward for all that is to come in the New Year!

Our Merry Christmas of Three!

Aubrey sure did Make our Spirits Bright this Christmas season. Before our travels back to Sugar Land, we wanted to do our own little family of three Christmas at home. 

I absolutely adore these handcrafted stockings by my mom. Each one is so very special and I'm very thankful that we will have these for many years to come. It was also so very special to hang little Liam's stocking this year and fill it with goodies for him. Within only a few short months he will be joining our little family and growing it to four.

 {Family Stockings}

Daddy helped Aubrey unwrap her stocking. She kept saying "I stuck" but then would quickly pull a new goodie from the bottom.

Inside her stocking held hair bands, glow toys, Christmas socks, stickers, bracelets, window clings, and of course her favorite snowman next to "the Grumpy snowman" was Olaf.

 {Auby's new boots}

 {A new Nemo plate}

 {Aubrey's new Elsa dress & shoes}
 

From new clothes, shoes, princess dress up, balls, books, toys, & a tent, our little love enjoyed her new little Christmas goodies.

 {Mommy loved opening her new rain boots}

 {Santa brought Auby a new play tee-pee tent}

 {A few little polos for Liam}

 {Ray's Death Before Decaf Starbucks mug} Thank you Fantsy Designs:)

Ray is so excited about his upcoming Segway tour of Downtown Dallas.

We surely had a month of holly jolly holiday fun with the family. It was a special evening of Christmas celebration for our sweet family of three. I'm thankful for this time at home with my loves. I look forward to a fantastic Christmas season with extended family in Sugar Land. Sending love and Christmas wishes to all near and far.