December fun

Merry Christmas! We hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Sara Kate was so much fun this year. She loved all the gifts that Santa brought for her. Her favorite thing was the giant Kitty. She absolutely loves it. The expression on her face when she saw it was priceless. Now I understand why my parents always got so much joy out of seeing us open up our presents. Eric and I just sat back and watched her run from toy to toy, not quite sure what to play with first. This has definitely been the most fun Christmas so far.
We had a lot of fun things going on this month including Sara Kate's Christmas party at school, breakfast with Santa that our neighborhood does every year, Kindermusik Christmas party, programs at church, and a trip to Sea World. We've stayed pretty busy which is good b/c this time of year is always so sad when you're away from family. We're very thankful though for the friends that we have out here. God truly blessed us with good friends who are in the same boat we are, away from family.
December is such a fun month and we've enjoyed it so much. Sara Kate loves the Christmas tree and loves to pose by it, that's why she is standing by it in all three of the pics. for our Christmas card. Whatever works! She loves to ride around and look at Christmas lights too, we've done that a couple of times through our neighborhood. We wish that we could've been home this year for Christmas but we are there in spirit! :)
Enjoy the pics! I just realized that the pictures are in order from the bottom to the top. :)

Our neighbor Leia had a bunch of our neighbors over for Christmas dinner. We're all away from family so it was nice to get together and eat too much food!
Leia, our hostess, me, Kathy & Rachel
SK and Naomi
We knew it wouldn't be long before those two took off upstairs!

Trying to see if they could spot Santa

Christmas morning, note that I put the piano together all by myself!
Her favorite Christmas present, BIG Kitty
Big kisses for big Kitty

Trying out some of her new toys

Her first Cabbage Patch Kid
taking her new dog for a walk, maybe this one will mind better than Abby!
Back to her true love, Big Kitty
She threw all the new babies to the side to make room for B.K. :)

going for a stroll with her new baby carriage

me & my precious baby girl after Christmas Eve service
Naomi going for SK's lolly pop

Abby playing with her deer
Weee!
silly girl
this was the first time that Abby would ride with Sara Kate in the wagon. SK loved it!

Sara Kate and her friend Bailey at their school Christmas party. Bailey's mom, Amanda, and I met when we were in the same bible study at church and we were pregnant with them. She was one of the first girls I met when we moved here. Now our girls are in the same Mother's Morning Out program.

Bailey, Mrs. Jen, their teacher, & SK
Eating some yummy snacks and listening to Christmas music
decorating their sugar cookies

Rachel, Naomi, Daniel, Nathan, Ginny & SK at a show at Sea World. It was very windy that day
Sara Kate did great during all the shows, she had a blast!
story time at Kindermusik
Dancing with her friends Jack, Naomi, & Peyton. The guy in the picture is Bill Taylor, our weather man for San Antonio. His little girl takes the class with SK.

Naomi & Sara Kate at the breakfast with Santa
Santa called each child up to get a present and take a picture...
this is how Sara Kate's turned out! I ended up having to sit on Santa's knee.

artwork from church, I thought it was so cute. I love her little hands and foot print.
having fun at playgroup at Loretta's
going for a stroll to look at Christmas decorations

Silly girl
trying to catch bubbles, one of her favorite activities!
having fun with Ginny on Ginny's birthday

posing by the tree

on our way to church one morning
re-arranging the ornaments, something she does daily

Reading one of her favorite Christmas books, "I Want a Dog for Christmas Charlie Brown". I've never actually made it through the whole book, she takes it from me and "reads" it herself! :)
Thank you Jesus for our sweet baby girl!!