She sat with him!!!

This year I was determined to get Miss H to sit with Santa on her own…and happy!  Mostly because I didn't want my fat prego self stuck in all these Santa pics :-)  Well our first attempt was pretty good.  Yes, I am a crazy momma and we do drive bys for Santa starting on Black Friday!  We always go see Santa while in MN because he honestly is the best Santa in the world! I am just sad he is our first one because I would love a pic of her with him…but at that point she isn't ready.  Santa there is so cool and hip I mean he wears crocs for goodness sake.  He is very friend and always starts our Santa month off great.  After him every single time we are at the mall NO MATTER what…I tell Miss H we will go talk with Santa.  

She always walks up with great intent to sit but then ends up just standing beside him.  No problem there at least she is close to him.  Our goal is to get him on her lap by the time Santa comes to Chris' work!  Chris' company is amazing and host a kids Christmas party every year.  Santa comes and brings the kiddos a gift!  This Santa is wonderful too and we love him.  So after about 2 1/2 weeks of drive bys and chatting about Santa and how sweet he is and siting on his lap is okay we are ready for the party! 

December 9th marked the best day ever!!  Christmas could be over as far as I am concerned because we got a picture with Miss H and Santa!  Yes she was on Mrs. Clause's lap but she was there and happy!! She was so proud of her self for sitting with them.  She was also super excited about the Little People airplane he brought her!  

After that successful Santa picture we had one more event with Santa.  Of course this time I was unsure if Mrs. Clause would be there so I warned her she would have to sit with Santa!!  Our sweet friends always invite us to this wonderful charity even for NICU kiddos!!  We had another successful Santa pic there too…Now the unsuccessful part was getting 3 2 year old's on Santa's lap!  But man did we get some classic Santa DISLIKE pics! 

well they were all on his lap…kind of and then!!!!

Regardless of the Santa picture issues there the kids had a blast.  They get to decorate cookies, dance their hearts out, and see Prancer.  Miss H loved it and would have stayed all day if we let her.  

Washington D.C.

(this is a long post with tons of pics, just so you are warned)

As you can remember from a few post back…since I have not been a fast blogger these past few weeks! Chris was awarded Centurion and thanks to that he won a trip from AXA!  Whoo Whoo!!  Sadly since Chris is a manager they have not had any opportunities to win trips, but thankfully this past year there was one!!  Washington DC was this trip and well I have never been to DC.  I know right everyone's 5th grade or 8th grade class takes a trip there it seems like.  Well I chose Spain when I go the choice and now I am getting DC.  Chris and I have been planning this trip for at least 3 months!  When we go the news that he won it my sister was quick to ask for Miss H!!  I am so thankful she loves our little girl so much…okay that all of her clan does!  Plus Chris and I have only left her once back last February!  Then she was 13 months and didn't really understand we left her.  This time she did, we have been talking about it for about a month.  I would tell her that she was going to Queen Tia's (my sister) and getting to stay with her cousins while mommy and daddy went on a trip.  At first she would ask to come but after our spring break fun she stopped asking.  I guess she realized they were more fun than Chris and I ha ha

Regardless I am thankful she was so excited to go to Queen Tia's.  The morning I drove her down she wanted to leave much early than planned.   Once we got to my sisters she said, "Okay mommy go bye bye now…" I was hurt but happy all at once.  I stayed the night and left the next day where I had to force a hug out of her because she was so busy playing!  Again so happy she was so comfortable and happy to be with her cousins!!  Also very grateful that my sister who has 3 kids 10 yrs, 6 yrs, and 19 months…oh and prego with number 4 didn't mind adding one to her clan for 6 days!!

Chris and I had an early flight on Wednesday and let me tell you how nice it is to travel solo no baby!  Not that I mind the whole security and such as I do the plane part!!  Let me say this first Miss H is an amazing traveler and I wouldn't trade her in for anything.  However, it was so nice to just walk on the plane, sit down, read my magazines uninterrupted…and sleep if I wanted too!  I was so excited just for that part of the trip.  It's the little things that make me happy :-) I also was excited about eating a meal without making or cutting up someone else's first, and sleeping in!! AHH  What excitement!

Just kidding I was totally excited about many things in DC those other are the no kid excitements!!  We began our first day by just walking around the area…we walked up to the White House and checked out a few places around it. Just kind of got situated with everything and where it was.

 Did I mention we are still doing Flat Stanley!! He came to DC with us too of course. 

Thursday Chris had a meeting in the morning where he got his medal for his award.  He also got to take his picture with the CEO of AXA!!  I will get a copy and post it.  While he worked I slept in and relaxed.  I also planned out a few things I wanted to see.  Once he came back we took off for the White House and National Mall area!!  We walked all the way around Washington DC that day.  Enjoyed the Lincoln Memorial, the reflecting pool, the Smithsonian, the Archives and much more!! Actually looking back I am pretty impressed with what all we accomplished in our day!

After he got his award!! 

 one of the many guard dogs outside of the White House

 in the oval office of course…

 We couldn't get much closer because they were cleaning and repairing cracks…bummer

 Chris was talking to his dad in Minnesota when I took this pic. lol

I was a little sad that the weather was not better for the Cherry Blossom trees!!  Normally at this time they are all blooming, but only a few had bloomed!  Again a double edge sword here…I wanted amazing pictures of them all, but I didn't want the allergies that would have come from them!   A few things I wish I would have researched sooner for our trip..planning tours of the White House and treasury.  Both require advance (6 month for white house, 1 month for treasurey) written request through your local congress person!!  We didn't even have an approved trip 6 months out, boo to that!  Other than that Washington DC was amazing.

This one is for H of course

 The Board Room where we stopped a few times for drinks…and play a few random board games! 

Friday we relaxed a little more since we walked so much the 2 days before!  Plus we had a formal awards dinner that night.  We took the Metro and checked out a few other sites.  I wish we would have had time to see Mount Vernon, save that for the next trip.

Not only are the museums amazing but the buildings there are unbelievable.  I have never seen such massive beautiful buildings.  I think Chris and I both walked around looking up because they are so amazing! A few would remind us of our Boston trip a year ago…If you haven't been to DC I think you should swing by.  It has so much to offer for everyone…there were times I was sad Miss H was not there to see it!  But then I realized she really needs to be a little older plus its another reason to come back.  Chris loved that almost every thing is free to visit too!! Apparently even the Zoo there is free, Miss H would have definitely been there.

After an amazing trip we managed to get home and unpack.  Then went and go our sweet baby girl today!!  I was so excited to see her.  She was adorable and looked at me and said Mommy I come back!!  Then told us all about the great fun she had with Queen Tia and crew!  Of course you know what is happening here now…Queen Tia DETOX!!  But I will take that after all I am pretty sure my sister has had to deal with Auntie Detox a time or two :-)

AXA Awards

Chris' company holds an award banquet every year.  They also like to rotate the location through out Texas for all the branches.  This year his banquet was in Houston…the second best location for us.  Of course here in the DFW would have been most ideal, but Houston is great for us too.  Why??  My sister!!! She lives about an hour outside of Houston and didn't mind taking on an extra little one for the weekend.

Miss H was super excited about going to Queen Tia's and Uncle B's.  She loves them so much and it makes my heart happy.  I know when she is playing with her 3 cousins (soon to be 4) she doesn't miss Chris or I one bit!  Of course I wanted to spend time with my sister and crew too..so Miss H and I took off on Wednesday night to see them.  This way I got to spend Thursday and Friday with everyone.  Plus it helps Miss H to get settled in…oh and we too Winston!! Yikes  I don't mind the drive to my sisters with just H, but when you add the dog it is a mess.  He doesn't do cars at all, as in I have to drug him!  Then every time we stop he has to get out blah blah blah…making our drive a little longer than need be.

Come Saturday Miss H could have cared less that I left her!!  She was playing too hard with baby G (he is 7 months younger, its great having a cousin so close in age).  Those two were causing havoc on the world around them.  I took off and met up with Chris at our hotel.  Once we go to the hotel we just kicked back and enjoyed silence…ahh

We did a little walking around the galleria area!  It was nice to just walk, chat, and not have to stop and help Miss H every so often. It was like the good old days!  Minus our trip to Vegas when H was 13 months we haven't been away from her.  That trip was rough too because it was our first time away from her and she had just been so sick…I digress  Chris and I both even snuck in a little mid day nap without a baby to lay down or work around, pure bliss

That evening we got all dolled up and headed down to the banquet room.  Chris' company always does a great job with this event.  There is a cocktail hour with open bar and yummy appetizers which we enjoyed.  Then we go in find our table eat a nice meal.  Once the dinner is over the awards begin.  I love watching everyone get their awards…some you see every year and some are new!

This year has been a wonderful year for Chris.  I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am of him.  He has worked countless hours for himself and our family.  He always sets remarkable goals…and manages to achieve them.  This year was no different he was award an amazing award.  Chris made Centurion which is such a task.  I was so proud to watch him walk up and accept his award!

After the banquet everyone headed out to the hotel bar.  We all just sat mingled and carried on.  Actually Chris and I were very impressed that we stayed up so late.  I think we both planned to head up to bed after the banquet…but then stayed out till 1:30….AHH Party animals!

I told Chris at the beginning of this I just wanted to sleep in if nothing else, and I did just that!  I got to sleep till 8:45 which was amazing.  I know that doesn't seem late to everyone but for me it was good enough.  That extra hour, hour and a half is like heave.  We then enjoy brunch with friends.  After our brunch I had to head back to see Miss H and Chris had another meeting there in Houston.

I am so thankful I have a great sister who took on my sweet baby plus her own three.  Miss H had a blast told me all about it.  Of course they spoiled her rotten, but no biggie I will repay the favor when we watch Baby G in April.  After all Aunties are the best at spoiling…or as Miss H would say Tia and Uncle B are fun!