The Polar Express - Take 2!

O.K...so I came up with a SUPER GREAT idea we should get all the kids in Bryan's family matching PJs for the Bennett Polar Express Ride. I first approached Uncle Brandy about the idea, and he was pretty enthusiastic! I was surprised, so I hinted at the idea to Bryan, and since Brandy was in, so was Bryan!

I got to order everyone these adorable Hanna Anderson PJs and they looked so cute on everyone! The boys wore green and and the girls wore red. Although horizontal stripes are not supposed to good for the body image, I thought they turned out super cute!




Annabelle's cousins, Harrison and Ella, went with us, and everyone had a BALL! Annabelle absolutely adores her cousins. We talk about going to see them nearly everyday. They are the sweetest kids and they have a great time when we are all together. Ella is only 6 months younger than Annabelle, so they bond really quickly!

Here is the crew in their PJs. Thanks, everyone, for going with my idea and looking super cute. We did have quite a few people staring at us and pointing. Oh well, I bet they wish they had

thought of that idea! Hee. Hee!

Capturing Belle

My life long friend and college roommate, Christiane, started a new photography business. She was so sweet and took some REALLY great shots of Belle! Christiane is one of the most patient people I have ever met. She is so kind and tender-hearted. She takes so much joy in the little things in life and I am so blessed to have her as a friend.

I was amazed at how well these turned out. She captured some of Annabelle's little faces, that I know I will too soon forget. I am so glad I have these memories now on film. I didn't include all the pictures, but you should check out her website and see some pictures of all her subjects. If you need your picture taken, I would definitely recommend her.

Her website is: www.christianewheatleyphotography.com

Scary Santa!

Annabelle LOVES the idea of Santa Claus and she loves movies about Santa. She loves The Grinch and The Polar Express, but when she is face to face with Santa, I would definitely say she is not pleased.

Of course, we have taught our children to "stay close to mommy", and "don't talk to strangers", and to "be careful, because there are lots of people around". Yet, we push our children to go to a man dressed in totally different clothing that anyone else and to sit on his lap, without a proper introduction, and then mommy steps away to get that "perfect picture". No wonder children are so confused! Annabelle is definitely not an exception...she is terrified of Santa!

The first picture is of her picture with Santa in 2007, and the next picture is this year's 2008 picture. She has the same expression on her face as the previous year...and so

does Santa. I think Santa is thinking, "get this screaming kid off my lap!". I don't blame him. Oh well, these are hilarious and I will cherish them FOREVER. Definitely scrapbook worthy pictures! Thanks for making me laugh, Annabelle!

The Polar Express...Take 1

This year, Lubbock was so lucky to have obtained the privilege of hosting the Warner Bros. Polar Express Ride. Immediately when Bryan and I heard about The West Texas Polar Express ride, we knew we had to go. Bryan and I suggested having the office's Christmas Party as the Polar Express Ride and all partners agreed. What a lucky office we are...we have the nicest bosses!

Here are some pictures of our adventure. We had a BLAST!!!! I dressed Annabelle up in some Hanna Anderson Christmas PJs, and she looked darling. She was sporting her Elmo house shoes too!

The train ride was really fun and the company was great! My parents got to ride with us, since it was an office party, so there are a few pictures of them too!

Our office definitely dominated the upper level of Car 2. The kids from the office lead the Christmas carols and Annabelle and I knew one of the chefs, so she took special care of Annabelle. We will definitely make this an annual event for our family!!!

Just some funny pics

Annabelle is pretty good about me getting ready on the mornings I don't work. I usually try and wake up about 30 before her so I can at least have most things done before she wakes up. This past Saturday, I must have taken WAY too long to get ready, because grabbed her Dora chair and "popped a squat" in our shower. Kids do the funniest things. I thought she was hilarious. She ended up staying in the shower for a long time. We ended up playing like she owned a store and she would slide the shower door open and ask what I wanted to eat. We had so much fun...even though she was out of pizza and cheese for hamburgers! Hee. Hee.

Annabelle is obsessed with Trains. This one was at the Science Spectrum.



















Love the "dog ears".

Even BIG girls get so tired they fall asleep on their daddies! Too sweet!

Cash Bennett's Obituary

Cash Bennett 6/11/03 - 11/21/08


Cash, you were the sweetest boxer I have ever known. You brought so much love and joy to our family. From the moment we brought you home from Seagraves, Texas to the day you were sent home to Heaven, we loved you. I remember how you would get so excited to see anyone. You would actually make your body form a C-shape around the persons' legs and shake your bottom so much, we just knew it would come off one day! I love how you would cock your head one way and give us the most adorable "what are you doing" look. I loved how you would want to get so close to me, that you would step on my feet. I love how soft your ears were. I would always kiss them and rub them between my fingers. I loved how soft the fur on your chest was. It always felt silky, no matter how dirty you were. I loved giving you warm baths in the bathtub, because you cried if I gave you a cold bath from the water hose outside. You brought love and joy to us, Cash. I am SO thankful that you were able to come back home and we were able to spend 10 days with you. I know that you were so happy to be home with us, and we were so happy to have you with us. Thank you for being so kind and gentle to Annabelle. From the time I was pregnant to the present, you always considered Annabelle your own baby. Even if Annabelle hit you, you gently accepted this and turned the other way. Thank you so much for being such a wonderful member of the family. We will always greatly miss you. Words cannot express how much I loved you! We love you, Cash.

Cookies Anyone?

I'm a member of a little playgroup that gets together pretty often, but we miss quite a bit since I work part-time and sometimes our nap schedule gets in the way of a few opportunities. Anyways, we had playgroup at our house, which obviously we couldn't miss, and Annabelle and I decided we would decorate cookies. Let me tell you...it was fun, but complete chaos!!! WOW!!! I think that nearly everyone from the playgroup showed up, so that means there were about 25 people, including children from ages newborn to 4 years old, at our house. We loved every second of it, but I think everyone was tired as they loaded into their cars.














Weston and Halley came over after work and it was much calmer then. Annabelle and Weston ate the remaining frosting and had a ball (love the orange teeth). Those two are funny! They get along great, which makes it so nice for me and Heather. They could play together for hours.

Annabelle was also obsessed with baby Halley. She kept asking if she could hold her. As you can see, Annabelle fell in complete love with Halley (although I am thinking that Halley didn't have the "love at first sight" feeling)! Hee. Hee. I think if Annabelle had her way, a baby brother or sister would be in the making. Too bad Daddy says we are "one and done". Boo! I would LOVE to have another one. Annabelle has been such a joy to be around.

Good ole Cash!

This is our so sweet boxer, Cash. Bryan and I got her in 2003, so she is 5 1/2 years old. We love this dog, although we don't spend as much time with her as we did before Annabelle was born.

Annabelle LOVES Cash. She hugs on her and talks to her, and always wants to let her inside to play.

Cash woke up one morning about two weeks ago and wouldn't walk. Bryan and I took her to the vet and he has said that he doesn't know what is wrong with Cash. He thinks it is some neurological problem. Cash spent 10 days with the vet and we brought her home yesterday. I can't lose this dog. I love her so much, and Annabelle loves her more. If you think about it, say a little prayer that Cash will feel better. She is on pain medicenes twice a day and antibiotics as well. She is walking, but her back legs are weak.

I'm trying to fatten her up right now. She lost 8 pounds after being with the doctor 10 days. Here's to hot dogs, bologne and hamburgers. The doctor said we will re-evaluate her in two to three weeks and see if there has been improvement. Thanks for your prayers, she is definitely part of the family.

Trick or Treat!

We had so much fun this year with Halloween. There were so many fun Halloween parties that we attended...we really had a great time. Annabelle is like me, she LOVES to socialize, so we tried to go to everything. Annabelle was a trooper and had so much fun dressing up and meeting other children.

Annabelle's actual Halloween costume was this mermaid costume (and yes...it was made in the USA and did not have a sticker on it that said "this product contains a chemical known in the state of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm". You remember that fiasco.) She LOVED being a mermaid and dressed up several times for friends and family that came over (she is like me in that way too, she is a performer).

Lucky for us, Halloween was really pretty this year, so it wasn't too chilly. We had a ball with Annabelle trick-or-treating at family and friends homes. She loved saying "Halloween, Halloween, trick-or-treat. Our costumes can't be beat!" from the Dora Halloween episode. Her Bop told her she was a beautiful mermaid, and Annabelle said, "Bop, I'm not really a mermaid. I'm Annabelle!" Too funny!