Just Dance.

Jace and Lexa received musical cards in the mail from Rita. They spent the next several hours dancing.

Mommy is not joking. Lexa even threw up because of all the shimmying she did after eating.

He*l May Have Frozen Over

If you are curious as to why Mommy thinks this, check out the picture below.



That’s right folks. Lexa is scared stiff of Grandmas, Aunts, Uncles, friendly old ladies at the store, (and the list goes on) but put her on the lap of a goofy guy in a red suit with an overflowing beard and she is cool as a cucumber.
Mommy was snapping pictures as quickly as possible to get a good one before the waterworks were turned on. But...those tears NEVER CAME. Lexa sat there like it was her job!

Now that Mommy has shared her utter disbelief with you, allow her to give you a little background.

Santa visited the kids at Tricia’s house yesterday. Mommy knew Jace would be ecstatic, thrilled, over the top excited, etc., etc. and he did not disappoint.



He sat on his lap and had a little chat



And even received a gift!



After Lexa sat so calmly, Mommy was even able to get a picture with both smiling children. (Ok, Lexa isn’t smiling but this expression while sitting on Santa’s lap equals pure bliss in ‘Lexa Land’.)



THIS is pure, PURE bliss

It's in the Genes

Aunt Erin graduated over the weekend and became Dr. Komp. The entire family was there to celebrate and watch her in all her Chriopractic glory.

Dr. Komp. Mommy taught her everything she knows. Except all that cracking back stuff of course.



Lexa, at the hotel, getting ready for Erin's big day. Notice the girl already has a comb in her hand. Ok, it's more to chew on than anything.



Grandma getting some cherished 'holding time' with Lexa Bean.



Erin getting her hard earned diploma...the pictures are pretty bad but Mommy did what she could with very dark images. (Hint: Santa, Photoshop would really enhance these shots.)



And she got it with honors!



Family shot after the ceremony....this would be why Lexa looks so thrilled.



Unfortunately that is all for the actual graduation pictures....as Mommy said, better photo editing software would do wonders for these images. For now however, you are stuck looking at pictures of the rest of the weekend.

Mommy's little angel checking out the snow



Lexa and Jacer each got to open a present from Erin. Mommy was getting ready to show Lexa how to do it when Miss Bean started tearing into hers.





Mommy had her first Cabela's experience. Not sure if it will be her last one or not. Probably, most definitely, for sure her last visit at Christmas time. She just can't get past the animal heads hung strategically around with Happy Holiday tunes playing in the background.

Anywho, here is Lexa and Erin during the experience.



And Jacer posing in front of some stuffed thing.



After Cabela's, Jace was able to hit the mall and do the jumpy thing that he did over the summer.



He didn't get quite as much hangtime as in his first go-round. He was probably still weak from hanging out amidst dead hunted animals beforehand.



Rita came bearing gifts as usual. Jace REALLY gets the whole gift thing this year and was more than thrilled.



Probably the best part of the weekend. Everyone stood in line FOR OVER AN HOUR...for this photo.



Yep, your eyes are not deceiving you. That is an elf blocking Mommy's shot of Jace and Santa. Who knew that if you turned down their offer of a $45 photo package it would irk them. Apparently it does. So, after standing in line for OVER AN HOUR, Jacer sat on Santa's lap for 3.2 seconds and MOMMY HAS NO PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF. This is very upsetting to her, as you may have noticed by the abundance of caps she is using.

Moving on....

Jace and Daddy at the T-Rex restaurant. And just because Mommy wants to see it in print...Daddy ate the Gigantosaurus Burger.




Jace and Grandpa with a dinosaur at the restaurant. Of course they tried to sell Mommy a picture of this too. What is up with that?



Erin and Jace at the restaurant.




And finally, because Mommy really has no ending point, a picture of Daddy and Lexa. Totally random but this is the end.



Goodbye.

Straight From the Mouth of Jace.....

Checking out some of the Christmas decorations one night.....

Jace: Daddy, what does that say?
Daddy: It says 'Noel'.
Jace: It does too have an 'L'!!


Mommy is sitting relaxing in her comfy chair drinking hot chocolate when she hears Jace coming down the stairs.....

Jace: Hi Mommy, how are you doing?
Mommy: I'm doing good Jace, how are you doing?
Jace: I'm doing beautiful!


Ah that Jacer. He's a crack up! The family is off to KC bright and early in the morning. Aunt Erin will officially become Dr. Komp tomorrow afternoon!! Congratulations Dr.!!!!

Bean is 9 months.......

...and chewing on a comb in these pictures because she is getting teeth (Mommy's guess) and is pretty P.O.'d about the whole situation. Lord help us if it's not teeth that has her in a tizzy.



Lexa at 9 months:

*you still wear mostly 6-9 month clothes. You do have a few 12 month things you can fit in but those are few and far between.

*you have definitely not improved your sleeping habits. You wake up every night at least once. Despite Mommy’s best efforts to let you cry it out, your will (more on ‘your will’ in a moment) wins every time. Yeah, that strong will may be fun in the teenage years.

*you wear a size 2 or 3 shoe and a size 3 diaper.

*you can wave, clap, and sign ‘more’.

*you are an independent woman. Sort of. You are still extremely attached to Mommy but are able to entertain yourself and play very well. Your motto with others remains 'Look, don't touch'.

*you crawl like a maniac and pull yourself up on everything.

*you are extremely strong willed. You do not give up or give in easily. There have been several instances when Mommy and others have thought you were truly hurt or sick….turns out you were just making your wishes known. Lovely….has Mommy mentioned she can’t wait for your teenage years?

*you are still nursing in the morning and at night. You take a bottle during the day…much to Mommy’s delight as she was able to quit pumping at work a couple of weeks ago.

*you are done with baby food for the most part. You love all food (and lots of it) and prefer to feed yourself. Does anyone else think it's strange that a child who would be lucky to weigh 18 lbs. can eat 3/4 of a grilled cheese sandwich?

*you truly are the apple of Mommy’s eye. She can’t imagine life without you or your brother and cherishes it every day!

No doubt 10 months will be here in the blink of an eye. My my, that means Mommy must start shopping for that perfect birthday outfit! Let's puke pink sister!





P.S. Lexa's 9-month checkup isn't for a few weeks but be certain (as you probably already are) that Mommy will post stats as soon as she has them.

Holiday Happenings

Jace and Lexa have been busy....



On the move.....



Getting ready for Christmas!



Jacer checks his advent calendar every morning.



He typically finds candy or money...although one morning a rather generous feeling Santa left him a book. Santa better watch out and not set the bar too high...there are after all, 20 more days left on the calendar! Advent could get a little pricey this year....for Santa of course.



Lexa waited until December 1 to break out her Christmas attire. There is no stopping her now however....she has a lot to showcase in a short amount of time! Mommy must really put a stop to 'Lexa's' shopping.



Jace helped decorate the Christmas Tree this year...and somehow found himself decorated as well!



You may have seen in the previous post that Jace received a special message from Santa. This was his priceless face watching it for the first time.



And finally....Jace completed his first semester of Paddling Panthers!



For the final lesson he was able to go down the big water slide



And liked it so much he asked to do it again!



Mommy thinks swim lessons were a success! He even sat in the hot tub for the first time...



Yes, it's rough being a Jacer.

Jace's Message From Santa

Jace received a special message from Santa today......

CLICK HERE