The Wolfe Journal

Mira and I made a quick trip to Fairfield to celebrate LaLa's 16th Birthday! They threw a little surprise party for her and presented her with "the choice"! Kenny and Coco's gift was $1,000.00 and the choice of a trip to New York City in the Spring OR a car!!

She chose the car. (Duh!)

I was 14 years old when I became an aunt for the first time. I was so excited to meet my new niece! I remember wanting to go over to Kenny & Nicole's every day, so I could see her and hold her. That was 16 years ago, but I still adore her.

She is such an amazing individual. She has everything going for her - beauty, brains, and personality. I am in awe of what a wonderful young lady she has turned into - and it seems like it happened overnight!

I love her so much and would do just about anything for her. I think she's great, and I'm so very proud of her. I love that she stands up for herself and tries to make good choices. She is kind and thoughtful and generous. I know she will do great things along the way, and I am so excited to see where life takes her and where she takes her life!

Here is a little photo montage in her honor (probably not 100% in order, but close):

Born at 11 at night the night before I had to go back to school from winter break! I was allowed to stay until she was born, but I was so mad I didn't get to stay later and hold her!

That's a chicken pox on her head - I think it was the only one she got!

Adorable even with an IV coming out of her head! She gave us quite a scare when she came down with Meningitis. What a trooper!

Loved books from the begining - trying to take my text books!

First grandbaby's first Christmas!

Beauty Queen

I thought this was so cute and asked her to do it over and over again.

We got our faces painted at the Texas State Fair

All dressed up because she was watching me get ready for my Junior Prom, and she thought she was going to get to go with me. Boy, was she MAD when she found out she couldn't go!

3rd Birthday

First day of Kindergarten!

At the Taylor Swift concert together!

It's not what it looks like....unless it looks like she's dying a tee shirt.

Happy Sixteenth, LaLa! I love you!!

What a wonderful Christmas we've had! We decided to stay home for Christmas this year since we wanted to be at our house when Santa came! It was so much fun baking and decorating cookies on Christmas Eve and leaving some for Santa along with Mira's letter to him! She also colored a picture for him as a little gift. =)

It was so fun leading Mira into the living room on Christmas morning to see what Santa had left for her! The first thing she noticed was the giant lollipop in her stocking, but once she laid eyes on the baby cradle and highchair and then the Barbie doll set - she was so overwhelmed! She sort of bounced back and forth between it all trying to take it all in and play with it all at once!

We took our sweet time opening gifts on Christmas morning. Mira played with the toys that Santa brought for about an hour or so before we looked in our stockings. Then played for another hour or so before unwrapping a couple of gifts. We took those all out of the packaging and enjoyed them for a long time before moving on to open a couple more. The whole morning was spent playing, unwrapping, and enjoying! She really enjoyed each of the gifts before moving on, and we had a blast watching her and playing with her. We stayed in our pj's all day!

Here and there, I snuck away to work on lunch - Tofurkey, corn souffle, green bean casserole, challah rolls, and pumpkin pie!! YUM!!!

A couple of days after Christmas, Nanny and Pappy came for a brief visit. We had a nice time - we ate out at Monjuni's, chit chatted, opened presents, and played with Mira's new toys. I made Elton's favorite pie - apple - so that was yummy, too! They brought Mira a "Baby Alive!" amongst many other gifts. Mira couldn't get enough of "feeding" this doll and hearing it demand more. Thank goodness it wasn't the one that you actually put food into and then have to change diapers!

The rest of our families showed up in time to help us ring in the New Year! Sheesa, PapaNui, Kenny, Coco, LaLa, Avi, Kellen, and Mark all came for a New Year's Eve Game Night!!! Kara and Coy had last-minute things come up, so they couldn't make it. We ended up chatting and eating (tamales and enchiladas - YUM!) so much that we only played one game - Catch Phrase!

We counted down to the new year (Mira stayed up until 10:30!) and all sang Auld Lang Syne together while we drink our Tosti Asti (or Sparkling Grape Juice)! What a great way to start 2011!

Thanks to everyone for coming!!! We had so much fun and love you all dearly!! I hope you all enjoyed the holidays as much as we did!!!

Some photos for your enjoyment..... =)

All the decorations are on the tree - Mira adds the finishing touch!!

Squishing the dough - trying to be sneaky about it!

Rolling the dough

Being silly while rolling the dough.

"Using the shapes" - i.e. cutting out the dough with cookie cutters.

Press hard!

Mira requested the Wonder Pets, and you know, I had to deliver! Here are GingerTuck, GingerMing-Ming, and GingerLinny!

That gingerbread man lost a leg, so we turned him into a mermaid - Kenny's idea, my artistic "talents."

She "swiped" his Santa hat right off his head when he went in for a kiss!

Mira may see Mommy kissing Santa Claus....

Santa hats!

Decorating the cookies!

Mira worked solo this year!

Did a great job all by herself!

That's gonna be one yummy cookie!

Welcome to the Wolfe's! Santa got cookies, almond milk, a beautiful picture, and a nice letter. The reindeer were surely excited to find some fresh carrots and water just for them!