Merry Christmas from the Surratt's!

Our 2009 Christmas card

Patrick, Eloise (2), Kelly and Lucie (1)

May your Christmas and New Year be flilled with many blessings!

Happy 1st Birthday, Lucie Rose!

My precious baby girl turned 1 last week. Can you believe it?! The last year has flown by. We had a big party for her and our family last weekend. Lucie had a BLAST. She pushed her walker around the party looking up at everyone with a huge grin on her face as if to say, "Hey guys! Welcome to my party. Thanks for coming by!" The whole night was so special; here are a few photos from the event.

The big 1 year old!

Yummy food table... Chili with all the fixings, queso, apples, and chocolate covered pretzel rods!

This cake was delicious and adorable!

Santa holding birthday balloons greeted guest from the yard!

My pals from Walker, Amy and Marea!

Mike and Michelle in front of my mini tree this year (couldn't do the full sized one, because we were afraid little Lucie would pull it down!)

Smash cake time! Lucie dug right in!

My messy little Birthday Girl!

Great Grandma and Nana

What great gifts!

We had such a great time at the party! Thanks to everyone for making it so special!

SNOW DAY!

It snowed in the DFW area yesterday (Wednesday!) Unfortunately by the time Eloise and Lucie got all bundled up and ready to play in the snow, it was mostly melted and the ground VERY soggy. It didn't stick around long, but it put us all in the Christmas spirit!

So I have updated my page... The song playing reminds me of Christmas as a child. Bing Crosby was always playing at our house at Christmas time! Happy holidays to you!

Guess what?!?

...Eloise got into pre-school! We were on the wait list and received a call the week before Thanksgiving informing us a slot opened up in the class we wanted! This past Monday was the first day of school for my sweetie! She did great. She has the same teacher that she has at Sunday school and knew about 5 of the kids in her class. So, it was an easy transition. Eloise goes twice a week and Lucie goes once, therefore, I have my Mondays FREE!! :) It was pretty exciting. I guess I should enjoy the new found freedom while it lasts because once "Itty Bitty" arrives, I will have my hands FULL!

Getting ready to leave for school!

She walked right into her class room and didn't look back! What a big girl!

Houston Zoo

The day after Thanksgiving we went to the Houston Zoo with the family! Little did we know it was one of four "free days" they host a year... so, it was pretty crowded! It was still very fun. Here are a few photos from our fun excursion.

Lucie and Daddy watching the Meercats!

momma and baby Giraffe

Me and Eloise went into the prairie dog tunnels!

Coco and Eloise watching the leopards!

Papa making monkey sounds with his two girls

Thanksgiving and a Happy Birthday!

We went to Houston for Thanksgiving this year. We got to meet our new niece and play with all of the cousins! Of course, the food and company were superb! The guys decided to take a shot at frying a turkey. It turned out great. All of the side dishes were fabulous, as always. We had MORE than enough food, so leftovers were a sure bet! It was a very fun filled week!

My girls and me snuggling on the couch in our jammies!

All the kids watching the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade.
Coco and her girls watching the turkey frying
Testosterone central! How many guys does it take to fry a turkey?... 4 1/2!
The sweet kids table set up for the big girls. (sadly I didn't get a picture of the grown up table!!)


My big brothers birthday is on November 28th, so we had a small celebration for him on Saturday. Pizza, salad, cookie cake and red velvet cupcakes... YUM-O!
Uncle Pat and Travis

All the girls playing in the bedroom.

Delicious cookie cake

Happy Birthday, Aaron!

A new addition to the family!

Sweet Caroline was born on November 18th! The proud parents are my big brother, Aaron, and his wife, Lara Marie. Caroline is lucky to have two caring big sisters, Connally and Cate! She is such a sweet angel and I loved getting to meet her and hold her over the Thanksgiving holidays!

What happened to November?

... IT FLEW BY!!! I haven't had the opportunity to blog lately, but I have been taking my pictures and have had grand visions of what my posts would look like. However, somehow November crept by without much attention. So, here is my "catch- up" post. (be prepared... it's going to be a long one!)

High School Reunion

Ok, So, my high school reunion was actually in late October... but I still haven't posted any pictures yet! I was unsure about what to expect from my reunion, and was hesitant of whether or not I should even go. But I figured that it only happens once so I went. I am glad I did! I had fun catching up with some old buddies and reliving old memories.

Visitors from Lubbock

My buddies from Lubbock came to visit us and we went to our favorite meeting spot, La Hacienda Ranch! Brooke and Joey left us (sniff, sniff) to pursue dreams in west Texas! Brooke is expecting a baby soon, and I can't wait to meet her little bundle! Eloise ADORES Joey... and Patrick and I truly miss having them around. It was a fun visit, and we look forward to going to see them in Lubbock soon.

Brooke and I

El and her buddy, Joey

I LOVE these red Adirondack chairs... I wonder if La Hacienda sells them?

Eloises' first movie

I took Eloise to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" one Monday while Lucie was at MDO. UM.... I don't recommend the movie, unless you like silly and pointless, but Eloise enjoyed the "movie experience." We went and got Chick-fil-A at the mall food court and ate it in the theater. It was nice being the only people... because I could pull out the camera and document it! We can't wait for "The Princess and the Frog" to come out next!!

Although the photo doesn't show it... she loved it!

Lucie's using the walker

... and she's OBSESSED with it! I swear, if the child is awake, she wants to be pushing this thing around. Look at that grin! Can't you tell she's in heaven? It'll be no time before she looses the walker and takes off on her own!

The Cheerio debacle

I was getting some work done around the house and thought to myself "Lucie is being WAY too quiet.... Whats going on?" I went into the kitchen to find her like this...

the little stinker had pulled the cereal box off the table, and dumped it out. It was a full on FEAST! :) I couldn't get mad, though, look at that cute face!

Lucie's in MDO!

... And she has been for a while, but I am just now getting to blog about it! It seems a bit backwards... Like Eloise should be in pre-school and Lucie should be at home hanging with me. However, our church preschool is pretty hard to get into, and both kids were on the wait list. Lucie ended up getting in, and Eloise is still waiting. But we have fun!

Lucie's teachers are the best! She has so much fun. So far they have painted with red cool-whip, and orange pudding! (I wish I could have been a fly on the wall for that!) They also get to go for rides in the "bye bye buggy", which is pictured below and have music and movement class!! We always get fun "craft" projects (it usually involves some kind of handprint or thumbprint.) It has been a great experience for all of us!

(We'll keep our fingers crossed that Eloise doesn't have to wait much longer!)

From Left: Lucie playing, Lucie with one of her teachers, and Lucie in the "bye bye buggy"

Butterfly Exhibit

When we were in Houston for all of the festivities last week, I got the chance to go to the butterfly exhibit with the family. Eloise went with her Coco earlier this summer and has been talking about butterflies ever since. We decided to make an encore trip. It was a lot of fun going and seeing her reaction. Lucie loved watching all of the butterflies! We had a fun time hanging out with Aunt Shell, cousin Travis, and Coco, too!

Eloise posing on the GIANT caterpillar

They had dung beetles! Eloise watched the video clip and thought they were quite disguising, hence this photo!

A New Big Sister!!

It looks like I am going to need to start shopping for some new t-shirts for my girls! I have posted some ideas below!!

Patrick and I were VERY surprised to find out that the Lord is blessing us with another little one!! Lucie is going to be a BIG sister! Can you believe it!?!

Lucie's t-shirt.

I am about 12 weeks along and have been feeling a bit miserable due to crazy pregnancy symptoms. My due date will be May 21st, making Lucie and her new sibling 17 months apart!!!

(I guess I have a bit of an excuse for the lazy blogging lately... huh?)

Please keep our family in your prayers!

Halloween Havoc

Get ready for a LOT of pictures, because Halloween was quite an event for us this year! It all started the Sunday before at a pumpkin party at my sisters church. She is the Children's Sunday School Director, therefore in charge of the festivities! Great job sis!My friendly little witch, Eloise. Cousins, side by side.Remember all those firsts I mentioned before...jumping in a bounce house was another first for Eloise!! :)
Trunk or Treat! (eating candy.. another 1st.)

On Halloween morning we went over to my sisters house to celebrate cousin Travis' 1st birthday! His actual birthday is Oct. 30th, but we celebrated in Halloween style! It was such a special occasion!

"Super Man" in the mini bounce house
What an adorable (and delicious) cake!

The birthday boy digs in.
Mom (the cat) Dad (the cowboy) and birthday boy (superman!)
And don't forget Coco, who's sweet as cherry pie!
Lucie had fun playing in the living room. Here's the back of her pink poodle costume!

After the party the kiddos took naps and then we headed over to my brothers neighborhood. They have a big Halloween block party every year. The girls had a great time getting balloon animals, snacking and playing with their cousins!

Both of my precious pink poodles on the way to the block party!
Me, my girls, and my mom!
Papa and Superman!
Eloise and her "Catie bug"
Cousin Connally is a serious crafter! (kinda like her aunt Kelly!)

Finally, on the way back from the block party, the kiddos got to do some trick-or-treating. It was every ones first time and they really enjoyed it!