Just a Little Holiday Baking

Kylie, Brian and I prepared and baked a Straub family traditional holiday cookie last night, chocolate chip balls. Kylie was super helpful preparing the cookies and enjoyed watching them in the oven bake. She was the first taste tester (after they weren't too hot) and gave them a yummy!!

Holiday Party

Kylie had a Holiday Party at school this past Friday. Brian and I went to be the parents helpers and boy to these kids know how to have fun. It is amazing how well they all get along and watch out for one another. They sang songs, danced and of course ate!

Kylie's Class

Kylie eating like her Dad

Part of one of the holiday songs.. (Jayden is screaming for his Mom!)

Bonus Video: Our Monkey In the Tree

Shopping at Publix and eating a holiday green cookie QUESTION - This week a box arrived for Kylie from Overstock.com there is no card in the box so we are not sure who to thank for the amazing gift! We are hiding the box until Christmas for Kylie to enjoy

Happy Face??

Today, I picked up Kylie asked her about her day and she said nothing. Okay no worries, I asked her if she was going to talk to me on the way home for which she decided to shake her head no. Okay again, quiet ride I am for it. So finally, I had to ask, "Kylie, are you going to talk to Mommy." She answered, "No Talking!"

So we get home and Kylie starts talking cause she sees all the holiday decorations in the neighborhood which she believes were put on the trees and houses just for her. We go through our normal routine get the mail and check the front door for packages.

So this is what we found sitting at our front door.


At first I was like hmmm odd I guess a kid left this here. I will return it tomorrow. But once Kylie had it she kept saying a ball a ball and running around screaming (so much for the quiet). Once we got inside, where there was light we noticed attached to the ball was a card and it had been delivered by USPS. What a thoughtful gift from her godfather Hugo and Jess. She wanted to bathe with it, sleep with it. Right now it is sleeping in her rocking chair in her room.

Ball Grams.. What a great happy concept! Thanks Jess and Hugo for making this two year old super happy tonight!

The Stockings Were Hung by The Staircase with Care

In the Lum house we don't have a chimney!

Kylie decorating the tree (She loves the Christmas Tree!)




Bonus Shot - Kylie eating her Publix Sub (Really Mine)

Thanksgiving on the Allure of the Seas

This year we had our Thanksgiving onboard the brand new Allure of the Seas, it was part of the inaugural events for our Royal Family partners. We had a blast between character parades, character breakfast, ice shows, main stage shows, the pool and so much more.

The best part of it all was we were able to spend Thanksgiving with my parents and Brian's parents.

Although we have had fun the last two years attending the inaugural events, I am counting down the days until Thanksgiving 2011 as I need some Black Friday Retail Therapy!

Here are just some of the many things we saw and did onboard the Allure. We hope that you and your family had a great Thanksgiving too!

Kylie at the Welcome Parade in awe of the Characters
(She was trying to match the blue in my dress with her hat.

Kylie at the Character Breakfast eating a Chocolate Potion (Anytime they want to serve me Chocolate Potions for breakfast I am game!)

Fiona, Kylie, Brian and Gung Gung

Grandma and Grandpa excited about the characters

Kylie's favorite character was the penguins. This one gave her a high five!

Kylie and Po Po playing some Guitar Hero (She had a meltdown when it was time to leave!)
A little swimming in the H20 Zone. Kylie was filmed by the Discovery Channel Latino

Thanksgiving Day

A little time at the Boardwalk

At the Carousal
Brian and Gung Gung stop for a refreshment
Gung Gung hanging out with the crew from Madagascar
Kylie, Mommy and the Royal Bear
Time for a snack
One Happy Family
Another Happy Family

At the Crayola room, Kylie could have spent the entire time coloring and painting




Thanksgiving night - Went to see the Broadway Play Chicago.

Kylie thought that Chicago was a little old for her and found comfort in the bagpiper


Kylie and Po Po

What We Have Been Up To...

Things have been very busy at the Lum house. However, we wanted to share some recent pictures with you. Hope your getting the pie and turkey ready for the big Turkey Day!

Kylie helping me work on Veteran's Day

Nick and Abby's Fourth Birthday Party. (Swings, Pony Rides Oh Boy)

Helping Mama Make Pancakes and some Greek Yogurt!

Kylie Going to School

I never enjoyed my Mom's driving and apparently after a week of driving to school with Grandma, Kylie felt the same. This is how she went to school on Friday