Christmas Tree Shopping

Such excitement! The Laffitte family went Christmas tree shopping - and Jack had great good fun running between the trees, looking for the "perfect" tree (which was virtually every one he saw! "This one! Let's get this one!" he'd say, before running off to find another, equally-selected!)...

Jack Decorates for Christmas

Jack - whose current favorite book is "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" (he's heard it so many times he has parts of the poem memorized already, and it's only December 1st!) was soooo excited to help decorate for Christmas! Here he is, distracted by a favorite snowman decoration!

Thanksgiving Day

We gathered at Erin's - all of Ron's family (plus extra in-laws!), me, and Marshall (Alayne was in Oklahoma with her daughter and family; Teresa and Mike were helping Taylor convalesce from her hernia surgery).

And Jack has another "ball adventure," learning to play pingpong!


Alex enjoys the whole event!

Jack loved the "Kids' table"!

A proud Papa with his kids!

Thanksgiving Preparations

We spent a busy Wednesday afternoon and evening cooking in preparation for Thursday's festivities. Jack was a big help!
And, when he got bored, we had a parade! It was great good fun!

Jack has a sleep-over

Jack came for a sleep-over on Thursday night. In typical child-fashion, I was only just turning around in his parents' driveway for our trip to my house when this little voice came from the back seat, "Are we there yet?!!"

Jack is introduced to the Grandchildren's Hot Chocolate Ritual - "very carefully" - from his great great grandmother's Hot Cocoa set.

Two candles? It must be a birthday! Can we light them? And then, of course, we have to sing the birthday song - twice, once for each candle (he arbitrarily picked Taylor and Trey to be the birthday honorees!)... and blow them out. Finishing, he looked up at me and said, "Now the cake..." Sure, Jack!

Off to the Aquarium!


And, of course, the typical kid-trip-home. Here is sleeping Jack with his new buddy, The Big Shark!

New Laffitte Kid Pictures

The kids grow up so quickly! Here are Jack and Alex - Jack in the midst of his "favorite things" and Alex trying desperately to MOVE and keep up with him! I commented to Jack that she is getting so big, and he said, "No. she's not - she's LITTLE!" 'Nough said!

Veteran's Day Adventure Part I

Coco had a sleep-over at Granny's on Monday night. She had great plans for our time together, including all our "old traditionals" - dinner at Chuckee Cheese and hot chocolate out of Great-Great-Grandma's 100 year old chocolate set (VERY carefully!), to which she added a new tradition. "I want some ice cream, Granny." "I'm sorry - I don't have any ice cream," I replied. "But you can make some," she said. "You can make EVERYTHING!" And so we did...