Cox Family Update...

Well...there aren't any pictures with this post (ugh, how boring!!), but I wanted to give an update on what is going on in our lives!

Suzanne Update: It's official!! I have a new job!!! I start as a Development Officer in the College of Engineering on February 16th...I am SOOOOOOOO excited! I think this is going to be an awesome opportunity and I have really enjoyed meeting everyone I am going to work with! The next three weeks in my current position I travel twice and have A LOT of things to go to get to the point that I can leave and feel that someone else could comfortably step into this position.

Caroline Update: She has moved up again at school! She is now in the mid-late 3's class, even though she doesn't turn 3 till March!! But...she is completely potty trained and they felt that she would do better and gain more from going ahead and moving up. So when they asked me if I minded I totally OK with it!! Also...bed and sleeping update - UGH!!! The waking up in the middle of the night EVERY night has started again!! She is still going to bed great, but waking up every night! If anyone has any suggestions let me know!!!

Dale Update: Since I am starting this new job, Dale may be looking at applying for some different positions within TDCJ. We'll update when he knows what he may do! We bought a home gym a few weekends ago at Play it Again Sports, and Dale has done so great at working out every night!! I have, however, really only used it as a clothes rack! Caroline wants to "work out" every night with her Daddy. And she HAS to put on "work out clothes"...she can't just stay in her clothes that she is wearing! Ah ha...I do have a picture of Caroline on the machine!

Trans Siberian Orchestra

I decided at the last minute to get tickets for the Trans Siberian Orchestra since Dale loves them and the concert was on his birthday. Since we got the tickets so late, we were all the way on the side of the stage and couldn't see the front, but it was awesome anyway! We definately plan to go back next year and totally know where to sit now.

Big Girl Bed!!!

Over the Christmas break, we went ahead and turned Caroline's toddler bed into the full size bed. WHY DIDN'T I DO THIS EARLIER????? She has not been giving us any trouble on going to bed, she has not gotten up in the middle of the night, and she has been sleeping much later since getting this bed. It's been great!!!! Plus, we moved her rocking chair and ottoman out of her room to make room for the dollhouse, and moved a few things around, so it didn't take up any more floor room than they way her room used to be. She looks so cute in her "big girl bed"!!!

5 Christmases!!

We had 5 Christmases this year! By the 6th day, Caroline was totally expecting more presents!!!

On the 23rd, we went to my parents' house (Jimbo and CoCo) for dinner and did presents over there. Jace and Cyndi and Zoe were there too. Since Dale and Jace both work in Lamesa, on complete opposite shifts, this was the ONLY time that all of us could actually get together! Caroline really started understanding that we were about to open presents, and could hardly wait until after dinner! She kept trying to hurry us all up.

Next we went to Dale's mom's house (Nana and Grampy Steve) on Christmas Eve for dinner and presents. Shanna, Mike and Becca were there as well as Uncle Matt. There were money rolls on the tree for each of us. Once Caroline unrolled hers (it was 10-1s), she wanted to share them with everyone. She kept running around to everyone and saying "here is one for you." I finally had to take them from her since I knew she would end up loosing some of her money!! Grampy Steve got a Wii for Christmas, and I'm sure that is what we are going to do EVERY Sunday night before and after dinner from here on out!

When we got home from Nana's house, we had to put out cookies and milk for Santa (yes...all we had in the house was Oreo's because I forgot to get anything else and we didn't have time to make more) and carrots for the reindeer. I asked her earlier in the week if we should get food for the reindeer (I was planning on making "reindeer food" out of glitter and oatmeal) and she said "yes...carrots...reindeer eat carrots only." So, we put out carrots!!

Christmas morning Caroline was a bit confused that Santa didn't eat ALL of his cookies (there was one partial left)...maybe next year he'll eat them all...oops! Caroline kinda got a killing from Santa...Santa went wwwaaaayyyy overboard as usual!

After breakfast we opened the rest of our presents and then spend the rest of the day cooking a Christmas feast! We had Jimbo and CoCo and Pop, Cyndi and Zoe (Jace had to work Christmas), and Nana and Grampy over for dinner. Dale cooked an AMAZING turkey, and we did salad, mashed potatos, green bean casserole, brussel sprouts, stuffing, rolls, orange jello salad, and gravy and by the end of the day we were TIRED! No one ever warned me how tiring (and expensive) it is to cook a big holiday meal! That being said, I think even though we cooked all day, I enjoyed having it at our house and Caroline getting to actually play all day than having to run all over the place.

On the day after Christmas we went to Dale's Nana and Grandad's house with his whole side of the family (except for him...he was hunting with my dad). I don't have any pictures from there.

Then, on Saturday the 27th we went to Dale's dad's house (Grandpa and Deidra) for lunch with them! Caroline got a bunch of dress up stuff that I don't think she's taken off yet!!!!

All in all, we had a great Christmas...or 5 Christmases! It seemed a bit less stressful this year, we had a great time with family, and everyone got what they wanted (or at least I did:))! Can't wait till next year (uh...yes I can!!!)...

Santa Land

I took Caroline and a friend's son, Caleb to Santa Land on Saturday night, and my brother and his wife and baby joined us. It was quite an experience! Was it worth standing in a freezing cold line for an hour and a half to see santa....according to Caroline and Caleb the answer is YES! At least they enjoyed!!

Dance Observation Day

Caroline's Christmas Dance Observation Day was last week. We had a great time watching her dance and be overly dramatic (I SOOOOOOOO don't know where she gets that part!). She had a huge group of family that came and watched her (me and Dale, CoCo and Jimbo, Nana and Grampy and Uncle Matt, Aunt Shanna and Uncle Mike and Becca), so THANKS everyone for coming!

Recently when we (or santa, or ANYONE for that matter) asks Caroline what she wants for Christmas, the only thing she will tell them is a Teddy Bear. I finally know where that comes from! One of the dances they did is "I want a Teddy Bear for Christmas"!

She also did a gymnastics portion and was so cute doing little rolls and flips! She has so much fun and dance class and talks about Ms. Chelsea all week long! We can't wait for it to start back after the holidays!!

Ms. Chelsea introducing Caroline...

Caroline making sure EVERYONE had their eyes on her...

Straddle Roll...

The Nutcracker

Going to see the Nutcracker truly makes it Christmastime!!! My mom's mom started taking me to the Nutcracker when I was really little, and I have only gone one or two years since then without going. We decided to take Caroline this year, and she did pretty good. Before it began, my mom decided to tell her the story of the Nutcracker, which included the part where Clara gets scared by the Rat King...so Caroline was really scared when it first started because she thought the whole thing was going to be a "scary show". Then, the part where the Rat King and Nutcracker fight ended up being her favorite part! We had a minor meltdown right after the second act started, because Caroline decided that she wanted to go dance on stage too and I had to hold her from running down the aisle! Once I got her settled down, she sat through the rest of it pretty quiet! She got to see Clara afterwards, and has talked about the Nutcracker every day since!!