The LaPrade Lifestyle

Since Parker was our big gift to each other we decided to fill our stockings full of fun treats for one another...and of course Parker had his own little stocking too!!
Christmas 2009
The LaPrades

In my stocking I got a great set of stainless steel mixing bowls, a brand new Rachael Ray cook book, 2 DVDs- How the Grinch stole Christmas and The Other Boleyn girl, an L ornament, a dozen red roses and sweet tart flavored candy canes! Ross got How the Grinch Stole Christmas since we went and saw the Grinch at the Gaylord ICE exhibit!! We watched it as soon as I opened it!! It was a nice and cozy morning!

Ross had every dream come true in his stocking....he got this really neat comic book style shirt from Parker, 3 comic tumblers spiderman,wolverine, and spider woman, Reese's candy, spiderman candy and a wolverine pez!! He was so excited he wore his new shirt all day on Christmas!!

Parker also had a full stocking!! His was packed with tennis balls, rawhides, and a new plaid jacket with wooden buttons to wear outdoors!

Parker opening the stocking full of gifts!

Part 2 is soon to come....Christmas at the LaPrade house!

The ladies at work in handbags and accessories got me the Coach Poppy above!!! I am super excited about my new brown Coach bag!! It's such a fun style and it has bright and colorful key chain accents! I always walk by the Coach bay and say ohhh I love this or I would love to have that and man do those girls pay attention!! They surprised me on Saturday and I was really shocked by their thoughtfulness and kind card!! This Coach bag will for sure make an appearance over the holidays!!

Parker got his first Christmas card from my dad and really enjoyed it! :) It was our first holiday card for the year! I love getting Christmas cards in the mail...reading the sweet notes and looking at the cute photos! At my house we always decorated a doorway with holiday cards and it was a tradition every year no matter what state we lived in!!

Parker got to enjoy the SNOW!! He was a little unsure at first but then he began to lick it right off the ground, the sidewalk, and the cars! He is so cute!
Parker also got to see Santa and posed perfect for the photo!

Our first Christmas together!! We are so excited and I was eager to decorate so as soon as we got a tree I transformed that apartment into a Christmas haven! Nora had an extra tree in her attic that she kindly let us borrow for the holidays! Thank you!! I put the tree up and headed to Hobby Lobby to find pink and green ornaments to decorate the tree! I also got a glittery green ribbon from work that matched the ornaments perfectly! I am a little obsessed with pink and so I was really happy that I was able to have a pink and green tree for Christmas! We have stockings hung by the fireplace complete with monogrammed names..thank you Pottery Barn! Since we got Parker as our Christmas present we are exchanging stockings full of fun things for each other and of course Parker has one too!! There are only a few presents under the tree in the photos but believe me there are tons on the floor now that we are constantly watching so that Parker doesn't snack on the Batman wrapping paper...family...if there are little bite marks on your presents it means that Parker simply helped in the wrapping process and he loves you too!! Here are a few fun shots of our place all decorated! Enjoy!

Ross and Parker in front of the tree.
Parker's holiday hoodie says Sweet!

Our Tree!

Close up of the stockings

The mantle was assembled with help from Hobby Lobby and Target!
We got the stocking holders from Target and the
garland, Merry Christmas sign, and candles from Hobby Lobby!
I just love that store they have everything you need
for a new place and it's always on sale! :)

On Monday I got home, made dinner, we watched heroes and at all of 10 at night I walked into

the bedroom and found Ross and Parker passed out on the bed! I thought it was so cute how Parker cuddles right beside us whenever he sleeps...he is such a good snuggle buddy!!

Our first Thanksgiving together as a married couple! We had Thanksgiving over at the LaPrade House with Ron, Nora, Lorin, Logan, Bill, and Jean (Ross' Grandparents)! Lots of food and lots of fun! All of the ladies made amazing dishes and we had plenty of food to feed a small army!
We watched the Cowboys game and read the juicy gossip magazines that Lorin brings so that we all know what's going on in the "Hollywood" scene! I made potato casserole, quesadilla casserole, and crunchy caramel reeses cookie bars that can be found here : http://picky-palate.com/.

We had a wonderful first married Thanksgiving and hope everyone did too!

The LaPrade family on Thanksgiving!

Ross helping his mom out in the kitchen! He was really good at cleaning dishes!! :)

Lorin and Parker! Parked really enjoyed spending time with
Auntie Lorin! I think he was spoiled the whole day long!

Lorin making her amazing Mexican black bean salad!
I made sure we had a Tupperware dish of the leftovers! ;)

Parker and Nonnie Nora!

The LaPrade family and the soon to be Lowry's!!

Ross, Jessica, Logan and Lorin!

Oh yes...Ross can cook!! Ross had off this weekend and decided to make breakfast both Saturday and Sunday for us! I loved it! We both really love pancakes and so Saturday Ross made pancakes on our griddle that was a wedding gift from Ross' parents! We use it often! Sunday he was craving bacon and I agreed as long as it was turkey bacon! So on Sunday Ross made turkey bacon and eggs! He is really good at making breakfast for us and now I think this should be a tradition that on Thanksgiving week he should make breakfast! ;) ( we will see about that!)

Twilight Saga: New Moon!!! On Thursday night I went with some ladies from work to see New Moon! It was a midnight showing and of course we had to wait in line! I am not one to stay awake during midnight movies but with the popcorn, cookies, water, gummy bears, and chocolate we survived! I have not read the books so I had no clue what was going on and of course jumped when the wolves were on the big screen! I can't wait to see the next one!
Emily, Denise, and Samina! Fun times ladies! ;)

On Sunday Ross and I both had off so we took Parker to the dog park at our apts. He really enjoyed running around and chasing me all over the field! (video later!) It was such a gorgeous day outside we just couldn't resist not taking our precious pup for a big adventure at the dog park! There were no other dogs there so we got to have the whole place to ourselves which we all really enjoyed on a lazy afternoon!Parker exhausted and ready to nap after all the running around!
He is just the cutest dog in the world!

Parker has hair on the top of his head that just stands straight up or moves with his head whenever he walks around the place...so we made him a little cooler by making his has stand out with a mo-hawk! He was a little unsure about it at first but enjoyed all the attention!

Our Christmas stockings are in!!!! I am so excited and absolutely love Pottery Barn and the amazing monogramming that they will do for online orders!!
Ross and I have big stockings and Parker has a smaller one that looks like an elf shoe!
It's so cute I can't hardly stand it! I will post more pics once we decorate the apt for the Holidays!! Just a little peak to tide you over for now! ;)

Over Halloween weekend he met my mom and dad and really lounged around the entire weekend! They enjoyed meeting him and playing with their new grand-dog!

Parker enjoying the great outdoors! He seems to really be into leaves lately...

Asleep in his bed...only for a short while until he moves to the couch with us!

Ready for the holidays in his new Old Navy T-shirt that says Happy Holidays 2009!

He will be sporting it all holiday season! It's green so it matches his collar!

A quick update for now...more pictures and a funny video later! ;)

We got a puppy!!! Ross wanted to surprise me for Christmas with a dog and we got him a little early! Parker is a Coton De Tulear and all boy! We drove to Trenton, Texas to get him Friday Oct 30 and he is 8 weeks old and full of personality!

Parker's first adventure to Target! We had to get pet supplies right after we got
him so we snuck him inside my Coach bag! He was a little unsure at first
but once we were going along he got very relaxed!

Enjoying his new home!

Parker and I before we go on a short walk....for right now he just sits in the grass and looks up at me wondering what the heck are we doing..then walks to my feet and looks up...I am pretty sure he is done with the outdoor event at that point! :)

Ross and Parker hanging out on the couch! Parker slept on Ross as soon as we got home!

BCBG Watch!! Love the color purple and the bow look around the face of the watch!
This would for sure make a statement on my wrist at work!

Lola by Marc Jacobs a new fresh scent by Marc Jacobs that has fuschia peonies! love it!

Coach's new leopard print in charcoal grey for fall! Love the wristlet here it can go with a variety of outfits both dressy and casual! For sure on my christmas list!! :)

So there have been a few fun events so far in October! Britt celebrated her 25th Birthday and we ran Race for the Cure for Cathy!! Yea!! The weather is changing and the sun is shining!!

Britt, Allison, and I in downtown McKinney enjoying a girls night out!

Britt and I all dolled up for her big birthday!! love you!!

Early Saturday morning....Cathy,Richard,Carly and I traveled to Northpark Mall to walk in the Race for the Cure! It was early and a little bit chilly but overall a gorgeous day! It was amazing seeing the huge turnout for Race for the Cure and seeing all the survivors at the race!
I was really excited to be with Cathy at the race because not only is she an amazing woman she is also a breast cancer survivor! She has been cancer free for 1 year and continues strong! It was a wonderful experience being with her on race day! love you!

There were over 30,000 people at the race Oct 17,2009!

Carla, Cathy and I before the race!

We all made in celebration bibs in pink for the back of our shirts for race day...

mine said In celebration of Cathy T. We love you, Carla's said Cathy T., and Richard's said My Wife!! We were all so excited to wear them in celebration of Cathy!!

After the race we snagged all the freebies and water and bananas we could find...right along with free massages by massage envy!! loved it!
Here are my new running laces...
they have NB in pink with 20 which stands for the
fact that New Balance has been supporting Breast Cancer research for 20 years!

Vacation continued....so as soon as we landed from California I boarded another plane for Florida to see KC, Kinley, and Chance! We had a great time playing in the pool, going to gatorland, shopping, walking, seeing shamu and the chik fil a cow, and so much more! It was great to spend time with KC and the twins in Florida since the last time we all got to hang out was in April!!

Wow time goes by so fast! Here are a few of my favorite pics from my vacation in Florida!

Everyone with Shamu in downtown Orlando at a walk for preemie babies

Kinley showing me her scary face before bedtime! They both have so much energy and talk non stop either to you, to eachother, to baby, or possibly themselves! They are growing up so fast!

ok so this was really cute...one day after swimming we need to go run a few errands and I didn't have any more clean shorts or shirts so kc dressed me and as you can tell by the photo above she dressed both kinley and i the same...pink top blue shorts! kinley was hooked to me since we were dressed the same that day as we ventured to Sam's for grocery items!

Riding the train at gatorland! we rode it twice of course!

looking at one of the biggest gators in the park!

the little florida family

kc and i got a girls night out to a local restaurant were they had a live band!

swimming!!

and of course more fall decor...ross bought more candy corn to fill up my candy jar so that it too will be festive in our home! neither one of us really likes candy corn so it is truly for decorations purposes only! happy fall!