the 365 deal

So, I've seen A LOT of blogs with this new idea to have a picture a day and a blog post EVERY day!  I definitely think that's awesome, but for me, I'm not sure if I can really make it EVERY day to my computer with a picture and with some fantastic words about the experience captured in the photo.  However, with the idea in mind, I've been very motivated to take more simple pictures of my boys and little memories from each day.  Hence, I will try to get to the cpu daily.  

Here's to day 1!!!

My favorite Christmas gift for 2008.  

I'm loving these boots-they're really just house-shoes, but they are SO warm and cozy!  We take our shoes off in the laundry room and my feet get cold in the winter time while walking on the frigid tile.    So here's to 2009's and having warm feet.  Thanks Mom!

Our trip to Wacky Waco!

The kiddos watched Lady and The Tramp on the way down and were angels

I loaded up the boys and away we were, off to Grand Prairie to pick up our buds, Kellie and her little, Olive, and then to Wacky Waco to visit our good friend, Mary Ellen and her family and to see Dololly and Dodaddy.  The trip was quick, but very full and very fun.  At Mary Ellen's parent's house, there was 9 children under the age of 6.  cRazY!!!  The boys had a blast and we had a great Mom talk time and great food!  

The boys and I went to D and D's for lunch.  They are 89 and 90 years old and Dodad is recovering from a broken hip.  When we arrived, Virginia, their caretaker had made tortilla soup for us and pb&j's for the boys.  So nice.  They were VERY happy to see us and we were glad we went over to see them.  

Our Great-Grandparents, Dodaddy and Dololly

Jackson, Lilli Parker, and Aiden climbing and playing in the backyard.

Snakes and SNAILS and Puppy Dog Tails that's what little BOYS are made of

The Mommy's of all the kiddos-Mar, Kel and Me.  Old buds from BU. 

New little sayings

Jackson's new sayings: Mostly from the Christmas Season

Lights: Yites, Yites
When he sees a Santa Clause: He says, Clausss Clausss, Ha, ha, hao
He's just started kissing back-with an open mouth and with a lean into me-SO sweet!-the other day he went up to Matthew with an open mouth and a lot of drool and Matthew had NO idea what was going on. Matthew started backing up and I, knowing what Jackson was doing, told Matthew, he's trying to give you a kiss. So, I helped Matthew and Jackson leaned in a gave him alittle kiss. It was the most precious thing ever seeing my children love on each other. Matthew took it all in and wrapped his arms around Jackson.
He's started running into the house after getting out of the car and saying Daa-ddy.
Truck: points and says, "Kukk"
Looking at Christmas lights-when he sees lots of lights-says, WOAOW, Yites, WOAOW, Yites, Yites!
When he's ready to eat, he says: sit, sit and point to his seat

Christmas Day 2008

The day started off early as all would expect.  Down the stairs we went to find out what Santa, Mommy and Daddy and MoMo and Pop-Pop had brought us.  

Jackson opening his stocking!!!  So Excited!!!

A Christmas all about CARS!!!

The boys in the Jeep for the first time!  Matthew said to Daddy, "This is Just what I wanted for Christmas!"

(Ignore the jammers in the background)

Matthew mostly ate the cookies as fast as he could and Jackson shook the sprinkles just as fast!

What a fun day it was with MoMo and Pop-Pop here with us.  Us making gingerbread cookies!!! YUMMY!

Climbing through the play fort!

       

Around the block for a spin!  Jackson loved riding shotgun

While on our Christmas morning spin around the block, we found our neighbors out on their cars as well.  FUN TIMES!!!   What a gentleman-driving Ms. Lilli

While Matthew drove the Jeep-Jack Jack hitched a ride on Pop Pop's shoulders

Daddy and his boys-Don't worry- they didn't eat their lollipops in one sitting! 

And the day was filled with much JOY and SMILES all around!  

Christmas traditions

We do not remember the day, we remember the moments.

Cesare Pavese

Traditions are created each year and we generally don't remember each and every year, but we remember the moments that were created. A family tradition we did when I was a child started at the beginning of December. We would all sit around the fireplace and my parents would talk about the real reason we celebrate Christmas, Jesus. We had a little wooden cradle (that was actually one of my baby cradles) and every year it would sit next to the fireplace with a large pile of straw next to it. We would draw names at the beginning of each week in December and throughout the week we would each do thoughtful deeds for the family member's name we drew. For each kind deed we did, we would place 1 piece of straw into the cradle. The purpose of the activity was to see how much straw padding we would have on Christmas day for Jesus to lay in. I remember this tradition like it was yesterday and when our kiddos are older, I hope to do it. It instilled in each of us, the importance of serving one another and how as we serve it gives Jesus a place in our house.

Jesus was the ultimate servant and when He came to earth, He sacrificed it all for us.  

Christmas Time Fun in Bryan Town

Playing in the backyard! Their yard is so open and has no fence-I love it!



Later in the afternoon, we went to park to feed the ducks, the turtles and the fish, but 2 of the 3 were in hiding.



Pop Pop and Jack Jack for a stroll. I love the little tiny hand in the big.





Bath time fun with all the kiddos.




On Sunday, we went to Briarcrest for Brunch. We sat in a private room and the kids could eat and run around. It was perfect.



Momo and Pop POp and the grands




It was a great weekend. All the grandkids were there, but we were missing Amy (she had surgery on Friday) so Luke came with Caro, Audrey, and Alex. The boys had a blast playing with their cousins! Saturday morning, we woke up and just played. The kids played on Momo's piano, played playdoh, and loved going outside. Then we piled up and went to the park to feed the ducks. The fish and turtles were nowhere to be found, but we all had a great time walking around being together. After the turtle search, we went to see the lights in South College Station and all piled into Pop Pop's SUV-all 10 of us! It was great fun all being in the same car while ohhing and ahhhing over ALL the Christmas lights. And then to finish the day off, we went to Micah and Alison Flippen's Christmas party which was at our house that we grew up in. It brought back so many memories of my childhood. It was really a cool experience.



Sunday, we woke up and went to brunch at Briarcrest. We had a big room just for us and the kiddos loved it and so did we. We didn't have to worry about keeping them quiet and we could eat and laugh and just chill.



It was a great weekend of fun, festivities, and family!

CHOO-CHOO

A natural love.

A little boys love for trains, I think, is just a natural love in his heart like playing in the dirt. I have memories as a little girl of playing Brio train with my brother, Luke, for hours. We would try to build the highest train ever-using chairs and blocks and whatever could give a stable boost to the height of the track. Luke would always say he wanted to be a train conductor when he got big, and I'm pretty sure if we asked Matthew if wanted to be one, he would say yes.

Today, we went to Northpark and saw the train exhibit with Jana, Carter and Hudson. What a great time the boys had watching the choo-choo's chug, getting a train hat and seeing all the different scenes-like the snow, Mt. Rushmore, the city of Dallas, and New York City.

Matthew's favorite was Thomas, Percy, and the BIG engine. He and Jackson raced back and forth almost screaming watching Thomas the train go by, saying "there goes Thomas!" Others were watching them, laughing and saying how adorable they were. Were they really thinking they were adorable, who knows, I thought they were.

In awe.

Birthday-Palooza!!!

BIRTHDAY-PALOOZA has been here for the month of December!!!
It all started with my cousin's little girl, Brooklyn-at The Little Gym-Lots of running around, jumping and having fun with family!



Brooklyn, the birthday girl, sat in the middle and all the little guys sang, HBD!



Matthew and Brooklyn-Birthday love :}



Then cousin, Alex, was celebrated at The Little Gym. I was the only one able to go.



Jumping with Audrey!



Momo and Alex



The Birthday Boy!

Then came a new friend, Finley.

Finley and his mommy, Brandy



Then the whole family celebrated with the Neatherlin's for Beck's Birthday Bash with Trains and cookie decorating!



Love our little conductors


The boys showing Love Love on our way to the partay!



Choo-Choo

the 2nd little train conductor and Mommy

Then came Tara's-super slidin' at Jump town!
It had been a crazy day so all I had at her party was my phone and the picts were all blurry as one would imagine with a 3 and 1 year old jumping and sliding! They had a blast and were worn out!

And to wrap up the Big Day's in December was little man, Bradyn, my cousin's little boy, turning 2!


We celebrated at Peter Piper Pizza!!!

Jackson liked the merry-go-round...love that thinking tongue.

And Matthew loved riding with Spiderman!

And all we have left to celebrate is JESUS' Birthday-The best ONE of all!!!

Makin' Gingerbread Houses

I'm the kind of mom that shops through Target and Michael's and sees the Gingerbread House making kit and thinks, "Oh, what a fun idea," buys it, then the kit sits in my laundry room waiting to be put together on a craft day, but somehow that day never comes.


But this year, working only part-time gave me high hopes of making it! So, I bought the kit and actually made the house!!! Yeah, go mom-with the help of my bud, Misty! She gave the foundational advice to the project being a success and we were off. We met at her house along with some other friends and had a good ole' time makin' and eatin' and playin'. The boys and I iced it and decorated it with gumdrops, jawbreakers and gummy bears and even better with FRIENDS!!! The boys were in heaven-uninterupted candy eating.

Love those smiles and aprons!!! Notice the large smiles-Lots of Sugar Smiles!!!


Matthew and Lilli playing dress up-Love the color scheme-Lovie!!!

Jackson's 1st Dentist Visit

Jackson having a grand time...can you see me now???
He couldn't quite figure out the plastic dome...nope your little hand won't go through it!
Matthew sliding down-static hair and shocking himself-oh SOOOO fun!!!!

All was great!!!  The boys played at the Dentist's office tubes and had so much fun!  Then we went back to the chair.  Matthew watched Diego and Jackson got his little teefers covered with flouride.  He didn't like it much, but it was over in about A minute and hopefully it will protect him from the cavity bug.

Here come the Carolers-Screaming and ALL!

The kiddos thought they were having an everyday playdate with their new older friends.  

Matthew, Lilli, Ryan, and Jackson.

Today, we were invited to go caroling to a nursing home with my friend and neighbor's playgroup, Wacky Wednesday Kids. The boys were SUPER excited because to start off our trip Matthew and Lilli got to ride in the same car!!! What a concept! It was our first time to do this, obviously. Matthew, also, got to make Christmas cards with the glue gun which he loved doing! We got to the little retirement home and saw all the elderly women. They were so happy. We met a few of the playgroup moms and kiddos and went on in. With all the kids playing

tambourines and shakers, they were thrilled to make A LOT of noise! Matthew and Jackson and I sat on the couch next to Susan and chatted with her abit. The boys stayed pretty close by since it was their first time with the playgroup. We all sang Jingle Belles and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  It was more the moms singing, but the kids jumped around and banged the instruments and the little elderly women loved it.  

Singing, took me back to our yearly carroling party that we've done for years. I always loved going and singing to sweet families we've known for years and seeing their faces light up as they see us year after year.   This year, we are going down to ole' B/CS for the caroling party to sing, eat yummy app's and get some great time with friends and family.  

After the nursing home caroling time, we all went to Chik-Fil-A for a little grub and more play time in the playground.  The boys had a heyday!!!  

The boys loving the SLIDE!!!

The Slide was the favorite hang spot!  CRASH!!!

The Tree!!!

Saturday morning, Jerod and I drug the Christmas tree down from the attic and talked of putting it up and how the boys would love getting it all together and ornamented...what were we thinking?  Let's get real, our children are 3 1/2 and 1 1/2, and not one year older.  All they wanted to do was get in the box and tear up everything we were trying to preserve.  Needless to say, I think next year, we'll put it up when they're napping and let them take out the "children's" nativity sets.  It was a crazy, yet memorable day.   

It looks they are about to help, don't be fooled!!!  They just wanted the box!

It's actually up and standing tall!  They helped with the ornaments!  

They love love love their nativity and baby Jesus.

It's Christmas!!!

I've always said growing up that whatever season of the year is the one I love the most.  And I'm still saying that.  This year so far has been my favorite Christmas.  Friday night after Thanksgiving, we snuggled up in our bed and watched The Polar Express with Matthew (Jackson had crashed out in the car).  Laying there in bed with the 2 out of my 3 favorite people made me so happy.   He watched so intently, taking it all in.  It's his favorite movie at the moment.   The beginning of Christmas 2008!!!