Thanksgiving Getaway

Seriously, one of our favorite Thanksgivings, ever.

It was one of those years we weren't leaving town, and didn't have anyone coming to visit. We decided we've stayed home and cooked our own Thanksgiving Dinner enough times and it was time to do something different. We got a hotel in downtown Houston, went to the Thanksgiving Day Parade, got takeout for dinner, and had such a great little vacation!

Eating our pumpkin pie by the outdoor pool.

Although it was warm on Thanksgiving, the day after was significantly colder. It was the best of both worlds. We swam on Thanksgiving, and ice skated the next day.

New York Girls Weekend

Friends since we were 8 years old, had our babies together(literally...we were in the hospital at the same time with our firsts), talk almost everyday, but haven't seen each other for 3+ years. This trip has been in the making for a long time! Dear Marce, I have shin splints from all the walking, soar stomach muscles from all the laughing, am still craving that second chocolate mousse cheesecake we forgot to go back for, and came home totally recharged! What a fabulous weekend! Thanks for everything! Can't wait our next trip! Oh, and awesome that all the picture I have are just of us taking pictures of ourselves. Next time maybe we try and take some pictures of the sites and scenery, huh? It's been way too long since our last trip. So glad we made this work. I love ya!

halloween weekend

All ready for the ward Trunk or Treat! Garrett's a Ninja, Ethan's a vampire ghost (his own creation), Lydia's a princess that didn't want to wear her crown (such a modest princess) and Sawyer's the cutest baby lion I've ever seen.

Picking Pumpkins

Ward Trunk or Treat Saturday Night. Sawyer and I sat in the back of the Sequoia to pass out candy. Sawyer found the bag and started throwing the candy at everyone that came by. It was hilarious.

one

Sawyer wasn't really all that interested in his presents and it turned into a bit of a circus with the older kids chasing him around the house trying to get him to open the presents while he ran away from them. Then he just stared at all of us like we were crazy while we sang to him and handed him the cake. I think the other three were more excited about it than Sawyer was!

one year later

Today I did not get the dishes done.

I did not catch up on laundry,

and I did not mop the floor.

I planned to do all these things.

Instead I wrapped presents.

I decorated a polka dot birthday cake,

and I snuggled you....for a long time.

1 year ago you came into this world.

1 year ago you changed my world.

Honestly, I've dreaded your 1st birthday. I tried not to think about it. I didn't want it to come. It means you're not my baby anymore. It means you're growing up. But I can't make it stop and I can't slow it down.

All I can do is love every minute of it.

Every slobbery kiss,

every wobbly step,

every cupboard emptied for the millionth time,

every giggle,

every grin.

I can pick you up and hold you when I'm supposed to let you cry yourself back to sleep. Like I did today. You take fabulous naps. You go down without so much as a whimper. Today you did not. So the dishes stayed dirty and the laundry unfolded, while we took a nap together. Because today you needed me. And today I needed you.

Soon enough you won't want to take naps with me. Soon enough you won't want to bury your head in my neck and stay there.

Today you did.

Today you turned 1.

And I'll remember them both forever.

back to school

backpacks. lunch boxes. new clothes. teacher gifts. back to school party.

And with that...

They're off.

(and next year I'll take pictures BEFORE we brush teeth,

as to avoid the water drips down the front of our shirts)

It's just me and you, kid.

summer photo shoot

Seriously, my kids are adorable. And way too grown up.

Thanks Taryn, for the great pictures!

probably not the safest walker in the world

The boy got away from me for a few minutes today.

I found him here: Somehow he managed to get inside the legs of the stool

and was pushing it around the living room.

And pretty proud of it too.

Vacation

South Padre Island

pool side. Seriously yum.

we stopped swatting mosquitoes just long enough for this one the boys' pirate ship adventure

Already planning next year's trip. Such a great vacation.

remember me?

Oh hey, I'm back. Well, sort of.

I may even post a picture or two.

Happy Summer!

(South Padre Island, August 2010)