One woman man

When I asked the boys who they wanted to see when they were in Austin, Alex said Julia. Alex and Julia were in the same preschool class at Pecan Street. That year Alex said Julia was his girlfriend. That was 2 years ago. If you ask him today who his girlfriend is, he says Julia. Last year when we went to visit they just stared at each other for the first hour. Right before it was time for us to leave they finally started talking and playing. This year, they jumped right into playing together. They even made friendship bracelets together. It was too cute! I couldn't get them to pose for the camera but here are some pictures of them playing.

They have a really cool tree house in their backyard. The boys loved it!

Mason and Hudson playing foosball.

It was great to catch up with Stacy as well. We used to teach together at Pecan Street.

We had a busy. fun filled Austin visit. Now if we can just get my dad well. He has been sick since the beginning of November. He has had pneumonia, pleurisy and who knows what else. He has been on 3 rounds of antibiotics, steroids, inhalers, etc. Today he was admitted into the hospital. Please keep him in your prayers that he gets well soon. It's been a long road for him. I wonder if he even knows what normal feels like anymore. He was a trooper at Christmas, but I know he is ready to be healed.

Excursions

My brother's good friend Lando and his family came to Austin (from Ohio) to visit over the holidays. They came last Christmas and decided to make it an annual tradition. Monday night we went to Casey and Heather's and had chili. It was really good and everyone had a great time visiting. The boys played some games together and watched a movie. Tuesday afternoon we went to the UT campus so Lando and his family could get a little tour. The boys wanted to feed the squirrels by the big fountain. We used to do that when we lived in Austin. On the way to UT I was talking to my friend Cindy. I told her we were going to UT to walk around, but it was starting to rain. She said if we needed something to do that was indoors we should check out the Texas Memorial Museum. It was really neat. It was four stories of rocks, fossils, animals, etc. And the best part, it was free! We ended up spending almost 2 hours there! Below is a picture of dinosaur bones displayed from the ceiling!

Alex and Connor were learning about something at one of the exhibits.

Heather was putting a chimpanzee screen in front of her face to see how the human features compare to the chimpanzee features. I thought this was a pretty cool picture because you can see Heather's profile in the mirror!

This picture cracked me up because it looks like Alex is copying Connor with his hand under his chin!

The four boys posing next to the statue of the horses in the front of the museum. I had to zoom in so you couldn't tell they were posing under the horses butts!

After the museum Casey's gang went to the Saltlick for lunch. My mom, the boys, and I went to the Domain. I wanted to see if I could find a dress to wear to a wedding on Saturday. No such luck on the dress but we ate at the California Pizza Kitchen which was really yummy. The boys said they have the best pizza ever! I had them take a picture in front of the huge Christmas tree outside of Macy's. Christmas card idea for next year!

It was starting to rain again so they were getting real annoyed with having to take pictures! But they amused me!

Carrying on

The boys and I stayed in Austin a few days after Christmas. I took advantage of the extra time to catch up with a very dear friend, Tara, and her precious kids Kyra and Aiden. I am thankful to have friends like Tara that I can go almost a year without talking to, and pick right up where we left off. I remember reading somewhere that there are friends that you catch up with and those that you carry on with. With Tara, we just carry on. It makes me sad that we don't see each other very often. She was the matron of honor in my wedding. Now we see each other twice a year! I was always around Kyra when she was little, but I have only seen Aiden 3 times in his life! The great thing about Kyra and Aiden is they are very outgoing. They latched right on to us and we loved it! We met for lunch at Red Robin. It was really good, and a great place for kids. After lunch we went to get ice cream at Maggie Moos. Then we went to Toys R Us. Tara gave me a Christmas present by letting me go next store to Old Navy, all by myself! She kept the 4 kids with her at Toys R Us. It was nice to try on clothes in peace! Here are a couple of pictures from our time together. I could just eat him up! He is so stinking cute!

This was the best I could do trying to get 4 kids to look at the camera at once!

So, one of my New Year's Resolutions is going to be doing a better job keeping up with friends! I tried to see some more very good friends, Tara, Kandi and Stacey but illness got in the way of our plans! We are going to plan a next time!

Christmas evening

We spent the rest of Christmas with my parents, Casey and Heather, and Aunt Evelyn (my dad's sister from Nashville). I didn't get many pictures of everyone opening presents. But needless to say, everyone got a nice haul of gifts! My Aunt Nancy got both boys an A&M shirt that has the A&M logo on the back and the word "Dude" on the front. It was very fitting because I call both boys "dude" all the time! Alex said his favorite gift from Gammie and Papa's house was the webkinz pet. He named it "Raindey". I forgot to mention this on the Christmas eve post, but Alex said his favorite present from Granna and Grandpa's house was the zumbuddy and the lego airport! I had never heard of a zumbuddy, but he had told Granna and Amy all about it one night!

Mason got a really near mobile police unit. It's amazing how much legos have evolved since my brother and I played with them as kids. They are very detailed now. Building legos is definitely something our entire family enjoys! Mason said his favorite present at Gammie and Papa's house was the pillow pet! I wish I had invented pillow pets (and silly bands). Those things are crazy popular! Mason said his favorite present from Granna and Grandpa's house was the lego fire station.

I snapped this picture of my Aunt Evelyn hoping she didn't catch me. She does not like pictures! I really enjoyed visiting with her while we were in Austin.

We all got way more than we needed. We were very appreciative of everything. Thinking ahead to next year I would really like to adopt a family in need. I would love to give them a Christmas that they wouldn't have had otherwise. In order to do that, I need to be more organized next year. I need to buy my kids and family presents throughout the year when I find good deals etc. Instead of waiting until the 5 days before Christmas to begin my shopping! I need to start in September thinking about Christmas cards as well. This was the first year we didn't send Christmas cards out since the boys were born. I was so sad about that. I think I might copy my friend Missy and send out Valentine cards instead! :)

Christmas morning

Christmas morning always comes very early at our house. I'm sure it's like that in any household with young kids! We let the kids open the stocking stuffers while we are asleep but they have to wait for us to open the gifts. I told Andy I hope Santa brings the boys lots of time consuming stocking stuffers next year. Mason REALLY wanted an electric guitar this year. He is really into musical instruments. A couple of years ago he asked for, and received, a real violin. He has asked for a real trumpet and flute for the last two years as well. This year we bought him an electric guitar. I really want to get lessons for him. I don't want his interest in instruments to go away because he never learned to play. Needless to say, he was VERY excited about his guitar. We have had daily concerts since Christmas.

Alex is also very interested in music, but his interest is in singing. He asked for an MP3 player. He really wanted an ipod or itouch but he wasn't getting one before I had one! So he settled for an MP3 player. He was really excited when he opened it!

I asked them to take a picture with their most favorite gift. No surprise that they picked the guitar and MP3 player!

Santa brought the boys a basketball goal and two basketballs. That crazy guy assembled it in our living room. The boys were very surprised to find a basketball goal in front of the couch! I debated turning that living room into a basketball court. We could replace the couches for bleachers, the pictures for a scoreboard, the rug for some tape to mark the court, etc. Maybe not!

The boys assembled more legos while I downloaded music to Alex's MP3 player. Then we packed and headed to Austin. It was a nice, relaxing Christmas morning.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve with Andy's parents and sister. The boys, especially Mason, are really into legos so they got lots of legos this year (airplanes. airport, fire station, and an 18 wheeler). Andy and the boys spent the time between opening presents and church building legos. Andy made fajitas and we quickly ate in time to get to church. A cold front blew in that afternoon so it was raining and freezing! But at least it felt like Christmas! Here are the boys posing with their loot!

When we got home from Andy's parents it was time to finish wrapping the boys presents and get ready for Santa.

Christmas this year

I still haven't finished Christmas shopping. I won't send out Christmas cards this year, I don't have anything wrapped, I have two ear infections, a throat infection, and possibly mono. My husband and kids aren't feeling well. My dad is really sick. Should I go on?! No, it's Christmas so I need to be thankful for the GOOD things in my life. I have an amazing husband, two precious gifts from God- Alex and Mason, wonderful family and friends. We have everything we need. I am able to be a stay at home mom. All these great things in our lives are blessings from God. I am so thankful for everything He has given us. Even when we don't deserve it, He keeps giving. I am beyond excited to welcome Tice Warren into this world. I can't wait to hold him and love him. I can't wait to watch Natalie and Harper become parents. They are going to be awesome parents! I can't wait to see my Aunt Evelyn. She flew in from Nashville and is staying with my parents for a week. We used to spend every Christmas together. Christmas isn't the same without her. I can't wait to see her on Christmas day! I can't wait to watch the boys as they go through these next few days before and during Christmas. It's a whole new experience watching it through the eyes of a child. So, everyone may be getting a gift card this year, but it will still be a great Christmas!!

The scarf and gloves

Alex's awesome teachers gave each kid in the class a scarf and gloves for Christmas. But not just any scarf and gloves. The Pre-K classes at St. Paul's are called Ocean Treasures. The scarf was made out of material with a blue background and a fish scene. It was perfect. The scarf had his name on it in fabric paint. The gloves also had his name on them with fabric paint. It was the coolest gift. He LOVED them! Kristi told him she wanted him to figure out all the different ways to wear his scarf. Here were a few ways he came up with on his own!

We are missing a few that I wasn't able to take pictures of! One where he has the scarf on his head like Linus in the Christmas program on Charlie Brown's Christmas (in Alex's words!) One where he has it on his waist like a belt. You get the idea. It's versatile! Thanks, Mrs. Hoppens and Miss Kristen!

Gingerbread house

Thank you Kristi, for bringing more Christmas spirit into our household. I think the boys would have had a horrible Christmas without you this year. Kristi bought us a gingerbread house that was already assembled! She loves me! She knows I have no patience to assemble one myself. How hard could it be just to ice and decorate?! Leave it to me to make it hard! I cut the corner of the icing pouch too big so the icing came out in huge lines. Not great when you are trying to decorate small areas! But, it forced me to leave the work to the boys. They had a great time decorating and I kept my sanity!

Houston trip

Saturday we took a little road trip to Houston. We stayed at the Drury Inn by the Galleria. It was the perfect hotel for us. They had free parking, internet, breakfast, snacks and drinks. They even had a free happy hour (up to 3 drinks). It was awesome!! The boys thought the best part of the hotel was the heated pool! They sure did get in and swim! Saturday night we went to the Galleria to see the huge Christmas tree and watch the ice skaters. Sunday we took the boys on a train ride through Hermann park and to the zoo. It was perfect weather for both. Sunday night on our way home we drove through River Oaks to look at Christmas lights. I had never been through that neighborhood before (that I could remember). I could barely focus on the lights, every house looked like the white house to me! Craziness! I just kept wondering what kind of jobs these people had and how many hired hands they employed! I was grateful to come home to my small cottage in the woods! We had a great time. It was a nice get away.

Andy and Mason on the train through the park.

Alex and I on the train.

The boys checking out the aquarium. Alex has been to the zoo twice but doesn't remember either time. He really enjoyed looking at the animals. Mason LOVES the zoo. He remembers his trips to the San Antonio and Waco zoos.  He loved pointing things out to Alex.

The boys watching the sleeping lions.

My favorite exhibits were the giraffes and monkeys.

Next to the giraffe exhibit was a restaurant. The restaurant had an outdoor eating area. There was only one guest eating at the time. See his little face?! GROSS!

The orangutan was hilarious! He just sat and stared at the kids staring at him. Isn't that the most pitiful face?!

At the Children's zoo they had these tunnels the kids could crawl through. They really enjoyed these!

And the best part of the hotel...the heated pool!!

The Christmas tree at the Galleria

Ready to sleep in....

I know how you feel Scotty!!

Mason's Christmas party

As I snapped this picture at Mason's school Christmas party, Mason's afternoon teacher said, "That's the most animated I have seen Mason all year." I said, "Mason really loves Noble." She said, "As much as he loves Kayci?!" Yep!! As much as he loves Kayci!

This was my best attempt to get the 4 of them in a picture! You get the idea!

It was a day of fun filled Christmas parties! Secretly, I am looking forward to some down time for about 1.5 hours tomorrow! I think I will start cleaning the house, or writing thank you notes, or giving the dog a bath, or shopping on Amazon for Christmas presents. Oh, if only I could do all of the above! It will get done eventually! I am looking forward to some 1x1 time with Mason tomorrow. I haven't had 1x1 time with him in years it seems like. I decided I am going to get him out of school at 10:30 (Alex gets out at 11:30) and take him somewhere to get hot chocolate and just catch up. Then we will pick Alex up. I hope it's a fun surprise for Mason.

Alex's Christmas Party

Alex had his Christmas party at school today. I wasn't one of the "party moms" but Alex wanted me to come anyway. I watched Noble today so the two of us went to Alex's party. It was a lot of fun. They started the party with a snack of cookies (with icing), grapes, cheetos, and capri sun. Isn't that any child's dream snack?! 

After snack they decorated a stocking. Alex and Noble were so cute, sharing the duty!

Thanks Erin, for taking a picture of Alex and me!

After craft, the class had a book exchange. This was a lot of fun!

After the book exchange, Mrs Cone (a teacher and parent at St. Paul's) read a story to the class. Alex made sure to take good care of Noble throughout the party.

Everyone seemed to have a great time. I can't believe tomorrow is the last day until January!