Meet Frosty's little brother

With all the snow this week, I couldn't help but take Carter out to the park to play in it. The idea was first sparked when Theo, after having been in and out of the cold all day, came home from work early and immediately took Carter sledding. In the dark. He gets daddy of the year award as far as I'm concerned. There is a huge hill behind our neighbor's across the street house.

Carter had a blast with his daddy while I stayed inside and played with Baby I and Livie. I wish I had taken pictures of him sledding.

So Friday, after we went out, he wanted to go back and play. I figured it was my turn so I put on my snow boots and we headed to the park. I had the best time! Carter of course did too.

And because I love showing off my mad camera skills....isn't this a cool picture?

I was informed this is called a "front" snow angel! I think it looks like an almost face plant if you ask me :)

Carter heading off to work in the snow

 He's been asking me for weeks to help him build a snowman. Can you believe I don't think I've ever made one before? I helped some neighbors of mine while I was in college make one on one New Year's Eve but other than that, I have never done one solo. I felt a lot of pressure from my five year old onlooker!

Carter wanted to make one "as big as Frosty" but since this was my first attempt, I said we could make frosty's little brother. He was cool with that.

So without further adieu....meet Frosty's little brother, *aka* Snow Saiah (Isaiah without the I prononced!)

From all of us in Frosty Land, we wish you the merriest of Christmases!

Ready. Set. SNOW!

We've gotten a LOT of snow this week! I'm pretty sure we've already gotten more this year in the past 2.5 months than we did all of last winter. What is this warm-blooded girl to do? Make the best of it I suppose!  Carter absolutely loves the snow. He would stay out in it all day if I let him.

He informed me that these were not footprints, these were "snow paths". I love footprints (or snow paths!) in the snow. I think it's a beautiful sight.

My little snow angels.

It was almost knee deep on Olivia. She surprisingly liked the snow too. She kept trying to eat it and it made her little face all red!

We didn't leave this house this week until today. We basically stayed in our PJs (I finally got dressed on Thursday!) and played all day. Isaiah was just hanging out with us.

 All the while, Olivia and Carter had a jingle bell contest. They were trying to see who could ring the bells the loudest.

Carter got really into it!!

Then they went for a "boat" ride. The things these kids can do with cardboard boxes are amazing! Olivia was "riding" in a wooden crate I painted for Carter for Christmas. There was no good place to hide it, so I didn't. I'm going to fill it up with new craft supplies and give it to him.

I love these two pictures because in the first one, I told Carter to stop picking his nose and smile. Olivia looked over at him cheesing it up and decided she'd cheese it up too!

I just thought this picture was funny. I think if she had known she was riding in something that had Carter's name on it, she probably would have wanted to sit in the cardboard box instead!

Hope you all are having a great week!

Ten months old!

At the beginning of the month, Isaiah turned ten months old! He is growing and changing so much. He is the best and most easy baby in the whole world, you know, mostly!

Isaiah, at ten months old you:

-weigh about 18 or 19 pounds and are so long!

-just got over your first little stomach virus and since then, you've had a ravenous appetite. It was struggle to get you to take more than 5 ounces at a time, but now you can easily drink 6-8 ounces at a time. This past weekend, daddy kept you and fed you. A. LOT! You got 4-5 jars of baby food and about 32 ounces of formula. And guess what! You started sleeping through the night!!! Tuesday night I was worried it might be a fluke. I followed daddy's "advice" and fed you as much as you wanted and you slept over ten hours straight! (Cue the "Hallelujiah" chorus!) So proud of you little man.

-still take two naps a day but I bet by your first birthday, you'll be down to one. You usually have to take a catnap in the car after we get Carter from school and then you take a long afternoon nap. It actually works out pretty well. I have to wake you up at 7:15 almost every morning to take Carter to school. If I didn't have to do that, I know you'd sleep all morning.

-finally have two front teeth. They are about halfway down and I think two more top side teeth will be popping through any day now.

-have hair that is finally long enough to get curly when it's wet. Daddy loves seeing your "black side" as he calls it :) I'm so glad you'll have curls like Carter and Olivia. I don't know what I'd do with a straight haired kid!

-are starting to get some table food but you really prefer baby food. Your big brother was the same way and would have taken baby food forever if we'd have let him. You love the little "baby" snacks they make, i'e. yogurt metls, puffs and your favorite, these sweet potato rice cakes. But as far as chunky fruits and veggies, you'd prefer liquid bananas :) You do like bread though and pasta.

-are also trying to get used to a cup but all you really do is bite on the top instead of actually drinking from it. You get an ounce of apple juice a day to help with your little tummy but you still would rather drink it out of a bottle.

-are moving around everywhere! You are so fast in just a few short weeks that if I turn my back for too long, I have to go search the house for you. You've been trying to pull yourself up for as long as you've been crawling but so far, you can only get onto your knees. Won't be long though. You are an active little guy. You won't hardly let me hold you anymore because you push off of me trying to get down. It makes me a little sad not to able to hold and cuddle you but I know it's because you're a growing boy and want to explore the world around you.

-are in a size 12 month clothes and a size 4 diaper. It's really funny that you and Olivia wear the same size diaper now but you're only about 6 pounds different in weight! I don't know what size shoe you wear because I haven't put any on you in months.

-are a magnet for any small particle on the floor. The things I dig out of your mouth never cease to amaze me. And the stuff that gets stuck on your clothes from crawling around is horrible! I sweep daily (and sometimes several times in a day) but it's not enough. Daddy and I decided we're just going to attach a swiffer pad to your pants and let you clean the floor for us! Ha!!!

-are fascinated with the Christmas tree. Fortuanately, it's in the front living room where we spend very little time or you'd constantly chew on all the light bulbs. You are especially fond of the red glittery ball ornaments. I can't wait for you first Christmas!

-are talking all the time. You always say dadda and sometimes say momma and I promise it sounds like you've been saying "yeah" when I ask you questions :)

-love just about all of your toys. You love things that spin, light up, or make noise. You love chewing on Carter's blocks. You love books too but mostly just pick them up and chew on them. You are quickly outgrowing the exersaucer because you'd rather be crawling around. But you still love the jumper and bounce like crazy when your brother isn't making you swing around in it like George of the Jungle!

-are the most laid back (I know, I say this every single time) baby ever. And now that you are finally sleeping through the night, I love you that much more! :) You have brought us so much life, happiness, joy. We would be incomplete without you. I can't believe in less than two months, you'll be a year old! We are so thankful God brought you to us, healthy and perfect. We love you so much Baby I!!!

My fabulous weekend!

What a wonderful time I had this weekend with mom and Aunt Laney. I must first say what an amazing husband I have to allow me to escape from the insanity known as motherhood to have a ladies weekend. Theo did an excellent job holding down the fort while I was away and the kids seemed thrilled to have the time to spend with him.

I wasn't supposed to arrive into Dallas until almost 11 p.m. But as luck would have it, our plane was going to be delayed two hours from Colorado Springs to Denver. The airline was going to bus everyone up to Denver but since I was heading to Dallas, I was able to switch airlines and get a nonstop flight from the Springs to Dallas. I ended up getting to Dallas as the exact time as mom and Aunt Laney.....except for a little detour around the airport...:) Shut the front door!!!

Friday night we stayed in and had dinner at Copelands at the hotel. Yummmy! We don't have any good restaurants here where I can get good Cajun food so it was great to have crawfish etoufee :)

We stayed at the Hilton in the Southlake town center (thanks to Aunt Laney's great friends and family discount!). This was the view from our room:

So Saturday we headed out the town center and hit all the little shops. It was great. I scored a pair of Loft pants for $2! Can you believe that? Everyone was having great sales being the weekend before Christmas but I managed to reign myself in and not spend too much on clothes :)

We had lunch at this Tuscan Grill and the food was really good. I can't remember the name of the place but I'd definitely eat there again.

Aren't these ladies just beautiful? And they are, inside and out. So glad I got to spend some time with them.

Sunday was our big day out. We were on several missions to purchase things and I think I got everything accomplished. We ate breakfast at LaMadeline's. Fab.U.Lous. I had never eaten there before and it was delicious! We headed to Ikea and it was a whole experience. I only spent a few dollars but man, if I didn't have to worry about packing everything in my suitcase, I probably would have gone Cah-razy! Good thing we also have an Ikea up in Denver because I will probably be going there very soon. We ran a lot of other errands and did a LOT of shopping. I forgot how easy shopping was without three kids in tow :)

Sunday night I went to see Breaking Dawn by myself. I think this may have been the first time I had ever seen a movie by myself but it was really fun. Theo was thankful it was one less Twilight movie he'd be forced to see!

Monday it was time to leave and honestly by that point, I was ready to see my sweet little family. I got home a little later due to the terrible weather and ice on the runway in Denver. It was snowing and 20 degrees when I arrived and I had instantly wished I was back in the South!

The kids were so happy to see me. They made me a welcome home sign that Carter colored and Theo had dinner ready and a cup of hot chocolate for me. He definitely gets the best husband of the year award from me! Now it's back to life. When I'm dealing with temper tantrums and whining, I am going to reflect on my happy times this past weekend and remember as my mom was saying "There is a "me" in mommy" Ahhhh, true words of wisdom.

Thanks mom and Aunt Laney for the best time I have had in a long time! Can't wait to do it again  next year!!!

Tis the Season

This past weekend, we went to three different Christmas parties! Friday night we went to Theo's co-workers house for a party. They have a four year old son and and seven month old son so I was glad their house was kid friendly :) Our kids did really well and had a lot of fun. I brought my camera but didn't manage to take a single picture.

Saturday, we had a family party for Theo's old office. It's nice they still include him in these things. The party was at the Youth Center which was great because the kids ran themselves out! Isaiah got his first experience with Santa. He loved it! I was so shocked.

Carter, on the other hand, not so much, even despite him insisting on wearing his Santa hat to the party.

Olivia sat in Santa's lap but only because I was sitting right by her. Theo's former co-worker was there as the photographer. He is a great photographer and has several thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment. So Theo switched out my very inexpensive lens with one of his and was trying it out. This was one picture of me. In case you can't read my mind, I'm thinking "Seriously, if you drop this sucker, it's going to cost us almost 2 grand!!!"

The kids had fun doing their own thing.

Isaiah had fun playing with Max.

Carter had fun on the rock wall.

And Olivia ran around the gym and got "touched by an angel"

And me and the handsome hubs:

Sunday afternoon, we got a babysitter and went to Theo's big bosses house. It was nice seeing how the other side live :) We had a great time. They had the party catered and so there was food galore. Afterwards we ran a couple of errands and then finally headed home. It was so nice to get out without the kiddos.

Tomorrow, it's back to normal. We have one more office party on Friday. I finally get to see where Theo works. Then I'm on a plane to Dallas for a ladies weekend with mom and Aunt Laney!!! I am soooooo excited!

Pearl Harbor

Since today is the anniversary of Pearl Harbor, I thought I'd share some pictures of our Hawaii trip (2008) and our visit to the Pearl Harbor Memorial. It was definitely a high light of our trip. We had to wait a while to see it but it was so worth the wait.

Trimming the tree

Saturday, we put our tree up! It was fun to see how interested Carter and Olivia were in it and wanting to "help" put the ornaments on the tree :)

 Isaiah hung out in the high chair

until we let him loose....this is going to be an interesting Christmas season....

And just for fun....

One with daddy (minus the funny hats!)

Love making these precious memories with my even more precious little family!