Back in the saddle again

Sooooooo it's been awhile,

2016 was a rough year for our family. Now there were some great moments and oh how did I treasure those moments but as a whole 2016  wasn't that great. I was glad to see it go. Because of the year of awfulness, it was hard for me to find the energy and time to blog. I missed it because I like having this virtual blog to look back on our adventures because one day I really do want to do scrapbooks but I just don't have the time for that right now. Anyways, my goal this year is to blog more. Starting with some catch up posts from last year (sorry second child) and then back to a regular scheduled blogging. I'm also thinking about changing the name and giving codes for my kids and stuff just for privacy but we shall see.

But since you are here...I figured I would give you some life lately pictures over the last few months =)

 He loves pushing his sister's strollers around with babies, trains, cars, etc in it

 We've gone to several Casa Mañana plays

Pushing our lawn mower around is almost an everyday occurrence

Lots of zoo trips

School work time

Going to homecoming at my alma mater

Lots of grocery trips with a fun ride at the end (sometimes with it not going on because mommy didn't have any quarters...oops) 

Fall pumpkin patches - one of my most favorite traditions 

 

I'm a sucker for themed pajamas. I'm going to ride this train until they no longer let me. 

 Traffic jams (with a few road blocks and road rage) are frequently seen in this house

Fall festival at our church 

Halloween 2016! Cutest Skye and Nemo I ever did see!

Cashing in on my Christmas present from 2015 - ADELE!! It was everything I imagined it would be and more!

Lots of family walks together

A quick stop at Magnolia Market on our way to visit family and go to a wedding in Houston 

Houston zoo trip with the cousin!

Wedding time with my love!

I have known this girl since elementary school (20+ years) and it was so fun to watch her marry her prince charming. We even discovered that her husband and mine graduated high school together! Small world!!

Cousin picture on Thanksgiving 2016!

Setting up the Christmas tree!

Breakfast with Santa in our neighborhood

Annual Christmas cookie decorating party with some of our dear friends. I think this is the 3rd or 4th year we have done it =)

His obsession with trains has begun. He LOVED the train under the Christmas tree this year!

Our "carriage ride" to look at lights around our little neighborhood. We did this several nights during December. The kids loved it.

Snowman breakfast on Christmas Eve morning 

Christmas Eve service 

Decorating Christmas cookies 

Playing with their recorders Christmas morning. I clearly had a lapse in judgment when I bought those for their stockings. 

Riding their big Christmas presents from us!!

Just a little glimpse into our world. I'll be back soon with monthly updates, a 4 year old post, and our fun trip to Florida. Glad to be back!!

13 months!

Oh my curious little boy!! Happy 13 months! You are so fun and make us laugh all the time.
(Yes these are late - bear with me!)

Here is what you are doing this month:

- You are great at walking now. You started a couple of weeks before you turned one and now that is all you want to do. At your sister's dance recital, we had to take you out into the foyer so you could walk up and down and up and down. Non stop.

- You will throw your hands up over your head and then make a half circle down to the side when we sing Walking on Sunshine. It was part of your sister's tap dance and you saw her practice it enough that you can do the hand motions too. So so funny and cute!

- You love to flip book pages and really love your touch and feel books. The monkey one is your favorite right now.

- You now like to say "Boo" or growl when you hear thunder. You will point outside when you hear it and then make the noise.

- You've started this new thing where you will stuff a whole bunch of your food in your mouth at meal times, chew it for a bit and then spew it all out all over yourself. Then you just continue eating other things on your tray like nothing happened. Silly boy.

- You got a Cozy Coupe car for your birthday and you love it! You like climbing in and out of it and like riding in it as we push you around in it.

- You wave bye and night, night, and can sign milk really well.

- You love to bring me things to show them to me so I can tell you what it is. You will also bring me things you are holding when I ask you.

- You will eat boiled eggs except for the yolk part. You aren't a fan of that right now.

- You love to give high fives to your family. Strangers it is a hit or miss.

- You are now sleeping in your crib for small increments! It's a work in progress. Naps are another story.

- You still nurse twice in the middle of the night but are down one nursing session during the day.

- You mimic car noises when you drive little cars around on the floor. It is so adorable.

- You are carrying around play phones and then put it to your ear to talk for a second but instead of your ear it goes more behind your head. Ha! You will carry phones around for forever. It's one of your favorite things to play with.

- You got to sit on a carousel horse for the first time this month and loved it!

- You are in your picky stage of eating. You don't want to eat a lot of meat, You eat some veggies but the only thing consistently that you will eat is fruit!

- You start dancing when you hear music but a lot of times you want to dance with me more =).

- You LOVE to shut doors. If a door is open, you shut it. Sometimes when I don't want you to just yet =)

- You like to help put clothes in the dryer but you also like to stick other things in there. I have found one of Elyanah's shoes in there and a couple of toys. Ha!

- You make motions with patty cake patty cake. You will clap your hands and pat your stomach or legs. It is really cute.

- You are trying to run but aren't quite there yet.

- You like to help put Lucye in her kennel when we leave the house. You will follow me as I put her in the kennel and then you like to come and close the kennel door after she gets in.

- You like to poke mommy and daddy's eyes and when we ask where your eye is you will grab our hands and make us poke you in the eye.

- You can climb on to the dishwasher door when it is down.

(Also taking these pictures was a piece of work, you have no desire to sit down. You have no desire to look at the camera. Getting you to smile on command is never happening. Haha. Love you sweet bear)

You are such a joy sweet boy!! Looking forward to the next month!!

J's first birthday

We celebrated Judah's birthday on June 4th with friends and family. The theme was Dr. Seuss. I have always wanted to have a Dr. Seuss theme birthday party if I had a boy, and so I am thankful that I was able to do it. 

The table with all the food and snacks

Pink Ink Drinks

Cute little banner over the entertainment center 

The kids decorated little stars (for the Star bellied Snitches)

We also played a short game of Pin the Hat on the Cat

My cute little girl enjoying some of the snacks

Some of the crew before all the fun started 

After games and everyone got snacks, we sang happy birthday to the birthday boy and watched him eat his cake. 

His cute little cupcake

Singing happy birthday to him. He started clapping for everyone that was singing. So cute. 

Trying his first bite of cupcake and icing 

He loved it! He almost ate that entire cupcake by himself. He sat there happily content eating his cupcake and then I promptly gave him a bath afterward because there was frosting all over his chest and hands.

After his bath post cupcake, we opened presents. He liked playing with the paper more than anything (of course) and big sister helped open the presents.

Then she got bored and went and hung out with her uncle 

All the guests had a chance to take their pictures either in front of the truffula trees or with the poster board to be Thing 1 or Thing 2. 

We did a couple of pictures of the birthday boy in his cute little shirt that I made! Isn't he the cutest?

And then when you forget to take a family picture the day of the party, you dress him back up in the birthday outfit the next day and take a picture then!! Ha!

It was so much fun to plan this party and to celebrate this little joyful boy of ours!!!