Christmas Eve 2013

We spent Christmas eve doing the traditional thing we've done the last few years.  We had a mexican lunch (enchiladas & tamales) at AB's parents, then came home for a nap before getting ready to church.

We went to the early service this year (5:30pm) since it was for kids/families.  It was precious!  Three kids told the Christmas story and any and all kids who wanted to participate could pick the character they wanted to be (angel, shepherd, wise man) and at their part, they would gather at the back of the church and then walk towards the manager seeking our Savior.

 

Sweet girls that were sitting with were angels so Brady opted to go up with them, as an sweet little angel.  At the end, we broke our glow/light sticks and sang "Silent Night" and let our little lights shine.

I can NOT make it through the Christmas eve service without tears.  I just become overwhelmed by His love for us and the tears just fall.

Blurry is typical for pictures these days.  But he is smiling ;)

Oh how He loves us!

Then to see your child's innocence and love. 

 

Oh.my.  Be still my heart.

Last year we started the tradition of taking Christmas goodies to our local firehouse.  It is just a small token to show the love of Christ and to say thank you for risking your life each and everyday for those of perfect strangers.  Since I've had B, I'd had big dreams of doing all these wonderful holiday traditions, but I have to be real and know those expectations cause me more stress than joy.  Maybe when he gets older, I can try some other things.  But for now this is the one thing we do together as a family from making the goodies and then dropping it off.  There were only 2 firemen at the station, as the rest were out on a call and those 2 had just returned.  So it was a quick drop off, but definitely worth it.  We came home, then went back out to his parents to see the cousins for a few minutes and give them their Christmas pjs. 

Once we got home for the night, it was time to put the boy to bed & play Santa!  After we put out treats for Santa & his reindeer, of course!

His big Santa gift didn't fit under the tree.  So we just left it in the backyard.

 Sorry for the horrible phone pictures.  It was LATE and I didn't think about getting the DSLR out.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will to men." 

Luke 2:14

Mother's Day 2013

Oh my word!  It's been over a month since I last posted.  Hello, life with an almost 17th month old and a part-time workin' (sewing) momma...

I miss blogging so very much!  I'm not sure how to fit it into my hectic schedule...but I am working on figuring that out & so I'm taking a few minutes while B. naps to record the wonderful Mother's day I had.

We started it off by going to church and thanking the gracious Lord above for the rain.  We've been in a severe drought and yesterday it poured down rain.  The grass & the birds were so happy!  Before church, Brady gave me a card & 2 gifts I'll treasure forever!  A mother & son Willow Tree figurine and this masterpiece that him & his daddy made me.

I plan to hang this in our bedroom on my side of the bed to let it be a reminder of how loved I am.  To B...there is no one like "mom-ma!"

After church, we decided we'd grill hamburgers for dinner so we made a quick trip to H-E-B then ran across the street for some fine dining at KFC.  There aren't many eating options around us anyway and the last thing I wanted to do was fight the crowds or wait on a meal.  So we had KFC buffet and it was perfect.  Nothing fancy, just greasy :)

Mmm, hush puppies in the mouth are yummy!

We then did a little bit of cleaning and enjoyed more of the rain.  I also made a new pie recipe and put it in the freezer to chill.  If you've never made Millionaire Pie...I suggest you make it for your next gathering.  It was easy & sooo good!

This little guy would agree as he got to lick the beaters...for the first time ever!

Calories don't count on Mother's day, right?!?!

That evening we had Allen's parents and his grandmother over for hamburgers, chips & dips, and PIE!!!  AB did a great job grilling the burgers & I enjoyed having people over. It's been a good while since we've had anyone over for dinner.  Hence the no time, a messy house, & a toddler!

I ended the night by dying my hair a reddish color.  Ha!  With the help of AB.  We haven't laughed so hard in such a good while.  That was my pampering for the day.  As you can tell from these photos...I was due for a hair color.  And I really need a haircut...such as life as a mom.

He gives the best hugs ever!  These are the moments I want to hold on to forever.

I can't help but look at these photos and realize how truly blessed I am to have the title "mom" or as B says "mom-ma" - it is most definitely one of the hardest jobs I've ever had but it is also the most rewarding.  And my gosh how quickly do they grow?!  

Everyday I am in awe of his little mind and the things he says or does.  I can't help but look at him and see God's handiwork.  What a masterpiece He has created in us and in His/our children.

the red marks on his cheeks are from my lipstick :)

I also can't help but thank my own mother for being the amazing woman she is.  Raising four children deserves a medal!  All traveling in a travel trailer the first few years of our lives...so my dad could provide for us.  And to do it with such grace and never complaining.  She revolved her world around us kids and I can't thank her enough for that.  For raising us to be who we are today.  She should be so proud of herself and of the children, now adults she has raised.

Mom - Mimi...we love you!  I look up to you in some many ways and I hope my kids will look back and see the kind of mom I see when I look at you.  One that gave everything to her kids, that went without so her kids could have, and one who was brave enough to stand up for us when no one else would.  And one that loved us well.  Loved us more than anything on this earth.

I love you mom!  I am so thankful God picked you to my mom, He knew you were born to be just that...a mother and now a mimi.  No greater love than that!

I'm also thankful to have a mother-in-law who loves me and does so much for me.  She also raised an incredible son that I get to call my husband.  I can't thank her enough for him and all that she does for us, which is a lot!  We love you Nanna B or Neena as B says :)

God has truly blessed me beyond what I can imagine as far as mothers go!

Easter Egg Hunt {Palm Sunday}

Palm Sunday, our church had their Easter egg hunt for the kids.  It was Brady's first egg hunt.  I wasn't so sure how well he'd do, but it did really well.  I was surprised and of course very proud!

We dressed him in a spring outfit for the occasion.  I waited until the last minute to make him an Easter shirt and order his Easter outfit so this was the next best thing.  Well, I had no idea how cool it was going to be.  And oh the wind was awful!

The hunt was after our 2nd service.  We had lunch (sandwiches, chips, cookies, & other sweets) while everyone gathered in & waited to be called by age group.

Brady enjoyed a PB&J sandwich with an oatmeal cookie.  Lunch happened to be right during his nap time so poor little guy was so tired.

His age group was the first to hunt.  I held his basket while he "hunted" for eggs.  He got a total of SIX eggs all by himself!  All while holding his cookie ;) that's my boy!  He did put the cookie in the basket at one point, then realized it was in there & quickly retrieved it.  ha!  Love him!!!

I think he did great for his first hunt!  And I think he really enjoyed it.  Success!

Getting a drink after all that hard work ;) we were laughing so hard because while he's taking a drink which needed both hands, he was not about to let go of his cookie.  Daddy's shoulder was the perfect spot for it.  Y'all it just doesn't get any cuter than this...

A boy and his cookie.  And a father's love...nothing sweeter!

Thanksgiving 2012 {Part 1}

I better get this up before Christmas gets here.

We celebrated Thanksgiving at my parents, like we do most years.  This was a fun year because it was Brady's FIRST Thanksgiving!  Not sure he really knew what was going on but either way, it was still exciting.

Wednesday we headed north, not realizing how horrific traffic would be.  Note to self: don't travel the evening before Thanksgiving.  Brady did good considering the really long car ride.

I tried getting a picture (with my phone) of my little turkey on Thanksgiving and this is what I got.  Such a ham!

 Bless his heart....no personality!

 Finally a kind of decent one...

 

This is the 2nd time I've found Brady helping himself to an apple.  Perfect for a teething baby boy. ha!  He is a hoot!

At Mimi's house there are all kinds of toys.  For boys and girls since we have lots of girl cousins.  Brady was really interested in one of the dolls.  It was so funny.  He picked her over and even gave her a kiss!

 I just love his facial expressions.  Like what in the world...

Thursday we had lunch around 1.  Brady got to partake in the Thanksgiving feast.  We had ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cornbread dressing, green bean casserole, mac n cheese, cranberries, and rolls.  For dessert, we had different pies and my mom made a delicious pumpkin dessert called pumpkin crunch cake.  It was so good and I think it will be a must have dessert from here on out.

 

I can't say Brady loved the meal.  Lately he's turned into a kind of picky eater.  Things he normally loves, he isn't interested in.  But we gave it the good ol' college try for his 1st Thanksgiving.  And I can say that he at least tried everything we put on his tray.  Turkey, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, cornbread dressing and green beans.

 

  

Let's get real...he did LOVE the mac n cheese.  He is his father's child ;) Papa sat with B. at the kids table.  I remember eating at the "kids table" as a kid.  To fun!

We spent the rest of the afternoon lounging around, eating again and just enjoying each others company.  And maybe ate a 3rd piece of pumpkin crunch cake! ;)







B. enjoyed his cousins pushing him around on the plasma car.  He loved that thing!  Watch out cousins on the go...

These pictures really do melt my heart.  Such precious moments.

I couldn't be more thankful for my little family.  I have one incredible husband who loves me so much and is one amazing father to B. And of course we are so thankful for the miracle of life, our precious son.  I have so much to be thankful for.

My sweet family on Thanksgiving.  B's first Thanksgiving.

Friday, we ended up taking Brady to his first trip to the zoo.  So up next...Thanksgiving part 2: Trip to the Zoo.