Weekend with friends

Back in February we made a road trip to Round Rock to visit our good friends, The Isaacsons. It had been so long since we last saw each other and we still hadn't met the newest addition to thier sweet family so we thought it was the best way to spend one of our free weekends. It was so nice to be able to spend such quality time with them and let our kids play together. A little background info for those that don't know Cassie is one of my best friends from high school in San Antonio and Travis is one of Mikey's best friends from high school in The Woodlands. We all went to A&M together, Cassie and Travis started dating shortly after Mikey and I, and the rest is history! It's always fun for all when "the family" (as we jokingly called ourselves in College) gets together.

We didn't have many plans for that weekend other than to just relax and enjoy each other's company at their house. The one thing that we did have planned was to go to Alex's soccer game on Saturday afternoon. Ava had been looking forward to watching a real soccer game so we were excited to see Alex in action. Travis is the coach and I have to say that Alex is the star player of the team. He is such a natural! Travis was sweet enough to let the girls warm up with the team. I think Ava thought she was on the team and might actually play in the game. She took it very seriously and seemed to enjoy kicking the ball around and stretching with the team. Further confirmed our decision to put her in soccer in the fall.

The girls watching on before warming up with the team

Watching from the sidelines with daddy

While Alex was out of the game momentarily I took this sweet picture of him and Ava. I love the look on Travis' face in the background. It's as if he is thinking "Hey, this is no time for picture taking!". Sorry coach!

And we had to get one with little sis Ellie too!

Not sure what these rascals were up to (maybe they were trying to get the candy on the counter) but they looked cute in their jammies!

We were so excited to finally meet Mr. Jacob!! Aren't those the bluest eyes you have ever seen?! Gorgeous! Jacob and Connor are only 4 days apart and it was cute to see them side by side and playing together. 

They will be lifelong friends! This first picture of the two of them together will be for the memory books. 

The dads had just as much fun playing with the cars and trucks as the kids did. I laughed when I saw Mikey and Travis playing with Alex's lightsabers together and making the sound effects. It made me happy that Mikey now has a son he can play these things with and be a big kid himself. 

I don't think any of them were really feeling the picture except for Ellie. :)

Ava and Ellie played so well together. She loved her pink room and all the pretty dress up clothes she had. At one point we were all in her room and Ava wanted us all to do ring around the rosie together, so we did! It was a cute memory! It's fun to think back to how far back our relationship goes with these sweet friends of ours. To watch our kids play together and rekindle their friendship was so special. We have lots of memories with Cassie and Travis and now we can add this one to the list!

Thanks again dear friends for welcoming us into your beautiful home and for the priceless memories! Can't wait to do it again!

Everyday Moments

You know that cheesy song by Sara Evans with the lyrics "these are the moments I thank God that I am alive. And these are the moments I'll remember all my life"? Well that's how I feel about my life right now. My kids are growing up way too fast (I realize I will be saying this forever) and it's the everyday moments with my sweet family that I cherish and look forward to. Watching my kids play together, watching their daddy give them endless love and attention and do the silliest things just to make them happy, snuggling with all of them on the couch...that's the good stuff! (yet another reference to a country song that plays through my head!). I realized that there are so many pictures from my phone and camera that I haven't posted so here they are in one big post, with videos included. It's a doozy!

Daddy is always a great sport playing dress up

Brunch with Kay Kay and Grandpa David when they came to visit last month

She picked out this dress and accessories and said she was getting married to daddy and I was her flower girl. :)

Sleeping in the car on a road trip. So much for the new head rest I bought that claims to be the best!

You can usually find us playing in the sandbox on warm winter afternoons

Sweet Macy. I wish I could give her more attention but I have a hard enough time giving it to my two little humans. 

We rewarded Ava with Chuck E Cheese for earning all her marbles in her marble jar for being kind and gentle to her brother.

Connor waiting for his dadda by the door :)

We spend a lot of time inside these days so I have to get creative. I made her this "tent" and she thought it was the greatest thing ever, especially after she brought her toys and books in there. 

Valentine's day love

We go to The Arc, the indoor play area at Ava's school, almost every Tuesday and Thursday after we pick up Ava from school. He loves to stand by his post and watch all the big kids run by. 

She still loves to color and make crafts

My smiley boy

He has a serious obsession with shoes, especially daddy's. He says "sh" for shoes. This is usually the morning scene before daddy heads out for work. 

Hugs from sissy. She's not always the most gentle but there is definitely love there (which I was worried about for so long)

Connor has also taking a liking to one of our favorite spots, Tappy's Frozen Yogurt!

He has been walking for about a week and a half now and he is picking up speed! I love to watch him waddle all over the house. Puts an instant smile on my face. 

Munchie has a distinct skill....she can chug her full cup of milk without stopping until every last drop is gone. She has been doing this since she started drinking milk and it just makes me happy. It means nothing to anybody else but Mikey and I, but I wanted to make sure I got a short video of it for posterity.  This will come in handy some day when she dunks her aggie ring! ;)

We play instruments a lot these days and Connor has become exceptionally good with the cymbols. 

He has turned into the.best.eater.ever!

Those eyes and lips....need I say more?!

I have never seen him do this before but I just happened to catch this rare moment. Cheese!!

He has my heart (along with his sister and daddy)

This is what he does when he wants something and there is usually some hand pumping involved. 

Always up for anything she wants to do

Wierdo! But this face always makes me laugh. Ava's always oblivious or else I am sure she would call him out on it. 

We are going to start a band

His sumo wrestler squat. That bottom is not touching the floor!

He only gives hugs to Daddy. Their bond is really starting to show. 

He walks everywhere and he almost always is carrying something or dragging something behind him.

Chilly afternoon at the park

Out of order, but another one of dinner time. 

So blessed!

11 months!

Happy 11 months old to my sweet boy!

Connor, Just one more month till you turn 1 year old!. I'm in denial. How is it that  you are already almost a year old? In a way it seems like it has been a year since I first held you in my arms but you have changed so much and so quickly that I feel like I have missed you being a baby. I replay those moments with you in the hospital over and over again, especially lately.  March 10, 2012 will always be a day I hold close to my heart. I didn't know how much better my life could get until you were born. Now that I am getting all sentimental and teary eyed, here are some things from this month I want to remember.

* You are starting to take steps on your own!! I wouldn't say you are walking just yet but you are SO close. You have taken about 4 steps so far. You are building up your confidence and I bet it wont be long till you are walking all over the place!

*Your LOVE to play with balls and I think it is so cute. You like to roll them and crawl after them and I even see you bang the little ones on the floor like you are trying to bounce them. You also really love your toy vacuum. It is so cute to see you push it back and forth and imitate mommy.

*You love to look at pictures of doggies and kitties and anytime we hear a dog barking or a bird singing you quietly listen and then let out a cute little grunting noise like you are trying to make the same sound or just let me know that you hear them. So cute!

*You are waving and clapping now and anytime  you hear music you start to "dance".

*You have a fascination with daddy's guitar and anytime you see it you go straight to it. I've never seen you move so fast!

*Daddy has become your favorite guy this month. You say dada all the time now and you like to look out the window and wait for him to come home.

*One of your molars is about to pop through your gums and you have handled it so well. I little grumpiness from time to time and sometimes hard to fall asleep but I have been so impressed with how well you deal with the pain of new teeth, and big ones at that!

*You are drinking water from a sippy cup now. I will start to weening you this month. I plan to drop your 3rd feeding and just give you a bigger snack and water during that time. I am kinda sad that my time nursing you is coming to an end. :(

*You continue to be such a good eater. You love almost anything we give you and we have started giving you more meat this month. You love chicken nuggets, little smokies, lunch meat, cheese, peas, pancakes, all fruit, crackers, and raisins to name a few.

*We have spent a lot of time outside the past few weeks and you love playing in the sandbox with sissy and swinging at the park.

*You and sissy are taking baths together in your little baby tub. She prefers to sit in there with you than the big tub and I actually prefer it because the less room there is the less likely you are to slide around.

Little guy, I love you more than you will ever know!! Always remember to snuggle with your momma no matter how big you get, ok? You will always be my baby boy.

xoxo,
mommy