Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we did the usual for us..slept in or at least I did!!..went to the chiropractor, ate lunch with friends, church, made cookies, etc. Let me back up..Sunday Daniel and I actually went out to Northgate to see friends and family that night. We hung out all that afternoon at my parents doing what we used to do every Sunday. We ate venison and all kinds of dips and sides, the guys drank some beer and me and Natalie talked about how we would like to be drinking something too! And we watched football. It was fun getting to do that with the family, except Rachel was missing..That night we met about 15 others out at Rebels, a new to us bar, since almost everywhere else was closed. It was a fun atmosphere and I think I would like to go back. Patricia got in town so they came out and it was fun to talk about her and Jimmy's upcoming wedding. Don't even get me started on the fact that I'm going to miss it. So sad. What a once in a lifetime trip to Brazil...luckily she is actually Brazilian so there is hope I could make it back one day, but it's not quite the same!
Here I am at 32 weeks.
Back to Christmas Eve..after I went to Dr. Dan's, the chiropractor, I met up with my little family over at the Kroll's. They were busy playing in the backyard with all of Brody's fun toys. Hayes was in a bad mood and didn't want to play until it was time to go, of course. After discussing all manner of food we love, we decided we had to eat at Chuy's. The kids did fine and we ate so much..I was comotose afterwards..hello creamy jalapeno dip!! We headed home for naps right after. I slept the longest at almost 3 hours..told you I have been tired! After all the sleepy heads woke up we had to rush to get ready for church. We made it just in time to Christ United for the Kid's choir service. We thought our kids could sit through this one best and the time worked out well too. Really the kids did good. The girls were fine, but Hayes was a bit wild. I really don't blame him since he doesn't usually sit in actual church. I was glad to be there and loved the lights and candles. After that we went home, fed the kids, started making snickerdoodles for Santa and got the reindeer food ready. I think we drove around looking at Christmas lights somewhere in here too. It wasn't too hard to coax the kids to go to bed so Santa would come. They loved putting out the reindeer food and were adamant that the dogs didn't get any! Natalie and Toodge came over to hang out, watch a movie and help us wrap some presents. We celebrated with some pink sparkling cider of course! It took a while to get everything wrapped and set up but after my long nap I wasn't too tired at this point.That night the girls slept so weird and woke up at 3. They went downstairs, saw that Santa came, went back to bed, Georgia was crying because she was afraid Santa was going to come in her room and Emmaline said, "well, Santa already came so I don't think he's coming back anytime soon!" I went back to my room and just hoped they would go to sleep. Apparently I missed that they didn't. They ended up in my parents' room, where G slept with my mom and E and my dad went back upstairs to sleep. We still mananged to be up and ready to go at 6. So glad Hayes is still where he can't get out of his room! On to Christmas day next!!

Christmas in Houston

We loaded up the burban, cartop carrier and all, picked up Emmaline from school at lunch and hit the road for Christmas break on Friday. It wasn't a terrible trip but it seemed really long and it didn't help that we ran into traffic. The kids were super hungry by the time we made it to Uncle Tony and Aunt Brandi's house. They had dinner ready and a spot for Dixie too! We love their house..it is huge..both our families could live there and barely coincide. I don't feel like I'm imposing as much when we stay there as I do in other places so that is nice! The kids played with cousin Samuel, who is crawling and so cute!! They went to bed pretty easily and I didn't stay up too late either..I have been so tired lately.
Their neighborhood has crazy Christmas lights..these super cool arches, Christmas movies being projected on the garage and lights that are set to blink with the music. It was really fun driving around on the golf cart looking at all the lights. We even saw Santa ho-ho-hoing. Hayes was busy singing Jingle Bells (I have got to get him on video singing that, it's too cute!) and the girls were claiming this reindeer or that blow up light was their favorite. And it was cold so that made it all the more Christmas-y.Saturday was nice, relaxing and so sunny. The kids played outside for hours, I napped for hours and we readied for the dinner and presents that night. Unfortunately, Dixie and their dog, Harley, got into 2 fights..Harley's eye was kindof bloody and beat up. I felt terrible, but it wasn't really Dixie's fault, so there isn't much to do about it. Dixie also got in a little scuffle with my parents' dog, Maggie, so I guess she still has some spunk in her!
Sam, Juliette, Uncle Carlo & Aunt Lynn showed up that afternoon with bags of gifts. We hadn't seen Lynn and Carlo in almost a year..yikes..what is wrong with us??..they are so good to our kids and we have the best time with them. I always get so torn during the holidays when I realize how much I miss family..and it's usually just from being 'too busy' to make a trip to see them. Time needs to slow down!Lynn made homemade lasagna, we had a delicious sausage and cheese tray and of course there was a ton of wine. It looked so yummy! Brandi also made this awesome wreath out of wine corks..I loved it and decided that is one of my goals for 2013..to make a wine cork wreath for next Christmas. I hope baby comes soon so I can get to drinking. I hate breaking my new year's resolutions!
After dinner and of course some dessert, chocolate pie, cookies, toffee & mini bundt cakes, we decided to do presents before Sam went down for the night. He is such a good baby! The kids get all the good stuff and the adults to a sortof white elephant exchange. We ended up with our own gift this year, on purpose. Alcohol with an alcohol dispenser..I think it suits us pretty well! The kids opened up gifts from everyone and they were completely spoiled. Hayes got a Big Wheels, a toy drill set (which he loves so much it already needed new batteries), and a Mickey Mouse camper set thing. Emmaline opened a new robe, which she has been asking for, colors and coloring book, a Brave gift set, an Easy Bake oven (I never had one so I am ancy to try it out!), some Barbie stuff and a movie! Georgia got a robe, colors and coloring book, a Brave gift set, new Baby dolls, Polly Pocket things and Barbie items. So as you can guess, our car was even more full before Christmas even got started! We are so blessed to spend time with our family and have them love on our kids so much! After the kids were in bed the boys started watching Monty Python and I spaced out. Sunday came fast, and it was time to head to College Station for the remainder of our Christmas vacation.
At this point of our trip we had already jumped off my burban 3 times. When we had gotten all packed and finally ready to leave on Friday from home, the car would not to anything, just a click! I asked Daniel if this was the start of our National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.. then we reminisced about the times we had ripped off the cartop carrier over past Christmas breaks. So we jumped it and didn't turn it off til we got to League City. Well, we had to jump it 2 more times. After jumping it a time or two in CS we decided to send her to the shop to get checked out before we made our way home..a few new things later and she is as good as new!
We were lucky this roadtrip..neither of us ripped off the carrier! Daniel drove into a parking garage at North Star mall in San Antonio while we were meeting Nat and Toodge for lunch the day after Christmas at Cheesecake Factory. The fact that Daniel was even at the mall much less on a huge shopping day is a miracle..add on his little parking garage fiasco and it just makes me laugh! I, on the other hand, was going to Gene's apartment in Houston and just got off the phone with her..pull into the parking garage cause it's easier to get to her place..so without another thought I did.. and the stupid thing went scraping across the top, ripping it off my car and throwing our presents, including all the unwrapped gifts for my kids, on the ground of the garage. It was so pitiful and hilarious at the same time. The gifts were rolling down the garage. Emmaline saw a few Barbies and other items. Me and Gene were dying laughing cause what else do you do?!! I called my dad, cause that is what I do when I'm in a pinch, and asked what to do..Luckily, the carrier was ripped off the car so that made it easier to drive out of there. So this is what we came up with...(Gene, correct me if I'm wrong)..she drove my car while I hung out the back door holding onto the carrier, those things are huge but not extremely heavy, so we could get it to the dumpster on the other side of her complex. We were only on the main street for a short while. The kids were safe in their carseats. Then she spent over an hour trying to keep my kids occupied in their carseats while I got a new one at Sears. Fun times I tell ya! Thankful for good friends and good family!

Saying Goodbye..

Yesterday we had to say goodbye to Gauge, our black laborador. He was one of our babies before we had babies. I got him for Daniel, from a family in Brenham, while we were dating. He was born the day after Halloween in 2002. He was a wonderful retriever and hunting dog. He would fetch until he literally passed out. He loved Daniel and it was fun seeing him get so excited when Daniel would be readying the hunting gear. Gauge also loved to be petted. He wouldn't leave you alone until you pet him and then once you did he wouldn't leave your side! Gauge was very sweet, always wagging his tail (that knocked everything over) and a protector of his family. He got along with everyone and was "such a puppy" even at 10! I remember this one time, when Emmaline was a baby, I was pregnant and we lived in Mississippi, I walked regularly at the little park in town. I liked to take one of the dogs with me just for exercise and protection. It seemed there was always stray dogs and things around. I chose to take Gauge that day. I would be lying if I said he wasn't on my bad list at this point. Not for anything more than his shedding, stealing Emmaline's snacks, always seeming to be in the way. I wanted him out of my baby's face! Well, this particular day we were cruising around the path and there came a stray dog running across the cemetary. I could see him running towards us, Emmaline in the stroller and Gauge off somewhere peeing on another flower bush. I called Gauge toward me in hopes it would keep the dog away in time for me to get E in the car. I get nervous with other dogs around, especially when I don't know them and they seem aggressive. I could just see my baby's toes or face bit off and the unknown or possibilities scared me. Gauge earned his keep that day and I fell in love with him all over again. He stood his ground between us and that dog, who was aggressive. He growled and his hair stood up and he wouldn't let him near us. I was never more thankful for him and so proud of him. He went from being this silly playful puppy to our big protector. Obviously we made it to the car ok and I was able to get Gauge loaded up without them getting into a fight or any problems. But he made me feel safe! And he went on a lot more walks with us from then on!
Gauge-man, we will miss you and all you brought to our family. We have had lots of talks with the kids about you being in heaven, free from pain and sadness, seeing your mom and dad. Emmaline said you are an angel now and flying around having fun with God. Thank you for all the memories of you swimming in the pool, giving kisses, sneaking into the kids' rooms to sleep by them and cleaning the floors for me so I didn't have to mop as often! I know Dixie is going to be sad without you too. We love you and won't forget you!

Hayes & Georgia's Christmas Play

The night before we left for Christmas vacation our younger two babies had their 1st Christmas play at their little school. The school is fairly new and only has 3 small classes but I do love it and I love their teachers.
I received a note from G's teachers weeks ago stating she needed to be dressed in all pink because she was to be a sow in the play. A Pig! Why couldn't she be Mary or the Star or something a little more prominent?? Oh well...but Georgia was not really thrilled to be a pig or to wear pink. I never really heard anything from Hayes' teacher so I finally remembered to ask her and she said they had their costumes..the 2 year olds would be lambs! Easy enough, right?!
One day I was dropping off G at school and Georgia proclaimed to her teacher out of the blue, "I don't have any pink!" ok....when we finally figured it out we both looked at eachother and laughed..she was just letting her know her displeasure in having to wear pink..which I now know she doesn't like..She even recently told my mom, when choosing boots, to return the pink ones and she would take the only other color - black! That same day her teacher told me she was going to have Georgia be something with actual lines and not just an oink but that she is so strong willed that she knew if she wasn't in the mood to participate she just wouldn't..there was no coaxing her from the side stage. She said she is definitely a leader in class but she decided not to chance it! I was glad to know her teacher knew her personality well enough!So needless to say, on the afternoon of her play when I was trying to get her dressed, Georgia was not happy and refused to put on pink. I think I had to bribe her with something...can't remember. We finally made it to the church with good attitudes. The kids had been singing all the songs for weeks and I knew G's class was going to be doing handbells. I helped Hayes put on his little lamb costume..it was so adorable, especially with his white-blonde hair. Georgia's class came out 1st, they did some songs, used their handbells and then it was Hayes' turn. They marched out in their matching lamb costumes and sat on the bottom steps. He was looking around and then finally found me and Emmaline. Daniel was sitting in our original seats (I had moved closer to get some pics). He was waving and saying, 'Hi Mommy! Where's Daddy? Hi Emmy!' It was so cute and funny cause he was pretty loud and just kept repeating himself. During the actual play G did great, did her oinks, sang her songs and did the hand motions. She was kindof the ring leader of the animals! It was a successful and fun performance and we got to have juice and cookies afterwards! Maybe next time G will get an actual speaking part, but she didn't seem to notice much! I did get lots more video than pictures..feel like I'm slacking here. I'm thankful they can go to a school that celebrates and puts effort into these kinds of things!

Emmaline's Winter Dance Recital

Emmaline started taking beginning dance class from a lady, Miss Madeleine, who comes to her school once a week. It's called My First Dance and it's been really great for Emmaline and for me. I love not having to drive her around to and from another appointment, but she still gets to try out a new activity. Don't get me wrong, I would and do drive her around for extracurricular activites, but it's nice they offer this at her school! I simply pick her up one hour later than normal once a week. I have to say I was a bit disappointed at first there was only 2 other girls in her class, but I know she is getting great individual attention and she loves it. The other 2 girls have taken this class since they were 3 and are now in 1st grade and they aren't newbies like E, so she gets to learn from them and her teacher. The younger grades do have more girls in their class but she breaks them up by age. I am torn because I do love the idea of the beautiful tutus on a big stage with a bunch of little girls with buns in their hair, but this is what we are doing this year and I'm ultimately happy with my decision. Anyways, Emmaline has a "recital" in the winter and spring. They use one of the school's open rooms and host a little performance. It was fun, Emmaline was excited and she did SO good! Compared to her 'show' she put on after her week at dance camp in SA over a year ago, where she cried and didn't really do anything, she was spectacular!! HA!The teacher provided little tutus and a hair piece. I helped get her ready putting bobby pins in her bun and straightening her tights. She posed for pictures with her classmates and her teacher. She beamed and was trully thrilled to be there! That was all that mattered at that moment!They first did a dance to Sugarplum Fairies and then did a cute one to Dig that crazy Santa Claus. It was so fun to watch her expressions and she did well with the steps. We regularly go to her classes so I knew what she was supposed to do..she did it perfectly! I love how she is watching her friends and her teacher and trying so hard. I really was proud she came out with a smile, didn't seem too nervous and just did what she was supposed to do. I thought she looked beautiful with her big dimples. I let her wear lipgloss and blush which she loves to do! What a big girl and I love seeing her new confidence! Can't wait to see what they do for their big Spring Performance!

Jolly Ol' Saint Nick

Grandpa and Grandma got Hayes a workbench for Christmas. Here is Daddy and him putting it together. I love how into they both are! My boys are so cute!!

We carried on our yearly tradition of seeing Santa Claus at Bass Pro Shop. It's literally right down the road from us so we frequent the place anyways! The kids were fired up to go, I was sick but determined, Grandma was on board, and Daniel was just wanting to get it over with. We planned it so that we would get there before Santa did and would miss the line! It actually worked out perfectly. We were early enough to take a few pictures outside and in the lobby and we were 2nd in line! It was the same Santa from last year so that was fun too. They were so kind to give us 3 free pictures. I do wish the kids were sitting on his lap but it isn't that big of a deal to me. I love how Hayes is off to the side, like I'm not getting anywhere near the old bearded guy. Once we mentioned candy canes, he got a little more close, but still wasn't completely sold. Brave and Brave accessories were the top toy asked for in our family! I have to note that I think Hayes looks a lot like the kid from 'The Christmas Story'..you'll shoot your eye out! I can't believe we are this close to Christmas. We will be heading to Houston for a few days then on to CS for the actual holilday. I am dying to bake some cookies! Merry Christmas from the Listis!

Animal Kingdom ~ Disney Day 3

The girls were so excited to get busy on the Safari on our last day! I love their expressions and attitude in these two!
Our final day at Disney was spent at Animal Kingdom. I debated over which parks to go to since we were limited on time, but ultimately I decided the more we try out now the better of an idea we'll have next time we go (like in 6-10 years)! Our favorite ride of the day was some water ride you could ride as a group! The girls were way more prepared than the adults.We were completely soaked as I guess we didn't really think much about the 'you may get wet' signs...there were plenty of people walking out not wet...but it wasn't us! And it was just cold enough that day that it made you shiver.


Once we settled on Animal Kingdom we made plans to get there early so we could do the Safari and other key things before lines got long.



Natalie joined us for part of the day and we always love having her ride with us!
We had lunch reservations at the Rainforest Cafe..I wasn't thrilled about it just cause we can go there in a regular city but it was available and the kids had never been there.
We got to meet Minnie Mouse this day and the Chipmunks. They were so sweet and I even got a kiss on the cheek from Dale!We rode a neat train over to the petting zoo area and the girls had fun brushing the goats and other animals!

Me and Emmaline on some Dinoland ride! I think just another version of Dumbo but still fun! And G and Daddy on the other!
Georgia picked out a baby giraffe...she was enamored and still loves that thing. The girls picked out a Goofy for Hayes..he actually likes him (He calls him Goopy, which I love!)
Emmaline chose Merida from Brave as her special toy. She picked her out that evening while we were at Downtown Disney. One of our last pics at Disney..a chilly evening but we had our best dinner of the trip..some famous BBQ and dance hall at Downtown Disney..there was a tween idol performing that night so the restaurant wasn't crowded at all but the dance hall was..perfect!
And these 3 were reunited finally..such love! Grandma said he was an angel while she kept him, but he managed to throw a big fit at lunch so she could see that he isn't always like that. That and the drive to my parents was the beginning of the end of Hayes' paci days!!
All in all it was a wonderful, magical trip and I can't thank my parents enough for making it happen or Daniel's parents for watching Hayes. It was a dream come true for us!