Christmas 2013

The kids were thrilled with what Santa brought them this year! Sidney loves her new cart she can fill up and dump out and push around. It will also grow with her and turns into a ride on toy and then a shopping cart! Georgia, Hayes and Emmaline got a guitar, microphone and stand and a keyboard. It was very exciting and loud in our living room all day! Unfortunately, the microphone was loved a little too much and broke within the first 24 hours. Oops! Hayes loves the guitar most, Georgia the microphone and Emmaline the keyboard! We have our own band being formed! After we pilfered through Santa gifts and stockings Daniel cooked a big breakfast and we just hung out. It was so fun and relaxing really. Even though the kids were overly excited, we were able to hang out and enjoy the fun. Daniel and Pop started the playhouse, as one of their gifts, in the backyard a little after presents. The kids were so excited. I don't think they understand the process but are happy to 'help'!We opened gifts from family and eachother and made a huge mess of paper and trash! Georgia, Hayes, Emmaline and even Sidney were too much to watch. They loved it! What special memories we made!One of my parents' gifts was tickets to Disney Junior Live. They were thrilled and so ready to see Sophia, Dr. McStuffins and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. The day after Christmas me and my mom went to McAllen mall to shop for shoes for the New Year's Eve Ernst wedding. After that, Daniel met us with the kids at tbe arena. We got snowcones in the cute, but expensive cups, cotton candy, crowns, and popcorn. Hayes even wore his Jake costume. It was really cute and like watching a live episode! I think it was a fun gift for the kids and something they loved!
This was one of those Christmases that was unforgettable and simple and fun. I am so glad we stayed home and got to experience it in a low key 'normal' atmosphere for the kids. Nothing like baking, playing and relaxing on break with the family. It is truly magical!

Christmas programs and more fun!

Due to work conflicts and other things going on we decided to stay home for Christmas. I was kindof excited to not have to pack up the kids and myself and really excited to not have to pack up all the gifts! Not having to worry about a long drive and keeping the kids occupied in the bitter cold was not something high on my priority list for the break. After Sidney was sick and still had a lingering cough for a week or so, I knew she couldn't handle being outside for too long in cold air.
We watched Georgia and Hayes' Christmas program at their school and it was so cute. Georgia was ridiculously excited to be Gabriel, the head angel. She got to sit on top of the manger and perform the songs and hand motions from there. She was beaming and it was so fun to watch her! Hayes' teacher told me all the week before that he was ready for his program and knew all the songs and hand motions. She was right and he did actually sing and perform them all! He was pretty adorable. It was fun because Emmaline had just gotten out of school for the break and could be there to see them. The next few days were lots of fun, filled with an adult holiday party, cookie making, hot chocolate drinking, a Christmas tea and a Christmas eve pageant at church. My parents made it in town early Christmas Eve and we had a day of Christmas music and baking amazing chocolate chip cake and sweet potato pie! On to Christmas day..they were magical!

Sidney Rose is 10 months!!

Well, Miss Sidney Rose is 10 months old and that is just too close to being a whole 1 year old. She had a full month!

*She took her 1st step. It was only one little step and she fell forward after but she did this a few different times. It is only a matter of time before she is completely walking on her own but I am not in any hurry. The girls do love watching her learn new things and get so excited when she does something new! They are her biggest fans!
*Sidney weighed 21 lbs at the doctor and is definitely looking more slim. She still is adorably chubby but is working her way towards looking like a big girl.
*She was sick with RSV, and it was the first time she needed medicine and breathing treatments. It really was a mild case and she never missed a beat with eating or sleeping. She also had her 1st ear infection. We missed out on the Listi family Christmas in Houston because of her being contagious but me and Sidney got some down time at home while the rest of the family got to go play with cousin Sam and the rest of the family.
*Sidney pulls up on everything, can climb stairs though she doesn't know how to balance on them and is cruising on everything she gets her hands on. She will stand for 10 seconds and can squat and stand back up without falling.
*She wears size 3 diapers, size 12-24 month clothes and size 3 shoes.
*Sidney has a little temper and whines to get her way. She does tolerate a lot from her siblings, though.
*She has her 2 bottom teeth and is starting to bite sometimes. We will see how that goes...
*Her eating and sleeping habits are the same as last few months and she continues to be an easy-going baby and fun to take along to most places.
*She is so busy and likes her snacks. I know soon she will not be happy in her carseat or stroller or being strapped in somewhere for as long periods of time.
*Sidney still likes her carseat and usually falls asleep when we drive somewhere. It does help to have one of her sisters there to give her the paci or snack or make her laugh!
Sidney Rose, It's been too fast..but it's been a wonderful love story. You see, we are all in love with you. Your smile, laugh, the wrinkle of your nose, the way you squeal when you get excited, your chubby fingers and toes and those thighs! We would never forget those round blue eyes. You are our angel baby! Thank you for making our dreams come true! We love you always.

Breakfast with Santa and fun with the Gees

Sherry and Stephen came in town on the weekend of Stephen's birthday and we celebrated by going to the Club for Breakfast with Santa. It was freezing this weekend but fun to have hot chocolate and a brunch. We also got to go to the Club Christmas party for Stephen's birthday and we had a lot of fun!! We had some friends there and we closed the party down. For Breakfast with Santa they had all kinds of crafts and fun things for the kids to make. And not to mention a hot chocolate bar for the kids, of course. Grandma made 2 batches of fudge since the kids loved it so much and the boys built a fire and played washers in the cold. It was a nice weekend and the kids got to go shopping with Grandma for their presents and had fun playing with them! Before they left Monday, Grandma took Emmaline lunch at school which was special for her. Thanks for coming and hanging out with us!