Ho Ho Ho!

Santa was good to us this year! Griffin had a blast Christmas morning opening and playing with all his new toys. Here are a few highlights from the morning! Plenty more pictures to come!!!

Daddy got an amp for his guitar and Griffin loved dancing to the music!

Uncle B and Aunt Lala gave him a precious bean bag chair and him and Jack loved lounging around in it!

The boys

Santa brought Griff this Jeep but we are wrapping it back up for his second birthday!!! Too much new stuff so we might as well save it for later :). He liked pushing Jack around!

This fire truck was by far Griffin's favorite toy on Christmas morning. He played with it ALL day! Now if it only had a mute button :)

Uncle Con Con and Aunt Le Le gave him his basketball hoop and it's been a huge hit.

He's even learning to use the back board!

Ella got some pretty new things too!

A stocking just for me! Santa is one sweet guy!

Fa La La La La...

Griffin had his Christmas program and party at school on Wednesday. His class was SO stinking cute! I can't say there was a lot of singing going on, but the girls had the motions down at least. Griff looked precious but I don't think he has much of a career in theater ahead of him. Heehee! Jason and GiGi were able to come to the program and Griffin loved having an audience :).

Marching in with his teacher Ms. Lisa

Shakin his maracas!

What a cute bunch of babies!

Uh Oh! He dropped his maracas and thought it was pretty funny!

Here's where things fell apart for Griff. He didn't want to sit on the stage to sing Itsy Bitsy Spider (I don't blame him, this is supposed to be a Christmas program right??) He came to sit with Mommy for the last 2 songs instead.

Family pic

After the program the daddies took the kiddos outside to play while we set up for the party

Griffin at his party enjoying a "juice bop" as he likes to call them :)

Christmas Treats

I love this time of year! So full of traditions, some we are passing down and others we are creating for our own family.

Growing up, my mom and dad always bought Conner and me a pomegranate. They were a special treat and we looked forward to cracking them open and enjoying the little red jewels inside. When Mimi was here, she bought Griffin his first pomegranate to enjoy, and he loved it!

A few days ago Griffin got a very special letter in the mail, from Santa himself!!! He loved opening the envelope and I read him the letter. It's so fun to see him learn about Santa and see the excitement on his face every time he sees a Santa. He also says, "Ho Ho Ho" in the cutest little voice!

Last Saturday morning we enjoyed gingerbread pancakes for breakfast. Griffin ate three whole pancakes so I have a feeling this is a tradition that will stick in our family!

Sweet Thing

Such a

sweet

helper

New House

Hey guys! Welcome to my new home!

Here's the outside

Jeter likes his new house too!

Running down the walkway is SO much fun!

Here's the Christmas tree...it's hard, but I've done a good job at just looking! Mom said I can touch this one ornament and I like to take it on and off the tree. ;)

The whole thing

Watching Rudolph with Daddy and Pops

Flying into 30

My 30th came and went in a flash! We moved into our new house on Monday, November 29th and my birthday was on Wednesday! So it pretty much consisted of unpacking box after box. However, we had a little family celebration at my aunt and uncle's the Saturday after Thanksgiving and my mom made me a peppermint ice cream cake with oreo crust! It was delicious (really wish I had some right now). Turning 30 has been no big deal, after all, what more could I ask for. A wonderful husband, a precious little boy who fills my heart with such JOY, a baby girl on the way, and a beautiful new home! More than anything I am just thankful for the blessings God has given me and looking forward to the next year! Now, that doesn't mean I'm not going to enjoy a nice celebration cocktail or two after this baby comes...hehehe!

Griffin loved when everyone sang happy birthday

My two favorite guys

Yummy cake

Peek a Boo

I see you!

Thankful

We had a great Thanksgiving at my Aunt Ann and Uncle Mark's amazing place North of Austin. We grew up as kids celebrating holidays at their place and running through the woods. It was so fun to see Griffin, Carson, and Lyndon begin adventures of their own at the creek! We had 19 people for Thanksgiving lunch and soaked up lots of priceless family time. Griffin had a blast playing with his cousins. It couldn't have been better!

Playing in the old fort

Climbing the fence

We took all three boys on a wagon ride down the creek! My Aunt JuJu made their special "twirly" hats before she passed away. She picked out the yarn and design based on each boys personality, and it was so precious to see them all in their JuJu hats!

By the end of the ride Mr. Lyndon was passed out on Griff's lap! Too cute!

Lindsy, Leslie, and I being silly in the darling turkey head bands Leslie made for the kids to wear during Thanksgiving dinner.

Lyndon enjoying the feast

Cousins enjoying some time catching up

Catching Up

Playing at the park

Loves "helping" at the new house

We are all finally back under one roof, even if it's not our own yet! Griffin and I spent two weeks in Midland while Jason was traveling in Japan and Malaysia for work. We are still waiting on our house to be finished. We are so thankful we've been able to to live at Jason's parent's house, it's been great! We are expecting to close the week after Thanksgiving and can't wait to move in!

Griffin is 20 months old and learning new things every day. He is becoming quite the chatter box and loves discovering new words. One of his first words besides the usual, was "basketball" and he loves to say it ALL the time! He is all boy and LOVES balls. He is starting to put together two to three word phrases and will repeat almost anything we ask him to say, if he's "in the mood" of course. He still LOVES Mother's Day Out at Grace and going to Little Gym on Fridays. He absolutely loves his best friend RJ, who he calls "Ra Ra" and asks to play with him all the time. Griffin is really into all things transportation, cars, airplanes, buses, trains, ect. He loves for Daddy to ride him around the block on Gigi's bicycle and is fascinated with Papa J's Harley in the garage. He is starting to show some signs of approaching the terrible two's and we've experienced a few fits, usually when he's over tired or frustrated with something. They usually pass quickly, but it's still hard to see him so upset. We are enjoying every moment with Griffin, and he keeps us laughing everyday!

I am now 26 weeks along, and I can't believe how FAST this pregnancy is going! We have ordered the furniture and bedding, so now we just need a nursery to put it all in!!! We can't wait to meet our sweet baby girl, but we are also enjoying these last few months of being a family of three.

Pumpkin Pals

Heather, Lluvia, and I took the boys to the pumpkin patch at St. Peter's church in Katy last week. It was very hard to get a good picture of three BUSY toddler boys, but we tried our best and enjoyed them being silly too! I LOVE all things fall, even though the weather hasn't really been cooperating lately. Griffin and I are headed to Midland on Monday while Jason is in Asia for 2 weeks, so maybe we'll get to enjoy some crisp and cool fall days while we're there!

This was the best shot I got of RJ, Elijah, and Griffin

I just love this one...Elijah expression is priceless as Griff's attempting to swipe his pumpkin

Silly boy

Lluvia was putting a pumpkin on her head to try to get the kids to look and smile, Griffin decided to copy her instead!!!

22 weeks

I am 22 weeks along in my pregnancy. I'm feeling great, and baby girl is moving like crazy! I am pretty tired once I hit the bed at night, but that could be due to a busy toddler more than anything. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is flying by, and we can't wait for February to meet our precious baby. I've been in trouble for not posting a belly pic so here you go!

Crazy Life!

We've gone MIA again but for good reason. We put our house on the market at the end of July and it sold at the beginning of September! We were very excited except the buyer needed us out in 30 days. So the packing began and went super fast. We are also building a new house in Cinco Ranch, which won't be finished until the end of November. So, we were basically going to be homeless for about 6 weeks. Thankfully, Jason's parents offered to have us come live with them until our house is complete! This was a huge life saver as no apartment would do that short of a lease. So last weekend we moved out of our home for the past 6 years, which was bitter sweet. Things have been a roller coaster ride for sure but we are happy to be settled and thankful to have such a beautiful, comfortable place to stay in the meantime.

Also, sadly the week before we were to move out, we lost my sweet Aunt JuJu to cancer. She was my Dad's sister and such an amazing aunt. She LOVED life and lived it to the fullest. I will miss her SO much it makes my heart hurt to think about it, but I know she's no longer suffering and in a much happier place. Can I just say...cancer SUCKS! I really HATE it. I will cherish the many precious memories I have with my aunt, and I'm so happy Griffin got to meet and spend time with her!

We love you Aunt JuJu

Happy Birthday Cousins!

Carson and Lyndon turned one on September 13th so we headed to San Antonio for their birthday party the weekend before. My camera battery died a little ways into the party so I didn't get a lot of good pictures, but take it from me, it was an amazing party! They did a sock monkey theme and decorated with lots of vintage toys. There was a bounce house, roller coaster car, popcorn machine, balloon lady, ball pit, pinata, and lots of yummy food for the kiddos. Patty, Leslie's mom made the most adorable cake, I can't believe I didn't get a picture, but they cookies give you an idea. Griffin had a BLAST playing with his cousins and all their friends!

Darling tables and chairs for the kiddos

Sock Monkey cookies by Patty

Playing in the bounce house with Carson

Trying without to get a good picture of Mimi and Pops with their grandkids

Griff was a huge fan of the popcorn machine!