Our visit to the Botanical Gardens

Our playgroup went to the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens to visit the Butterfly Exhibit and to have our Easter egg hunt. Carter was very hard to keep up with inside the butterfly exhibit. The did not allow strollers, so I had to try and keep up with him and keep him out of the water. He kept running back to the waterfall and trying to climb in. Cooper really liked it, but Conner didn't like how hot and humid it was in there. Then it was off to lunch and an Easter egg hunt. The boys did really well. Even Carter did better finding the eggs than I thought, except for when he shoved a foil covered egg in his mouth and tried to eat it, foil and all. Doing outings like this is a ton of work, but I hope we are making memories that are real and meaningful to them.

Cooper turns 5!

Despite my denial, I am now the mother of a five year old. For some reason five just sounds older and bigger and more grown up than four. When someone has a four year old, you think...toddler, can't tie his shoes, can't wipe his bottom, still at home with you all day. Now, I have a five year old. He's no longer a toddler, he still can't tie his shoes, but thank God he can wipe his own bottom. And the saddest part of all is that he'll only be home with me for 6 more months. The idea both excites me and terrifies me. I'm excited to have a little more time and sanity only having to deal with two kids all day, but I'm terrified to think how much I'll miss him, how I'll have no control over what he see, hears, learns, says, touches, eats and God only knows what else! Will he be a good friend? Will other kids like him, will they tease him? Will he obey, behave, learn? My eyes are filling up with tears as I type, but I also know that he is smart, funny, well-rounded, self confident and a natural leader. I stand on what I know is true, and that is that even if I can't be with him, Jesus can be and will be with him every step of the way. Good grief, he's not even in school yet, chill out! I'm sure there will be a much more tearful post come August! So be prepared!

These are some pictures from his birthday celebrations. Every year since his first birthday, we go to Chuck E Cheese on his actual birthday and then he has a separate party with all his friends. We had his party at the YMCA swimming pool for the third year in a row. The kids think it's cool to swim during the winter and it's cheap and easy for me! Win Win! Here are a few pictures of the festivities.

The Trains at North Park

On Friday we took the boys and my mom along with our good friends the Smiths (Zack, Julia and Mac) to see the train display at North Park Mall in Dallas. Our playgroup went a few weeks ago, but I was really sick and we didn't get to go. I knew that Conner would love it, since he's always loved trains, but I was actually very surprised at how much Cooper and Carter enjoyed it! They were in awe of the endless kinds of trains and all the little 'people' and city life that was going on around them. No, it's not huge and only took us about 20-25 mins to walk through it, but the expressions on their faces and the fact that Conner is still talking about it made it well worth the trip. I would recommend it to anyone who needs a fun holiday tradition to do with your family! Here are some pics of those expressions I was talking about.

"CHOO CHOO!"







"Wow!"

Carter spotting some candy!

Our first trip to Mt. Rushmore!

Conner was in train heaven!

Carter spotting a familiar face...Thomas!

Our stop in NYC!

Mimi and Conner in NYC.


A group shot!

Christmas Day!

Twas the night before Christmas, so we laid out our cookies and notes for Santa, and headed off to bed. The next morning, we decided to torture the kids and make pancakes for breakfast before letting them see their gifts from Santa or open any presents. Aside from trying to sneak a peak every now and then, they did really well.
One thing about this Christmas I hope to never forget was during Christmas Eve dinner with around 50 or so family of my grandmothers, Cooper was deep in thought about something. Then he turned to me and asked; "Are Mary and Joseph on the donkey right now?" My four year old son was thinking that since tomorrow was Jesus birthday, that Mary and Joseph must be on their way to Bethlehem to have him right now. It blew me away that he was insightful enough to think of this! So, I explained to him that yes, Jesus was born on Christmas day, but only once a very long time ago, just like he was born once and we celebrate his birthday every year. He seemed to understand, and went back to eating.

Every Christmas I am reminded of how truly blessed I am with my family, my husband, my children and most of all with a savior who would have come even if I was the only one to believe in him! Our day was so relaxing and peacful, with lots of fun, toys, naps and food. Papaw and Jean worked so hard to make our time there relaxing and full of wonderful memories. Jean even went so far as to have a seperate tree for each of the boys, with a singing puppy stocking on top. She knows how to make each one of them feel so special.(spoiled rotten) We love them so very much!

Making cookies for Santa

We decided to let the boys make some cookies for Santa. This is another tradition I'd like to start doing ever year. Plus it was much easier with several extra pairs of hands to help! The boys had a blast doing it, and it was good for them each to have their own space to work, their own dough to roll and their own cookies to decorate. It was a great memory to make!

The second best thing about Papaw and Jean's house...

Jean's tub! They love to "swim" in Jean's jacuzzi tub. She always adds tuns and tuns of bubbles so that when the jets come on it turns into a bubble wonderland. Carter was terrified of the jets, as was Conner, but we eventually warmed them up to the idea and they got bubbles and water on every last inch of that bathroom. Jean always makes sure they have a blast at her house! And boy do they!