MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Blake's Christmas Program

This morning Blake had his Christmas program at his preschool. They sang a few songs and recited a couple of bible quotes.

Look how big he is!

He did such a great job!

I made reindeer food for Blake's classmates. Now you are probably thinking I had these made a couple days before. Well.....no!



Around 7:00 p.m. the night before I sent Billy to look for the baby food jars.



Chase decided to have a double ear infection, so it took me twice as long to get him to sleep. Then I decided since I finished reading "Twilight" that I needed to watch the movie.



So about 11 p.m. I finally started and about 2 a.m. I crawled in bed. Then 2:15 a.m. my little Chaser decided he was not feeling well and needed me to stay up and rock him all night.


Sick baby = 0 hours of sleep,
Trying to figure out how to make my reindeer food project successful =4 hours of frustration,

14 little 4 yr old's ready for the reindeer on Christmas Eve and a night of holding my baby.....

PRICELESS!

Santa's Wonderland

The last time we went to Santa's Wonderland when Blake was 9 months old.

Blake is such a sucker for anything that has to do with Christmas. We have been listening to Christmas music since the first of November. He was begging me to put up our tree a couple weeks before Thanksgiving. Blake watches Polar Express about a million times during the Christmas month. He thinks the Christmas tree lights should stay on even when we are sleeping.

If you have never been then you don't know that Santa's Wonderland is a big deal around our area. People come from all over and line the highway to experience Santa's Wonderland. Not only can you drive through and see the lights, but you can park, pay an entrance fee and get to hang out in this old 1800's town. Then you can jump on the hayride and tour the lights. I felt we need to go all out and go the hayride route.

Well it was pretty cold that night and my boys are Texas boys. I would say it was around 38 degrees. The way Blake was shivering you would have thought a blizzard had blown in on our Texas land. I don't think Chase really understands the meaning of hot/cold weather he just sat patiently, not one little moan. Poor little thing when I put him in the bath that night his little feet where so cold I thought they were going to break off.


Waiting on the hayride to start!

It was so peaceful that it put Chase to sleep while he was standing up! I leaned over and whispered, "Chasey bug you're missing all the lights." He gave me one of his million dollar smiles and turned to enjoy the rest of the ride.



Gig'em!!!

Thanksgiving Week!

Our Thanksgiving holiday began the weekend before with decorating the Christmas tree. We do have a fake tree because of Bill's environmental allergies and I'm about 99.9% sure Chase is probably allergic to trees.

Last year was pretty crazy around Thanksgiving because Chase was only about 2 weeks old, so we were pretty sleep deprived still. This year was much more relaxing.

I was really excited because Blake was so helpful. This was the first year that Blake has taken such an interest in decorating the tree. We have been listening to Christmas songs on the way to school since first of November.

The stockings below are made by my mother. We each had one growing up and when we got married mother added our spouse's name. They still remain at my parents house and they still get filled each Christmas. So, I loved the tradition so much I had my mom make all of us a Bucilla stocking and they are absolutely beautiful!

Below are the Christmas decorations on the fireplace mantel. I did a little Christmas decor shopping this past weekend, I really did not get to last year. Actually, I was just to tired to do anything last Thanksgiving.

Just love our stockings so much that I had to add another picture!


Here is the final product. My tree pretty much looks the same every year. I'm really into the Hallmark ornaments. Both Blake and Chase have a series and I add to it every year. I'm hoping one day I will have only Hallmark ornaments on my tree.
The Blakester checking out our tree!


Gotta love decorating for Christmas!


Chase "helping" with hanging ornaments!

Blake my little elf

We had a great Thanksgiving. I had a late lunch at my house.

My niece and Blake ending the night with a game of football.

Watching the Aggies trying their hardest to beat t.u.

Just random pics I took of the boys on Thanksgiving. Of course, had to deck them out in A&M outfits.

Our Thanksgiving group - my in-laws & parents. Like I said I'm so thankful my family and Bill's have merged to be one big family. We now spend numerous holidays together.

We thought it was a great idea to show Blake what it was like to cut down your own tree. So, we went to Tim's Christmas Tree Farm in Wheelock. They had many wonderful trees to pick from and our nice 8 ft tree we picked only cost us $40.00. Since, we could not put the tree in the house Billy placed it up in the front of our house. When we get finish decorating the front I will post pictures.

Chase trying to keep up with his big brother and daddy.

This is how it's been lately...Blake wanting to do everything his daddy does.

What great brotherly love!

Our sweet family

The "B" man

Happy Thanksgiving!

I have a lot to be thankful for:

(No Specific Order)

McGovern Allergy and Asthma Clinic,

It's ONLY food allergies,

Blake has adjusted so well to school,

Chase does not have to attend daycare

(we love you mammy),

I am 31 years old and I still have grandparents,

My mom and dad are healthy,

My in-laws are healthy,

My family is willing to travel to my house for the holidays,

My beautiful Christmas tree,

My awesome scenery I wake up to every morning,

My job, my co-workers, and my students,

Billy's job,

My husband who still loves me even though I have gained a "few" pounds,

My family and Billy's family have merged to be one BIG family,

My niece and nephew who take time out of their teenage lives

to play with my two little boys,

My Aggie tradition

(GIG'EM AGGIES),

My happy, healthy family,

TO NAME A FEW!!

I'M JUST THANKFUL!!!

What a celebration!

Saturday we celebrated Chase's first birthday! It was an exciting evening with lots of friends, family, food, and fun!
His cake was made by our favorite baker, April. To bad he could not have any, not to worry I had enough for both of us!

First birthday invitation with birth announcement

Chase's little girlfriend, Tessa

Aunt Shannon

Noah and Tessa

Took a few train rides around the ranch

My niece, Kourtney, the official train driver

The Moore Family

Reghan and Ryan

The birthday boy!

What a year it has been! Happy Birthday Chase - here's to a happy, HEALTHY year!

Happy Birthday Chase!

This morning Chase received his first birthday present for his 1st birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BOY!

Dentist Time!

I can't believe it's already been six months since our last visit to Dr. Badger. I feel like we were just there a couple days ago.

Yes, I did pick Dr. Badger because of his last name (my maiden name) and no we are not related. How often do you find a Badger?

Blake's visit went just fine like always. His teeth were cleaned and flossed. There are no cavities and looking at the x-ray there is a 90% chance he will not need braces.

Chase also had an appointment, even though he has only 4 teeth. He could not have his teeth cleaned because of his peanut/nut allergies. Apparently there is a nut base in one of the teeth cleaning products.

Dr. Badger ask me if I had his epi-pens because he had another product to use, but he wanted the epi-pens "just in case." I was thinking there is not going to be a "just in case" situation today. I think he could feel my nervousness by my shaky voice and the tears whelping up in my eyes when I politely told him not to! Dr. Badger did look at all 4 teeth as Chase screamed and said it all looks fine and dandy.

I have no pics of Chase because I had to hold him during his exam!

So, Blake will return in May as a big five year and Chase will return in one year as a whopping two year old!

All in all it was great visit and we love Dr. Badger!

Kolby's Homecoming or should I say HomecomingS!

My first memory I have of Kolby (9 years ago) is him setting fire to his bunk beds. Now my pyro nephew has grown into a smart, handsome 15 yr old.

Mara attends Rudder, so not only was Kolby going to his homecoming at Consol he also went to her homecoming. I thought her mum was very nice, especially since his favorite aunt made it, wink!!!

What a cutie!

Tiger Homecoming! Mum made special for Mara by Graff Incorp. Always room in your heart for your mommy!

I wonder what I will feel like when Blake or Chase attends their first homecoming...?!

I was very honored to be apart of both these special days!