School Christmas celebrations

This week, Big Brother had his first school Christmas program. His preK class sang while a lady narrated the Christmas story. It was your typical preschool Christmas program, filled with the distracted kid, the one trying to steal the spotlight, the scared kid, the waving-to-his/her-mom kid, etc. It was so cute, and Big Brother did a great job. 

This week was also the Christmas "feast" for Big Brother's class. The feast included chick-fil-a nuggets and a chocolate birthday cake for Jesus. What's not to like? :) Little Brother and Baby Girl also attended. I think Little Brother really enjoyed the feast and playing in Big Brother's classroom. :)

Now Big Brother is out of school for a few weeks for Christmas break. What to do, what to do?

Baby Girl meets GranDenny

Mimi and GranDenny came out for a visit before the year was up so that GranDenny could meet Baby Girl. Whenever they visit, we have a lot of fun but also end up doing a lot of projects around the house (some that aren't even planned!). We also were able to go to a Christmas parade, Downtown Disney, celebrate my birthday with a little early Christmas, and Papa Bear and I got away (with Baby Girl) for 24 hours to begin looking at 2015. It sure was a fun (and productive) visit.

Thanks for coming, Mimi and GranDenny! We love you!

Baby Girl is 3 months old!

Baby Girl turned 3 months old. She is a delight. She's a good eater, good sleeper, and the boys still adore her. We can't imagine life without her!

This look has some sass to it. I love it (for now)!

Scaling back

This year, I decided to scale back a bit for the Christmas season. The reason I say I is because I have been the "crazy" one the past couple of years who has planned an activity for every day of December leading up to Christmas. It wasn't always a BIG activity, but it was always something. This year - whether it is because I now have 3 kids, because one kid is in school, we are still settling into our house after the move and baby, etc. - I decided to lower my expectations for myself. We are still doing the Elf on the Shelf (it's fun to move him, and we aren't particularly extravagant with his placement), a family advent reading, and still going to Christmas events (parades, SeaWorld Christmas, Disney, to name a few), but it seems relaxed compared to years past. If we plan to go somewhere but it doesn't happen, it's not a big deal. The kids aren't expecting to do an activity everyday, but they are enjoying the season, and having a less-stressed mommy makes it more enjoyable for everyone. This doesn't mean that next year I won't go back to doing something daily. I might, who knows; however, this year I think I'm doing a better job of knowing my limits and am enjoying the Christmas season with my family. Besides, Jesus is the reason for the season. When I'm getting caught up in planning activities, I can quickly lose sight of that in an effort to entertain or be entertained. Merry Christmas season, all!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! We have so much to be thankful for. This year we did something new. We made a paper chain and in November wrote something we were thankful for. This was a great way for us to remember what we have been blessed with, and I think that the timing was perfect as we enter the Christmas season that can so quickly be overcome by materialism. {Big Brother is already wide-eyed and wanting everything when we enter stores. Marketing works on this kid!} Listing things that we have and are grateful for - material and otherwise - reminds all of us how "rich" we already are. Some examples that our kids have said? The blue sky, windows to look through, grass to run in, family, Jesus.

Thanksgiving this year was low-key and uncomplicated, but it was perfect for us. Grandpa Adams came to celebrate with us and meet Baby Girl. We spent most of the morning watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, had our Thanksgiving meal for an early dinner, FaceTimed with some family and friends, and are finishing the day by watching football. So grateful.

Oh Mia, oh my

Mia came to visit last week and help out while Papa Bear was traveling, and I am so glad she did. It was a full week with activities and getting things done when I didn't have to arrange for a babysitter. Yea! I got a haircut, redeemed a spa gift certificate, went shopping, and even went to an event to kick off the Christmas season (yes, I know, Thanksgiving hasn't arrived yet). Not having family nearby helps me appreciate family even more when they do visit, and with the arrival of Baby Girl and the holidays, we are seeing family more than usual. :)

Silly big brother ;)

Thanks for the visit, Mia!

Just to see you smile.

We have such a smiley girl, and we love it! Here are some recent pictures to enjoy. Feel free to smile along with her. :)

I cannot forget the precious big brothers, so here you go!

Papa John visits

Papa John and L came to visit and meet Baby Girl this past weekend, and Papa Bear and I went out on our first kid-free date since Baby Girl was born. It was just dinner, nothing fancy, but it was still nice and everyone did well.

It was also a great win for the Baylor Bears on Saturday. Maybe because we were decked out in Baylor gear? Haha. Sic 'em, Bears!

Two months and a lost tooth

Two days ago, Big Brother lost his first tooth! We had friends over for dinner a few days prior, and Big Brother discovered one of his teeth was loose. I thought he was kidding at first. I was NOT (mentally) prepared for this. Big Brother was fascinated by it, wiggling it often and showing the loose tooth to people. On the way to dinner Saturday, he lost his tooth. Big moment for Big Brother, and now he proudly displays his "window" (but he hates that we call it that). I think it makes him look even bigger!

Big Brother had his five year old check-up today at the doctor. He is growing right on track, still tall (60%) and skinny (10%).

Baby Girl had her two month appointment today. I knew she recently went through a growth spurt, but I had no idea how much. She grew almost 3 inches in a month. This surprised even the doctor, so she was measured twice! She weighs 11lb 6.5oz (53%) and is 23.75in (95%). She also received shots (boo!). We are grateful for our kids' good health! Baby Girl smiles a lot these days, is a very relaxed child, still eats and sleeps well, and is a joy. We are so thankful for this precious addition to our family.

Pumpkin patch & Halloween disappointment

I have seen so many cute Halloween pictures. For us, Big Brother suddenly had a high fever on Halloween night, so things didn't go as planned. It was rough. I took the two youngest out trick or treating with friends while Papa Bear and Big Brother stayed home, trying to lower Big Brother's temperature. It was heart breaking. Big Brother was devastated. He had been looking forward to Halloween more than any of us. Little Brother ended up really getting into the trick or treating. In fact, I had to literally pry the candy bucket from his fingers at bedtime (there was crying). Big Brother ended up getting to go to a few houses but nowhere near as many as he would have liked. You see, we live on a street that has a tremendous turnout for Halloween, and this was a time it was really tough to be an adult and make the responsible decision to NOT let Big Brother go trick or treating. It was the right decision (Papa Bear made it, so I give him the credit), but it was tough nonetheless. I hope next year's Halloween goes much more smoothly. Maybe we will even get a picture or two of our kids in their costumes. For the curious, Big Brother dressed as a construction worker and Little Brother was a fireman. Baby Sister was just cute in a Halloween outfit.

Despite the disappointing Halloween, we had fun earlier in the week selecting pumpkins at a pumpkin patch. Big Brother and Papa Bear even carved one of the pumpkins, and it turned out very nicely. We had hoped to go to a pumpkin patch while Mimi was visiting, but that didn't end up working out. Thanks for the pumpkins, Mimi!

There was a little bit of fighting over the wagon...