Visit from Noah and Ryan's 31st!

Uncle Todd, Aunt Marci, and Noah came to visit us this past weekend, and it was a great time! Noah fit right in with the rest of our wild boys...and other than a few incidents, they all got along great! Noah especially warmed up to John, and John was so good with him! We had a pretty busy weekend. They got here on Friday afternoon, and we immediately made a stop for lunch at Rosa's (Aunt Marci's most favorite place in Lubbock!)...we played all afternoon and ordered some Orlando's pizza that night, with Sheridan's for dessert...another favorite of Aunt Marci's....no wonder we get along so well!






Saturday was Ryan's 31st BIRTHDAY!!! I got up and made breakfast, made the smoke alarms go off with cooking bacon (although I did NOT burn it...really!), and we got busy playing. We loaded up all 4 boys and took them to Chick-Fil-A and they really acted great, considering it was so busy and we had 4 little boys! After naps, we celebrated Ryan's birthday with a cookie cake and a couple presents! That night was my mom's 60th surprise birthday party, so our babysitter came over (she is seriously a God-send!)....and we left all FIVE boys with her....Crockett came too! And she handled it like a champ. I just hope she comes back! We went to my mom's party, which was a huge surprise to her, and it was wonderful. She cried, of course, when she saw everyone, Rach and her brother, Uncle Tim, especially. We stayed for an hour or so and then went out to celebrate Ryan's birthday at Caprock. Some friends met us there, and we had a fun fun time! It's RARE we all get together without kids, so I am pretty sure EVERYONE really enjoyed themselves!


Sunday was church and time for the other Curry's to fly back to Dallas. We had a great weekend, and, although it was super busy, we love spending time with our family!

Tricycle Rodeo

A couple weeks ago Braidy had a Tricycle Rodeo at school. The kids had to bring their "bike"...."decorated"....I slacked in the decorating department, but I didn't know how to decorate a bike. Anyways, Quin and I went to watch his rodeo and it was fun! Braidy was the s-l-o-w-e-s-t rider there, and was holding up traffic most of the time, until his teacher came to get him. I am not sure what the problem was, because usually at home he goes super fast...but he would just stop in the middle of riding and get off and come see me, leaving his bike for everyone to go around. Kind of a disaster. But luckily the bike riding part didn't last forever. WHEW! Then they played some carnival games that were set up, and had a yummy hotdog lunch with his class. I sure think I have a handsome little cowboy!!!

Quin is 15 months old!

Time to sit down, take a breath, and document a little about my now, 15 month old!

You FINALLY took your first steps on Saturday, February 11th...you did it a few times (3 to 5 steps) but that's about it. You walk super stiff legged, but you can do it! You still will walk for us occasionally, but more times than not, we'll stand you up, tell you to walk to us, and you'll sit down and start crawling. So...I think you're just a little lazy. It's ok though, I know you'll be a walker before too long, I am just glad to know you can when you're ready!

I am in the process right now of switching out your clothes from 12-18 months to 18-24 months...pants were getting a little short and your big belly was hanging out of most shirts...I always like change and having a brand new (to YOU) wardrobe every few months is kind of exciting!

You are really starting to talk a bit more every week, although not much of it we can understand. You say MOMMA, BYE, and Hi clear as day. You LOVE shouting BYE and HI at people who are visiting or leaving, and waving or simply holding your hand up. Like 300 times. Over and over and over. You also say "Boo" for Book, and point to it when we go in your room before nap or bedtime...so yes, you LOVE to read. Your favorite is a flap book that you have just about ruined by pulling all of the flaps off of the pages...that is the book you want to read over and over. You understand quite a bit and can follow a simple instruction...although your listening skills are lacking (although I'm sure all 15 month olds are!). Actually I think you have just already mastered "Selective Listening". For some reason you can NEVER hear me tell you to leave Scout's food alone or to NOT go outside when it's snowing and/or raining!

You still LOVE to go out the doggy door, and lately it's been kind of nice outside, so I'll let you play in the backyard and you are as happy as a clam out there. I can't wait for summer. We will be out there ALL. DAY. LONG. The other day I was starting dinner, and looked outside and you were on the trampoline. I went out there to get you down and you saw me coming and got SO excited, so you started crawling towards me, and crawled RIGHT OFF the trampoline and landed right on your head on the picnic table. I was about a foot too far away to catch you. It hurt you and scared the daylights out of momma, but you were ok. Just a little knot on the forehead. Just 5 minutes later you were in the kitchen and you dropped a lid to one of our pots on your little toe. Again, it cut it and you were crying so hard, but you're are a tough little cookie. No wonder I don't get much done around here...look away for 2 seconds and it's never good.

You still sleep from 7:30 or 8 until 7:30. You still LOVE bathtime. YOu seem to be trying to drop your morning nap, but I'm trying to hold out just as long as possible. YOu usually take one GOOD nap a day, and then the other one is hit or miss, you might sleep some or you might just lay in your bed singing, crying, or talking.

You are 100% MONKEY. You can climb almost anywhere. I will not be surprised if you make it up John's bunkbed soon. Your favorite is the kitchen table, because usually there's either a Sonic DP or a McAlister's sweet tea up there...and you definitely help yourself!

You are a KISSER. You love to give kisses...so if Quin comes at you with his mouth wide open, he just wants a kiss. They're pretty sweet, slobbery but sweet and I love each one I get! When he lays his head on my shoulder or cuddles with me, he'll say "awwww".

You are a sweet, busy, handsome, mischievious, loud, loving, precious 15 month old, who keeps life interesting and SO fun!

Chi-town!

My sweet momma turns 60 in March, so we took her on a girl's trip to Chicago to celebrate just a little early! We flew in early on Thursday, February 2nd, and our fun started. We stayed on the "Magnificent Mile" which was awesome because almost everything was within walking distance. We only took a few cabs and those were mainly at night when it was dark and really cold. We definitely got our exercise while we were there!

The first day we ate at Pizza Due', which is famous for their deep dish pizza. And when I say "DEEP DISH" that's just what it was. It looked like a quiche, but with pizza sauce, cheesy goodness, and toppings. My stomach is growling just typing that! The lady suggested we ordered a medium (for 4 of us) and it wasn't very big, (only 6 slices) so we ordered salads, too. Mistake. One piece of that bad boy was MORE than enough. There is no way I could have eaten 2 pieces....I don't think I even finished one. We did luck out though, because supposedly this place ALWAYS has a line out the door, and by the time we flew in, checked into our hotel, and went out in search of lunch or dinner, or LINNER, it was about 3pm, so there was no one there. Score for us! After our awesome true Chicago style pizza, we went to TRader Joe's, a few other shops, including a 3 story Forever 21 (huge disappointment) and no lie (I'm a little embarrassed to say this) we were in our room for the night by 6pm. It felt like 10. We had traveled all day, and we were just worn out.


Day 2 consisted of a morning Starbucks (there was on in our hotel lobby....Score, again, for us!). We got ready, bundled up and went out to explore and find Millenium Park. We got there, saw the BEAN, took some pictures with Marilyn Monroe, and went looking for lunch (yes, food will be a main theme on this blog). We wanted a CHICAGO hot dog, but didn't find the place we were looking for....but we found a "WOW BAO", which after googling and Urban Spooning, and asking a few people that were there ordering, we decided it looked great...and it was! They had AWESOME dumplings, bao's, salads, it was delish. And we didn't feel stuffed, so we definitely had room for a cupcake at Magnolia Bakery. After that, we felt stuffed. But it was so worth it, you could taste the butter in the icing. YUM! We did a good deal of shopping...found an H&M (no disappointment there), a Nordstrom Rack (I was shopped OUT by then) and some other FUN shops! That night we had reservations at Tavern On Rush, and it was wonderful! Steaks and seafood. I had seared tuna, and it was amazing. After dinner, I had some kind of an allergic reaction because my throat and ears were itching, and then later my face and neck turned fire red and I got SO hot...strange, but it eventually went away.






Day 3, started the same as day 2....Starbucks, of course! We took a cab to Navy Pier, which was pretty neat...and pretty cold with it being right on the water. But for Chicago, it was fairly warm, considering they are usually below 0 at this time of year, it was mid 30's-40 everyday we were there. Score, for us...again! At the Navy Pier we rode the big ferris wheel which gave us a great view of the city. We shopped a little, but it was VERY touristy...but we still enjoyed it (since we were, in fact, tourists) and we were glad we saw it! After that, we found Portillo's which serves GREAT Chicago style hotdogs...they were tasty! Dill pickle, mustard, onion, pepper, celery salt...mmmm! After that we went to the "high end" shops (Tory Burch, David Yurman, etc) so it was just to look but it was still fun! I did find a Yurman watch I want to get Ryan....when I have $5300! ha!) It was pretty cold and windy, so we hit up Starbucks again, and shopped as we found our way back to our hotel...but not before we hit up Garrett's Popcorn...again. This place is heavenly. When you turn the corner and are about a block away, you can smell this sugary, buttery goodness. We brought some home, and mine didn't even last a week. It was SO good! We had dinner reservations at Trattoria 10, which was an Italian restraunt. It was good...not as great as Tavern, but still very good. I had asparagus ravioli, and I won the award for "Best Dish of the Night"...voted on by the 4 of us. Everyone's was good, though!





Day 4, we flew out around 3, so we had plenty of time to find a brunchy place...and we found YOLK. Tasty! Jess and I both ordered Crepes (I told you food was a main topic on this trip!) and they were HUGE but AMAZING! We actually boxed our leftovers up and found a homeless, hungry man to give them to (at least we hope he was homeless and hungry)! AFter we stuffed ourselves, it was time to head to the hotel for our shuttle. Sad our trip was over, but ready to get home and see our BOYS! All of them! I sure missed my babies, but they were in GREAT hands with daddy and Nena, who came in town to keep them on Thursday and Friday while Ryan was working, what an AMAZING "Nena" we have. So very blessed! I know she loved her time here with them...I know she was worn out afterwards though! And to my fabulous husband who had the house picked up and ALL the laundry done when I returned...thank you for letting me get away for a few days, and have some "ME" time...You're the best!

What a fun fun trip we had!!! Chicago was SO fun and had the best shopping ever...and I'm not even really a "shopper" so that says alot. We had a great time and I am so lucky to have 2 sisters and a momma who I love SO SO much!

Bye Bye Curls!

Well, it was time. Quin got his first haircut last night! I had been holding off, because I just loved his sweet curls, but they had gotten fairly (or VERY) out of control lately...like super duper shaggy, unruly, and he looked very "RAGAMUFFIN-ISH". I know I'm not the only one that loved them, because I would get stopped multiple times a day by people commenting on his curly hair. Sad. Oh well, he still looks SUPER handsome and of course, more grown up now!

He really did great during the actual haircut! We gave him a sucker (what a lifesaver!) and he got really still (like Braidy always does) and just made his fishy face the whole time! Here are some before and after pictures of our little "man"!

BEFORE:



DURING:




AFTER:

100 days of 1st grade!

John has already been in 1st grade for 100 DAYS! He had to do a project where he glued 100 objects to a poster for class. We looked in our pantry and he decided to use PEANUTS (thanks to Quin's birthday party, we had TONS leftover!) So John and I used the hot glue gun and he glued all 100 of these to his poster! He was super proud of it, and he should be!!!

Quin the Energizer Bunny

Sweet Quin. This is a real life post, about what REAL life looks like these days with you. While I couldn't love you any more if I tried, you also wear me plum out! I thought Braidy was the busiest baby/toddler, you are proving me wrong in so many ways. This sums up my days with you

"If you're not on my hip, there's a mess to be cleaned up somewhere!".

You GO GO GO 100mph ALL.DAY.LONG. Stopping only to nap for a couple hours here and there (which I am thankful for, so I can rest some too!). You are a CLIMBER. In the past week, I have found you on top of my computer desk, on top of the toilet finding the hidden toilet paper, outside on top of the picnic table trying to get on the trampoline, on top of the kitchen table drinking my Dr. Pepper, trying to climb up John's bunk beds, crawling on the fireplace that he had climbed up on. It's a miracle we haven't been to the ER yet for stitches (knock on wood). Daily, he will pour all of Scout's food out, quickly followed by her water, he somehow knows when a bathroom door has been accidentally left open (I swear he has a radar that must go off) and he plays in the toilet water, (sometimes just water, sometimes yellowish water). He empties boxes of sandwich bags, he gets into mom's stuff in the bathroom, it is just never ending! He is an adventurer, that is for certain and he keeps me on my toes to say the least.


With all of this said, although I get super frustrated at times and exhausted, I am SO very thankful for this little ball of energy. He gives the greatest kisses of all times, and he has the sweetest smile. He is So funny and I love that he loves his little life, even though mean ol' mommy ruins his fun sometimes.


Are all little boys like this? Did I just get lucky and have 2 that gave me a run for my money? Do girls do this stuff too? Is this just normal toddler behavior?

Quinny- Thanks for keeping me young and for keeping life interesting! I LOVE You SO SO much!