Turkey Day 2012

This Thanksgiving we loaded up and headed to Bulverde, but first we made a quick stop in Houston to pick up Braidy and to check on Nena, who was having knee replacement surgery on Wednesday morning. We arrived late Tuesday night, woke up early Wednesday, ate several Shipley's Donuts (heaven), saw Nena around lunch time (she was doing great and in good spirits!), and headed west towards San Antonio. After a huge traffic jam on I-10, we were finally on our way.

We got there and the boys were SO excited. We have literally been counting down weeks and days until we were going to Poppa's house. It was dark, so they couldn't explore much, but we were all relieved to be out of the car!

The next day was Thanksgiving! We woke up early and Poppa took all 3 boys to the airport to pick up Aunt Rachy! The rest of us stayed at the house and started cooking. When the boys got home, they went straight outside and started playing and the daddy's went outside to start stuff for frying the turkey. The girls helped JJ cook, and took a few notes along the way. Quin helped a little, and Braidy make a "Yittle boy pie" out of some extra pie crust dough, a few blueberries, and a sprinkle of sugar. They cooked it, and ya'll, it was SO good! Braidy was really proud of his pie!

One memory we will laugh about in the years to come. Jan had made 2/3 pies ahead of time and put them in the office, which is just off of the kitchen. Well my sneaky little Braidy, somehow spied them, crept his way into the office and had taken a pretzel through the middle of the pumpkin pie, and had eaten a small chunk of crust off the pecan pie. JJ was not too happy and I felt terrible. He apologized, and thankfully we all laughed about it later, but we will not forget that little mishap!

We ate a late lunch and it was AMAZING! I love Thanksgiving! Everything was delicious and I tasted brussel sprouts for the first time, and really liked them. While we were eating, Poppa and JJ asked the big boys what they were thankful for. Crockett answered with "Cows"...which is pretty appropriate. Braidy's answer? Sharks. Crockett looked at him with a puzzled look and said, "Did he just say sharks???" It was pretty funny and we all got a good laugh. We ate and ate until we were stuffed. However we did save a little room for some pie! DUH!

The rest of the day we played outside, fed the deer, drove the Gator, looked at the burned down houses, went exploring, and took a few family photos of the Stone's that night as the sun was setting. Talk about gorgeous scenery for some pictures. Sure puts Lubbock options to shame!

Friday we went into New Braunfels to ride the train and play at the park. Uncle Mike and Aunt Carolyn came to visit us for the day, and we were so glad! They boys loved having them to entertain and wear out! By this time, all the boys, namely my firstborn, was SUCH a grouch. He was in a terrible mood, and I know he was so exhausted! Really all 3 of them were in a mood, so that didn't help circumstances....but bedtime needed to come sooner than later!!! Thankfully, Poppa and JJ went to rent the boys a movie, so they settled down and were silent for a couple hours, and then bedtime came. Thank you Jesus.

Saturday came and it was time to pack up and drive home. We were all sad to leave, but we were ready to be home and in our own beds too. I am almost positive Poppa and JJ miss the boys, but are sure loving the quietness too! We are a lot to handle when we're all together, but they are SO great to enjoy every minute we are there and be really fun grandparents who always want to do whatever it is the boys want to do!

We had a very blessed Thanksgiving. We were blessed to be with family - although we definitely missed our family who were not with us also. We live a very blessed life - and for that we are very thankful.

Birthday Celebration(s)

Am I the only mom out there that thinks we have to (or SHOULD) celebrate birthdays like 12 times? My husband thinks I'm crazy but thankfully goes with it anyways. We always start birthday days with homemade pancakes with candles. That's just what we do, and I love the tradition that it has become. The boys help me make them, and we all sing to the birthday boy!

 Since Nena and Pops drove 10ish hours to come celebrate this little boy, we wanted to have a cake while they were still here! We got an Elmo cake (duh) and had a delicious lunch of Nena's lasagna and spinach madeline (seriously amazing) and then we had birthday cake! By this time, Quin was LOVING being sung to and had blowing out his 2 candles to an art.

 this is him saying "two"

Braidy left to go to Houston with Nena and Pops after lunch, so in the afternoon Quin was an only child for a few hours! We took out his new set of wheels for a spin after our naps and in between company and celebrations. It was a cold, November day, but really nice and pretty outside too! He loved his new bike!

 Then that night, Lulu and Papaw came over, along with the Stone's for one more sweet celebration! He loved the attention and loved the icing even more! He kept sneaking fingerfulls of icing off the cake, but it was his birthday, so he could do what he wanted!

What a sweet, sweet day we had with our 2 year old. It was a fun weekend of birthday celebrations and I wouldn't trade it for the world! Happy Birthday (one more time) sweet Quinny!

Happy 2nd Birthday, Quinny!

I can't believe it's time to write another BIRTHDAY post for my baby boy. Quin is officially a 2 year old, and I cannot even begin to sum up what this year has meant for me, my family and our sweet Quin.

This year he has transformed into a little boy right before our eyes. Really in the last couple of months it has been even more obvious to us that toddlerhood is here! Such a fun stage and such sweet smiles he brings to our faces every single day. He is such a little lover. He will ask for hugs and "tiss" every chance he gets. Rarely will he turn down a request for either. His snuggles are the best, we cling to the moments he lays his head on our shoulder for a quick reminder of how much he loves us.

He has 3 dimples on his right cheek, which means he will forever get whatever he wants! ha! Since the day he was born, he's always been the most content little man I've known, and luckily, that continues even today! He's easy to put to bed, always happy when he wakes up, and rarely gives us grief for bedtime, bathtime, naptime, etc. In fact, one night not too long ago, I was in the living room with him and I guess he was getting tired, because he said "Night Night Momma" and began walking to his room! He does love his sleep, and we are thankful for that!

He has a few favorite things, although not near as "quirky" as his big brother Braidy. He loves "Choc milk", his Elmo, squeeze fruit pouch things, yogurt and yogurt bites, music playing in Braidy's room, brushing his teeth, putting money in his piggy bank, chasing momma, and asking where every member of our family and every friend is 7896 times per day....oh, and asking "WHAT?" another 451,345 times per day. I know he can hear, I just think he knows how to drive me crazy and he likes it!

He wears size 8 shoe, size 2T clothes, size 4 diaper (hopefully potty training is in the near future!), isn't a great eater, but not terrible either. He can sing his ABC's...partially anyways. Pretty good from Q-R-S on. He can count to 13....and everything is "BLUE"! He talks in full sentences and 90% of what he says I can understand with ease. I love that he can tell me what he wants/needs and we don't have many if any struggles because of lack of being able to communicate.

He loves his friends. "Tabors" and "Tape" are his best buddies and we ask about them and pray for them daily. He's taught Tabor how to be a hugger, and Cape is the leader of the pack. They are sweet friends, and I love that my son loves my best friend's boys too!

Quinny J,
I cannot believe 2 years has come and gone. I can't imagine our lives without your sweet face, your loving personality, and the joy you've brought into our home. The Lord knew exactly the hole we needed to fill when he gave us you. I smile more, laugh more, and my heart is full because of you! You are (one of) the loves of our lives and we are forever thankful for you!!!! Happy 2nd Birthday My Love!