Headed South: Bulverde

We went to visit Poppa and JJ for a couple days as we made our trek south to Houston...we broke up the trip on the way there and stayed a few days in Bulverde and celebrated Christmas with them! As always, we had a blast. The boys stayed busy feeding the deer, looking for the kitty cat, going on walks in the "forest", and running wild. The full day we were there we drove into New Braunfels where we spent most of our time at Landa Park walking along the river and playing at the playground. It was gorgeous weather...could not have been more perfect! That night Poppa bought some fireworks for Braidy and John and we made s'mores by the fire...YUM! Quin loved it too, but his favorite part was playing in their big bathtub. He would climb in and out and he thought it was just great! He also got to break in their new stroller when JJ and I took him for a walk up the road. He loved it. We had a wonderful visit and always love spending time in SA! Here are a few pictures of our day at the park...and one in the tub!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning!

For Christmas Eve this year we were over at Lulu and Papaw's house with the Stone's and Aunt Rachy. We had some yummy chicken enchiladas and tried to keep the boys entertained yet out of trouble while we waited for our Papaw to get home from a couple Christmas Eve services he was preaching. Once it was time to open presents the boys were SO excited. We handed out gifts and they dove right in!







Our Annual Christmas picture: (the dogs have been replaced by children - we used to all hold a dog, now it's a small boy!)

After gifts it was time to head home. We were exhaused and the kids were all on the verge of a meltdown! It was time to wind down and go to bed...Santa was on his way! On the way home it was snowing!

Christmas morning was so sweet, just our little family, and 2 really excited little boys! Quin spotted his new car and wanted NOTHING to do with anything else! Braidy's favorite present was definitely his Toy Story 3 characters. Isn't it funny they pick the most random/"smallest" gift you buy as their favorite a lot of the time. This gift was definitely a last minute purchase (I needed one more gift for him) but he hasn't quit playing with them yet.





It was a WHITE CHRISTMAS which couldn't have been more perfect. Braidy associated Christmas with snow this year, so if it hadn't of snowed, it wouldn't have been Christmas! After our presents were opened, daddy even took the boys on a QUICK spin in Quin's new car. Quin hasn't gotten out of his car yet, either. Definitely one of my better purchases off of Craigslist! Shhh don't tell Quin! Ha!




The rest of the morning we played and played. Toys were everywhere, and our hearts were full. We had a warm fire going and enjoyed each other's company. We had lunch over here for my family and then resumed our semi lazy day.

John was with his mom this year for Christmas but he got to come over that night for a couple of hours to open his gifts from us and Santa and he and daddy constructed one of his new Ninjago Lego sets! He was spoiled just like his brothers and he was so excited at all of his new toys, art stuff, and Lego's!




Such a wonderful Christmas!! We are truly blessed!

Polar Express!

This year, Lulu took us on the Polar Express again! We went last year, and this year was just as great! Maybe even more fun since the boys were a little older. They were decked out in their jammies ready to go to the North Pole to see Santa! We had been watching the movie The Polar Express the week before and so I knew Braidy was ready and SO excited!

The boys LOVED the cookies and the "hot cocoa" as Braidy calls it. He finished every last drop...he loves that stuff! Quin ate about 4 cookies and might have been on a slight sugar high. He was ALL smiles with VERY red teeth and mouth, playing peek a boo with Aunt Jess and Aunt Rachy. Braidy and Crockett were really excited about getting their tickets punched, and the conductor punched a candycane in the tickets! They loved the singing elves and chefs and before we knew it we were to the North Pole!







Quin hated Santa for the third time. Lulu tried but he freaked out. Crockett and Braidy loved him and gave him a big hug. Towards the end all 3 boys got a little stir crazy, but so did the other 100 kids on the train, so it was not a big deal. Braidy made a friend sitting in front of us, so he and Crockett played with him and entertained themselves by swinging on the racks above the seats! They were having such a fun time playing on the train together....when Braidy got off the train he said, "Momma, the Polar Express was so much fun! It was "perfect!"






Thank you Lulu for another fun and special Christmas tradition and memory. I know these boys will remember this forever!!!

Silly Quinny

Quin has gotten to be a FUNNY little guy....and he LOVES to entertain. This night at dinner he just kept making this face and we were all laughing at him....so he kept on and kept on. I love his little personality. Such a charmer.



And at our Lifehouse Christmas party, we had a chocolate fountain....as you can probably guess, he LOVED it. He was getting fussy because it was late, so I dipped him a graham cracker in some milk chocolate, and the fussiness vanished. He was in heaven and we all thought his face was very picture-worthy!

Braidy's Christmas Preschool Party

Braidy's preschool class had their Christmas party a few weeks ago, and I got to go. I LOVE watching him in a setting away from me, interacting with other kids and adults....gives me a different view on my boy. He was SO excited to see me...he was just looking around at all the food and goodies and the other parents, and then he spotted me and he just was too precious!

My favorite pictures are of them saying their prayer....or singing it..."God our Father, God our Father, We Thank You, We Thank You. For our many Blessings For our many Blessings, Amen, Amen!" Pretty sweet. Head bowed, eyes closed and everything. And yes, me and another mom were wondering if it was rude to take pictures during the prayer, but I am pretty sure God thought that was just fine =)

They had lots of goodies. I brought the veggie tray because I knew Braidy would eat it up....but instead he ate about 5 helpings of fruit, and ignored the chick fil a nuggets, the sweets, and declined on a piece of cake. Who is this kid???? Everyone was laughing because he kept asking for more grapes....the kid loves some fruit.