Owen's Winter ONEderland Birthday

Oh my gosh people, I cannot believe it, my baby boy is 1!  Cue the tears!

My sweet precious little guy is now officially not a baby and I have to admit I am 

finding it hard to deal with at the moment.  

My sad Mama's heart doesn't negate the fact that we still had a party to throw!  I mean you 

only turn 1 once right?  And what a major accomplishment when you think

about what all babies accomplish in that first year of life!

I had been pondering what "theme" to do for this little laid back guy.  For his brother it

was so very easy because balls were all he played with!  But Owen likes pretty much

anything and everyone, so having something specific to him wasn't quite

as easy.  Luckily my mother found the cutest theme of a Winter ONEderland on pinterest

and we just went from there.  Isn't pinterest awesome?

This was by far a super easy party thanks in part to the principal at the elementary school here. 

She loves to decorate anything and everything and she had all of these decorations on hand 

besides the table cloths!  My mother was gracious enough to bring them to me as 

well as help out with supplies for the party.  Her, my grandmother, grandfather, aunt and cousin

all helped set everything up the night before (I know, I really do have the best family).  I was

so thankful for their help because I had been laid up with a sinus infection for two days and

didn't get down there until late! 

Some of the refreshments.  I loved the water jug that was supposed to resemble a melted snowman!
We also had hot chocolate and chili, along with "snow" powdered donuts and pop-corn in snowman cups.

The banner said "Happy Birthday" with snowflakes behind it.  

We later put monthly pictures I had taken of Owen on the tree to show his growth!

The DELICIOUS cupcakes our friend and surrogate "grandmother" Lolli made for us!

My Birthday Boy!

What party would it be if there wasn't train ride!

I had some handsome help opening presents!

Ready for some cake!

My friend, Shaina, made his darling smash cake which was also DELICIOUS!

HE was nasty, so nasty that I didn't want to get him out.  My brother did that for me.

It was definitely a two man clean up job!

Reid and his two favorite people in the world basically!  They get married in like 47 days!  Woohoo!


All in all, Owen had a terrific birthday!  I couldn't have done it without help, especially from my mom
who bought banners, table cloths, made gum favors, and everything in between.
Seriously she is the best and I am so thankful for her and all her help.

We are so blessed by our little man and are excited to watch him grow up into a wonderful man of God!

The Slow Motherhood of Littles

Guys, let me tell you something, motherhood is special.  Especially motherhood with littles.  I think it is one of the hardest times in life, as well as one of the sweetest times. 

I am not sure how God does that, but it happens and there are some days you have just especially

special glimpses into what life is really all about.  

This time in my life I feel as if I am constantly behind, trying to stay one step ahead,

and teach, and train, and listen, and correct, and smile, and play, and. . . 

That list could go on and on!  However, something is happening to me, something I 

didn't really see coming honestly. 

I am starting to "mellow out" as a mom. 

While I don't mean I am becoming lacks on what my children do, how the respond, or behave

I am talking about how I am learning to stop.  

To take the time to listen and join in on their little laughs, to see what is bringing so much joy.

To run for my camera instead of for a correction when I see toilet paper 

strewn from the bathroom to the living room in one long strand.  

To take the time and just be with them.  

I know this is not a shocking revelation, especially to some of you older moms.  

I understand now that although I have a duty to my home, I must first love my children.

And oh I want it to be said of me that I loved them well.  That I took time, listened

sought out their hearts, and opened up mine.  I need to realize I have the

chance now to watch them play without the added stress

of school work, practices, sleep overs, and everything else that comes with "older".  

I must enjoy this stage, because as hard as it is and as slow as it can be, that is where the beauty

lies.  In the slowness.  In the monotonous.  In the constant training, listening, correcting, and loving.

God, please don't let me miss it.  Please don't let me wish it away for someday

when things will be "easier", when they are bigger, when I am not spending

every moment of most every day in their presence. 

 Help me to realize.   

This life is fleeting.  These moments won't come back.  These times of littles will 

soon be a distant memory.  And I pray I am there.  That I will be all there.  

Christmas Morning 2013

 I hope everyone's Christmas season was a good one!  We are working on getting back into the swing of things around here, as well as finding places for all the wonderful goodies the boys were given. . .  My mother took a ton of pictures of all the festivities that happened around here, so I am going to do them in all in different posts since blogger is taking FOREVER to download pictures now (anyone know what is up with that?).  I decided to start with Christmas morning since it is just our boys and both sets of grandparents.

We didn't get much for the boys this year. . . Just a few necessities and things they really wanted.  I am not a big "toys everywhere" kind of person and like to try and keep the common areas of the house from looking like two littles live here. . . Believe you me, these boys aren't lacking for anything, they got so many things this year it was unbelievable.

Isn't he handsome with his "devil horns"

We found a pea coat at old navy!  Best thing ever

Opening up his brother gift

I made both boys a cape this year. . . Reid has been less than impressed.

Reid opening up the main toy we were excited to get him, a microphone stand!

This of course wasn't everything, but all in all we had a very sweet and relaxed Christmas morning. . . I was so ready for Reid to have the microphone.  He plays his guitar (which he got a new one for Christmas from Noni) almost every day and wants to sing into his microphone like Daddy!  He used to make us hold a play microphone, but of course that got old very quickly.  Then we tried to rig it to something or make him pretend he had one (wrapping paper roll stuck in the toy box worked wonders for a while).  Then Mark stuck a microphone in his boot in his closet.  Finally he was able to have this one, and oh how he has liked it!  So much fun to listen to him going to "practice" in his room.  

Tree Triming 2013

 I don't know about you, but trimming the tree is one of my favorite things to do for the Holidays!   Mark actually tells me it is not called trimming the tree if it is artificial, but decorating it.  However, I find something so rustic about saying "trimming" so that is what we're gonna say.  Seriously though, there is something so magical about cranking up some Christmas music and reminiscing over ornaments you haven't seen in a year.  I love the family togetherness and I can't wait to see how it evolves as our kids grow older. I hope to make this one of the most special memories of home they have.  Until then, back to the present day.  Reid has really enjoyed Christmas this year, and though he is still working on grasping the big concept, all of the fun things are great.

Here are a few iPhone pictures snapped.  We were on our way to head to a family pre-thanksgiving meal this day.  Though we are normally die hard "no tree up until after Thanksgiving" people, we knew we would be gone from Thursday to Sunday to celebrate in Tyler, so up it went.

Seriously couldn't you just eat him up?

This is one of my favorite ornaments.  It was my great great grandmothers.  Her arms are tucked behind her back btw.

Proof that the parents actually do exist!

Sweet Owen on his first tree trimming!

My heart is full

I love this sweet boy!

Reid got the job of putting the star on the top! 

Too. Much. Cuteness!

Here you get an instagram video of Reid singing Frosty the Snowman!  Enjoy!

Thanksgiving 2013 and our Blessing Tree

Thanksgiving is quite possibly my very favorite holiday.  You get the togetherness of family, the good food, the awesome desserts, all without the stress of gift giving!  I love being able to see family and spend quality time with the people I love.  The further along I get into mine and Mark's marriage the more I feel his family is now mine as well.  This year (number 5) it really felt no different being at his house than it would if I were at my own.  For this I am truly grateful.  I don't know if it is the maturity that came with being older now, or what, but I am just glad it happened.

Several things happened over the Thanksgiving holiday, one being we were able to see Blake, Mark's twin, and his new wife Whitney for the first time since their wedding! It was so good to see them as a newly wed couple and just catch up with life and how everything was going.  Of course we were also able to see the other couples as well, and we talked about how awesome it was a that everyone was married finally!  I was also able to get a new phone with Black Friday deals, a Samasung Galaxy S4, for FREE!  I was a little pumped.  Being an apple girl, I was nervous about the switch, but I absolutely love the android operating system.  It took some getting used to, but we are rocking and rolling now.  After I got mine on Friday at midnight, 2 of  my sisters-in-law went to get the same deal!  You just can't beat it!  All of the pictures I took from that weekend are taken with my galaxy, so bear with me.

My two guys sitting down to Thanksgiving lunch!

A full table!  Finally!

These plates are what my MIL asks for for Christmas! They are beautiful!

Playing with Daddy and Uncle Blake 

While the girls clean up dinner!

Owen loves his Aunt "Whit".  I got him chilling out with her more times than one!

We were able to help my MIL put up her Christmas tree!

She also sewed me a tree skirt to match the stockings she made for me!

Isn't it beautiful!

In line with my sisters at best buy waiting to get a phone!

Every year at Thanksgiving Mark's high school friends get together to play games!  It is a great time had by all!

Lastly his next picture, I have to say this was one of my favorite things to do in November.  I had the idea to make a "Blessing Tree" and put our blessings on leaves every night at bible time!  It was the neatest thing to watch our leaves fill out the tree as we went on.  I wrote down everyone's blessings they thought of this year, and planning on doing this every year!