New year, new things

I am trying to do at least 1 craft project a week with Reid to reinforce what he is learning at preschool.  This week they are learning about the letter L.  Reid made a lion and named it Gracie.  Precious.  Love it!

Letting Riley learn to feed himself yogurt with a spoon.  Didn't go so well the first time... :)

Riley has started this new thing where he likes to go into his room and look at all his books.  He especially loves the part where he climbs into his chair all by himself (proudly I might add) and "reads" his books. 

Riley has learned to scoot himself forward on his riding toys.  He was only riding backwards and somehow figured out that these things go forward too! 

I love all the new things the boys are doing.  It's fun to watch Reid draw shapes and cut with scissors.  It's wonderful to see Riley continue to grow & develop.  I love seeing him do things that I watched Reid learn for the first time when he was that age.  I can't believe my itty is 18 months old already!  Reid is almost 4.5 and getting to be more of a BIG boy everyday.  Where are the days going?  I know I will look back on these days & remember them being the easiest when they are 15 & 12 years old.  Right now it can sometimes seem exhausting and overwhelming.  I hold each moment precious & dear and thank God each day for these gifts! 

Happy New Year!

Mr. Napkin Head

Okay, remember the movie The Holiday?  I LOVE that movie.  One of my all time favs to watch anytime, but especially during the Christmas season.  I probably watched it 5 or 6 times this past season.  Remember the part where Cameron Diaz surprises Jude Law and comes to his house only to find out he has 2 kids?  I love when they sit down at the table to drink hot chocolate, and the girls ask him to do "Mr. Napkin Head."  Cracks me up every. single. time! Well, we had a little fun of our own this morning with Rod doing his own rendition of "Mr. Napkin Head!"  

Love the boy's reactions!  This was a funny moment... priceless.  Makes me laugh just thinking about it!  Love you babe!  

You're the BEST Dad ever!

New Year's 2011

We had a kid free weekend this past weekend (thank YOU Mimi & Papa!) and decided it would be fun to have a few friends over.  It was a fun, low key night, but just a great time with my close Bible study girlfriends and their hubs.  We ate lots of great appetizers everyone brought, played a VERY fun game (thank you Stouffers!), and everyone stayed to ring in the new year at 12:00 on the dot!  Was probably the first time in a while we have stayed up till midnight on NYE to ring it in!  Happy 2012 everyone! 

Here's to hoping & praying it's a blessed & prosperous year for all of you!

Christmas Day 2011

Riley had a LOT of fun with the boxes!  Big surprise!

The garbage truck Reid has been asking Santa for.  I think he's pretty happy!

Riley's new plasma bike.. he's a bit too little for it yet, but Reid sure is having fun with it!

Reid's reaction to his motorized jeep Santa brought him. LOVE. THIS. FACE!

Our pretty table before Christmas dinner.

My mom, dad, & grandmother, and us... Riley is back there in his booster chair.  Just can't see him! Oops!

Riley is loving him a piece of our Happy birthday Jesus cake!

Reid's sweet Great-grandma

Reid was loving helping EVERYONE open their presents!

My grandmother, Mom, Riley, Dad & Reid

We had a great Christmas this year!  It was fun celebrating with both boys.  Reid really got into ALL of the fun traditions & things we did this Christmas.  Seeing Christmas through a 4 year old's eyes was priceless.  Loved every minute.  Riley came along for the ride and even though he doesn't know what Christmas is yet, he was still so sweet during all the things we did together.  We tried to do a lot of fun things in & out of the house this year to celebrate the season while trying to keep the focus on Christ and the celebration of His birth.  We had an advent calendar that Reid opened up a new door everyday and it had a fun activity for him to do.   We also lit a candle on our advent wreath to talk about the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas.  Reid is still a little young (and of course Riley too) to get all of that, but we feel it's important to start these traditions now so that he & Riley will know about them at an early age.   We had my mom & dad, and grandmother over on Christmas night and got to have a fun time eating wonderful food and letting the boys open a few presents from them.  Over all it was a wonderful 2011 Christmas.  We had a ball and will have fond memories of all of it!!  Can't wait till next year!  Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve

Boys all dressed & dapper before Christmas Eve service

After the service with our sweet boys.

The boys opening one gift on Christmas Eve-- their Christmas pj's. 

Setting out cookies for Santa.

"Feeding" the reindeer.  :)

We had a fun Christmas Eve with just the 4 of us this year.  We all got dressed up that evening & went to Christmas Eve candlelight service at church.  It was our first time to ever do this as a family.  Such a neat time.  The boys went to the children's nursery and Rodney & I got to worship with Christmas songs and listen to our pastor speak.  I was so overwhelmed and got really emotional singing O Holy Night in the service.  That is my absolute favorite Christmas song and I just felt overcome with emotion thinking of Christ's birth & what He did for us on the cross so we wouldn't have to suffer.  His love for us is amazing and incredible.  I am constantly in AWE of our precious Savior and how he became man, walked on the earth with His people, and then died on a cross for our sins. 

This is the TRUE reason for our celebration of Christmas & I just want instill all of these precious gifts in our boys.  We have talked a lot this month about this being Jesus' birthday and this is the REAL reason we celebrate Christmas.

We had a fun night of worshipping the Lord and eating as a family afterwards.  It was so sweet to do this as a family of 4 for the first time.  When we got home, the boys got to open one gift (a new tradition we started this year) and it was their Christmas pajamas.  Reid was thrilled to open a present & even more excited that he had cows all over his new pj's! He set out cookies for Santa & then we let each of them spread out some "reindeer food" on the front lawn.  It was a great way to start off our Christmas celebration!  

Too much to post about Christmas day... stay tuned for more fun pics!

Christmas Day sneak peak

We had a very fun Christmas Eve & Day this past weekend.  The boys were SO much fun and this was a really neat year for Reid since he seemed to really "get" Christmas and all the traditions behind it.  Riley Roo could have cared less about all the presents, but was just enjoying tearing the paper & carrying around all the boxes.  :)  We had a ball!  Stay tuned... more pics to come!

Christmas with Nana & Grandpa

Maybe Reid will grow up to be a doctor just like Daddy!

Love Reid trying to take the blood pressure of his foot!

Mommy & Daddy before a night out!

Rodney & his sweet parents

 Last Sunday Rodney's parents came over to celebrate Christmas with the boys.  They are going to San Antonio to see Rod's sister, so this was a fun time to celebrate!  Reid got a cute little doctor set, and some clothes.  Riley got some cute books and some clothes for next summer.  It was so fun to watch them open presents.  Riley had fun just tearing the paper and trying to put everything in his mouth!

Nana & Grandpa stayed for a while & babysat so we could go out to dinner with some friends that night. 

Merry Christmas Bill & Millie!  Thank you for the sweet presents for the boys!