So Much to Say...So Little Time!

I know I've been bad about posting...well, actually, I've been good about writing, but haven't gotten around to loading pictures with each blog! There was so much going on over the holidays that I was constantly posting things for fear of getting behind. Once things slowed down a little, I started slacking.

Hopefully I'll have a little time this weekend to get caught up. Here are just a few pics of the kids to keep you interested! :)

I like this picture of Truett because it is very rare that he actually stops and smiles for the camera, but the shadow is weird...it makes it look like he has a mullet! :)

This was the picture from our Christmas card...one of MANY shots!

The more serious side of Truett :)

The more serious side of Emma :)

Baby, it's cold outside!

Playdates Galore!

Truett, Emma and I had our first playdate at our house yesterday. I was so excited about it because I'm always looking for ways to keep Truett entertained.

My friend, Emily, has 2 kids, Siena and Andy, who are both only a couple of months younger than Truett and Emma. Emily...I guess I didn't get any pictures of Andy! I guess you guys will have to come over, again. hahaha!

Siena 'drinking and driving' :)

I worked with Emily years ago when we were waiting tables and bartending while in college. She actually lived in Europe for a while until her hubby finally wisened up and they moved back to the States! :)

My friend, Tracy, also has 2 kids...Jaydan who is 4 and Truett who is 1 1/2.


I student taught with Tracy when I was pregnant with Truett and then ended up being hired to teach on the same team with her the following year. By that time, she was pregnant and when she found out she was having a boy, she and her husband chose to name him Truett, too!

I invited Emily and Tracy over with their kids for lunch and 'playground time'. I thought it would be great to have the kids run around and play and it was give us a chance to have grown up conversations!

Emily and her crew showed up first. Truett was so fired up...a little too fired up for Siena's liking, though! I think he kind of scared her a bit, at first. Truett loves to give hugs and get right in your face, so you can imagine how a 2 year old little girl would feel about a 2 year old boy being this way with her the first time they meet. :)

Then, Tracy showed up with her kiddos and they made themselves right at home. Truett was so fired up to see an 'older woman' and was tickled by the fact that her little brother had the same name as he did! They all immediately ran out to the back to play.

I think Emma was bummed that she couldn't join in all the action...

but decided to make her own fun in the Exersaucer (a.k.a. 'The Neglect-a-tron')

They kids had lunch while Emily and I both fed our babies and once the kids were finished eating, they all headed back outside for more playing. It was really great because we were able to enjoy our lunch without any interruptions. Okay, maybe not without ANY interruptions, but at least with not as many interruptions as we usually get! That's when I realized how happy I am that Truett will not be an only child and as much as a treasure each moment with Emma and have times when I'm bummed out at how fast these 4 months have flown by, I am very excited about the day when Truett and Emma will be able to entertain each other! :)

After we finished our lunch, we headed outside for a bit to try to snap some pictures of the kids before everyone left. Setting four kids lose on a playground does not make for a very easy photo op, so we just settled for some action shots and a couple of 'this is the best we're gonna get' posed shots!





We had so much fun. I'm really looking forward to the spring weather to set in. I'm seeing many more playdates at our house in the future...let me know if you're interested!!! :)

Random Pictures...Part 2

Here are a few more random pics of Emma and Truett...

Truett was supposed to be taking a nap and when I walked in, this is what I found...

I don't think I could have staged this any better, if I had tried. He took out his sleeping bag, put on his cowboy hat and passed out. It looks like he's been out herding cattle or something. If you look closely, you can see 'Dusty' (his stick horse)...YEE HAW!!!!!!!!!

I love this picture of Emma, but I do admit that the pink pacifier is AWFUL! I am happy to report that she has slowly started to lose interest in a pacifier, so hopefully she will ween herself off of it like Truett did! Anyway, my mom bought this shirt for Emma and I love it! It says "Girly Girl"...CUTE!

So They All Rolled Over and One Fell Off...

Well, I'm happy (and a little sad) to report that Emma has officially learned how to roll over from her back to her tummy! I don't remember it happening this soon with Truett, but I'm learning that there are A LOT of things you forget between the first and second child.

I think she may have also be in the beginning stages of teething...ARE YOU KIDDING ME? "Where is the little girl I carried? Sunrise, sunset..."

Happy Birthday, MeMaw!

We went to see MeMaw (Jay's grandma) for her birthday today. She's in a nursing home, so we all went over to have a birthday party for her. She turned 88 years old.

Truett always loves playing with all of MeMaw's singing stuffed animals when we go to visit. She is a big fan of Tweety Bird, and apparently, so is Truett! :)

Aunt Kathy made a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and everytime someone walked in the room, they'd ask what kind of cake it was. Well, MeMaw loves cake as much as Truett does, so finally, MeMaw said, "Would y'all stop talking about chocolate cake? It's making me hungry!" Imagine her excitement when we informed her that she was going to be able to actually eat some chocolate cake today!!! :)

After singing Happy Birthday and sharing cake with MeMaw, we got a few shots of her with the kids.

Uncle Danny and Aunt P were there, which always means fun for Truett. He loves Uncle Danny because with Uncle Danny, Truett gets to ride horses...

and bucking broncos!

He lets Truett pay him in kisses, but not before getting some sort of payback of his own...

Uncle Danny 'riding' on Truett's shoulders. :)

Happy Birthday, MeMaw! We love you so much!

Get Me to the Church on Time!

Yesterday was such a special day for our family...Emma was baptized!!

When Truett was baptized, we chose my brother, John, and my sister, Sarah, to be his godparents. So, when we found out that I was pregnant with Emma, Jay and I started thinking about who we were going to ask to be her godparents. We already knew that we wanted Emily to be her godmother, but didn't know who we were going to pick to be her godfather.

***Side note alert***
When I was growing up, my mom's older brother, Ben, and his wife, Mollie, were like second parents to me. I'd spend the night at their house, they'd babysit if my mom went out of town...I even stayed with them when Emily was born.

When I was 10 years old, they had their own child, Benjamin. I would go over to my aunt and uncle's house and play with Benjamin all day long. I used to think it was so great because Aunt Mollie would pay me $20 to stay at her house and play with Benjamin while she cleaned the house, did laundry, etc... I think it's safe to say that Aunt Mollie was my first official baby-sitting client! :)

***End of side note*** :)

One day, while we were discussing godparents, Jay mentioned Benjamin's name. Immediately we agreed that he would be the perfect choice! I called Benjamin and asked if he would be Emma's godfather and he was more than happy to accept.

So, this weekend, Benjamin and Aunt Mollie came to Dallas for Emma's christening (Uncle Ben was sick). Sarah and I went to pick them up from the airport and we all headed back to my parents' house for dinner.

When we got there, Benjamin and Aunt Mollie gave Emma a sweet pin that says, "Godchild" and the most gorgeous little handmade dress.

The next morning, we got dressed and headed to the church. Emma wore a baptism gown that was passed down from me, to Emily, to Sarah, to John, and then to Truett. She looked absolutely beautiful...like a little doll. We all arrived a little early so that we could take pictures before the ceremony and get a seat up front, since it wasn't going to be a private baptism (or so we thought!). Jay's mom and dad, brother and nephew, along with my family, were all there. Emily gave Emma her first rosary, which we had blessed by Msgr., along with the pin Benjamin had given her.

While we were all there taking pictures, we noticed that we were the ONLY people there. Initially, we didn't think much about it, because we were a little early, so we thought people would start trickling in at any minute. Then, a few minutes later, Monsignor Duesman walks up and asks which priest was supposed to be performing the baptism! Apparently there was a communication breakdown in the office and there were no baptisms on the schedule for yesterday!

Long story short (perhaps it's already too late for that..hahah!) Msgr. Duesman performed the ceremony and we ended up having a private baptism for Emma.

With the exception of the significance itself, the ceremony was pretty uneventful...nothing like Truett's when he spit his pacifier out in the font of holy water when Msgr. poured the water over his head to baptize him! :) Even Truett was pretty 'low key' during the ceremony...or so I thought!

After the ceremony, we headed back to my mom's house for a celebration lunch. I changed Emma into her sweet 'party dress' that Aunt Mollie had bought for her and it was so precious!

Jay made a HUGE pot of chili and we had cake for dessert.

It was such a wonderful day...one that we were so happy to share with our families.

Aunt Mollie - Thank you so much for making the trip to Dallas. We always love hanging out with you because you know how to make things so special. Thank you for being here to celebrate with us and for the sweet and precious dress you gave to Emma. It is definitely a dress that will treasured!

Nannie Em and Paran Benjamin, thank you both for accepting this big responsibility. We know that you will always guide Emma and steer her in the right direction. We love you both so very much and are so proud to call you Emma's godparents. She is one lucky little lady!

Correction

It was brought to my attention that there is an error in the post titled "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". Jay did not propose to me in 2000. It was Christmas Day 2002.

I guess we're all allowed one mistake! :)

Happy New Year!

So, the first New Year's that Jay and I were married, we had been in our house for about 4 months, so we were all fired up about throwing a New Year's Eve party. (We may have even thrown one the following year, too...I can't remember.)

Anyway, after the last one we hosted, I decided I didn't like being the hostess of a NEW YEAR'S EVE party because by 9:00, I was watching the clock wondering when everyone was going to go home! (No offense to my wonderful friends and family who may have been there and who may be reading this) :)

Well, a few years ago, we started going over to the Rash's for a party at their house. The Calhouns and the Mapleses are always there, too. It's great because we all bring our kids, so there's no having to find a sitter, and it's low-key, so there's no having to worry about dressing up. Plus, for those of you who know the other couples, you also know that there is never a dull moment with them!

Mark and Tiffany (The host and hostess) Grace

Sarah - apparently she was flying solo that night because I have no pictures of her hubby Mike...SORRY, Moose!

Emma & Kate (Sarah & Mike's girls)

Brian & Caleb

Trish & Trenton

Jay's buddy, Mike, was there, too. This was the first year he came and being that he doesn't have kiddos, it may have been the last time, too! hahaha! :)

My hubby!

This year, Truett was a LITTLE more independent when it came to playing with the other kids. Of course, I was still nervous about letting him go off on his own to play because I've seen what kind of damage he can do with markers or crayons that may be left around somewhere...not so fun when it's your own house...MUCH worse if it's someone else's house (sorry Mom and Dan!). But, for the most part, he was pretty good.

We did get a 'cry for help' from Grace saying that Truett was choking her (God help me!), but after a quick 'talking-to' with Truett, there were no more troubles...well, with the exception of a few times when Truett decided to slide down the stairs, head first, on his belly! I guess he figured it was the most fun and quickest way to get down. :)

Emma spent the night being passed around to everyone...

Even Kate helped out with feeding her.

I thought Brian was going to lend a helping hand, too, but instead he thought he'd try the bottle of breast milk for himself. (GROSS!) We're still not sure if he actually did it or not, but with Brian, anything is possible!

Milkman extraordinaire!

The grownups hung out and visited while the kids played and ran around upstairs. Every now and then, Mike would send a shout out upstairs to Emma and Kate. Emma wrote it down on a note and gave it to Mike and Sarah...TOO FUNNY!

After the kids all enjoyed some sweet treats, Truett was full speed ahead.

It was about 10:30 when Jay and I loaded up the kids and headed home.

As soon as we got in the truck, he was sound asleep.

We got home, got in bed, and struggled to stay awake until midnight, but we did it!

I am very thankful for all of the many blessings we received last year and am very excited to see what God has in store for all of us in the new year!