Another Family Project

Here we go again!  Time to get the creative juices flowing.  Stetson came home from school with another family project this week.  This time we must decorate a gingerbread man.  We love Christmas so this one shouldn't be too difficult!

Here is how he looked after we cut him out from the paper that was sent home.  He has the shape of a gingerbread man but he's pretty plain and boring, don't you think?

Stetson did a fantastic job transforming him into the gingerbread man he was meant to be!

Just look at how he turned out!  I think Santa will be proud of this!

Christmas Decorating

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!  The Christmas season is upon us and we are definitely in the spirit at our house.  We have decorated our house inside and out!  We only lack a Christmas tree but will have one shortly.  We don't want it to be dead before Christmas.  :)

We have a few new additions to our decor this year as well.  So fun!

First and foremost, please meet our newest and most exciting addition, Pickles!  Pickles is our Elf on the Shelf who was named by Stetson and Cassidy.  He is a tricky little elf but we love him!

He's so tricky he has even left gifts for us, like this beautiful Christmas clock.  It plays a different Christmas song each hour (sounds like a grandfather clock).  

We also bought a new tree topper.  If you know us, we are a little Santa crazy so who else would top our tree?

Last year Santa left me this picture on Christmas morning. Needless to say, I couldn't wait to use it this year!

I think I found the perfect spot to display it, along with our new garland.

Speaking of garland, we also added garland on our stairs this year.  The picture doesn't do it justice, but we used the chasing lights and there are berries and pine cones all throughout the garland.

At some point I will take pictures of our outside decor, as well as our tree once obtained.  For now, we are just enjoying the holiday season!  We hope you do the same!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!!  We have so much to be thankful for but most importantly, our family and friends.  I know we don't tell you every day just how much you mean to us, but please know that we are who we are because of you.  Thank you for being a major part of our lives.

Just like every Thanksgiving, we had a feast!  I am blessed with the two best helpers any chef could ever ask for.  

Not to leave my wonderful husband out, there is NO way I could have prepared the meal without him.  Each person that joined us contributed to the meal and it was absolutely perfect.  Thank you, Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Aunt Nick, Natalie and Finley!

I mean, seriously, look at this apple pie Aunt Nick baked.  Not only delicious, but BEAUTIFUL!

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!!

Wordless Wednesday

Amanda's Wedding

After our fun in the sun, it was time to clean up and get ready for the wedding!  My cousin, Amanda, was about to get married in Kempner Park in Galveston.  

I think these two clean up pretty well!

Uncle Dude and Aunt Rock looked pretty sharp too.

The Ratt Pack.  Will we ever get a great family picture??

Here comes the bride!  She looked gorgeous!

Her new husband is in the Air Force and I thought this was really cool.

Once they were hitched, we all went inside for the reception.  Cassidy entertained herself by taking pictures. We might have a photographer in the family!!

Connor was very happy with his Uncle J.

It's hard to believe we got married 11.5 years ago.  

Me, Mom and Raquel

Mom and her two favorite youngest kiddos!

The wedding was a huge success!  The kids had an absolute blast the whole weekend and it's always good to see family.  Bring on the holidays!!

Galveston Island

We traveled to Galveston Island this weekend to attend my cousin's wedding.  This trip was multi-purpose, though, because our kids have never been to the beach and they have never stayed in a hotel.  I guess you could say this was a mini vacation for us!

Our hotel was on the sea wall, so we were very close to the water.  When we arrived, the kids immediately walked out onto the balcony to take it all in. 

They loved it!

Since they were staying in a hotel for the very first time, we had to go over the rules.  Most importantly, this is not home!!  We had two little monkeys very happy to jump on the bed.

 

We didn't have time to actually go to the beach until Saturday, but it was well worth the wait.

We searched for seashells and then tested out the water.

F.U.N.!!!

Even more F.U.N.!

The water was a little chilly.

 But they didn't care!

I wonder what he's thinking...

Nonnie, Uncle Dude, Aunt Rock and Connor joined us on the beach as well!

Cassidy, how did you get that mud on your face?

 Mud pies!  That's how!

My two favorite guys enjoying the beach.

We had so much fun!!  I wish we had more time to enjoy the beach but we had lots to do.  I guess we'll just have to plan a real beach vacation.  I'm thinking Destin!!

Cassidy's First Haircut

Although she is almost 2.5 years old, Cassidy has never had her hair cut.  Her hair is long but uneven, so I decided it was time to get it cleaned up a bit.  She was SO excited to go see Mrs. Jocelyn with Mommy!

Since Cassidy has never met  a stranger, she had no problem doing whatever Jocelyn requested.  She needed a little reassurance, of course, but overall she was all for it!

Big smiles from our big girl...

Doesn't everyone make silly faces when they are seated in front of a large mirror??

 Mrs. Jocelyn, Diddy Bug and me from the neck down.

This is getting serious...

The end result...beautiful!  Jocelyn helped her curl come to life.  :)

And the back is much more even now.

Thanks, Jocelyn, for making Cassidy's hair as beautiful as she is!!

Success

Opening Day of deer season (for rifle hunting) was Saturday, November 5th.  As always, J headed to the lease in hopes of getting a big buck.  I am proud to announce that his task was accomplished Saturday morning!!

Congratulations, Daddy!!  We are so proud of you!

Alyssa's Birthday Party

This weekend we drove to San Antonio to attend Alyssa's 7th birthday party at Pump It Up.  It's hard to believe she's already seven!  My goodness all these kiddos are growing up quickly.  Anyway, both Stetson and Cassidy were super excited to go bounce with their cousin!

This Pump It Up was super cool!  It had so many bounce houses we had never seen before!

Rock walls to climb too! 

I was a little nervous about Cassidy and how she would do on some of the things, but I should have known better.  She's a natural!

Stetson also found an air hockey table...a favorite!

I have to admit that I had a lot of fun playing too! 

Do you think Cassidy did?

We had fun spending time with Connor as well.  He is another one that is growing up fast.

WEEEEE!

I got to slide with all the kids, even Connor.  Again...a total blast.

After bouncing and partying, we headed back to Nonnie's house for dinner.  We made homemade pizzas with the kids and they were delicious.

Cassidy and Connor are finally at the age where they can play together.  I thought this was hysterical.  It is hard to tell, but they were each inside the "bowl hole" for the dogs' feeding station.

After dinner we went outside to blow bubbles.  As you can tell, we had four very tired little ones on our hands.  It was worth it, though!

Alyssa, thanks for inviting us to your party and to Nonnie for letting us invade your house.  We had fun, as always, and can't wait for the next gathering.  Thank goodness we had an extra hour this weekend!