Shamrock Christmas

Although 9 hours is a long way to travel when you're 32 weeks preggo and have 2 young kids, it was so worth it to see my Dad, Deb, Sister and Brother-in-law, nieces and nephews, Aunt Becky, and Grandparents.  We always have a really laid back time out in the country.... lots of outdoor fun.  I think shooting the rifle with Pappy (my Dad), and climbing on the hay bales were the highlight for Channing, Jaxson, Chloe, Molly, and Caden.  We had a fun Chinese Christmas, and Channing cried when someone tried to take my gift because she didn't understand the concept.... worked out well for me, ha! By the way.... this was just one of many Christmas celebrations we had this year!  And we stopped in Abilene to see my Aunt and Uncle on the way here.  Many more pics and posts to come.

Aunt Becky

Pappy and Caden

Channing

Chann shooting with Pappy

Chloe

Chloe

Chloe shooting with Pappy

Dad and Grandmother

Me with Dad and Grandmother

Grandpa's Longhorn

Kids playing on hay bale

all the men in the kitchen!  

molly

pax and jax

Our early Christmas!

Well- I can't believe it but it is almost a week before Christmas and I am relaxed (finally) and taking a deep breath.  We really had to do a lot of rushing around to get out of the house over a week before Christmas, but we did it.  Santa came to our house early since we will be in Farmersville on Christmas morning and wouldn't be able to get these big goodies back home with us.  We woke the kids up at 7am after being up late the night before for our playgroup Christmas party to see what Santa brought and to open the gifts from us.  They were so cute..... so excited over every single thing, and went out in the 30 degree weather to jump on the trampoline.   Channing can now ride her bike without training wheels (which I still need to post the pictures I just remembered!), and she got a new big girl bike, and Jaxson got a bike, too.  The next post will be pictures from our 9 hour trip to Shamrock.

poor little sleeping beauty- I feel guilty waking her up!  

okay- what kind of mood is he going to be in!  

alright.... he's happy!  

checking the stockings

chann's new bike

how to train your dragon

jax's bike

my awesome camera bag- thank you paxton!  

paxton's kenneth wyatt paining

they took turns and helped one another- so precious!  

yay--- they can get lots of exercise!  

Fun December Days

Everything is a bit of a blur in December, especially this year it seems.  Because we live so far from all of our family, we usually have to leave a week before Christmas to get started on travels, which cuts a week of preparation time out for me.  On top of that, this year I have been blessed to be just a busy as I could ever hope to be with portrait sessions, but now I am getting ready for a much needed break.  Jaxson is definitely going through the terrible 2's right now... I have NEVER experienced these types of tantrums.  Not that Channing was a perfect angel at 2, but I am almost positive she didn't go to these extremes.  He gets completely unmanageable, and it happened yesterday at lunch.  Me and Chann just look at each other like "What do we do??" and just walk off and ignore him.  Everyone starting at me like.... "Is that lady seriously having another kid?".  I know not to give in to him, but beyond that, I am lost.  Spankings don't help... Lord knows he's gotten plenty of those.  Talking to him doesn't help.  When we're home I shut him in his room until he calms down.... but what to do in public??  He is already making excuses... "Weeeeellllll....  I did this BECAUSE.....".......  "Weeeeelllll....... Dada said I can do it......".  And then he can turn around and be so sweet.  I know he'll outgrow this... hopefully before Feb. when the next baby boy gets here!  Channing has a little boyfriend at school (William)....  although none of us call him that.  It is so cute... they are really just good buddies and she puts her arm around his shoulders everywhere they go.  We all went to Junie B. Jones yesterday and they shared a chair and Bella tried to hold Jaxson's hand throughout the show (Jaxson really wasn't having it).  Anyway- they are both the cutest things in the world and I love them through the drama, temper tantrums, arguments, etc!

Tree Frogs!

We have enjoyed watching all of the little tree frogs hiding on our porch this year, and this morning Jaxy even got to hold one!  Such a pretty day!  Decided to spend some time in nature.... it is such a busy time of year that it feels good to switch gears.

this one is my favorite

they are all over our plants

he was so sweet and easy with the little frog... can't believe he got to hold it!

not sure what this is! 

One of my favorite views is the sun peeking through trees!  

Happy Holidays!

This has been a WONDERFUL holiday season so far.  Thanksgiving was so laid back with only Mack and Mary Ann coming to our house, but it was pretty relaxing to not have a huge house full and tons of work to do.  We also got Jaxson's big boy room set up (and the first 4 days he hadn't gotten out of bed once....  seems to be getting a little more restless now which isn't a good thing!!), moved the guest bedroom set into Chann's room, and got the nursery pretty well set up.  The food on Thanksgiving was so good, the weather was pretty all weekend, and we just had a good time.  Saturday Chann and I went to Fredericksburg to meet my aunt, cousins, and Nana... had a blast.  Sunday we decorated the house for Christmas, and even decorated our new golf cart and rode around Sunday night.  So it has been a busy time as well.  Back to Jaxson and the big boy bed... he hasn't gotten out of bed until early morning, but he really isn't sleeping as well.  He wakes up screaming several times during the night... "I'm cold!  My belly is cold!  Where are you Momma??!!!"  I am trying to teach him that he can cover himself up, but he hasn't gotten the concept yet!  Channing loves having that big cozy king size bed in her room, even though her poor little room is all bed now!  By the way, in my last post I mentioned that I assumed I had passed my glucose test- WRONG.  Got the call the next day and took the 3 hour test on tuesday.  It was AWFUL!  I was so sick.  I hope to get good news from that test soon!

Ready for the meal

Cooking together!  Love my hubby!  

not very helpful

snapping green beans

with papaw

the reason for the season! 

our pretty turkey

in time for the Cowboys (to lose)

did meg and gracie's pics in Fredericksburg

our decorating day!