Dreaming Big!

On New Years Eve while we were visiting GiGi, we sat around the table and we asked the boys about what they thought the future would hold for them.  I wrote it all down, but I had misplaced the papers (story of my life).  I just found them, so I wanted to write them in the blog so I would have them forever.

We asked Alex first what life would be like in his house when he grows up.  This is his reply:

  He would have:

     5 cats!  Named Brownie, Paws, Claws, Jonathan and Foxy

     2 dogs named Jack and Alma

     2 fish named Oso and Tough-O

     5 Kids! Named Max, John, Princess, Cinderella and Samuel (the baby)

     A wife that has:

        blue eyes

        blonde hair

        purple dress

        8" tall, then he changed it to 4' 2"

        and knows how to Boogie!

        He also said that her name might be Belle

We then asked Eric what life would be like in his house when he grows up.  This is his reply:

   He would have:

     3 Cats named Batso(cause its a boy name), Curly and Chancy

     2 dogs named Sparky and Dancer

     1 Bat named Batty that will hang from a bridge

     3 Kids named Donder, Blitzen and Aurora.  He said when they get older he'll call them Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.

     A wife that will be named Wife-O or Cinderella  and she'll look like a girl

I absolutely love my bays!  Maybe we need to lay off the Disney movies a little.  I am excited to watch my boys grow and their perceptions of life and what the future will hold.  

9 Months!

Guess who turned 9 months old on Saturday?!?  Josephine had her 9 month checkup today and she is doing great.  The doctor was loving all of her sweet smiles and scrunched up noses that Josephine was handing out freely today.  Our little princess is growing up so quickly, it's hard to believe that she is already on the downward slope to her first birthday!

Such a happy girl!  And look at those TEETH!

Here are some fun facts about the little goober!

She has her own form of getting around, it isn't crawling, but it is efficient for her.

She crawls backwards, which REALLY makes her mad when she is trying to get something in front of her.

She eats pretty much whatever we do and loves it all!

She can find any Lego on the florr, no matter how tiny.

She is into everything and VERY busy

She is trying to pull herself up on things, but once she's up, she forgets that she has to keep holding on

She knows she is the little princess and loves to flirt with strangers

She loves her toys and her brother's toys too

She has 7, almost 8 teeth!

She knows how to get her Daddy's attention and he will drop everything to get to her

She smiles for the camers (those really cheesy grins)

She is in the 65% for height and weight and the doctor says she is completely on track with everything.

She still keeps her bows on most of the time, and if they aren't on her head, they are in her mouth.

She thinks that anything the dog does is hilarious!

I often refer to her as an octopus...I swear she sprouts extra limbs and becomes slippery whenever I need to dress, carry, change or do anything with her!

She is full of joy and it overflows to anyone that is near her.

New Year's Weekend

James had one more vacation day to use before the end of the year, so we took a mini trip down to GiGi's house to do some fun things.  We had purchased some activities on Living Social and we decided to enjoy them!

First we took the kids to Crocodile Encounter in Angleton.  It was AMAZING!  Even though it was super cold (for us Texans) it was really cool.  We saw quite a few alligators and crocodiles.  We saw turtles and snakes and all kinds of fun stuff.  We will definitely be going back in the spring so that we can see the animals when they are even more active.  I was trying to figure out a way to have the boy's birthday there, but I really don't think I can get our friends to drive 2 hours for a birthday party.

After we left there it was still pretty early, so we decided to head down to Galveston to do another activity.  We had initially planned to do it on Monday, but it was supposed to rain that day, so we decided to seize the day!  We went to the Pirate Museum.  I must admit, it looks like a rinky dink tourist trap from the outside, but it was SUPER cool!  We all learned a whole lot and had a good time playing in the museum.  I love that our kids enjoy learning and museums.

On Sunday we went to church with GiGi and enjoyed seeing friends that we hadn't seen in a while.  While we were there I had to take Josephine into the hall because she was being a bit...loud.  My friend from high school was also in the hall with his baby.  It was a surreal moment...there we stood rocking our baby girls in the same hallway we had walked through a gazillion times while growing up!  I guess that saying "The more things change, the more they stay the same" is true.

Monday was pretty laid back.  I mean really, what do two Mormon parents with three kids do one New Years Eve?  We eat pizza and watch The Odd Life of Timothy Green!  I highly recommend the movie by the way.  It was nice to be able to relax for a day before heading home.

On Tuesday we went home to wind down before James had to go back to work.  It was really a fun weekend and one that the kids are still talking about.

Christmas

I am finally getting a minute to sit down and upload pictures and update the logs!  I am sad that we didn't get our Christmas card out this year, but I am working on sending out New Year's cards!  We got our pictures done late this year and with very little vacation time and James working long hours, we didn't get pictures done until the Saturday before Christmas!  Well, I figure that most people were also having a rough year getting it all done because we only received 5 cards!  I hope everyone is recovering from the holidays, I know a whole lot of people were sick and crazy busy.

Santa pictures were definitely memorable this year!

Christmas was wonderful here.  We were able to do some fun things with the kids and really make it a good end to the year.  We went and saw Christmas lights, made cookies, watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (per Eric's request), made gingerbread houses, saw Santa and did our Advent calendar.  We didn't adorn the house to the extent that we usually do because of the house being on the market, but we kept it nice and simple.

Reindeer Cookies

Christmas Lights at the Gullo's

Our "Gingerbread" Nativity

We spent Christmas Eve with James' side of the family.  It was wonderful.  We enjoyed time with everyone and sharing laughs, gifts and a delicious meal.  The boys really liked meeting their new cousin.  Eric loved to touch his hair!  Josephine really needs to get some more hair so she can keep up with her baby cousin.  We love having family so close to us and I can't imagine having it any other way.  We are so blessed to be near each other.

Alex was really excited about Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa's house

Christmas Eve Pajamas

Christmas day my parents came over and we enjoyed more laughs, food, gifts and excitement.  The boys were over the moon with what Santa brought them!  They had been asking for Skylanders for about 8 months!  Finally they got it and they were so excited.  Josephine really liked unwrapping gifts and playing in the paper and ribbon.  She made us all laugh with her excited squeals and expressions.

SKYLANDERS!!!!

Thanks Santa

She loved her maracas

She loved all her new toys

modeling the hat Grandma made her

The day after Christmas we had a showing scheduled!  It was CRAZY but we got the house ready to be shown at 9:30 in the morning the day after Christmas!  If ever you want your house cleaned up after a holiday, just have someone schedule a showing!  We crammed 3 dogs, 3 kids, GiGi and myself into our van and drove around while the prospective home buyers looked at our home.  A cold front finally came in that morning and it was COLD!  Well, for us it was cold.

Eric loves his new pillow pet!

Alex loves his new Legos

After everyone left, and Christmas was done we found Moroni like this!

We had a wonderful Christmas and feel very blessed to have so many wonderful things to celebrate   For the first time in a few years I really got into the Christmas spirit and it felt like Christmas.  There was so much joy and love in our home that it was bursting at the seams.

Piano Recital

I have to brag on my Alex for a bit now.  Alex played in his very first piano recital!  He has only had ten lessons and he played beautifully!  I am so proud of him.  He went up and performed with such confidence that he radiated happiness.  He played Mary Had a Little Lamb and Jingle Bells.  He really loves the piano and loves his teacher very much.  At first he was upset that I had signed him up for lessons without me asking him, but now I have to pry him away from the keys so he will do his school work.  I am so grateful that he loves music, because he really has an ear for it, and has since he was a baby.  He is getting so big!

He is such a ham

Such concentration

I LOVE that smile

Alex and his teacher Sister Weaver

8 Months Old on 12-12-12

Josephine is 8 months old!  Can you believe it!?!  She is growing up so quickly and really developing quite the personality.  She is definitely as fiery as her hair, which is coming in nicely.  Here is a brief update on our little princess...

on 12-12-12!

*She has mastered scooting around on her bottom and is trying her hardest to crawl

*She waves hello and goodbye and says "Hi"

*She claps her hands and says "Yay"

*When we ask her 'How big is Josephine?"  She raises her arms above her head and we say "So BIG!"

*She LOVES to sing and tries to overpower the choir during practice

*She scrunches up her nose when she is being silly

*She plays Peek-A-Boo

*She definitely lets you know when she wants your attention (and not quietly)

*She hates anything dressed up (santa, mascots...)

*She loves pulling things out of containers

*She steals food off of your plate any chance she gets

*She has 6 almost 7 teeth!  (She's a piranha!)

*Her brothers make her laugh all the time

 *She got her first baby doll and LOVES it

*She is becoming very busy!

I love this smile!

In her Christmas outfit!

The Chick-Fil-A cow had tried to shake her hand...she wasn't taking her eyes off of him

Loves playing in the laundry baskets and helping Mommy fold laundry

November

Well, I cannot believe it!  It is almost December!  November has flown by and it was a wonderful month.  Well, time to update.  I will start with the most important thing that happened in November...my birthday!  Just Kidding, but really it was amazing.  My husband is one of a kind, and yes ladies, be jealous and men, take notes!  I don't know how I got such an amazing man, but he is always keeping me smiling and keeping life exciting.

This year for my birthday I really wanted to go to the zoo with our family.  I LOVE the zoo!  I just love the animals and I love watching my kids at the zoo.  We haven't been since Josephine was born and I was really wanting to go.  Well, money was a bit tighter than planned and my van needed some serious attention in the brakes department.  I was super bummed out to not be going to the zoo.  Still, James took off Friday and while he worked on the car I went and got a massage.  When I returned from the massage the house was a man's version of "tidy" although when I came home James was mopping the bathroom (should have been my first hint something was up) even though I told him not to worry about mopping, I would get to it tomorrow.  I was starting to really be grumpy because James wasn't doing anything about dinner and just wanted to lay around the house!  Then, out of nowhere he loaded us all into the car (he even woke up Josephine from a nap!) and took us to Wal-Mart (oh joy...).  Now I am down right irritated!  I'm hungry and my birthday has been a flop!  No cake, no ice cream, no dinner...nothing!  Well after he took us on other random errands we headed home.  He started texting on the way home and I yelled at him and told him to hand me his phone and I would send the message for him.  He refused to hand me the phone...now I knew something was up.  By the time we pulled into the driveway I was telling James that I just wanted to go home, put on my pajamas and go to bed.  Then, I saw some cars parked in front of my neighbors.  I complained that they were having ANOTHER party, then it clicked.  I HATE being surprised.  I can't stand being startled or scared and that fear started to set in.  I didn't know what was behind my door and I didn't want to go in.  I was trying to shove my kids in first (real protective mom huh!).  Finally James pushed the door open and our home was filled with friends yelling SURPRISE!  I don't know how he did it, but my husband had pulled off a surprise party!  I had even seen most of these friends during the week and nobody even hinted bout anything!  I was totally surprised and overjoyed.  I wasn't forgotten!  We then enjoyed cake and pizza and lots of wonderful friends.  It really was a birthday I will always remember!

Right after they surprised me...the shock was still setting in.  Look how smug James looks!

Me and Edrea (my Chinese sister!)

 The other big thing about November is the obvious...Thanksgiving.  I was very proud of myself!  I cooked everything except the gravy and it was yummy.  We invited some friends to join us, so when all was said and done there were 14 people in my little house!  Eight of which were children.  My home was filled with laughter, yummy food, smiles, friends and family.  It was the best Thanksgiving I have ever had.  I wish I had pictures of the day, but I don't.  I got so busy cooking and cleaning I totally forgot.  Then josephine caught a little tummy bug, so I didn't even get a picture in her little turkey outfit because she yucked it up.  I will just have to live it in my memories.  We are truly blessed and we have so much to be thankful for.  

Eric as a pilgrim at his school Thanksgiving program and lunch

Silly boys at Eric's School Thanksgiving Program and Lunch

Josephine enjoying the Black Friday ads while watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

I know I didn't update on Josephine turning 7 months, but we are almost to 8 months, so I will update then.  Let's just say that lately she is so wiggly it is like trying to handle an octopus!  SHe scoots on her bottom and is full of giggles and personality.

7 Months Old!

 December will be here in two days and I am looking forward to creating some new memories with the kids and to enjoying some of our established traditions.  So until next time...