Christmas at Honey's

WARNING: There are a lot of photo's but I couldn't delete any. My bad habit of posting all photos.

We are at our fav sushi restaurant, Fujiya, in San Antonio. I had not had sushi since Trysten was born and Dustin and I were in need, ha. It was so good!

Harlowe and Parker, so cute!

Everyone, CHEESE, ha!

Get ready for the action photo's. I was just clicking away because Parker did not want anything to do with Harlowe and her kisses, ha.

We had a great Christmas, but we missed my brother who is still in Afghanistan. Pray for our troops, it is a great sacrifice, what they give up to fight for our country. And my sister-in-law will say it is a great sacrifice for her too, I don't know how she does it by herself, lots of wine, ha.

We had a great time just hanging out together with the kids. Parker and Harlowe only get to see each other once a year, but they got along pretty good. We had our traditional seafood dinner for Christmas, crab legs and shrimp, delish. We got a lot of great gifts, personalized books from Fred, Christina and Honey. They are very cute and original. They tell a little story about their name which is so cute and Trysten got a personalized Christmas story.

What can I say, life is moving by so fast, I am just trying to soak it all in.

Harlowe is starting school on Monday, I am kinda sad about it but I know she is so ready. Dustin of course is so excited but every time we talk about it, I have been kinda down. You have to understand, it's my baby. Soon she will be at the age where she won't want me to hug her and kiss her or she will want to be with her friends, not her mom. Boo Hoo, time is going by so fast. Dustin thinks I am crazy of course but I can't help it, I need professional help, ha.

Dustin and I looked at a couple of schools and let me tell you, they aren't cheap. We really wanted her to go to a Montessori school and luckily we found a good one right by our house that we both agree on. But on our quest for schools, one of Dustin's clients suggested a reasonable school, not Montessori of course but a good one she liked. She is a former teacher so Dustin was all for it, the day we toured the school, he asked me if I brought the checks and he was ready to make a deposit. But me, not so much, the crazy person I am had to Sherlock Holmes inspect it, ha.

I hated it, the teachers looked young and some of there undies were hanging out of their pants to say the least. There were only two teachers certified and as I ramble on I guess I sound like a big snob. But Harlowe is our precious little girl who we think is a genius, ha. No really beside the potty training thing, she is pretty smart. Anyway, luckily we found a school we love and they try to serve organic food too, love it!

I am praying for my little girl, but I think I need all the prayers I can get. Dustin is dropping her off because I think I will have a melt down. I was getting teary just touring the school, am I insane or what? Please tell me other people feel the same way, ha.

Trystee, my precious baby boy, what can I say, but I am in love. After Harlowe I really didn't think I could love another person like I love Harlowe, but God just opens your heart so wide, it is amazing. I just love the way he looks at me and smiles so big. I love the way he holds my neck so tight like I am his world. He is so different from Harlowe, he loves anyone and everyone. He loves his daddy and Dustin can make him laugh and giggle. Dustin loves to dance around with him and swing him in circles, he just laughs and laughs. I think he is going to be Daddy's boy.

We started him on solids early, about five months, I know I am a bad nurse. But at least it was by a spoon and not in his breast milk, right? Anyway, he can put some food down, ha!

He loves oatmeal, that is his fave but I am running out of breast milk so I told Dustin to lay off the oatmeal. He mixes five ounces with one bowl and my marshmallow man can down the whole thing in one sitting.

These are the foods we have tried so far: Rice Cereal -constipates him so we are staying away from it

Oatmeal

Peas

Green Beans

Sweet Potato

Bananas

Apples

Pears

Cannellini Beans

Carrots are on the menu today

Christmas Photo Op with the Different's

Harlowe was not having it, taking pics with Great Grandpa Roy.

Family Photo Op

This was Harlowe after we bribed her with candy. Look at that face, she is such a sucker for candy. Where does she get that from, ha. My poor Trystee, he is a trooper. This is their great uncle John.

This girl is such a character, I love her to death but she is a handful.

I know I have the same pictures over and over, but it is so hard for me to pick which picture to post because they are all pretty good. I guess I want Harlowe and Trysten to look back on this blog and not miss out on anything. I am not really big on scrapbooking or making photo albums so this is it. I really love blogging because I really lay it out there and hopefully they can see how happy, overwhelmed, stressed and elated we were having our little family.

My mother always says how good Fred and I were and how she cannot remember anything bad about us when we were younger. Now the teenage years, that's another story, ha. I think she has blocked it out of her mind because having children is hard work. I just want to remember every minute of it because I know my mind is going and I will probably say the same thing when I get older, ha.

I just remember when I was single and even when Dustin and I first got together, not really feeling fulfilled with my life, like something was missing. Until I had children, I feel so blessed that God gave me children and a wonderful husband. I think being a mother is the greatest gift that God has given me. Some days I do feel stressed and overwhelmed, like I need to just bust out and cry, but then I look at Harlowe and Trysten and I am okay again. Days have gone by so fast where I don't take the time to sit down and really thank God for all my blessings. And there have been days where I don't make time for my husband, I am so focused on dinner, groceries, cleaning and tending to the kids, I forget about Dustin. This year I am going to make it my mission to focus on my marriage, because it all started because we fell in love. And everyday I am so thankful for my life and my family.

Christmas at the Different's

Dustin's Dad with Trysten

Dustin's Uncle, John, waiting patiently to open his gifts, ha.

Harlowe's new dress up doll from her Pop Pop and Nana

Dustin's parent's tree and mantel, with their childhood stockings

Jack did not want to give up his seat under the tree

Harlowe with her new pots and pans from Uncle John. She even got a little kitchen to cook in. She loves to help out in the kitchen. Every time we are cooking, she has to sit up on the counter and start chopping something or adding the seasonings to the pots. Today we had salad for dinner and she chopped up my boiled egg and mushrooms, my little chef.

She got a pink scooter from Nana and Pop Pop. She is pretty good at it and all the kids in our little cul de sac have them.

She helped Trysten open his gifts with Uncle John. It is a light that plays music.

John helping Harlowe ride her scooter in the house. Oh, and she got some cute head bands because her hair is so fine, the bows just slip right out, ugh!

Trysten and Nana playing with a ball that lights up.

Bath time in the sink. I love this little boy to pieces, I can't get enough of him. I know I say that in each blog but it is my last baby so I am smothering, ha.

I know there are a lot of pictures to look at and there are more to come. I didn't want to overwhelm you, ha. We had a great Christmas, I had ten days off which were much needed. I think I was the napping queen. We spent Christmas Eve with Dustin's family and headed to SA for Christmas with my mother.

Harlowe made out like a bandit, she got tons of gifts. She was so excited about Christmas this year, but I was kind of a slacker. We had a tree but without ornaments and Dustin started wrapping the tree with lights and a strand of lights went out so he quit and said bah hum bug, ha. We will seriously get it together next year, that is my New Year's Resolution.

But all in all we were together and healthy and happy (well I was happy, ha), so that is what matters most. I really wanted to start teaching Harlowe the true meaning of Christmas but I didn't find any really good Christian books this year, so I will have to do my research. I really want to instill giving back and being thankful for what we have. I know when our kids get older, I hope to volunteer as a family, and give back instead of always receiving. 

Thank you to Dustin's parents for always hosting such a fabulous Christmas. Including all the great food, I think it is becoming their tradition to have Prime Rib, did not partake, but the salad was delish. Thanks to John, Papa Roy, Drew and Dustin's parents for all the great gifts and fun times. We really appreciate all the family festivities and just being around family is such a blessing. 

Christmas just fills my heart with such joy and I have truly been blessed. I have a wonderful family and children I just adore. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.