Christmas Gingerbread House

What can I say, Christmas pics in January. We have been making this a little tradition at the Different household. 

I am no architect and my icing skills to hold the house together is lack luster, ha. Needless to say, I had to have Dustin help me assemble the house.

All in all, one side of the roof caved in while the kids were decorating it, epic failure, ha. 

But at least they had fun eating the candy and decorating the house. 

Tryst mainly eating the candy.

I think in every pic, Trysten has candy in his mouth.

The end result, of course I moved the house where you cannot see the caved in roof.

We had a great Christmas but it was kinda stressful on this mama. My mother was in Japan, visiting my grandfather who is not doing well. And my brother and his family couldn't make it either, bummer.

We usually spend Christmas with my family because I only get to see my brother and his family once a year because he is so busy with work.

We were trying to juggle Christmas at our house and Dustin's parents house so we were on the go most of the time. No time for relaxing for this fam, but we had a good time.

Halloween

I cannot believe I am so behind, but better late than never. 

My two kiddos and my friend Jenifer's baby, Hudson, on the right. I know they have matching costumes but I bought Trysten's at the last minute and this is all I could find. 

He refused to wear the mask. 

Harlowe was really into Halloween this year, she loves dressing up and loves candy.

Tryst, not so much, he could care less about dressing up but he loves the candy. He went up to a few houses but lost interest fast.

Tryst wanted to play more than getting the candy.

We brought Rocco, big mistake. It was hard trying to wrangle two kiddos, take pictures, and tend to the pup.

All in all we had a great Halloween. Jenifer and her family came over and we had homemade lasagna and broccoli and cheese.

We walked all over the neighborhood and was beat by the time we made it back.

I am excited and a little sad to say, my baby, Tryst is going to start school at the end of January. Dustin and I have been at a cross roads about putting him in school because the cost alone for both kiddos equals our mortgage.

But needless to say we have saved some money and it is going towards his schooling, for Dustin's sanity, ha.

At dinner, Dustin actually said he was going to miss Tryst because he has evolved so much in the past year.

Both my babies are growing up and I so want to hold onto these years. Harlowe is so loving and always wants to give big hugs and kisses, it makes my heart melt. I just squeeze her so tight and I don't want to let go.

Tryst is at a mommy stage and all he wants is to be held by me, I know he is two and a half and what the heck am I still doing toting him around, ha. He is my last baby and I so want to hang onto the toddler years. All he says is mommy hold you, deep inside it makes me so happy to hear those words.

Dustin says I am obsessed but what can I say I love these two to pieces and I am so grateful God has blessed me with our children. It is hard at times being a parent of two little ones but reflecting back, I can truly say these are the greatest times.

Our New Dog: Rocco

These are some pics of the zoo on one of the nice days in December. 

This is Harlowe's new hair cut, she wanted short hair against all my persuasion, she wanted it shorter than this, yikes. 

Lately, she is picking out her own outfits, accessories and even helping me pick out her clothes when I let her go shopping with me. 

She has made a lot of new friends in our new cul-de-sac, they are all older than her but she fits right in. 

What can I say about my baby, Tryst? He still has a temper and a mind of his own but he is getting better. We are starting him back in school, starting January, hopefully he won't get kicked out, ha. 

He is talking more and loves to read books. 

He loves Dora and Diego, he could watch these shows for hours. 

He loves playing outside and has tons of energy. 

He loves playing Bubble Guppies on the Ipad and this has saved us, when we want to go out to eat. 

He is totally a boys, boy, he will bite the dust so hard, but he will just pick himself up and say I am okay and keep on going. 

Tryst did not want to take a pic

She is taking a pic of her new hair do. 

This is our new pooch, Rocco. It is really Dustin's dog, because he picked the dog out. I would have never paid so much for a dog and now he is trying to convince me to buy a $200 training collar. He convinced me to buy the dog because he said he would take care of it and he raved about how these dogs, Standard Poodle, are the smartest breed.

Dustin has lost his dang mind, I told him if Rocco is so smart, it won't be that hard to train him, ha.

But the kiddos love this dog to pieces and he is really good with them. He is only four months here.

Tonight is New Year's Eve and we do not have any big plans because I am working the night before. So I will probably be asleep before midnight, such an old lady, ha.

I really haven't thought of any New Year's Resolutions but here are a few:

1. Work out more

2. Eat healthier

3. Do things more for myself

4. Live for today and don't dwell in the past, let things go

5. Say No to things I don't want to do, stop trying to please everyone

6. Get more organized

7. Make our home, our home. I haven't been decorating because we move so much but this is the year, our home will feel like us finally. I am on a decorating rampage, ha.

Hopefully, I can stick to these because in the end, I think my life will be a lot happier.

Happy New Year, I hope everyone has a good one.

San Antonio with a View

I know I am including a bunch of summer pics in the midst of winter but what is a girl to do. 

I am trying to play catch up. It has been so bad, I haven't taken any recent pics of the kiddos. 

New Year's Resolution, GET ORGANIZED!!!

I think that is a big one every year, will I ever be organized?

Anyway, these are some pics from my mother's pool on the roof top.

Harlowe is a little character these days, she loves taking pictures.

And Tryst, oh my baby with an attitude. All you can do is throw your hands up and hope for the best with this little one.

Dustin and I had a meeting of the minds, ha. We have come to the conclusion, we need to put Tryst in school. Come January this little one is hitting the road, ha. Lets pray he won't do some serious damage to the other little kiddos, ha.

My crazy girl. This little girl is such a girly girl, and she thinks she is a fashionista. I cannot pick out her outfits anymore, even if she is looking like a hot mess. All I can say is how beautiful she is and give Dustin a dirty look or two when he tries to become her fashion critic, ha.

I love this view, you can see all of downtown SA. We love going to visit, it is like taking a little vacay.

It seems like all my pics are of Harlowe, but Tryst will not stay still enough for me to take his pic. He is always on the go. He is totally a boys, boy. Rough, energetic and rambunctious.

Hopefully, next post will be more winter like, but it is hot again here in Houston. The weather has been crazy. We are still in shorts, I don't mind, it has been kinda nice. We have been spending a lot of time outside.

Lost Pics of Galveston

I am so behind on blogging, these pics are from the summer. Trysten doesn't even look the same anymore. 

Galveston beach is the closest beach to us, it is not the prettiest by far. The water is brown and the beach part is not so clean but for a cheap activity that the kiddos love, what the heck.

We love feeding the seagulls, they practically will eat out of your hand. 

The water actually looks pretty here. 

No more long hair for Harlowe, the kiddos and Dustin were getting hair cuts this week and she totally wanted her hair short. I tried to persuade her out of it but this little girl has a mind of her own. 

It is totally chopped in a bob with bangs. I will have to post some pics. 

Tryst is two in these pics but has changed so much in just six months. 

These kiddos love the beach like their parents. I cannot get enough of the water in the summer time. I wish we could live by a body of water. 

It is November and it is hot, here in Houston. I am ready for the fall like weather. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas time, it just seems so homey to me. A time to hang out with the fam. 

I have been stressing a lot lately regarding my job and I have been praying a lot lately, to just let everything go and leave it up to God. 

That is the hardest thing with me, I know God has a plan for me and no matter what I do or how hard I pray, about winning the lottery, ha. He has a plan for me. I just wish I could let stress roll off my back because I have confidence in his plan. 

Happy Fourth Birthday Harlowe

My baby is now four years old and the time has flown by. When I look at her she looks like a little girl, not my baby anymore.

My mother came to visit for a week for her birthday because we threw her a party, but this unorganized momma did not snap one pic of her party. 

I am definitely not the hostess with the mostest. I was running around the whole time, unorganized and I always tell myself next year I will plan better. 

We started the day with donuts and candles. 

 My mom got her a singing birthday card so that is what she is holding

 We went to Carrabas for her birthday meal and our waiter was so nice, he gave her two desserts.

Tryst is trying to help her blow out the candles in the background

My baby is four and she is such a character and has grown into a beautiful little lady. She is generous, sweet, kind and funny. She has some sass and she has become a girls, girl.

She loves clothes and wants to pick out her own outfits. She loves gymnastics and she still loves to hang out with her momma. She loves to cuddle and be held still. And she still gives me the biggest hugs and kisses. I hope this never changes.

She has a lot of confidence which I envy. She knows she is beautiful, Dustin and I tell her this everyday.

I love this little girl to death and am so proud to be her mother. She makes my days so much brighter, she makes me laugh everyday. I love her smile and her enthusiasm about life.

Happy birthday Harlowe, we love you. You mean the world to us.