Christmas Morning at the Different's

Christmas morning at the Different's

Our tree looks a little crazy because the kiddos decorated it and we just left it as is.

I don't know why Tryst is the only one dressed and we are all in our PJ's.

A basketball hoop for Tryst, I need to buy another ball because Rocco bit a whole in the little basketball. So needless to say Tryst hasn't really played with it.

Rocco is just a puppy but growing so fast. He is only four months old here, I think.

I found these necklaces on Etsy, I love them but Harlowe will not wear it for a long period of time because she says they are too heavy.

Santa bought Tryst and Harlowe a tee ball set. I really want to enroll Tryst in tee ball but he is not old enough yet. He starts swim lessons at the end of February.

Harlowe wanted something to practice tying her shoes and now she can do it herself. It takes her a few tries but she is pretty good at it. Dustin has really been working with her.

She loves Doc McStuffins so Santa brought her a doctor's kit

Rocco trying to help open the gifts.

Tryst loves his tool set. We bought him a bunch of electric tools.

Harlowe was really excited about Christmas this year as you can tell.

Tryst finally started school this week and he actually did pretty good. Dustin said he really didn't cry that much when he dropped him off. Dustin has to be the one to take the kiddos to school because I don't think I have the heart to leave them.

We, not really, I let Tryst bring his blankie to school because this is his comfort measure. Dustin thinks I am crazy but a new school and without blankie, I can't be that heartless, ha.

He still doesn't want to potty train but hopefully the teachers can whip this little boy in shape.

Harlowe is so attached to me lately, she doesn't want me to go to work ever but I guess this is normal. I always tell her I have to go to work if she wants new clothes, toys and wants to go fun places.
She will usually be okay with this explanation but lately she has been saying, "I have enough new toys and clothes. I just want you to spend time with me."

Isn't that the sweetest thing? I have to blog about these moments because one day she will want to spend all her time with her friends and leave me in the dust, ha.

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.