Happy 2nd birthday, Ashton!

We're celebrating by having an Aggie party since they're playing LSU in the Cotton Bowl tonight. This is in great contrast to his party last year.

Man, I love this boy!

*He is still an insomniac.

*Funny as hell.

*Stubborn.

*Adorable with his curly hair.

*Football player in training.

*He's finally talking and can say most everything. Amongst his first words was "denied" since Ethan always says that to him when they're playing football.

*He calls Ethan "EE", Eve "Weev-e", Emma "Emma", Aiden "Addy" but won't say Anderson or Ehren's names.

*He's a good 35 pounds and probably 3 feet tall. I'll let you know exact stats after his 2 year old check-up.

*He's kind of a bully and often uses the distraction method when he wants his way. E.g. Ashton wants the toy school bus, but unfortunately Anderson is playing with it. Ashton grabs another toy, waves it in front of Anderson. Anderson takes the bait, goes after the other toy and Ashton plays with the school bus. If this doesn't work he'll just snatch the toy away. As mentioned, he's a 35 pound 2 year old and can snatch toys rather easily.

Happy 2nd birthday, little man! Our lives (and sleeping patterns) were seriously altered the day you were born!

2011 Wishes

Wishing you and yours a lucky, prosperous, FANTASTIC 2011!

Merry Christmas, 2010

National Cemetery

Great Grandma Adkins' grave.

What beautiful images of all the Christmas wreaths at the National VA Cemetery. For the past 17 years Maine's Worcester Wreath Co. has made and decorated wreaths to adorn the headstones of those who have served. "Wreaths Across America" places over 20,000 wreaths on graves at the Houston National VA Cemetery every year!

What a tribute.

9 reasons I'm still married

1. He's obviously a total stud. Then and now.

2. My mood swings are not acknowledged.
3. He's an expert gardener, nanny, housekeeper, chauffeur and cook.
4. Even though I still have tons of baby weight to lose, he hugs my midsection and proclaims "You are really skinny!".
5. He adores me (and all my flaws).
6. He adores our flawless children.
7. He genuinely only has eyes for me.
8. He loves to eat sushi, Mexican food, pizza, seafood and all the other stuff that I love to eat.
9. He's kept his glass-half-full view of the world even though mine has always been more the glass-half-shattered sort.

Santas of Christmases Past (and Present)

Yea! After only a 4 year hiatus, we took an updated Santa picture!

Ehren, Anderson, Ashton and Aiden with Blair (2010)

And all the old Santa pictures that I love so much. My how my kiddos have grown up. :)

Ethan, Eve and Emma (2003)

Ethan, Eve, Emma with Madison, Alexis and a pregnant mommy (2005)

Eve (2005)

Ethan (2002)

Ethan (2000)

Ethan (1998)

Newborn Eve (2000)

San Antonio

Ethan's studying the Alamo so we planned a surprise trip to San Antonio!

The kids were awfully excited about going, but quickly learned that there wasn't as much to it as they thought! Ha!

On the way, we detoured to Gonzalez to visit Great-Grandma's grave and to have a picnic lunch on the grass in front of the Memorial Museum.

Lucky for us, the gentlemen who perform in the live reenactment of the battle were available to talk to, learn from and take pictures with! Here's Ethan with some members of the New Orleans Greys. He should definitely get extra credit for this trip!

And the other kiddos having fun...

AND one of Aiden just because he's sooooo hilarious!