Surprises

I love surprises! I love them so much! My hubby did so well this year...I can't even tell you! He couldn't wait to open presents. He was really cute because he wanted to open them like 10 days before Christmas and I kept telling him that we had to wait. We ended up opening them about 5 days early b/c we were going to be out of town, etc. Anyway, he gave me my gifts and told me they all went together. The first was a really pretty, trendy outfit with a hat, jewelry, etc. The second was a Mary Poppins dvd and the third had his Ipod in it with a note saying "Play me". When I pushed play it was playing "New York, New York"!! He handed me Broadway tickets to Mary Poppins and told me that we are going to NYC next week! I was SO excited b/c I have always wanted to go to NYC this time of year. It was such a wonderful Christmas and he made me feel so special with all his thoughtfulness. He is a wonderful husband and always full of surprises! Don't worry...I will be sharing too many New York pics before long!

Merry Christmas

 

 

 

 

I wanted to post a few pics but there are many more to come plus some video of Carter riding his new bike! He has had the best time of his life the last week! We hope your Christmas was wonderful! I love this family pic too! Carter was making a different funny face in each.

Go tell it...Carter!

Carter had his Christmas program today at Mother's Day Out. It was so cute! First of all, he was suppose to ask his teacher to tuck his shirt in before the performance and he tucked his pants into his boots instead! Davis has his boots showing too, they probably planned that! You have to watch the second song they sing...it is hilarious. They were really getting into it! You can tell that the camera man was amused.

Sleeping baby

Tonight I just had to get Averi out of bed and hold her! Those long eyelashes and chubby little cheeks...if you haven't held a sleeping baby lately, you need to! As I looked at her sweet little face I thought how much I love our children...every last little part. I love to watch them sleep...praying that every good thing will happen to them. It made me think of the verse about God knowing each hair on our head. Until I had children, I didn't realize God's love for us. It's amazing! I pray that you will feel God's love and know that He cares for you even more than you can imagine.

Stuffed Jalapenos

We had these at our Sunday School Christmas party and they were SO good! Thanks Nancy!

Stuffed Jalapenos
1 lb. sausage
1 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1 pkg. cream cheese
22 large jalapenos

Soak jalapenos for 30 min in water (to take out the hot, unless you like the hot :). Cut in half and take seeds out. Cook sausage and drain. Combine the cream cheese and parmesan then add the sausage. Spoon into jalapenos. Place on cookie sheet and bake at 425 for 15-20 min until lightly browned. SO YUMMY!

Random

 

Sweet little angel! Averi had some chocolate and went right to sleep. Could life get any better?!

 

I had to show the tutus I made for our nieces for Christmas. They turned out so cute. They are going to be precious in them!

 

We love DADO! I love these two pictures of my dad with the kiddos. We are so lucky that we get to see them during the week. The kids love them and boy do they love the kids!

 

Random pics I know! This is how my brain has been working lately. I can't keep it on one track...it runs all over the place.
I love this time of year! I love shopping for Christmas presents for people I love and baking goodies and going to Christmas parties. Yesterday I was in line at the store and the lady checking out said, "I just hate this time of year." Poor lady, I thought, I have never heard anyone say that before. So, I am going to pray for her and others that feel sad this time of year...that Jesus will bring them the joy that we have in Him.

Awesome God

Carter learns a new song every week at Mother's Day Out. His teachers are so wonderful, teaching him so much. This was last weeks song. Carter loves music and loves to make up new songs (like his Daddy). They come up with some good ones! His teacher told me that he made up a song for washing his hands and one for lining up. He makes me laugh! This week he learned "Go Tell it on the Mountain". We'll have to show that one next!

Parade Fun

 

 

 

 

Jesus Loves You

I just ran across this video from last February. Boy does time fly! What a precious little sound this is! I know God is smiling down just as I smile at our little blessing. For those of you with little ones...record more! I already wish we would have. I'll start now! And YES, Jesus does love all His little children!

More Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 

We had some fun playing and I have to say...I was the overall champ (since my team was the Bocce champion and the Gin champs). If you need any tips just give me a call. No really, Adam was the reason we won Bocce. And we only won by about 1 inch. Mine went out in the street many times. Then the girls really whooped up on the boys in Gin. You know how that goes! I love Thanksgiving because in just a few short weeks we get to see everyone again for Christmas! I know the boys will want a rematch and we will have to beat them again!

Thankful for aunts & uncles!

 

 

 

 

Carter & Averi played hard! They got to do whatever they wanted with Allen, Carrie, Aaron, & Ashley. Carter's favorite is driving the golf cart. And yes, he drives! We had so much fun having everyone together!

Thankful for cousins!

 

 

 

 

We had a wonderful time with Adam's family! His grandma spoiled us with a wonderful meal and the kids were spoiled with so many cousins to play with. They will get another cousin soon! We are hoping for a boy to even out the ratio 5/5. Adam and his dad got a little whooping by the girls in Spades. Adam is not the best spades partner. He's a little too risky for me! But risk away...we always win (and I'm not at all competative)!

We are THANKFUL

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!
We are most thankful for God...all that he is and how much he loves us! For our precious family, friends, our church, and wonderful home. When I asked each family member this is what I got (except Averi, I spoke for her!):

Carter- when Daddy's home for the weekend, Mommy;), playing sports with Daddy, eating cereal with Daddy, candy, Sprite, Raider, my friends, then he listed everyone he knows beginning with his grandparents and ending with the donkeys (Adam's grandparents just got some new donkeys and he told them they should name them Carter so now we have a donkey named Carter!)

Averi - all kinds of little chairs, Carter, food especially cheese puffs & ice cream, Mommy, my bobber (aka pacifier), Carter's toys, wrestling with Daddy, grandparents that spoil me, outside

Adam - Texas Tech football, Sports Talk Radio, snowskiing, vacations, basketball Sundays, reading the newspaper, grilled cheese

Me - lazy mornings, football games, chocolate cake, park afternoons, clothes, good books, fire on a cold night, games, laughter, fireworks, surprises

May you have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

Yea! CHRISTMAS!

 

Can you tell...the Christmas spirit is here. I love it! I love all the decorations, the lights, trees, and the cold weather! Carter has been asking when Christmas aka Santa is going to be here. Santa is actually going to be at the mall on Saturday. We may have to go see him for 1 of many times. Can you believe this little chubby thing is Santa Carter?!
I want to start some new traditions this year to keep from now on. One thing I want to start doing is make Jesus a birthday cake on Christmas Eve with Carter. I want to make a really fancy one. If your family does something really neat that you wouldn't mind sharing...please do! I love traditions!

I wonder...

I have wondered many things in the last week...here are just a few:

We have 80% of tile in our house. What is the probability that Carter will throw-up 6 times and hit the carpet every time?

How does Averi find the one package of open ketchup at the park and get it in her mouth and all over her hands before I get to her?

Where did Carter get the idea that female parts were called a BONUS? We have yet to figure this one out.

Why did my husband teach our 3-year old to say, "I don't like boys, I like girls"?

Please enlighten me with some things you've been wondering!

Happy Birthday ADAM!

Today is a very special day, Adam catches me at the great age of 29! One more year in the 20's! We better enjoy...the 20's have definitely been good to us.
Adam is such a wonderful, Godly man! And so much fun! He is the best husband to me and Carter & Averi love him like crazy. He deserves the best birthday ever.
We like birthdays around here! We have celebrated 2 times already. He finally got a flat screen! He's getting to eat lunch with his grandparents and we are getting a weekend away! (Thanks MOM!)
Happy Birthday to you, Adam! We love you!

Walk like a girl, Talk like a girl!

We love watching Averi walk! She keeps her little hand up in the air, all dainty-like! Then other times she gets to going so fast she looks like a drunk trying to keep from crashing. Sorry you have to turn your head sideways for this one...couldn't get it to flip.

"Hi" is the word of the hour right now. She is starting to repeat us...it's so fun! Carter likes it too!

Corn Maze

 

We went to the corn maze and had lots of fun! Carter and Ashley leading the way...I don't know if that is a good thing!

 

 

 

Yea! GO TECH! What a great game! One more big one to go...BEAT OU!!

Unanswered Prayers

Yes...I often thank Garth for this song b/c it reminds me that God is looking out for me!
I DID try to sell my tickets for the game up until the wee hours of Saturday morning, I already had my money spent (in my mind). BUT..they didn't sell! In the end, I saw the BEST game I have ever been to!!! We had SO MUCH FUN!! I'm so proud of the RED RAIDERS!
GO TECH!

Happy Halloween!

"Firefigher Man" Carter

 

He LOVES his firefighter man costume! He is wearing it as I type. He has put out a fire in the kitchen and one in the bathroom. He told me to come get him if the police call and say they need his help with a fire! So adorable!

 

Isn't she precious! We had to dress-up the dalmatian...it looked a little too boyish. For all my friends that have never seen her without a bow...we just can't break tradition!

 

 

The horse ride was Carter's FAV at the Fall Festival last night!

We love dressing up around our house. Adam is the most into it! He loves to dress-up. One of these days I will have to post him as a 10 year-old Hulk Hogan. He wore his sister's yellow bikini bottom, white headband, and wristbands. Yep...that's all! I tried to get him to do that again this year!

The next president!!!

Introducing John McCain

 

And Sarah Palin

 

Being very professional

 

And a little frisky!

 

You have GOT to check out my brother's page (Waldrips). He and Ashley went as Rob & Big. It is hilarious! And one of their friends went as Borat. I've been laughing so hard!

Tickets for sale!

Well...the tickets are for sale! We will see if anyone bites the hook. Thanks for all the votes! Adam's happy again...he's going to sit with Wes. So all is well at our house! GO RED RAIDERS! Beat those Longhorns! I'll post my shopping spree finds if someone buys the tickets!

gag..gag..gag..puke

What a crazy experience...one I would like to forget! (But had to share.) Carter decided he needed to go to the bathroom today while we were outside playing baseball. He went over in the corner and pulled his pants down (Like most guys, he thinks going outside is lots of fun!). I was kind of watching him then all of the sudden I see poop coming out. How does that happen, standing up! I start saying "Carter, don't move, stay right there"...thinking he was about to step in it. I run inside to get some tissue, come back out and he has it all over his hands. I start gagging. I'm trying to clean him up and I am so grossed out plus the smell..I gag some more. So I cover my nose and mouth with my shirt. I strip him down as I'm holding my breath, look over, Raider is eating the poop. That's when I totally lost it! Yuck..yuck...yuck!
The moral of this story: Don't let a dog lick you in the face!
Now that everyone is bleached and showered, Carter gives me a hug and says you're the best mommy. I said yes...I am!

Does life get any better than this?!

 

 

 

 

This has been the BEST week! We are all feeling great...yippee! The best part is that some of our friends, Kris and Tina, who have been waiting for a baby for a couple of years got a beautiful baby girl! She is so precious and I just keep thinking about them and how God has anwsered a prayer that so many people have been praying for so long. How wonderful it is to see God at work! What a lucky little girl Miss Kate is!
My kiddos have filled me with so much joy this week! Watching them play and learn and just the simple things of everyday is so much fun. Carter is so witty and enjoyable to be around. He gets so excited about everything. Averi is so cute with her little prissy walk. She is becoming Little Miss Personality too. At the park they played, climbed, laughed. It was fun! I love watching them interact with each other.
May God bless you this week! And may you enjoy some of the simple things!