Happy Trails to the Holidays and on to the New Year...

I know, I know, I haven't blogged in weeks and oh how I have missed it. This is my journal. It is where I vent and think. I need this outlet! However, Wes is finally home for the holiday and I didn't want to miss a single second available with him and the kids. Like most, our Christmas was busy and filled with family. The only way it could have been better would be if we could have all of our family together at once rather than driving all over Texas to see everyone. I know I am living in a dream land and obviously watch too much television because that doesn't happen in real life...does it? Hunter & Morgan, PLEASE MARRY NICE PEOPLE WHO WILL LET YOU SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH US! I will be nice I promise. They can bring their entire families. I will even make your favorite foods and babysit your children on New Years Eve. Did I say please, pretty please, with sugar cookies on top?
A short recap of our holiday...Hunter's team lost their final All Stars game and he headed off to visit his family south of Houston. Morgan and I spent Christmas Eve home getting ready for the big day and on Christmas day morning Wes flew home! We were both so happy to see him. he is always so afraid Morgan will forget him, but I know the that there is no way that could ever happen. She loves her Daddy so much! We drove to my my Dad's and had a great Christmas feast with family there. Morgan went from one family member to another, some of whom she had never met and had a blast soaking up all the attention. I missed Hunter but knew he was having a great Christmas where he was at and was so happy to see him when his flight came in the next day. On Friday afternoon Wes took us to a nice dinner and then we had our family Christmas here at home. It was so fun watching Hunter open his gifts. Wes bought him a special jersey and tickets to both the Armed Forces Bowl and Cotton Bowl which totally surprised Hunter. He was literally speechless. I am not sure who was happier, Hunter for receiving the gift or Wes for making Hunter smile like that. They both just beamed with love and happiness and my heart was so content watching them. While Morgan has a knack for eating the wrapping off of other peoples gifts, she wasn't really sure how to open hers. Hunter helped and she loved her new toys. We woke early Saturday morning and headed to Possum Kingdom Lake to share a weekend with the Lee Family. Momma and Barney rented a great cabin for all of us to stay in with lots of space for the kids to run around and play. We all had a great time seeing family and just enjoying time together. Hunter really enjoyed the smaller nephews looking up to him and starting the beginnings of a bond that I pray last a lifetime. On Sunday we helped pack up and loaded our own truck with lots of goodies and headed to Mom and James. Mom had set up the Guest/Art Cabin for Christmas and it was adorable! We worked in the kitchen together when we arrived and in no time had the most Delicious dinner pulled together. I have to say the food was heavenly! My sister's family was there with us and we all shared a meal, opened presents, and watched the kids play a little while the men snuck off to check on the football games...stinkers. In all, it was simply a wonderful Christmas, not just because of the beautiful gifts we received, but because we were able to spend it with all of our families. We truly feel blessed. What a great way to honor the birth of Jesus, by gathering and loving the families we are blessed with. I had a hard time picking just a few favorites so have a ton of pictures to share. I wish I had more. I missed getting pictures of parts of both mine and Wes's families and his brother Brad is deployed so I won't get any of him until next year. Here are a few until I get a slide show together...

Dishing it out...

Money is tight for everyone right now so we made a few new traditions for this Christmas that hopefully we will carry on for years to come. Rather than exchange gifts with our friends, we will be exchanging ornaments. So far, the friends that normally buy us a gift love the idea! It is far less expensive and I am already looking forward to decorating the tree years from now and saying, "do you remember when the Smith family gave us this, it was the Morgan began to crawl" You get the idea. I am so excited!!! Hunter and Morgan in front of our tree...

Bubba has the magic touch!!!

I was inspired by so many other blogs and the crafty homemade gift ideas that I had a hard time staying focused in one direction. My MIL came to the rescue and came to town with her Cricut in tow so I could make my gifts! Yeee Hawww!!!! It was so cool!!! Not only did she share her toy but she was a HUGE help with Morgan. Hunter loved his Mema taking him to and from school in her cool lil Mini Cooper. I spent (wasted) almost a whole day with a migraine while she was here but she switched into Super Mom gear and kept everyone smiling. We just took it easy that day and spent much needed time just hanging out together at home. I am so glad she was able to come and spend time with us here. We really had a great time and hope that we are able to do this more often. Here are a few pictures of my project...

On list I made at the very beginning on my blogging I had included that I wanted to make candles. My younger Sister has been making them for five plus years and does a wonderful job. For one reason or another she has been unable to teach me the tricks of the trade so I was thrilled with Mommaloo told me she would teach me. Any time women get together to make something for their family is a good time for me. So one evening in November I spent several hours at Mommaloo's home learning how she makes candles. I still need to figure out how to make labels and tweak a few things to make them more "mine," but I am happy with my beginnings. They will make great gifts. Welcome to the humble beginnings of Scent by Grace Candles & Heather Nicole's Handmade Gifts.

My Baby is not a baby anymore....

Oh my! It has been a whole week since I blogged. How am I supposed to write about you and all your cuteness if you keep me so busy I can't finish a sentence??? I have a lot to catch up on...

Hunter had his first "dress up" dance at school last Friday, The Winter Formal, (which wasn't actually very formal at all). He asked two different girls to the dance and one accepted last minute. Hunter wanted to go all out but he was worried about our budget. After he went on line and got an idea of what he wanted, we went shopping and picked out ties and matching shirts, a belt and slacks. He borrowed a pair of Wes's size 13 shoes (doubled his socks and they fit!). Then a fresh haircut and we are good to go right??? WRONG! We are sitting in the salon and he receives a text message and then another, and another, the second girl is now inquiring about his availability, ON THE DAY OF THE DANCE! He said, "Um Mom, I think we have a problem..." We??? I don't get to dance and wear cute clothes. He was honest and worked it out with her. We rushed to basketball practice, had the coach loosely assemble his tie, flew home, he showered (I hope) and when it was all said and done, he looked simply dashing. When I fixed his tie and I almost cried seeing just how grown up he looked. I said, "my Baby is growing up", he replied, "Momma, your Baby isn't a baby any more." He unknowingly broke my heart in two right then and there.

After the dance...

This week was such a busy week! Hunter had his first basketball game Saturday. They won, but it was a VERY close game. This is a sport he hasn't played since he was seven and he is worried he will let his team down. He came home after the game and when he finished his chores, practiced in the driveway for 4 1/2 hours!!! We will see on Saturday how much his hard work pays off. We are proud of him as long as he tries. Since Hunter made the All-Star Football team, we also have football practice twice a week. Whew, five practices and a game on top of Pre-Ap Homework is a big load!! Morgan and I are all over the place running him here and there and trying to get ready for Christmas. It is nice to be out and about. Morgan is improving with her crawling skills and is scooting every where. Let me tell you, she is in dependant and and honery as ever. She is gradually eating more and more baby food. It is so messy! I wear almost as much of it as she does. You have to give her a spoon of her own while you feed her. This week we tried sweet potatoes, pears, applesauce, and squash along with her cereal. Mema helped with feedings and even bought her a highchair for her Christmas present. Morgan watched her put it together and was so excited to get in. She seemed know that it was for her and lit up at the sight of her new chair.

I loved my devotional today...

“Then when the king's edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest." Esther 1:20 (NIV)

As I have shared before, I was blessed by Mommaloo forwarding this devotional to me. I love it! I love the words of wisdom. I love that they look to God's word in everything concerning their families. This is the mother and wife my heart desires to be. Wesley if you read this please know that I love you, I respect you, and I honor you. Kids when you read this later, please remember what type of husband and wife God instructs us to be. Family is the most beautiful blessing God granted us here on earth. I love you all so much!!!

http://proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/

You Put Your Left Foot In You Put your Left Foot Out....

While I was putting Morgan's pajamas on last night she kept pulling out the opposite foot of what I was working on. I would stick her left foot in and try to hurry and get the right one in so she could be zipped up but she was too quick for me. As frustrating as it was, it made me smile at a memory of my Daddy trying to get my sister and I out of the tub. He would say put your leg up here so I can dry it off and I followed his directions, when it was all nice and dry he asked for the other leg...so I promptly put the dry leg back in the water and stuck the other up there to be dried. I clearly remember the bewildered look on his face and how at six years old I thought it was funny and giggled while playing our new game. That was a great moment.

Morgan has decided that sleep is no longer necessary. She will fall asleep while nursing and wake a few minutes after I lay her down in her crib. It doesn't help that my arthritic ankles make snapping noises as I try to sneak out of the room. Used to, I could lay her down still half asleep and she would sleep through the night. Lord, please help Morgan to feel better and get the rest she needs to grow and be healthy. Let your Grace wash over me and give me the patience I need to guide her through this stage....QUICKLY. She is so full of life and is so loved by all of us. Morgan, when you are older and have children of your own, I WILL REMIND YOU WHAT YOU PUT ME THROUGH. Then I will come over and help you because I believe that is what Mom's do and I love being a Mom.

Family Filled Thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. We cook great food, you don't have to buy gifts, and people take the time to slow down and simply say, "Thank You". I wish it happened year round. As for our family, we are thankful for our blessings year round.

I pulled out my "original" engagement ring and tried to wear it on my still swollen postpartum fingers. Wes made it for me out of pearl and turquoise colored beads with our initials woven in to the pattern. I still love it even though I have a pretty diamond ring. The thing I love about it the most is that it is a great reminder of who we are as a couple. I fell in love with Wes when he had no money at all, no job, nothing to offer me at all, except his heart, his beautiful heart. There is no material or tangible thing that could ever be better than the way he loves me and our children. I am so thankful for my life as a Mother and a Wife. I am so thankful God finally brought us together and blessed us as he has.

Wes was able to fly home on Thanksgiving and spend the holiday with us. It was so wonderful having the four of us in our home all at the same time. Morgan and I were sick with a bug or touch of food poisoning. Wes did a great job of taking care of us. We spent Thanksgiving day at my Daddy's and Wes's parents came to visit both Saturday and Sunday evenings. We didn't make it to Momma's as we were afraid of getting anyone else sick. We were looking forward to fishing with her. Heck, it's Texas, it may be warm enough to fish at Christmas.

Wes fed Morgan her very first baby food, "Bananas"

We went to watch the Permian vs Allen playoff game at Texas Stadium. I still didn't feel 100% but Wes had never been there and I didn't want him to miss it. Hunter said several times that he really had a good time even if permain lost. That made me happy to see him just enjoying family time. The boys were sweet and watched Maid of Honor with me and we all did lots of laundry. Wes helped Hunter put up the basketball goal so that Hunter can practice. We put up the Christmas tree too! Now we just need to decorate it.

Fixing the branches on the tree

Wes & Bear reassembeling the basketball goal

Nov 26, 2008 Taking a bath before Daddy gets home. First time she sat up on her own!!! Still learning how to crawl and sit...
Playing and sitting on the floor with Daddy... Playing with her hair while she eats...