Mexico

Mexico.  Family. Fun. Games. Relax. Beach. Pool. Being with some of my favorite people. No drama. One fabulous vacation.

Back in August, my parents took us all on a fabulous trip to Mexico.  Luckily for me my parents (and Andrew & Carrie, AND Jessica & Ryan!) had a layover in Texas and then we all flew to Mexico together. I am so glad I didn't have to fly there by myself with my 2.5 kids. Dave wasn't able to go and we missed him, Ben, Rachel and Ryan a lot.

 

This has been Audrey's favorite bathing suit for the last two years.  It is so thin and worn out, but she loves it. Had to document.  And I love Joshua in this picture.

Relaxing. 

 

 I wish this picture wasn't foggy.  Every time I turned my camera on it would fog up due to the humidity.  My family was dying at how hot it was, but I still thought Texas was hotter.  Joshua & Carrie. Thank you for spoiling me and carrying my kids, my stuff, my towels... being pregnant has it's perks!

 

Game playing.

 

Reading with D.

 

View from our balcony with most of our peeps in the pool.

 

 

A cute little crab we found in the pool.

 

 

 

My parents were kind to watch all the grandkids so the adults could go to dinner. So fun.

 

Melissa might kill me for this picture, but I love it.  We are greasy and wet from the pouring rain and in the back of some nasty cab and it makes me laugh.

 

Sisters. The only time all week we got dressed.

 

Sisters and Mom.

Cute Audrey and Savy having a posing session together. This is their "sweet face" pose.

 

 

Mimi and her family

 

My Grandma had a thing for sunsets, which means my mom has a thing for sunsets, and I also have a thing for sunsets.  Hopefully Audrey will too. Watching the sunset on the last night.

 

 

 

 

Sweet Aunt Mimi.

 

Angel baby Rockwell.  Such a chill, happy, content, beautiful little boy.

Aunt Sara was such a big help. All of my family was. There is no way I could have done the trip sans husband with my 2.5 kids if it wasn't for all the help of my wonderful family.
Joshua and Sara going down the water slide.

Pool side popsicles

I love this pictures.  Happy Birthday Aunt Sara!

Our trip to Mexico was so fun. It was nice to do nothing but relax.  It was in Mexico that I felt the baby kick for the first time.  Sara, Melissa, Andrew, Jessica, Ryan and I were all watching Jessica and Ryan's wedding video and I felt this sweet little baby give me the first of very many kicks. 17 weeks.
I loved spending time with my family, and it was the perfect way to spend a full week with this sweet girl before she started kindergarten. She is my joy and my best little friend.

 

My Big Boy

Thursday morning, 4:00 AM: Joshua starts crying in his crib. I go in and he tells me, "I don't like this bed. Want bed like Audrey's." 5:00 am, same thing. Don't judge. He has never climbed out of his crib and had never complained about it before, so why put him in a bed? I am all about not having to fix what's not broken.
I left on Thursday for a friend's wedding out of state. Dave put together his big boy bed and bought sheets and a mattress for Joshua while I was gone. Joshua chose Thomas the Train. I got home Sunday night and it was Joshua's first night to sleep in his bed (I did not want him sleeping his first night in it while I was gone!). He did so well. He didn't get out once, and even on Monday morning he still called for me to come get him. Then he comes and lays in bed with me and tells me, "I have to go potty!" and goes potty in the toilet. Blah. I am probably the only mother in the world that does not want her kids to be potty trained. Public restrooms horrify me. Today he has gone potty three times in the toilet. Stop it this instant, Joshua. You are growing way too quickly.

At least he still loves his binki.

PS. I am really weird with dates. December 7th ... six years ago today I found out I was pregnant with Audrey.

Meet the Teacher

At the end of August we went to Audrey's school so she could meet her teacher. I was able to make it through that even without shedding one tear. Maybe because I was too nervous that I had to tell her teacher that Audrey was missing her whole first week of school. I was already that mom.

Finding her name on the list.

 

In her classroom with all her supplies.

 

Happy Veterans Day

 

To all the veterans, and their families, thank you. A very special thank you to my all time favorite veterans; our grandpa's, and my college roommate and dear friend, MelissaHoney.

Dallas Cowboys Baby

Back in August, we were lucky enough to be able to go to a Dallas Cowboys game with Chris and Megan. Chris got some amazing tickets through his work and it was such a fun night of being spoiled in some VIP seats.

We had to give the guy in a suit our very fancy tickets to get to our seats. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was so fun to share it with Chris and Megan!

We were on the 17th row, 20 yard line.  Dave and Christ walked down the 17 stairs before the game started.  Pretty awesome.

They took a picture from where they were standing.

The 60 yard screen is amazing. The boys loved watching the football game and Megan and I loved watching the cheerleaders!

 

A cool little VIP spot we found while walking around.

 

Thank you C&M for such a fun night! It was one I'll remember for as long as this memory still serves me!

Pinkalicious

Audrey could not decide what theme she wanted for her birthday party. Princess? Hannah Montana? (I shot that one down right away. Not an option.) Witch (nope)???? One day at church I pulled out her Pinkalicious book and it was like divine inspiration hit. I loved it, she LOVED it, and so it began.

The decorations. I laugh now looking at these pictures. I was so sick it was all I could manage at the time. I thought it looked awesome...then.

Clearly cake decorating isn't my forte.  The girls loved it when the cake fell over half way through the party.

The favors.  Inside were little cupcakes, silly bands, and treats.

The little cupcakes I made to put inside the favors.  Pink marsh mellows, white chocolate and a red hot. They were pretty yummy.

The guests.

Decorating their crowns and fairy wings.

Pinkalicious girls. I spray painted the front of the fairy wings and let them decorate the back.  I wanted matching pink wings for the picture, but clearly that didn't work.  I should have spray painted the other side.

Reading the book.  The girls knew most of it by heart.  Joshua is holding on to every last bit of blue that he can.

The testosterone room.

Dance party with balloons.

Cake time. I love, love, love this girl.

Pin the cherry on the cupcake.

 

Pinata time.

Opening presents.  Her friends were very nice to her!

Eating something green so they can turn back to their normal skin color (per the book). Note the cake that fell over.

A tired, happy, pinkalicious girl playing with all her new toys.

A Whole Handful

On August 10th Audrey turned five. My Dad told her, "Now you are a whole handful!" and so when people would ask her how old she was, she would say, "A whole handful!". I love this little girl and she is such a delight to have around.

On her actual birthday we did all the things she loves to do...
We went to the movies,

 

and then the pool with our friends for a little party. Note the melted cupcakes. And how cute Audrey is being with Joshua.

Joshua being such a good helper with blowing out the candles.

Chuck E. Cheese for dinner, naturally.

Then to get shaved ice where Audrey made Dave try the pickle juice flavor.  Dave thinks pickles are disgusting so it was true love when he tasted it for her.

Ha!

 

Birthday girl

 

Opening presents.  Leapster from my parents. She loves it.

 

An American Girl Doll from Dave's parents.  She was very spoiled on her birthday.  But I think she deserves to be spoiled.  She is such a happy, sweet little girl and we love her so much.  Happy birthday Audrey!

 

Audrey's favorites (as of 11.9.10)
Favorite snack: Cheese and mustard sandwiches
Favorite movie: Tinkerbelle and the Great Fairy Rescue
Favorite book: Barbie and the Fashion Fairy Tale
Favorite color: Purple, blue, red and pink
Favorite thing to do: Go to Dave and Busters and go to Chuck E Cheese
Favorite thing about Dad: He wrestles me
Favorite thing about Joshua: When he snuggles me when I come home from school
Favorite thing about Mom: Because she never forgets to come pick me up and eat lunch with me