White Christmas!

We had actual real snow in Plano on Christmas Eve! The day before, it was sunny and in the 70's, but on Thursday the temperature plummeted and the snow started falling around lunchtime. It actually stuck to the ground and we were able to throw snowballs and even make a snow angel!

The boys were surprised at how cold it actually was, but they had so much fun playing outside in the fluffy white stuff. Jackson even tried a lick but was disappointed to report that it only tasted like ice. (I'm not sure what he was expecting, but it definitely wasn't that!)

Here's Luke looking shocked that I actually bundled him up in all those layers for a reason!


But boy, did he love watching Jacks and Cody pelt each other with snowballs!


Cody refused to wear his gloves so his little hands ended up red and chapped, but he still crafted some impressive ammo!


Biggest brother and littlest brother, with matching hats!


Anthony has lived in Texas for 32 years and never had a white Christmas. I might have seen one when I was little when we visited my Aunt Polly in Wisconsin for Christmas, but it was really so special seeing it through the eyes of the boys.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Holiday Houses Part II

Since last week's gingerbread house was already assembled and all we had to do was decorate it, we wanted to give actual construction a try with some graham crackers and frosting. We took all the supplies over to Gramma and Grandad's so we could get their help, too.


The boys came up with some amazing structures and impressed us all with their clever use of marshmallows as, among other things, chimneys and snowmen.


Jacks and Grandad came up with a different use for their marshmallows.


Luke was pretty much doing this the entire time. The decorations just kept disappearing into his mouth!


Cody didn't eat ANY of the candy at all. Right? Wink, wink!


The guys were very proud of their creations.


These last pictures were taken 0.3 seconds before the houses were demolished in a feeding frenzy. It wasn't pretty. But it sure was fun! :)

Best Laid Plans

Jackson, Cody and I have been looking forward to today for weeks. We had tickets to see the musical "101 Dalmatians," and we were going to have a special lunch at Cheesecake Factory beforehand.

Unfortunately, midway through lunch, Jacks started feeling pretty ill and it seemed pretty clear he wouldn't be able to make it to the show. Luckily, Gramma and Grandad had joined us for lunch, so Grandad took Jacks home while Cody, Gramma and I headed down to the Music Hall.

The show was great and I think Cody enjoyed it, though we did all miss Jackson. But the Dallas Children's Theater is doing a production of one of the boys' favorite books, "How I Became a Pirate" next month, and I think we're going to get tickets and attempt a "do-over" of today.

Gramma did take a nice picture of the 3 of us all dressed up for their first trip to the theater. Aren't they handsome? :)

Santa 2009

One asked for blue drums. One asked for some Hot Wheels (he already got his BIG present, a new bike, so he toned it down for Santa). And the littlest one? He asked for a tree. LOL

Don't let the choke-hold Santa's got on Cody fool you. The boys were all very polite and talked quite willingly to Jolly Old St. Nick.

I'm cherishing this one, because I'm not sure how many more years I'm going to be able to get all 3 of them to sit on Santa's lap together. ♥

Gingerbread and Bathrobes

We've been keeping busy with fun indoor Christmas activities because the weather outside has been frightful! It has been cold cold cold and the last few days have included rain, too. So yesterday, we decorated a gingerbread house!

Once Luke figured out that the little red and green things his brothers were sticking to the house were edible and, more than that, tasty...it was pretty difficult keeping him from popping the candies into his mouth. And once he finished with his little pile, he started filching them from the house itself which irritated Jacks and Cody no end!

But the finished product came out great. :)


Then today, the boys were all having trouble warming up after school, so they put on their new comfy robes that Daddy got them.


Makes you feel snugglier just looking at 'em, doesn't it?


And now, off to write our letters to Santa!

Washing Dishes

Yesterday, Lucas went to visit Gramma and Grandad for a few hours while Cody and I were at a doctor's appointment. He had a spectacular time playing with cars, reading books, and washing the dishes.

Yes, those wicked grandparents put the poor child to work. Just look.


I mean, don't they know there are child labor laws? Poor thing must have ended up with totally pruney fingers.


Looks truly miserable, doesn't he? ;)

(Thanks for the pics, Grandad! And for the babysitting, too! xoxo)

Getting Into the Christmas Spirit

Today is the first day of December, and we actually got some wintry weather to go along with it! So the boys and I decided to have some early Christmas fun.

We opened the first window in our Advent calendars.


And we drank some delicious hot chocolate to warm up. Each of the boys had at least 400 marshmallows in their mug.


We also had so much fun making paper chains to decorate the kitchen.


Christmas is in the air!

Christmas Picture 2009

I know it ruins the surprise for those who will receive a Christmas card from us, but I was just too excited about this picture not to share it. I can't believe how big they all look, not to mention the fact that they're all smiling! ♥

Jackson's Thanksgiving Letter

Jacks and his classmates all wrote Thanksgiving letters to their parents about the things they are thankful for, and I just had to share his.

You never know how much kids remember or appreciate, but Jackson's list really surprised and moved me. The best part is knowing that he notices even the tiny little things we do every day as part of our "job"...how amazing to be thanked for that! ♥

So here it is, just as he wrote it:

Dear Mom and Dad,
As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I would like to tell you about the things for which I am thankful. When you gave birth to me, I bet it hurt. When you took me to Chucky Cheese and Six Flags, that was fun! When you taught me how to play baseball and basketball. Thank you for giving me food, clothes and shelter. Thank for teaching me how to read, draw and write. Thank you for giving me brothers to play with. When you teach me the good way when I do something bad. Thanks for keeping me safe on my bike. Thanks for reading to me almost every night. I like to play baseball with you mom. And dad, I like to play basketball with you. When my lung colapsed, you stayed at the hospital and never left. When I had pink eye you gave me eye drops and whatever I wanted. I love all the toys you bought for me like legos and cars. I love you both up to the sky and down again. You are the best chefs in the world. You are number 1 and your the best. You are the best parents in the world. I hope you will be alive intill Im in college. Or older.

Love and cuddles,
Jackson

He also made an Acrostic poem with the word Thanksgiving.

The best cousin Quinn
Henry my cousin
Aunt Jessica
Nothing better than Aunt Emily
Kind mother
Sweet brothers
Grandad
Incredible dad
Very freindly Dulci the Dog
Intellagant grandfather Pop
Nice Aunt Rachel
Great Grandma

************

I am so thankful for this amazing little man. He is growing up before our eyes, and he impresses us daily with his intelligence, sweetness and good heart. ♥

And I hope I'm alive until he's way past college. LOL

High Five!

Cody's 5th birthday was a big success! We celebrated with a family party on Friday night, his official birthday (yep, Friday the 13th!).

Cody is obsessed with all things Iron Man lately. He was Iron Man for Halloween, picked out a special Iron Man shirt from Old Navy as a birthday present and ordered an Iron Man cake from the Walmart bakery (I know, how oogy to get a cake from Walmart...but man, they are GOOD!) for his big birthday party.

So I attempted to make him an Iron Man cake for his party at home. Ha! Making maroon icing is hard! But we even added in yellow sprinkles to be like the light in the middle of Iron Man's chest.

So the icing was perhaps a bit pinker than he might have hoped, but I think he got a kick out of it.

Then on Saturday, we headed over to Pump it Up (an inside bounce-house party place) for Cody's official party. He and about 10 of his friends ran around like crazy people, climbing, sliding and bouncing their little heads off!

Cody had so much fun that before too long, he was bright red and drenched in sweat.


Here's Cody with his best buddy, Trevor.


He and Trev are pretty inseparable. Cowabunga Dudes!


Luke loves these ginormous slides. He climbs all the way to the top himself and goes down on his belly. I start breathing again each time he makes it to the bottom smiling. :)


And here is the "official" Iron Man cake!


Though Cody himself has changed in countless ways over the last 3 years, his reaction to seeing his birthday cake hasn't changed all that much at all. Compare this year's:


...to this one from his 2nd birthday party.


Cody had lots of help blowing out the candles. (Is Trevor blowing on Cody or the candles, here? LOL)


Luke enjoyed the yummy cake, too.


Did I mention how red and sweaty the boys got from bouncing? Well, take a look at Jackson with his best buddy, Tyler. He played HARD!


Overall, it was a great party and I think Cody really had a lot of fun.

And still, I'm asking myself....how can he be 5 already? How is that possible? WOW!!!

Happy Birthday Codybear! We love you!

Hey Batter Batter Batter!

This fall, Jackson played his second season of baseball. He has really enjoyed being on the Orioles and playing with this group of boys.

Let me be honest. Baseball isn't really Jackson's sport. He hasn't yet gotten a hit during a game this season, and he still isn't entirely clear on all the rules.

But he tries! Man, does he try! Look at the effort and concentration here. Pursed lips and everything.


And this is my favorite one. How awesome is this? He's ready to smack that ball into the middle of next week! (He didn't, but he REALLY wanted to.)


Each player got a chance to try every position in each game, and I think Jackson most enjoyed playing pitcher (though this league is coach-pitch, so playing pitcher basically means you cover the pitcher's mound once the ball is hit). But here are a few shots of him in the outfield.


I just keep going back to this one, though. You know those motivational posters? I'd like to use this picture to make one with the word PERSEVERANCE. The kid doesn't quit.


And that makes us pretty darn proud. :)

(all photos courtesy of one of the Orioles team moms...thank you, Lisa!)