Santa

 We had our first encounter with Santa this year. No tears, but definitely no smiles. My mom sat him in Santa's lap, and I was ready with the camera. I wanted to capture the moment even if it was with tears. Sometimes those pics are really cute & funny. He looked like he wanted to cry, but he didn't. I could never get all three of them looking at me. I was on a field trip with my mom's class at the health museum for kids. I had a whole row of mom's & teachers behind me trying to get pics too. We're going to Santa's Wonderland in CS this weekend, so we're going to attempt another pic. Maybe this time, he'll recognize that fuzzy white beard, and give us a smile. 

My Little Monkey

We don't celebrate Halloween. Usually we have a church carnival or function. I hadn't really thought about a costume for K. I had tossed a few ideas around of costumes I might make, but wasn't sold on any of them. Then a friend of mine told me where there was a good sale, so I decide to pick up this sock monkey outfit. There was just one problem...K hates hats! And without the hat, it wasn't much of a costume...

 I had him entertained for a few minutes with a sucker & his swing, but it didn't last long before he started ripping the hat off. I just wanted one cute pic...I didn't get it.

Oh well...he's still a cute monkey. I can't say that I blame him either...it's been too hot to dress up in full body suits with a hat!

Pumpkin Patch

We met my friend Melanie & K's buddy at the Pumpkin Patch today. They held true to their ways, and would not pose & smile for us at all! But, I'm better than they think, and I still managed to get some good pics. Little Man is going to be Pumpkin Patched out cause I think we're going again with Daddy tomorrow to buys some pumpkins to carve with the youth. I'm not holding my breath for any great pics! 

 

 

 

Petting Zoo & Pumpkin Patch

Before we left Dallas Sunday morning, we went to a small petting zoo with a Pumpkin Patch. I had high hopes of getting some good photos, but those dreams were quickly shot down. When we got to the petting zoo, we discovered K was asleep & he was not ready to wake up. So we went to eat lunch hoping that he'd rest, then be in a good mood for the zoo/pumpkins. It worked...sort of. He did nap, and eat, but he's just not at a good photogenic age. He's very photogenic, but he thinks he's so big that he can do everything on his own, and stopping to smile for the camera is not on his agenda! So, I just tried to snap good pics while he walked around.

 He loves petting the animals, and is not at all afraid!

 The baby goats were so stinkin cute!!

 He wasn't quite sure what to think about the big tortoises. 

 We see ducks all the time, so he wasn't too impressed with them, but he did love this little picnic bench. It was just his size. I think we might need one of these for the backyard! 

 He had fun walking around all the pumpkins, that is until I tried to get him to take some posed pics. 

 "Excuse me? You want me to do what? Can't you see I'm trying to play here?"

 Not at all amused! 

 So I thought tickling would work...it does sometimes!

 And then I thought maybe Daddy could help. And here's our family picture for 2012! Happy Fall Y'all! :)

 And once I gave up on pics, he was perfectly content with the slides....

 checking out the pretty girl on this spin toy....

 and playing in the sand box. 

I guess my days of propping him up and making funny noises for a smile are over with. 

Mother's Day...a little late!

This is me last Mother's Day. Rough...I know. But, I had been in labor all day, and didn't know it until I got to the hospital and was told my water had broke, and I was 7 cm dilated. We met Kaden about 30 min later.

Yes... it was close & fast. And nothing will ever top that Mother's Day. I had secretly prayed the night before that if God wanted me to meet K on Mother's Day, I'd be pretty cool with that, but I would have never imagined it going down like it did. I love telling his birth story, although I don't think I have here. It's a little TMI...not sure I'm quite ready for it to be out for all the world to see/read.

Anyway, this Mother's Day was much less stressful. After church, my dad & Micah let mom & I pick where we wanted to eat. We chose Willies. We love Willies. It was a beautiful day. They had all the doors & windows open. 

 Isn't my little family beautiful?? I have two handsome boys! They make this mommy very happy! 

 My mom makes me happy too! I'm so glad that God made her my mom.

 That night we went to my parents for dinner. My mom's birthday was the day after Mother's Day, so my brother fired up the grill for dinner. 

 K had so much fun swinging while Grammy shot bubbles at him. He was belly laughing as he tried to catch them.

 

I'm so grateful for a wonderful mom, mother-in-law, and mostly for being a mommy to this precious boy! I never realized how much I would love him, and it makes me so grateful for how much my mother loves me and all she sacrifices for me!

Easter Fun

Ok, so I might have gone a little overboard on Kaden's first Easter baskets. Let's start off...it's not a basket. 2 reason: first, the wagon was so cute!! Second, Kaden doesn't need a basket, and the wagon will actually come in handy. It came with beach toys. I was going to order a monogrammed Easter basket, but this was more than half the price, and more useful! Most of the goodies in his basket were $1 or $2, so it wasn't as bad as it looks! Promise! And we do know the real reason behind Easter, and it will definitely be taught to Kaden! 

Micah also got an Easter basket. His contained a new pair of flip-flops, his favorite pens, & some of his favorite snacks.

 

I believe Kaden was overwhelmed with his goodies. That, and he had just woke up from a nap. He loves the bells...mommy, not so much. I knew he'd like them cause he plays with them at story time. He also got a couple books, a bubble gun, some bath toys, yogurt snacks, a stuffed chick that makes noise, a frog plate, & an Elmo DVD.

After church we headed to lunch at Grammy & Papa's house.

Daisy & Cole kept Kaden entertained in his swing with his new bubble gun. He loved his big cousin Cole. He was laughing so hard at him.

 We had a great Easter with family! We're even more grateful for the reason we celebrate Easter!

Easter Fun

Last weekend the Rosenberg Police Dept. had an Easter Egg hunt for their families. Since my father is the Police Chaplain, he (and his family) were invited. They had the Easter bunny show up and an Easter egg hunt for the kids. Kaden isn't quite old enough for an egg hunt, but we let him pick up a few. 

 He had more fun shaking them to hear the candy inside rattle. 

 And then he had fun chewing on the eggs. He wasn't at all scared or impressed with the bunny. He just sat chewing on his egg. He wouldn't smile or anything. 

 Daisy & Serena were trying to take a pic with the Easter bunny, but he was dancing & they were laughing, so it was pretty much a FAIL!

 We thought Kaden would like sliding down the slide in the air bounce, since he typically likes slides. But that was also a Fail. He wasn't a big fan. 

However, being thrown in the air...that was fun!!

 Smashing confetti eggs all over everyone...that was fun!!

 And chasing the big bubbles...that was probably the most fun!! He loves bubbles!!

We were so grateful that we were invited to the picnic. We had a great time!!