Christmas Pictures (Yes, a Little Late)

So, back in November, we got some great pictures taken of Walker and Everly.  I didn't post them, because I wanted an element of surprise for the Christmas card.  It just dawned on me that I NEVER posted them.  Wow, that's bad.  They need to be in the blog!

So, here they are!  Sweet, sweet babes!

My Baby is 4!

How in the world did this happen?  My little man is turning into a big boy!

Walker is FOUR!  Wow.  It is really fun to watch him grow and learn everyday.  Four is a very fun age, because he continues to try new things and is a little sponge.  He is starting t-ball next week and we can't decide which hand is his dominate, so we don't know which glove to buy!  When he colors and practices his letters, he uses both hands.

Walker continues to be super sweet and very well behaved.  And, his vocabulary is getting bigger as he talks a lot more!  He's still a little shy, but not painfully shy like he was six months ago.

He's still very protective of his little sister, but they do fight some now.  All part of growing up!

He loves hot wheels and all things car related, trains, anything Spiderman and Mickey Mouse. 

Walker had his first "real" party yesterday.  He had 20 little friends come play at Wonderwild with him!!

He had a blast!

So did Everly and Aidan:

 Ms. Gayle came to celebrate!  It's her birthday, too!

Time for cake.... he was a little overwhelmed!

Mommy and Daddy gave him a bike!  He can't wait to hit the streets!

And, he got to eat cake for dinner.  What an awesome birthday for our big boy!!!!!

It's a New Year!

2013?  Really?  Where has time gone?  It feels like 2012 just started and yet it's already over.  I just now got comfortable writing 12 as the date.  I've already had to scratch 12 out several times and replace it with 13.  So weird.

I'm not sure what has gotten into me this year, but last week I got real organized.  Seriously.  I started cleaning out closets!  Gasp!  Closets are funny creatures.  Weird things start going in them and you really don't know how or why it started, yet it never stops.  I really should have taken before and after pictures, because both of my hall closets were in ridiculous shape, yet now they are perfectly organized!  Here's the bad news.... all of the "junk" that I don't want to get rid of doesn't really have it's own spot yet.  Our upstairs spare room is a total mess.  Two more closets to go through and it will also be organized.  I have faith.  Does anyone want to come for a visit?  There's nothing like being forced into cleaning! Ha.

In addition to organizing, the new year has had me thinking a lot.  My babies aren't babies anymore.  Over the holidays we were able to try new things.... like playing real, true blue games!

This is Share a Berry!  It's a great game that includes counting, sharing and fine motor skills.

You know what's so fun about it?  Even Everly will sit and actually play it.  She's growing up!

We've also been playing Chutes and Ladders and matching games.

We went to a party over the weekend we realized, our kids can entertain themselves and play with other kids.  We don't actually have to keep our eyes on them every single second.  Wow, it's a liberating feeling.  Did I mention they are growing up?

We have two major milestones to cross and then we literally won't have a baby anymore.  Getting Everly into a big girl bed and big girl panties.  Santa left her some Cinderella panties, but she has to actually go potty in order to wear them.  It hasn't happened.  I have faith.

We are "thinking" about getting her big girl bed ready for her.  There's no doubt that she can climb out of her crib, but she hasn't actually tried it yet.  If and when she does, we'll be ready.

I have to admit, it makes me kind of sad to think how grown up my "babies" are.  But, I would call it more bittersweet.  I have loved the baby stage, but I'm looking forward to the next stage.  I love hearing the funny things they talk about.  I love hearing about their days at school.  I absolutely LOVE watching them learn new things.  It really is an exciting time.

And, the good news.... I still get to rock my "baby" sometimes.  I love it when she asks me to.  Last night was one of those times.... I couldn't get over how big she was in my arms.  It really wasn't that long ago that she looked like this:

Oh my, how precious are they!!!!!!

Happy 2013, here's to a wonderful year of new experiences and exciting times.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

Clark is 40!  He says he feels old now.  I told him that he should feel young, considering he's been telling people he's 40 for a couple of years!

If you know me well, you know I would have loved to throw Clark a big birthday party.  But, I didn't do that, because he said he didn't want one.  He wanted to hang out of home, watch football and eat pizza.  That's what we did and it was a perfect celebration.  The Longhorns even pulled out a victory for him!!!

The kids were excited because we got balloons!

The cute birthday boy!

Lots of candles!  The kids insisted on them.

He needed help!

Look at all that smoke!  

I love that the kids were so excited about Daddy's birthday.  Walker kept talking about Daddy's birthday party.  I can't think of better people to have at a 40th birthday party!

Christmas Day

Have I mentioned that having an almost 4-year old and a 2-year old makes Christmas really special and fun???

Wow, Walker and Everly really got everything this year.  From Santa coming down the chimney, to baby Jesus being special.  SO FUN!

When the kids woke up and realized that Santa had been here, they couldn't believe it!  Santa ate his cookies and drank his milk and the reindeer ate all their food!  And, Santa left presents!!!

Cinderella castle!

There's stuff in our stockings!

A very cool race track.

Slippers and super hero cape!

Ready to fight crime!

Peepaw and Maggie came over in the afternoon for tamales!

It really was a great day.  We really enjoyed the laid back day.... the kids got to play with all their fun stuff!

All in all, a really WONDERFUL Christmas!  Can't wait until next year... in fact, I've been buying some decorations since they are cheap.  Too bad I have to wait 11 months to put it all out!

Christmas Eve

I love going to church on Christmas Eve!  Crossroads is such a wonderful church home and the Christmas Eve service didn't disappoint!

Beautiful Babes!

Woo hoo!  A decent family photo!

Candles!  Walker was such a big boy, he held his own candle!

When we got home, we got to open more presents!!!

These sweet kids wanted to make sure the reindeer got some food!

Oh my!  Love him.

Cookies for Santa!!!

Christmas Eve has always been my favorite.  I'm sure it's because my mother could never wait until Christmas morning to open presents.  I have such great memories of going to church, eating at Steak & Ale and then coming home to open presents!  I'm hopeful that Walker and Everly get to enjoy the same good memories!

Christmas Cookies

I have this wonderful vision in my head.... me making homemade cookies, using precious cookie cutters and Walker and Everly decorating beautiful Christmas cookies.  That vision never really happens.  This year, I did get great cookie cutters, but I still don't know how to make homemade cookies.  So, I bought some in the package.  Guess what I don't have.... a rolling pin.  So, we attempted to roll out the dough and I cut out shapes.  It didn't work.  But, we still got to decorate!

And, eat sprinkles!

Yum!

The frosting is the best anyway!

I don't have a picture of the final product!  But, Santa got some cookies, so that's all that matters!!!