Christmas

Christmas was very eventful this year!

We went to visit Santa and this was our Christmas card picture for the year (because I was too lazy to have their picture taken again and didn't have anything else to use, but it's cute so it works!) I'm not sure how many more years we'll visit Santa... I guess for as long as they still want to.

I was so excited to go to Carol of Lights, and the kids had fun too! I hope we can make this an annual tradition for our family.

The kindergarteners did the Christmas program at school and were so cute! The songs had cute hand motions and was just so adorable. Blake ended up on the front row which made her a little nervous...

Easton had a Christmas program, too. They acted out the Nativity story and Easton was a wise man, along with two best buddies. So incredibly sweet! You could tell he was nervous too being in the spotlight, but I was proud of both kids for finishing the whole performance.

Blake's class had a "Frozen" themed Christmas party - Olaf, snow, and ice! It was fun and I love that her teacher and classmates always make Easton feel so welcome. 

We went to Midland the weekend before Christmas to celebrate with my side of the family. Poppa had strongly wished for us all to be there for this specific date, so we were all curious what the surprise would be...

He reserved a carriage ride through the Grasslands neighborhood, and it was so fun! We were all bundled up and together, which would never have happened without such a large vehicle!

 All the cousins!

Aunt Katie bought the girls matching dresses and Blake loved it! She loves Sophia and loves having a little girl to play with like almost like a living doll. My favorite thing was when Blake was trying to comb Sophia's hair and Sophia kept moving and moving, trying to get away. Blake never stopped, she went wherever Sophia went and just kept combing!

Just playing before mass...

Back at home, waiting for Santa... the kids left out chocolate chip cookies, milk, and carrots for the reindeer!

Santa brought Blake a doll house and Easton a Ninja Turtle and Paw Patrol headquarters and a Stretchkin for each (unicorn for Blake, Ninja Turtle for Easton). They also got new scooters, art sets, Barbies, Nerf guns...

For round three, we celebrated with Tim's side the weekend after Christmas. A Christmas season full of family, love, joy, and happiness. Merry Christmas!

Fall

the hat... the eyelashes... the sweetness... I love it all!

  
 Here's one little turkey about to perform in his Thanksgiving program.

And here's my other little turkey after school one day.

Cute little turkeys!

One weekend my dad's cousins came up to watch their son perform at the Blue Light here in town. They came over for breakfast the next day and Blake was so interested in watching Cheryl sing and play the guitar (a Keith Urban one my mom just happened to have in the car). She went and got her princess guitar out and had an impromptu lesson.

Easton wasn't as interested, but finally decided he should try, too.

Blake had her end-of-season soccer party at a cute little ice cream shop. She's always so proud of her trophies!

We went to Frisco for Thanksgiving this year and the first thing we did when we got to town was take the kids to Build-A-Bear. Blake picked a bunny and Easton picked Leonardo the Ninja Turtle.

It was the kids' first time doing something like this, and they were so sweet helping to fill them up with stuffing,

warming up the hearts,

 getting the hearts beating,

and giving them a bath! Blake had a little too much fun picking out accessories for her bunny! Easton was happy with Leo's weapons and off we went.

We had a nice time visiting Grammy and Grandpa and the other friends and family we saw! Happy Thanksgiving!

Current Events

Blake has been sick for most of her Kindergarten year. She has had strep numerous times, (along with other things) and after her tonsils not clearing up after 3 months of strep and many antibiotics, it was finally time for her tonsils and adenoids to come out.

We went to the ENT on a Thursday, and we were scheduled for surgery the Friday of the following week. (April 10, 2015) No time to waste! I didn't want her to be sick for any longer - missing a little Kindergarten would be okay! The doctors and nurses were so kind and she was as brave as could be. Blake knew it would be a good thing to get them out. 

The moment they wheeled her into surgery was hard for me - luckily the surgery was quick and 30 minutes later Dr. P told us that it went as planned. He said her tonsils were so nasty and full of tonsilliths, and that it was good they were out! Recovery is still ongoing... 

Easton met with a diagnostician and speech pathologist from the district today. At his 4 year old well check, our doctor said his speech development was delayed for his age and referred us to a speech therapist. I opted to use the school district instead of going private due to cost and ease.

It was really interesting seeing him evaluated. Blake and I watched (she's home from school for a week after surgery) and I was amazed and so proud of my little guy. They stopped his full evaluation, covering all areas of development, only because of time restraints... he was on a 2nd grade level! Easton is such a smart little boy. He did qualify for speech services and will start in May. We've been talking about how he gets another teacher to help him with his letters, sounds, and talking. He is so excited to get another teacher and be a Crestview Tiger like his sister! 

Life Lately

Sometimes when you slack off from something for so long, you feel like you can't get started again. Or it wouldn't be worth it because you're so far behind... Clearly, I'm very behind in keeping track of our lives - and that's how I've been feeling about blogging. But this week, when I kept referring back to things I had documented from when the kids were little(r), it made me realize that I do need to keep this up. 

I'm going to attempt to catch up...

Fall Soccer 2014

Blake: age 5
team: Diamond Divas

Easton: age 3

team: Gladiators

Happy Halloween!

 Halloween week was full of activities!

The weekend before Halloween, we had Blake's school fall carnival and trunk-or-treat at church. Blake was a pirate and Easton was a fireman!

It was also Red Ribbon Week at school - on camo day, it was also Pumpkin Carving day! Blake designed her pumpkin to be scary-happy. 

Love my sweet girl!

The kiddos are modeling their Halloween shirts Grandma made.

Easton's class took a field trip to a local pumpkin farm/corn maze. He and his two buddies stayed together the whole time, leading each other through the maze and sitting by each other for everything.

They rode the cow train, got to look at different farm animals, the pond,

and there was a hay ride out through the fields to pick their own pumpkin. This is the best picture I got of us on the hay ride! Goof ball!

On Halloween, Blake decided she didn't want to be a pirate and was Princess Belle instead (good thing she has a stash of dress up clothes!) It was a pretty chilly evening, and she ended up putting on and taking off her coat every time she got cold, but then wanted to show her costume...

They had lots of fun trick or treating our neighborhood, and when Easton's legs got tired and treat bags were filled, we headed home and they handed out candy at our door. I think that was just as fun for them!

Molly went trick or treating with us and was perfectly behaved! It was just another walk around the neighborhood for her. She would have been cute with a little costume on... maybe next year.