Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Elynn's well visit

Today we had Elynn's well visit for her Two year old check up. Everything went great and the doctor said she is growing and doing exactly what she needs to be doing. I am so thankful for healthy children!


Stats:
Weight: 25 pounds (40%)
Height: 33.5" (40%)



*side note: elynn got a little nervous during her height and weight check. So, I placed her on the weigh table and lined her up like the nurse asked me too. She started crying so I was putting my face by hers telling her it was okay and she I was right there. Well, then I had to back away from the table so they could get a weight. She FLIPPED OUT! I have three children and I do not think the other two have ever done that. She was screaming and crying and trying to jump off the weight table. The nurse almost made me leave so that elynn would maybe calm down. SO CRAZY. Then, when we went back to the room, anytime she heard footsteps near our room she sprinted into my lap and hid her head in my armpit. This is not typical of Elynn. She ended up doing great through the appointment. I really like our pediatrician! *




Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Elynn turns 2!



My sweet baby girl turned 2 yesterday. How crazy is that?? It really goes by so fast. I think it's going to go by faster now that she is two and we are somewhat ending our "baby" stage. We will still probably be in diapers for a couple more months, although she is already telling me when she needs to go potty. She mostly tells me when she needs to go "poo poo", and wants to sit on the potty, but hasn't had a successful "in the potty" moment yet. I am certainly not pushing potty training just yet, I mean, she JUST turned 2. However, I see it in the near future.
All that said, it makes it bitter sweet. I love the IDEA of being out of  the baby stage in the near future and think the ages 2, 4 (in may) and 6 (in july) will be so fun. I am loving 2, 3 and 5 already! So, the sad part comes when you are out of the baby stage and everyone thinks they are independent and can do things by themselves. That is part of it though. I am just thankful that they all still like to cuddle at night when we read stories, that they like for me to lay in their bed with them, individually, while we pray/sing songs and that I can't leave the room without giving big kisses and hugs. I will try to hold on to those moments for as long as I can.
So, back to Elynn. Just today, I rocked her to sleep because she wanted to "rock". She has been stuck on not being able to just lay her down in her bed anymore while she puts herself to sleep. She will actually stand in the corner of her bed yelling, "rock, rock. Hold you, hold you" until you make your way back in her room to do just that. I guess since she is getting bigger and one day won't want me to do that, I do it every time. It is such a sweet moment, even though it's hard sometimes.



At two, you are able to walk, run, jump (and mostly off the coffee table to the couch), eat on your own, drink from a regular cup, talk in short sentences, recognize your body parts, recognize some of your colors, put puzzles together, blow bubbles,and follow directions.

You have a passion, maybe, for dancing. You will turn on a toy that has music and just "get it". You love babies. You love to rock them, give them piggy back rides on your back, push them in the stroller, take them with you everywhere, slide down the slide with them and feed them from the food you make in your kitchen. You love playing the ipad, or on my phone, talking on the phone and making us laugh. You are so funny and have the best/sweetest personality. You are quick to say "thank you", "sorry" and "love you". I am pretty sure you haven't met a stranger, but you also love to be held or hide your head in my shoulder when you are getting too much attention.

How I often find you


Birthday Celebration at Chuck E Cheese with just our family and the Garrisons






Elynn,
How we LOVE YOU TO PIECES. You are such a blessing to this family. You make us laugh so hard with your quick personality and "performances" that you love to do. You are a sweet daughter, sister and friend. You are still such a cuddle bug and we soak up as much as we can. You are definitely are a joy and are already shining your light bright for Jesus. I love watching you grow and learn. I am excited for this new year. We love you sweet girl.

Mom

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

7 years and going STRONG



Brent and I celebrated 7 years of marriage yesterday. I still love this guy like CRAZY! It is so cool how you can fall more in love as you live and experience 7 years of marriage and get past, but not too past, the lovey dovey side and into the real heart of marriage, especially having 3 kids. He is my hero and rockstar! I love him to the moon and back, always and forever!





Brent's new truck

Brent was in an accident the Thursday before Christmas. He got hit by a high schooler trying to beat him across the street. Luckily he was okay and it wasn't his fault. His truck didn't look too bad, but we knew the whole front bumper and some other small things things would need to be replaced.

Friday evening he gets a call from the other persons insurance saying his truck has frame damage and would cost too much to fix it, so they totaled it! We could not believe it. So, the weekend before Christmas Brent learns he is going to have to find a new truck and they are giving him till Wednesday, the DAY AFTER christmas, to have the rental car and find a truck. He was a little stressed. Monday was spent at Red McComes where he ended up getting a new F150.

Old truck, which we LOVED

New truck

Christmas round 3

The friday after Christmas, we packed up and headed to Fredericksburg. We celebrated christmas with Brent's family on Friday and half of Satruday. Saturday we all loaded up again and drove to Austin to have Lindig Chrsitmas (brent's mom's side).

What I love about Brent's family is that they are a BIG family! There are so many of us when we get together. I also love that they don't do presents. The focus is family and Jesus' birth. All the cousins are assigned a new part each year to the Nativity play. This year, Ezra was a Shepard  Emersyn was Mary and Elynn was an angel. Each year, we have been able to add lines to the play. There are 13 cousins and one on the way, so we pretty much can do the whole play. Sometimes, uncles have to play the part of the inn keeper and everyone sings. It is awesome and my kids LOVE IT!

The whole Eilers crew


The siblings were able to get Oma and Opa a Keruig for Christmas!


Grace: an angel

Solanus: Joseph

Ezra: a shepard

Emersyn, Ezra, Grace, Maria and Solanus


The three angels: Grace, Elynn and Maria

Checking out baby Jesus

Andrew: baby Jesus

Ezra and  Caleb: the shepards

Mary, Jospeh and their donkey: Zachary


The angels appearing to the fearful shepards

Uncle Fr. Brian playing with Elynn


The end

Group picture: all 13 cousins


Christmas round 2!

After round 1 of christmas, we were ready to be home and have Christmas at our house with just the 5 of us. We have tried to be at our house for Christmas with just the 5 of us ever since the kids were able to "get" christmas. It has been fun!

Christmas Eve, we went to our 5 o'clock church service and then headed to my dad's house for dinner and christmas. I don't have any pictures from that night, but it was a great night.

Christmas morning, We woke up and Santa had come. So far, we have been able to keep everyone upstairs until EVERYONE is awake and then we can go downstairs together. I love getting their little surprised  happy faces on camera as they round the corner. I think the best part of Christmas, as a parent, is seeing your kids joy and excitement of the whole thing.






We had a great day of just hanging out, getting everything organized and put away (my favorite part ;)), and playing/figuring out everything we got. It was a sweet christmas. Not a big christmas, which is how it should be!

Ezra asked for a basketball hoop and a bow and arrow.



Emersyn asked for a Jessie and Woody doll that talks and dress up clothes.




Elynn didn't ask for anything, but she got a cool, big cardboard house with a baby alive doll that wets its diaper.





Brent got a gaming camera, belt and a Texas A&M pullover.



I got running shoes!, a yoga mat and a new long sleeve A&M running shirt. (guess we didnt get any pictures of this! ha)

Christmas Parties and Round 1 of Christmas

Ezra and Emersyn had their class Christmas party the last week of school. For Ezra, his class had a little party in their room where they got to have a book exchange between the students, watch a movie and bring a bag of goodies home from his teacher. After their class party, the whole school put on a Nativity play. It was so sweet. My little guy was a DOVE! Yes, he picked it and was so happy about it.

Opening up their books

Ezra, the Dove

The dove in action

His whole school after the play

Emersyn's class party consisted of lunch, a story, craft and some goodies. She has a sweet little class with great parent involvement. We are truly blessed by Ezra and Emersyn's schools.





Round 1 of Christmas began in Johnson City at my mom's house, which she had before getting married and moving to Houston. It's nice for us that she still has it, so we can all meet up and not have to truly travel too far.

We had a house full. My mom, Ron, Malachi and his family, Ashley and her family, Our family, my grandmother and Aunt with her husband. It was great. On Saturday we all hung around the house enjoying each other's company and SNACKING. We had chili and tamales later that night before we headed to the town square and PEC company to look at lights and get a picture with Santa. After light seeing, we came home to dessert and presents. We always have a 10 dollar white elephant between the adults, which involves a singing Christmas wreath. This wreath has been in the family for about 12 years and is always in the white elephant mix. Every year we forget who got it last, so it's kinda like walking egg shells opening up the gifts to see who is going to end up with the wreath this year. Well, we were the lucky ones to get the wreath this year. I am going to have to be creative on how to wrap it next year!

The whole crew

making sugar cookies

the finished prodcuts


Ashley and baby Townes


All the cousins with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Ashley and I had to be in the picture too. 

Elynn, my little gingerbread

PEC lights!



This year, for the first time in my family, we did the nativity "play" with the kids. My kids are used to doing this every year with Brent's family. This year, we just had the kids dress up in the different parts, read a nativity story and took pictures. As they get older, we will be able to act out the play. It is such a sweet, special and important thing to have them do each christmas. I feel like it gives them the TRUE meaning of christmas, and takes the focus away from TOYS!

A wise man, two angels, Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus


Mary and baby Jesus

Mary and the two angels



We had such a great time with my family. I love getting to celebrate with them. I am truly blessed.


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