Random things and pictures

The other day it was a cold morning and day, but Ezra and Emersyn wanted to go outside. I thought it would be okay if they played outside as long as they were bundled up. After bundling them up, they were SO CUTE I had to go outside with Elynn and snag some pictures of them. I just couldn't help it.

Emersyn started smiling with her eyes closed. When I tell her to open her eyes, it looks worse...

I absolutely LOVED her low pony and hat! Her hair is so long now!

Elynn about to not be happy

They are getting so big!

Too cute for words!

Emersyn (2 1/2), Ezra (4 1/2) and Elynn 10 months

The first weekend of December we had Brent's work Christmas Party. My grandma came up to spend the night with the kids so we wouldn't have to worry about coming home early. It was a good time. We went downtown to Bohanan's. Brent's boss, Lupita, goes all out. She does appetizers, salads, main course, dessert and drinks. She also has gift bags and if you are lucky enough to have a sticker under your chair, you will walk away with one of the table decorations. This year, we were the lucky winners!! Such a great party and great friends to celebrate with. 

Brent and I at the Christmas Party

Last Thursday, Ezra's preschool class met at La Cantera for lunch, Santa and playing. It was a great afternoon. He was super excited to see his friends outside of class and have lunch with them. They took a class picture with Santa. I also got a picture of Ezra, Emersyn and Elynn with Santa. Elynn's face is priceless. She didn't cry but was looking at me like, if you don't hurry and take the picture I will do it! It was a good day.

The Marvelous Monkeys Class

You better watch out, You better NOT CRY

We finally saw SANTA and NO ONE CRIED!! Brent's co-worker, Linnell, has a christmas party every year that we have attended the last couple years. Around 6, the doorbell rings and in walks Santa ringing his bells. I wasn't sure how my two little girls were going to do. Last year, Emersyn was 1 1/2 and did not care for him at all. This year, being 2 1/2 I didn't know if she would like him and sit on his lap. I had Ezra go first. I thought this would help Emersyn if she saw her older/bigger brave brother sit on his lap. Ezra was great and not shy about telling Santa what he wanted for christmas. Of course, Ezra wants everything and anything AGGIE..and Santa was NAUGHTY and made some jokes. Not nice Santa! After Ezra was done, it was Emersyn's turn. She walked right up to him, got on his lap and grabbed his jingle bells. She wasn't afraid one bit. I was so proud of her. She quietly spouted off what she wants for Christmas. It changes almost every time you ask her. Pretty cute. Then our sweet Elynn girl got a turn. She was FANTASTIC. She is so laid back and full of joy that she didn't even blink and eye when I handed her over. She just stared up at him and tugged on his beard once or twice. It was pretty cute! Santa wanted to keep her.
It was a great party. I enjoyed watching the kids enjoy Santa this year. We even got a family picture with Santa again. (It's the same Santa from last year.)

Christmas Wish Lists:
Ezra: Aggie helmet, Aggie shirt and football pants.
Emersyn: It changes everyday, but I think furniture for her dollhouse!
Elynn: a new walking toy (instead of a hand-me-down), maybe a piggy bank and an outfit

Ezra and Santa

Emersyn and Santa

Elynn and Santa

Love it!

Pretty good family picture

Our family picture LAST YEAR with the same Santa. Elynn is in my belly!

My sweet Elynn

Lisa, Barbara, Tina and I with Santa

Elynn is 10 Months!

LOVE.LOVE.LOVE

My baby is 10 months! Only TWO more months until she is 1! That just BLOWS my mind!!
I keep thinking back to this time of year, last year. We just moved into our new house, I was big and pregnant and in a few short weeks, I would head to the hospital in early labor to be put on hospital bed rest for a week! So, thankful she came at the exact right time and was a healthy, beautiful baby girl!
 I know I say this all the time, but she is so JOYFUL and HAPPY ALL THE TIME! I really think the only time she cries is if she is super tired or hungry. Which, is rare that it even gets to that stage. She is always super happy, clapping, talking and loves to be right where Ezra and Emersyn is. She is also so content playing by herself and discovering new things. One of her favorite things to do is bee-line it to the dog food. She will get to it, make sure I see, then shake her head no. It is super cute. Another new thing that she is doing is pointing. Emersyn started pointing at 10 months, too. It is super cute. She will point to everything and then looks at her finger, like it's a pretty cool thing. She says, "mamama" and "dadada". I know that ALL babies do this, but she will crawl to me, when she wants me to pick her up, while saying, "mamama." She will also start saying, "dadada" when Brent walks in the room, smile so big and put her head down. It is CUTE! So, I am counting those as real words because she knows who they belong to. She also is crawling everywhere, pulling up on everything and cruising around the furniture. It's a fun new stage we are in. We are LOVING it and LOVING her!!

Such a big smile and laugh!

Oh.My.Goodness! So.In.LOVE!

Pointing to the tree

Thanksgiving

I am only a week late on my Thanskgiving post! Ha! I feel like we have been running like crazy, and now, it's December, so it is NOT going to slow down. I do not have one single present bought yet. I have definitely been doing my research on the internet, but have not had the chance to go. I think it is harder this year because Emersyn is super smart, and I cannot take her with me this year. She would walk right in and tell Ezra what he got. So, I am going to have to find time to go with just Elynn. ANYWAY, this is NOT a christmas post, it is a Thanksgiving post. Can you tell what is on my mind??
Thanksgiving was very busy for us, but SO GOOD! I wasn't looking forward to the traveling part of it, even though we were just going back and forth from San Antonio to Fredericksburg. Thursday, the girls and I headed to Fredericksburg (the farm, really) to meet up with Brent and Ezra, who had been there hunting since Tuesday. We were scheduled for a Thanksgiving meal at 2pm with the Lindig side of the family (brent's mom's siblings). It was a good day of feasting and fellowship. We haven't seen some of Brent's uncles/aunts and cousins in a while. So, it was good catching up.
That evening, we headed back to San Antonio because Brent had to work the next morning at 7. Friday, while Brent was working, I unpacked Brent and Ezra's bag and REPACKED bags for our trip BACK TO FREDERICKSBURG that afternoon. We had another Thanksgiving feast with Brent's family at his parents house.
We love his family. There are 11 cousins total, between all the siblings (two more on the way), and they all get along so well! You don't even have to referee!  I love it!
Brent's dad got some wood go cart kits that they put together so the kids could ride them down the big hill at their house. It was a blast. Oma and Opa's house is so cool.
Friday evening, we were back in the car and headed to Johnson City. My mom still has her house there, so my side of the family was meeting in Johnson City for the weekend to have our Thanksgiving Feast.
Saturday we woke up and started cooking. It was so fun to be with my family too. I love when we are together. We did miss my sister and her husband, who weren't able to make it this year. But, we still had a packed house between us, my brother, his wife, their kids, mom, ron, my grandma, my aunt and her husband. It was such a sweet time of fun and fellowship. After our 2 o'clock meal, we had an hour nap and rest period to rejuvenate for our annual flag football game. This year, we had three on three. Four on Four if you truly count Ezra and Lincoln. It was my mom, ron, brent and ezra on one team and me, malachi, shelby and lincoln on the opposing team. Oh how we get competitive. I think this might have been the first time my mom and ron truly played and my mom is COMPETITIVE! It was so funny! She even, at one point, pushed me down on the ground while I was running a play. It was HILARIOUS! The final score was 3-2. Our team lost. But it was a good, fun game! I wish I had pictures! Saturday evening, my mom and ron blessed me, brent, malachi and shelby with a night out to the movies while they watched all 5 kids! We went to Marble Falls, stopped by Starbucks for a coffee and went to see J. Edgar. It was a great day!
Sunday we headed back home. That evening, Brent's long time high school and college friend, Ben, and his family came over to see us and eat dinner. They live in North Carolina. Ben is in the Marines. Brent and Ben haven't seen each other in 5 years. I haven't seen them since we went to Pennsylvania for their wedding. It was a great visit and so fun to meet their two little ones! Hopefully it won't be that long in between our next visit.
Such a great week! So much to be Thankful for!!

Making of the Go-Carts!

Playing with big cousin, Alyssa

Joseph. He is a week younger than Elynn

The boys getting the go-cart ready

Ezra about to go down the hill

All the cousins (minus joseph and elynn)

Oma and my girls

Trying to get ONE picture with Oma

Mimi and the grandkids (minus Emersyn)

Cambelle and Elynn (cambelle LOVES elynn)

Grammy and Elynn

Emersyn and Lincoln (they have a LOVE/HATE relationship)

My aunt Lisa and Ezra

They were cuddling!

OHC Turkey Feast

Ezra's preschool had their annual Thanksgiving Turkey Feast. I am so blessed to be a part of Oakhills Preschool! Ezra LOVES his school and is learning so much. Most importantly, he is learning bible verses, how to be kind and loving to others, how to play nicely, how to pray and give thanksgivings and how to be a Godly boy! I love love love it!
His preschool has a Thanksgiving feast every year. It is the cutest thing you will ever see. All the different classes either dress like Pilgrims, Indians or turkeys! They have a long rectangular table that they all sit indian style at. They all say a prayer together and then have a grand feast. It is the cutest thing. OHC is so good about parent and sibling involvement, too. Emersyn, Elynn and I were able to go up there and feast with him. I love it.
I just love this time of year.

My two little turkeys

Tried to get a good picture of them in the turkey shirts I made. Elynn wasn't having it.

Such a handsome Pilgrim 

The long table 

Waiting patiently to pray

So thankful I was able to snap a shot of him praying. So precious!

The Marshall Family

Me and the crew

Ezra done taking pictures