Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day, we made some gifts.  The first was a melted crayon heart found here http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/crayon-hearts-671639/ .  It turned out exactly as pictured on the website.  Here the kids are going at it.  I love the serious face Joshua has peeling the crayon.

Tabitha is filling up the heart shaped tin.

It was neat that they could see the crayons melt.  We would leave and come back a few minutes later to see it melt even more.

We also made chocolate covered peanut butter balls.  Yum-o!  Tabitha thought so too.

Tabitha had a Valentine's date with Daddy.  Very sweet!  They went to get pepperoni pizza, her favorite.

Joshua wanted to be a part as well. 

In fact, when Tabitha got home, Joshua took her to the living room so he could slow dance with her.  It was so sweet!  I really don't think I've seen a sweeter moment between them.  She had also brought him ice cream from the date.  They sure do enjoy each other!

Valentine's Day was fun-filled.  We started the morning with church.  Then my mom and Fred renewed their vows immediately following church. They got the kids some very cute, fancy clothes.  Here's Joshua in his suit. 

Tabitha and her baby wore matching dresses.

The bridal party and best man waiting to walk in.  Tabitha was the maid-of-honor, and Joshua was the best man. 

Tabitha walked in all by herself (with baby).  She did an amazing job!   She didn't hesitate.  She slowly walked in with all the smiling faces looking at her. 

Joshua walked Gigi down the aisle.  He also did a fabulous job!  I just couldn't get a good picture.

Here's the lovely bride and groom.  Josue performed the ceremony.

Yummy cake!

This is Fred's son Jason, Fred, Tabitha, Joshua, my mom. me, Dustin, and Keith.

Josue and I with the bride and groom.

Tabitha with Papa.

Later we went to a surprise birthday party.  We were party animals!  Hope your Valentine's was just as great!

A Little Here and a Little There

I found some pictures from the beginning of January until recent that I wanted to share.

New Years Eve
The noise makers were a hit.  Here's Joshua with Buela having a great time.

Outside he got to hold his first sparkler.  Tabitha had nothing to do with it. 

BTW- Both kids were up past midnight.  I really couldn't believe they lasted.  These kids are all about routine and bedtime is usually no later than 9 PM.  They were too busy having fun to sleep.

Horns Game
Every season we make it to at least one Longhorn basketball game.  Here's Josue and Tabitha giving the Hook 'Em sign.  She taught herself and is proud to show it off.

National Championship Game
Josue went to California with some friends to watch the game.  I took the kids to see Gigi and Papa for a couple of days. 

Moments before the game, Joshua took our picture.

We weren't smiling after the game.

During this visit, the kids helped Papa sweep leaves. 

They also rode horses.

Dance Class
The beginning of January I began hosting a dance class at my house for our neighborhood friends.  The kids dress up to come.  It's very cute!  We've had a lot of fun with the class.

Long Distance Friends
This past weekend some friends from high school came to visit.  I grew up near Houston, and two of my friends (Jessica and Kim) still live there.  Elizabeth and I made it to Austin so they came to see us.  It used to be just 4 of us, now look at this crew of children (and Zach)! 

We were at Zilker Park.  So we had to ride the train!  Here's Joshua and Tabitha just before we took off.

Well, I hope you enjoyed those pictures because I sure did.  Hopefully Valentine photos will come soon.

Gone Fishin'

Today the kids and I went to visit Gigi and Papa.  Being the grandparents they are, they are decorating their house for the kids.  They now have a chair their size to sit at the table.

There is also an art easel and now some newly decorated art pictures for their house.

After lunch there was a surprise.  Papa and Gigi had a fishing pole for them.  Papa likes to spend his time outdoors, so here he is getting the kids ready to go.

Joshua wanted all those in sunglasses to take a picture together.   (Funny story...Gigi and I decided to pull the kids in the wagon.  Wow!  Immediately exiting their driveway there is an uphill climb.  I'm glad Papa didn't have the camera then.  We got a ride with him on the way back home.  Phew!)

Now we made it to the deck to fish.  Tabitha would just throw her line around the deck.  (There are no hooks, just a plastic toy on the end.)  She would reel it in, put her hand on her hip, and say, "Look at my big-o fish.  I'm going to cook it for dinner." 

Papa did add a hook to Joshua's pole, and the bait was worms.  Joshua is totally boy as of today.  Papa asked him once to hold a worm, and Joshua stuck out his hand like nothing.  Then Papa told him to come show the girls.  Once Joshua heard me scream, he didn't stop!  Typical boy, and I love it!  I just don't like to touch worms.

Holding it.

Studying it.

Coming after the girls!

Tabitha, on the other hand, did not want a worm on her pole, and she didn't have any problems telling Papa, "No."  Watch the stages she went through.

Joshua and Papa did catch one fish and threw it back in.

Tabitha enjoyed the butterfly way more than the fish.

Thanks for the great time, Gigi and Papa!

Joshua's 4th Birthday

Joshua is our Christmas baby.  Well, almost. December 28th to be exact.  For the past three years, we have had his party on or near his birthday.  Which doesn't work well because many people are out-of-town.  This year I decided to have his party early.  We celebrated on December 12th.  The theme was Scooby-Doo.  To begin, the kids made puppets.  If a monster was too scary, it could be anything they wanted. 

After lunch, we had cupcakes.  Joshua really enjoyed his.  And look at the table near Tabitha.  Yes, she decided to decorate all by herself.  Blue sugar everywhere!  (Friends Grace and Jaedyn in the photo.)

The party wouldn't be complete without a mystery to solve.  The Scooby pinata went missing.  The plan was that Papa would take the pinata and hide in the garage.  Uncle Dustin laid out the clues while the kids decorated the cupcakes.  There was pinata fringe, footprints, and empty candy wrappers.  The kids each got a magnifying glass.  Joshua is at the bottom of the photo.

Joshua is off finding the clues.  We had to slow him down so his friends could catch up.  It was funny because I never told him what to do.  He knew all those things were clues to a mystery.

Our house was so full that I wasn't able to see him find the pinata.  But I did hear Papa.   He said the classic line from Scooby-Doo, "I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you meddling kids."  Well, he was pretty close.

After the party I asked Joshua what his favorite part was, and he said it was the mystery.  Yea!  I'm glad he had a great time.

In between his party and birthday, Joshua would switch his age on us.  When it was convenient, he was three.  Such as having to change his own clothes or put on his own shoes.  And when it was convenient , he was four.  Such as doing arts and crafts whenever he chose.  Smart creature!

On his actual birthday, Josue had to go to work so I took Joshua to Jumpy Gym.  He really had a great time.  It's hard to take pictures in mid-air.

Gigi caught up with us, so we went to lunch.

When Daddy came home, we went to Dairy Queen.  It was 30 degrees out but Joshua still wanted the ice cream.  Daddy is having to warm him up.

I can't believe he is now 4! He knows he is 5 next year, and he'll tell you he is going to school.

Cookies, cookies, and more cookies!

The kids have been busy making cookies this month.

First, we went to visit Ella and make chocolate chip cookies.  Elizabeth had Santa aprons for the kids.

Ella measured flour while Tabitha and Joshua measured sugar. 

Tabitha quickly realized how good her hands tasted.

The end result.  Yummy!

Our neighbors, Grace and Lucas, then had us over to make reindeer cookies.  Look how nice Grace's turned out.

Joshua and Tabitha really liked their cookies.

And Lucas.  So cute!  The green frosting was probably the best part.

We have also been baking for goodie bags at our home.  No photos, but they are delicious!  I better enjoy all these cookies before the New Year is here!

Gigi's Birthday

Gigi's birthday was on Dec. 2nd so we went to eat for her birthday.  Joshua helps her open the box.  He chose some nice fuzzy red socks while Tabitha chose pink ones.

Here are the kids with Gigi and Papa. 

Joshua really enjoyed the birthday cake.

Happy birthday, Gigi!

Josue's Birthday

Yesterday was Josue's birthday.  Unfortunately he had to go to work, so our family festivities didn't begin until he got home. 

It began with him opening his cards and present from the kids.  They got him a pair of slippers.  He was the only one in our home without them so we thought his feet should be warm also.

Here they are posing with him after the gift was opened.

Joshua then took our picture.  Pretty good!

Josue then opened his gift from me.

It was a blindfold.  His gift was waiting for him at our next door neighbor's house, which was a total surprise.  It was a grill.  We've been talking about it for two years, and now he has one.  (I like December birthdays...you can roll Christmas and birthday into the same gift. :-))

Next was dinner at his favorite place, Texas Land & Cattle.  Buela accompanied us also.

The grand finale...our family. 

Birthdays are so much fun with the kids involved.  We are so blessed!