Christmas in Gonzales

We had a wonderful Christmas 2010. Jonathan is just old enough to have fun opening the first present. Then he gets a little bored trying to get the paper off and gives up. Stephen absolutely loved the whole Christmas (Santa) experience this year. He learned all the fun songs for the Christmas season at daycare and made tons of art. We were home this year for our own Seale family Christmas with the boys. Then we drove to Pearland for lunch with The Barton's and Lolo and Grams Seale. Christmas day was an interesting and exciting day. The first event of the day that happened was we lost power around 12:30pm (thankfully after a big lunch). Most of Cheri's house lost power right as we were putting all 5 kids down for naps. We had a wonderful plan until the power went out. It threw everything off when we couldn't get all the sound machines to work. It still worked except we did not get to put down the 2 oldest kids (Stephen and Hunter). The youngest and only girl Skye (14 months) woke up about 40 minutes into her nap when she could hear us. Jonathan went down fine because he was in the master bathroom in a pack-n-play with the bathroom fan on. We tried to plug in a real fan in the bathroom to find out the beginning of the "no power" event. The men began to troubleshoot the problem for the next few hours. Daniel had complained that morning of having some back pain and it continued throughout the rest of the morning and into lunch. He was honestly doing fine but taking Aleve for pain. Around 2:45pm it got really bad so I decided to take him to the ER. He began to have trouble breathing. After a shot in the arm and chest x-rays we left the ER to find out the. They dismissed him with a back strain or muscle strain. What a day. He left with a prescription of pain meds and strict instructions not to pick up the boys for a week.






Noni Lucas taught and her 4 grand children are putting out treats for Santa and his reindeer. The grand children are playing are their fun new "big" toys that will stay at the Lucas house.

Christmas

Sorry, it has been a long time since I have blogged. This is my favorite time of the year. I love picking out a Christmas tree, decorating it with ornaments and enjoying this time with family. It has been a wonderful season of Christmas. We picked out an extra large tree this year but it worked out and Daniel made it fit in our house. He only had to trim it once after we brought it home. Stephen insisted we put the star on the tree so that is what we did.

Today was my first official day off for the winter/Christmas break. I am trying to savor every moment with my boys. We do have big plans for the next two weeks just spending all of my time with Daniel and the boys. We are going to Gonzales on Thursday and returning Friday. Otherwise, we will be here the whole time. Pictures to come. Still learning how to use my new camera. Thankfully, I have a dvd to tell me how to use it.

Tomorrow I am taking the boys on an early morning walk in the double stroller. Guess what I will be doing ? Yes, taking pictures. I am taking my new camera with me to snap some photos of the boys and the scenery. Our fall trees hear look beautiful even though we are only 3 days away fromt the winter solstice. Leaves are still on some of trees but the backyard is filling up fast with leaves. I really don't want to rake but somehow I think that's one thing we need to do before I go back to work on January 3rd. This is time when having a leaf blower really comes in handy.

Happy 3rd Birthday Stephen

My little boy is 3!

I really cannot believe he is already 3 years old. Stephen is doing so many funny things these days. Here are some things he loves to do on a daily basis.

He loves to sing songs and add his own lyrics.
He enjoys playing with all his 'Cars' movie toys.
His favorite toy to play with outside is his Stryder bike.
He loves to tell Jonathan what to do.
He is trying the help Jonathan learn to talk so he is repeating after me a lot.
He enjoys making Jonathan laugh by doing funny sounds or funny faces.
His favorite TV show is "Team Umi-zoomi" because it's all about shapes and counting.

Stephen's 3rd Birthday party

Cheri, Kim and I decided to give a joint birthday party this year for Titus and Stephen turning 3 in November and December and for Skye and Nichole who turned one in October and December. It was a little chilly this morning so it kind of threw us all for a loop. The kids enjoyed themselves and loved the bounce house.

My parents were supposed to come down for the party but my Dad ended up in the hospital with Pneumonia. Then Jonathan had to be tested for possibly having RSV on Friday night in the ER. We found out he is negative for RSV and Flu but decided he didn't need to be in the cold, windy weather. Aunt Jamie kept him during the party at our house.

Stephen had a blast with all his cousins.



We rented a bounce house for all the kids.


We had pizza for lunch.



We opened Stephen's presents and ate birthday cake.

Skye turned 1 on October 20th.

Titus turns 3 on December 12th.

Nichole is turning 1 on December 16th.

Stephen turns 3 on November 30th.

Uncle Brad and Aunt Cheri gave Stephen the 'Grave Digger' monster truck for his birthday.

Jack-O and Thomas

We took the boys down the street to about 4 houses and then came home. Stephen enjoyed getting candy. Jonathan loved it too but didn't really get to eat much of it. He did get a piece of reeses. Stephen ate about 6 pieces that night (thanks to dad) and didn't go to bed until 10pm.

Happy Halloween !

The Pumpkin Patch & Carving Time

We had a fun weekend since the boys were in full spirits again after staying home with Mom with yucky sickness for three days. We decided to take the boys to a local Pumpkin Patch to pick out a pumpkin to carve. Stephen wanted nothing to do with carving the pumpkin. I tried to get him to scoop out the seeds and feel the slimy inside. Nope. Nothing. Jonathan didn't really care until is was finished and he could copy Daddy.




Stephen liked the bumpy pumpkins.






I hate when he gets this dirty but at the same time it keeps him busy. I get a chance to rock on my back porch. He is my cute, sweet, aggressive, fit-throwing little boy.

Pumpkin Time

I bought some pumpkins for the boys to paint this year. They loved playing with their pumpkins this morning in the crisp, cool air. I went to school Monday and Tuesday but have been home since with Jonathan because he threw up at daycare and is having diarrhea. Ugh! So far no throwing up since daycare on Tuesday but still dealing with "the other." Stephen now has the "the other" so I will probably be home again tomorrow. The boys are playing, laughing and enjoying our time at home. If you were here you wouldn't even know they have this yucky bug. I have wiped down every part of our house. I threw away all toothbrushes last night AFTER making a late grocery run to get everything, including the B.R.A.T diet for my little guys. Daniel is also under the weather and did finally get medicine yesterday morning at the doctor. Jonathan is taking two naps a day while he is home. It is very nice. Maybe I CAN GET SOME LAUNDRY DONE!

On a fun note I have to decorate a pumpkin this year by painting my favorite story book character. I am not really looking forward to all that work since I am not an artist but it will be fun. I want to do something simple so we'll see what I come up with.

Please pray I don't get this. I have parent conference day on Monday with each of my students parents in 15 minute increments. I can't really be absent.

15 months

Jonathan turned 15 months old on Friday. I do not have his stats yet because I completely forgot his appointment on Friday. I even had a confirmation call Thursday and told them I would be there. UGH! I had to call and re-schedule his appointment with another doctor since my doctor is booked for 2 months. This was a little disappointing but I do not have a choice since JD needs his 15 month shots. Jonathan has been so much fun lately. He only has a few words but that's ok. Here is what Jonathan is doing lately.


- words: Mama, dada, ball
- can go get his cup, bring me his shoes, pick up his toys
- can use a spoon
- loves to eat! (finally)
- drinks milk 3 times a day
- favorite snack is yogurt and graham cracker teddy bears
- steels Stephen's sippy cup any chance he can get
- loves fruit; oranges, grapes, small apple chunks, plums
- picky with vegetables but will eat them
- loves pasta
- will look through a book and point
- sleeps 7pm- 5:30 or 6am, sleeps a 2 hour nap at daycare
- is still aggressive at daycare but seems to be doing a lot better
- started time-outs last week for hitting Mom, Dad or brother
- loves his daddy!
- does this funny run with one hand over one of his eyes when he is shy
- runs fast!
- loves to go outside
- loves his light blue blanket for nap and bedtime
- still takes a pacifier for bed and nap
- wears 18 month clothes, size 4 shoe
- loves to ride brother's bike even though his feet don't reach the ground

Ready for cold weather

31 years old

I celebrate my 31st birthday last Friday with my sister and best friend Krista. We joined Jamie and a few of her close friends for dinner at the Cheese Cake Factory.

August

Since I didn't post much in August I wanted to post a few pictures.

Stephen and Jonathan's cousins came to visit from Pearland one day. We call this the "oreo cookie" kids since our kid is the WHITE boy in the middle. Cheri and Brad's little boys have more of an olive skin tone and they love to go outside.

In late July we took the boys to the zoo since we figured we wouldn't go in the month of August or September. Stephen loved the new baby Elephant.


Here is our nightly routine when the boys brush teeth before bed. Now we have a wooden stool with two steps so Jonathan can see himself when he brushes his teeth. He loves to climb up the stool to see himself and he is quick.

Some pool time in our backyard with the boys.

In late July I started setting up my classroom a hours here and there for about 3 weeks. Here are a few pictures of my classroom.