Finally, a bike rider

Ellie not being able to ride her bike had become, in Tom's mind, a symbol of his failure as a parent. The more he insisted she learn, the more she dug her heels in and refused. Finally, last Saturday, we threw the kids bikes in the car and headed to the empty church parking lot. I kid you not, I had Ellie riding her bike within the hour. I think I was more proud of myself than I was of Ellie!

Christmas Day in Photos

Typical baby...more interested in the packaging

Christmas morning at home

Anxiously awaiting gift opening

Afternoon with Nana

Christmas Eve traditions

My parents and older brothers and their families went on the Disney cruise for Christmas this year, so we had a smaller crowd for our annual Christmas Eve get-together.  I took advantage of the reduced numbers and volunteered to host it at my house.  We tried to continue with tradition, but it just wasn't the same without my dad doing the narrating of the Nativity story and telling the "Pack for Santa's Back."  My little brother did his best, though, and a good time was had by all.  The adults were feeling rather lazy so we put Ellie and her cousin Kinleigh in charge of assigning parts for the Nativity and dressing up the kids.  The costumes they assembled were pretty funny.  Oh, and we got to sing Happy Birthday to Jesus this year when we ate the cake since Mark wasn't around to voice his objections and declare it sacrilegious.

Yet another SeaWorld trip

We made our annual trip to San Antonio/Sea World on the 22nd.  This time, we decided to stop at this safari place on the outskirts of San Antonio.  It was awesome!  The animals would come right to your window for you to feed!  You were supposed to keep your hands/heads inside the car and just drop the food on the ground.  The animals didn't really get that memo.  One ostrich reached his head into the car and snatched the bag out of Tom's lap.  Then, when we rolled up the window, it kept banging its beak against the window!

And this zebra would open its mouth wide for you to throw food in, swallow, and then open wide again.  We were laughing so hard.  Definitely a place we will go again, especially since they are expanding next year.

Jack got a virus on the trip and was running a high fever and having coughing fits.  He was still in a great mood and game for anything, but he would also throw up occasionally.  Like in front of the hostess stand at Joe's Crab Shack.  She just handed me a roll of paper towels and was all, have at it.

SeaWorld was just meh.  I think because we have done it once or twice a year for the past several years it has just started to lose its appeal. Not for the kids, but definitely for Tom and me.  Or maybe that's just because we watched Blackfish right before going.

Sunday Best: Matching Ties edition

My side of the family is so large that we draw names for Christmas. My oldest brother's family drew my little family and they sent us a box full of neat things, but my favorite were three matching ties for Tom, Jack, and Sam. You know how I love to do the matchy-matchy thing with my boys!

Let the Christmas celebrations begin

My father-in-law is having surgery this week to remove a tumor from his pancreas so we celebrated Christmas with him on Saturday. We have added two more kids since last Christmas. I love seeing our numbers grow. Kids always make Christmas more fun.

Tom's pic was so bad I had to edit to save my marriage

That evening was the Christmas party at my church. Sam was too tired from his long, napless day so he stayed home with Tom. They were doing a Who-ville themed party. It was really cute. Mark even dressed up as the Grinch.

Jack, who adores Uncle Mark, was a little leery of getting too close to him in his get-up. Ellie and Jack were both excited about seeing Santa, but Ellie had to play it cool while we were waiting in line.

It didn't stop her from giving Santa very specific details as to what she wants for Christmas. She also drank two cups of loaded hot cocoa from the hot chocolate bar and two full plates of desserts. Naturally, she got sick to her stomach and we made an early escape before she ruined the party for all.

Family Photos!

I got to see a preview of my family photos yesterday. I was really happy to finally have a family photo of all five of us, but I actually liked the individual shots of the kids the best. I feel like they are so photogenic! I mean, they are my kids so I obviously see them through the mommy-filter, but I am pretty sure they are cute kids.

My very favorite photo was a total fluke.  Ellie told my photographer friend that she wanted to get a picture of us lying down, but then she climbed up on my back.  All the while, Jack was running laps around us.  I was telling him to stop, but I am so happy she caught this moment.  When Ellie saw this picture, she was not pleased.  She said Jack ruined our special picture and that she didn't get a picture of her running laps around Daddy and the boys.  Poor girl.

Secret Santa: Cat Burglar style

This is our second year doing Secret Santa and Ellie and I are having a blast!  Last year Ellie had an all black outfit she would wear, but this year she upped her game and put on her catsuit and a mask.

Also, I never tell Ellie to pose for pictures...she does that all by herself. We took family photos on Sunday and the photographer was really impressed with Ellie's posing skills!

An unwelcome guest

Mornings can be a little crazy for me, but I have a routine down.  First, I take all the bags and stuff out to the car.  Then, I come back in, grab the kids, lock the front door, and load all the kids up in the car.  I am only detailing this out for you so you will understand why the events of yesterday occurred.  I loaded up the car with the stuff and went back for the kids. However, Jack was having one of his meltdowns so I left him and took the baby and Ellie out.  While I was putting Sam into his car seat, Jack came out and I buckled him in. I was on autopilot by this point so I just got in the car and drove away.  When Tom got home in the afternoon, he found the front door wide open.  Like all the way open.  We live in the corner house on a somewhat busy street, so it was not the best thing ever.  He checked our alarm app on his phone and saw that our motion sensor was activated at 12:55 and did not go idle again until 1:20 (it normally goes on idle about 1 minute after I leave).  So, someone was in our house for about 20 minutes yesterday.  They didn't take anything, but they also didn't bother closing the front door when they left.  Tom took the biggest kitchen knife we own and searched all the rooms upstairs before he would let me go up and take my nap.  Needless to say, he wasn't too happy with me.  Especially since I did the same thing once before at our old house.  Except that time our neighbor called the police and they came and checked our house out (and shut the door behind them when they left).

35

Today is my birthday.  I am the big 3 5.  As Tom so kindly pointed out, I am closer to 50 than I am to college.  Nice.  I actually don't have issues about aging.  Maybe when I hit 40.  And my birthday is pretty low key.  I don't even tell my students because I just want class as normal and not have to deal with a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday or Feliz Cumpleanos.  Plus, I have a killer cold and just want to coast through the day.  Lest you think I am a total curmudgeon, I did celebrate with the family last Sunday.  My parents bought my niece and I a giant ice cream cake from Cold Stone.  It was delish.  Plus, I got the BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER...24 hours in a hotel ALL BY MYSELF.  Just me. No one else.  I can sleep or I can read or do whatever and no one will interrupt me.  I can sleep like a big X in the bed.  I won't have to get up in the night to take care of Sam or even have to wake Tom up so he can go take care of Sam.  As you can see, I am just a tad excited about my birthday present.  I am feeling pretty optimistic about 35...even if it is almost 50.

Dear Sam at 8 months

Dear Sam,

You are now 8 months old. This past month you have mastered eating finger foods, sprouted another tooth (for a grand total of 5), and have started getting up on all fours.

You have a laser-like focus on any object within your line of sight and you will find a way to get to it, whether it be by rolling, scooting, or screaming. And heaven forbid anyone try to take something away from you because you will then erupt in righteous indignation. You are a generally a happy kid, though. You love to play peek-a-boo, and will take a blanket and cover your whole head.  You do your adorable, dry chuckle every time you reappear. Your sister is still the best at making you smile and laugh. You like being around Jack, too, but sometimes he can be a little too exuberant for your tastes.

Despite the amount of time and attention you take, your brother and sister never seem to resent you for it. Instead, they fight over who gets to play with you. You usually are content to play happily on the floor with your toys, but if I walk into your line of sight, you immediately start fussing for me to hold you. This is just a mommy-thing and you don't do it to anyone else.

You are still a little chunk and my arms ache from hauling you around. You outgrew your infant carrier so now you are in a convertible car seat. You wear 18 month clothes and your feet are too fat to fit into shoes. In other words, you are completely adorable and I can never resist nibbling on your cheeks.

Sambo, sometimes this past month was difficult.  The days and nights when you were teething and would scream every time I laid you down, or the hours on end when I had to hold you because you feel feeling especially needy.  At times, I felt like I was somehow failing you as a parent, but then you would give me one of your giant grins or nuzzle your face in my neck, and I knew that we would be okay.  I love you forever, baby boy.

Mama