Austin for S's Birthday

S turned 40 on Christmas day. I wanted to do something special to commemorate this monumental birthday, so after speaking with Cheryl about her willingness to keep our child for a weekend, I made a plan to surprise him by whisking him away for a weekend of just the two of us. I decided we should go to Austin - we had to go someplace within three hours of Dallas, and we couldn't fly. So, Austin seemed like the best choice. And, since I used to live there and we don't get there very often, it seemed like it would be fun to revisit our old haunts and just hang out, just the two of us. Also, I wanted S to have a day at the spa to relax. He was indeed surprised, and has told me several times what a great present it was. We ate at all our favorite restaurants, S did go to the spa, we talked baby names, drove around and saw the parts of town we used to hang out in, stopped by a book store, and generally just had a nice quiet weekend. It was really, really great. Here are some photos we snapped at the capitol on our way out of town on Sunday:

I loved these leaves, as you will see.

slightly stylized...

the six flags of Texas

S having fun at the canons.

Special thanks cannot be said enough to my in-laws for watching LM for two nights. It was really very nice to have that time together - to celebrate S's birthday, but also just before we have two little munchkins under our care. It was very, very cool to have that time.

See you soon.

Buca di Beppo w the Extended Family

S's Uncle John organized an extended family gathering at Buca di Beppos on the day after Christmas. It was really nice to see everyone, and here are some photos:

Christmas Day

Christmas is just more fun with a 3 year old. I think, when I am old and gray (ok, older and grayer...) I will cherish the memories of these Christmases in these years the very most. Here are some photos from our time together:

First of all, LM and I made a few cookies for Santa just before he went to bed.

This was the scene on Christmas morning before the boy headed into the room.

The puzzles that are unwrapped are what he received from Santa.

We opened stockings first.

In the stocking was some candy, a new tooth brush, some silly putty, and some chocolate ducks - when we traveled to Europe in the spring the last two years, both times just before Easter, we brought LM chocolate ducks, as they were the prevalent find around town during that time of year. Since then, whenever either of us has taken a business trip, LM has asked us to bring him a chocolate duck. Of course, in November, for example, it's a bit harder to find this. But, through the magic of the Internet and with the help of Santa, we were able to have chocolate ducks in the stocking, which he really loved.

Loving on his chocolate ducks.

Then he helped me with my stocking.

And then helped Daddy with his - his was mostly candy.

Then LM opened presents.

LM had presents to open from his Indiana grandparents as well, so we went right into those.

Then S and I opened our presents.

Then, after we finished Christmas, S opened his birthday gifts.

 
LM really liked the music in the card to S from Nana.

After opening presents, we prepared breakfast, and Nonna and Papa as well as S's Uncle John and Aunt Lee came to breakfast. It was nice to have them over and visit. After breakfast, we visited a while and played with toys. Then, it was nap time. Currently my favorite part of the day. Hee hee.

Then, on Christmas night, we went to Nonna and Papa's house.

This was where Aunt Kim gave out the rules to opening presents to the troops.

One rule was we wanted them to open presents one at a time so we could see what they received.

They did pretty good with this.

And, sometimes, the packaging was still very enticing.

Then we opened stockings!

Nonna found them all "I Love Nonna" shirts.

And Kim received a special gift, complete with a trap door.

Before we opened presents, we ate a delicious dinner, and after presents, ate some delicious dessert, as well as visited with everyone. Besides the fact that it's so freaking loud with all those kids in the room, it was  a nice time together.

We missed our Indiana family this Christmas holiday for certain. It didn't seem right not to see them at all. But, the big belly kept us here, and we enjoyed time with the Dallas clan. A memorable and lovely Christmas through and through!

See you soon.

Ice Skating on Christmas Eve - and MORE!

So, last year, we went ice skating with Kim, Mark and the girls on Christmas Eve. It was a lot of fun. We decided to make it an annual tradition! We headed out to be there when they opened. As you know, we have skated at other times during the year as well, so LM was well aware of what we were going to do, and was excited to take part:

Ready to go!

Because I am well on with child, and because I also have this weak ankle that still isn't completely healed, I did not skate. So, it was LM and S on the ice together. I stood at the edge of the rink and watched them go around a couple times, and snapped these photos. Then, when a seat opened up, I went to sit down. I figured I had a long while to wait on them, so I'd take a breather. 

OK, so as I'm sitting there, checking Words with Friends, S runs over and says, "LM fell down, and needs stitches in his chin." Wait. What? Huh? Ok - apparently just after I left the side of the rink, LM tripped, fell on the ice, landing on his chin, and busted it open. There is a first aid person at the rink, who cleaned him up, put on a couple of butterfly bandages, and sent us on to the ER.

Besides the initial shock and tears, this boy was a champ!

There was a television. That helped.

They numbed him up for a good long while, 

but he still got a shot too, due to the depth of the cut.

He didn't flinch at any of it.

I laid down with him for a while. 

I'm pretty sure this was a bonus for both of us.

They wrapped him in a sheet for the stitches, but he was so good, he didn't move!

Three stitches was all it took.

Everyone was super nice in the ER.

Besides regularly scaring his parents to death that he would bang that chin again and knock out those stitches, they stayed in and healed quickly. He had them removed on New Year's Eve. When the doctor who removed them asked him what happened, LM gave him a play by play all by himself, getting every single detail correct. Apparently, this is one of the most common childhood injuries, and one of the most common places to get stitches. So, we're in there with good company. And, I guess, now, we can cross "first stitches" off the list. 

See you soon.

Fun at the Perot

S and LM took in the Perot Museum just before Christmas as well, while I was at work - and had a great time. Here are some photos S snapped with his phone:

Ah, that hat. He loves wearing baseball caps these days.

Apparently some woman stopped to tell S how "good" she thought

LM was at these drums. Oh dear.

Cutie.

See you soon.

The Live Nativity

On the Sunday night before Christmas, while I was working, LM and S went to our church to watch the live nativity. It is put on each year by the youth of the church. And, this particular year, it was very cold...we had LM bundled up, but S says we could have even added another layer. LM seemed to enjoy it though, and here are some photos S snapped with his phone:

They gave out glow necklaces, which was great fun for LM.

There were two showings - they caught the end of the first one, 

went inside to warm up, and came back out to watch the second one.

And this one had a "real" Jesus, so that pleased LM.

The real animals were a plus too. 

See you soon.

Christmas in Song and Story

On the Sunday before Christmas, at church, all the children in Sunday School participated in "Christmas in Song and Story". LM's class were the doves. Here are a few photos:

Our dove.

Sitting through church up and until his part was hard.

Almost show time!

Up on stage with his fellow doves.

The view from our pew...

Lots of little boys in his dove family.

LM was disappointed the baby Jesus wasn't "real"...

...but the little pageant was cute as ever anyway.

See you soon.