Visiting Santa

The week after Thanksgiving Justin took the whole week off. It was WONDERFUL! We got the majority of Christmas shopping done, we decorated the inside and outside of the house and it was just a pleasant week together. One of the things we did that week was go visit Santa. I apparently was not the only one excited to go see Santa...

We go see the Santa at Bass Pro Shop. He apparently works there so it is the same one every year. He is a great Santa. I also love that at Bass Pro the photo is FREE and you get to use your own camera and take more if you want. So of course, I brought my own camera. 

However, I didnt really get "dressed" or do my makeup because why on earth would I BE IN THE PHOTO!? Other than a frightened 2.5 year old. I even asked Justin before we left, maybe I should change and do my makeup. His response, why its not like your gonna be in the photo!? Lesson learned. 

I also was glad Justin was with us to use our camera since Ascher wouldnt let me put him down. Secondly, Justin was able to zoom in and crop Ascher and myself out of the photo so Brynn has her first picture with Santa- just by herself. Go figure she would be sleeping. Also, she NEVER has that paci- yet when I tried to take it out of her mouth- she was NOT having it and Santa was not happy about me trying to take it. He was happy holding a sleeping baby- not one that would scream if paci was removed. 

After visiting Santa, we wondered around Bass Pro. They have a whole Santas Wonderland set up. Ascher drove the train, raced cars and drove monster trucks. We then walked around the store and looked at the fish, tried out the 4-wheelers and recliners. And of course, as soon as I took Brynn off of Santas lap- she woke up happy as can be. Go figure.

After our visit to Santa, we walked around the mall and picked up some matching Christmas PJs for the kids. And headed home. We ended the night with all 4 of us in our bed watching The Polar Express, As you can see, Justin was thrilled to take a family selfie ; )

Halloween

The week of Halloween Aschers preschool had "nursery rhyme day" where you could dress up in your costume and come up to school (even if it wasnt on your school day- ie- Ascher goes on Monday-Wednesday but nursery rhyme day was on Thursday). We went up to school and went thru the different rotations they had set up around the school. I wasn't very impressed. Not what I was expecting but Ascher was excited to have mommy at school with him.

Thursday afternoon Justin and Ascher washed my car. I had the camera out and figure why not capture some sweet moments of them together...

Friday we drove up to Plano. It was the worst drive EVER. It took us 6 hours. Brynn basically cried for 5 and a half of those 6. We stopped for her. We tried everything. Nope she just hates her car seat. By the time we got there, I got out of the car and cried. Literally stood in my sisters front yard and cried. Once  I got over it, we changed the kids into their costumes and headed up to their church for their fall festival. It was freezing and super crowded so we let the kids do the games, ate from food trucks and headed home. This year Brynn was an owl and Ascher was a fireman. He is all about firetrucks and fireman right now so per his request he was a fireman.

 family photo

Hadley & Roy playing the Hulk game

 Ascher LOVED knocking over the "bricks"

 Look how excited he is...and it is about CANDY! He is MY son. : ) 

 after they got their faces painted- 

posing on the way to the car

The week leading up to Halloween I made sure and dressed my littles in cute Halloween outfits. ; )

And after a night of fun in Plano- I made sure I took a picture of them in their Halloween PJ's the next morning. Aren't they so cute!? Love my littles.

November: Kimberlys Bachelorette Party

The first weekend in November we trekked to NOLA for Kimberlys Bachelorette party! We drove down on Friday morning and didn't arrive until almost dinner. It takes quite a while to get to NOLA from Houston when we had to stop 800 times because one of us would have to pee. Five of us rode together in Kimberly's moms suburban so we had plenty of space. Once we got there we checked out our rooms, set stuff up and headed down to the hotels happy hour while we waited for the rest of the gang (who flew in) to arrive.

After everyone arrived we searched for somewhere to eat dinner. We finally found someplace that didnt have a forever long wait and we chowed down. I had a headache so I was happy to go with Jordan to pick up the rest of the friends flying in. We drove and picked them up, went back to hotel, they dropped off their stuff and met the rest of everyone out. Jordan and I stayed in and went to sleep .We are lame.

Saturday arrived and I got up to put my contacts in...well...apparently someone when they came in at 2 am knocked over my contacts (I am allergic to solution so I have to use special stuff that if gets knocked over my contacts dry out and if they don't dry out I can't put them in my eyes for 6 hours) so I was screwed. Thank goodness I brought my glasses. I was a total hipster all day.

We ate breakfast at hotel and headed over to the French Quarter where we landed at good ol' Pat O'Briens. We snagged a table outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather. I, of course, had to take a pic in front of the jute box where Mom first saw Dad 37 years ago…but mostly we just sat out on the patio and enjoyed each others company before deciding we were starving and needed some food!

After lunch we went back to hotel and took naps and got ready for lingerie shower and dinner out. We headed up to their room and had a good time opening presents and goofing off. 

 However, before long it was time for our dinner reservations so we walked down the street to dinner. It was a very fancy meal but it was very good!! By the time it was over it was well after 11 and Jordan and I again played the ol' woman card (Jordan is pregnant- and I was too but unaware of it yet, but played safe just in case) and went back to hotel. Kimberly had plenty of girls with her so weren't worried about her being on her own! It was such a fun night!!

The next morning we all got up and loaded up before heading to brunch together to talk about the memories we had made the past two nights. It was such a fun weekend and I am so glad I got to go and spend time with my besties!!! Love them!!

October: Going Away

The month of October was crazy with the house being on the market, trying to find a new house, being pregnant, losing baby, the house selling, grieving, raising Ascher, packing, etc. It was a CRAZY month. And everything happened so fast. Our house wasn't on the market that long at all (like not even 2 weeks) before it sold and so we were go go going!! Before leaving though, Natalie insisted that we go to Chuys for dinner as a goodbye dinner. No stress of life, no worries of moving, just hanging out eating dinner relaxing with my bff. 

So the night arrives for our Chuys dinner and I pick her up. We head to Chuys and she just walks in and ignores the hostess and I'm like uhhhh Natalie..and she says oh I already have us a table and walks to a table full of my best friends in College Station. I was so suprised and felt so loved. We ate and chatted for a good long time and they even brought me a special cake! It was a wonderful night and just what I needed after everything that had been going on. So thankful for Natalie for arranging it and so thankful for my friends who were there for me!!

Natalie, Me, Pamela, Kim, & Terri

Me & Pamela 

Me & Terri, my prayer warrior

me & Kim

I have fabulous friends and miss them very very much!! 

October: Natalie's Birthday DInner

One of my dearest friends turned the big 3-3 this past October and she knows how to celebrate! Every year we all go out to dinner for her birthday. She is so good about getting all her friends together for an evening of celebrations!! This year we went to a local pizzeria in Downtown Bryan that was delicious! Justin stayed home with Ascher. He was sad to miss it but I was glad to have a night out! 

Happy Belated Birthday Natalie!!

 Love & Miss you!!