Thanksgiving: So much to be thankful for

For Thanksgiving we were so lucky to be able to see both sides of our family. Granted, Brynn was having a REALLY rough week the week of Thanksgiving so by Saturday Justin and I were both exhausted and I don't know how much fun we were but we were with family and thats all that matters. Wednesday we drove to College Station and stayed with his parents. Around 10:30 that night a van arrives and it is his sister who has surprised us all and flown in from Virginia for a couple days. The whole family would be together- which never happens because Justin has 4 other siblings. It is a rare occasion that everyone can be together. Thursday we got up and got cooking- Ascher was exhausted and took a morning nap which worked great for cooking purposes. By the time he woke up all his cousins had arrived so he was READY to play! He has 15 cousins on that side so he was having a blast playing with them all. After lunch, we took a quick family photo before Justin left with Daniel to go to the A&M football game vs LSU (we lost).

After Justin left Ragan, Carla, and I took some photos of the babies. We had three babies born this year. Carla had Korbin in February, Ragan had Everett in May and I had Brynn in June! Crazy- they are so close in age! We love it!

Korbin, Brynn, Everett (Brynn not sure about her aunts jumping around behind me)

Then we took a photo like we did when we were all pregnant in January.

The rest of the afternoon we hung out around the house. Joe took all the kids on a nature walk and they ended up playing all evening in the game room outside. The cousins had so much fun. I felt super sick and Brynn was super stuffy so neither of us felt too hot but we still had a great time.

eating olives Thanksgiving night- singing Daddy finger song while eating each one at a time- cracks me up

Friday morning we got up and told everyone goodbye before leaving ourselves. We drove to Kingwood to see Jessica & Hadley. Roy had flown back to Dallas Friday morning but it was still nice to see Jessica and Hadley. However, by this point in the week Justin and I were at wits end. Brynn was sick and not sleeping at all so we both were exhausted. Ascher was exhausted from playing with his cousins all week so we were a motley crew but we still managed to have a good time.

Since I felt like such poo poo the only photos in Kingwood are on the phone.

Hadley turns 2 & Ascher catches 1st fish!

Halloween weekend was not just to celebrate Halloween. We also celebrated our niece turning TWO! She had a horse theme party and it was super cute. We got up after our exciting Halloween night and got ready for the party which was a breakfast (Jessica has always done breakfast parties- I think I'm gonna make Brynn's party a breakfast brunch as well). We had fun catching up with Roys family and their friends. 

After the party & naps, the kids rode in Hadleys new powerwheel and then the dads took the kids fishing. Ascher caught his first fish. He wasn't too sure about touching it and thought it was gross. He finally touched one of them. I think they ended up catching 3-4 fish while out there. It was so cute. And I don't know who had more fun...Ascher or Justin. The pride was just beaming off his face! 

Dad & Jessica were dancing to the radio.

First Day of School

I just realized I never wrote about Aschers first day of Pre-School. What an important date for me to forget to blog about!! I was a nervous wreck on his first day and as you can tell from the pictures...I left the room crying. Him going to preschool twice a week is GREAT. He needs the socialization, the time away from me. I need it to have some good bonding time with little bitty. We took pictures on his first day and  I feel they do a better job at documenting it than I can with words.

As you can see- I was unaware that my camera lens was fogging until after I had taken them and then of course he was done smiling for me. So we moved inside and tried again...

After taking pictures we loaded up and headed to school. Justin was able to go into work late so he was able to come with us which was so nice because I didnt have to worry about Brynn while I dropped him off for the first time. Plus I think it is neat that both his parents were able to come to such an important FIRST for him.

When I went to pick him up at the end of the day he told me had "SO MUCH FUN!" (granted they said he cried most of the day) Once home, I tried again to get some photos of him on the porch...

Now that we are almost done with his first "semester" of preschool- he has improved tremendously. He still cries most mornings when I drop him off (99% of time) but his teacher says that after I walk away he normally stops crying within a few minutes. He always tells me how much fun he has at school but that he "cries a little" and when I ask him why he says "I sad for mommy." Sweet boy loves his mommy! (I cant complain! I adore him!) How is he old enough to be in PRE-SCHOOL!?

Visiting Nana

Back in September we took the kids to see/meet Nana. Nana is the last living great grandparent the kids have. It is so special that they still have her. We sat on the patio and chatted and listened to the piano music playing above us.

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.