Random Mutterings

Mary Mac's Tea Room {Downtown Atlanta}

2012-01-25T18:00:00.001-06:00

My sister suggested we visit Mary Mac's Tea Room, which boasts the standard in southern cooking, famous Sweet Tea and their specialty Pot Likker. Dustin said that the tea was very good and we both loved the Pot Likker, which is actually seasoned, boiled turnip greens and their crispy corn bread. Delicious! Ashton had a HUGE hot dog, applesauce and fresh cut potato fries. While Dustin tried crispy fried chicken, their famous fried okra and green beans, I went for the Veggie Platter; choosing a house salad with ranch, whipped potatoes, fried green tomatoes and sweet potato souffle. On top of that, I stuffed myself even further, with Georgia Peach Cobbler. YUM!

We were also visited by Jo Carter... Goodwill Ambassador for Mary Mac's (on their website) and she was such a sweet, friendly lady. Dustin got his back rubbed ;)! My favorite part of the meal though, was the mix of sweet breads brought out as the appetizer. There were cinnamon rolls with sugar crystals on top, sweet bread rolls and cornbread. The cinnamon rolls were to die for which is why they are not in the bread basket! We ate those first! I'm thinking of making a trip back there, just to by a dozen of them! I would highly recommend making a trip to Mary Mac's if you are in the Atlanta, GA area. If you are in the mood for some savory, down-home southern cooking, with impeccable service, this is your place.

Take One...

Take Two... Oh well!

Fun at the Georgia Aquarium {Atlanta, GA} BIG Picture Share

2012-01-25T16:53:00.002-06:00

The first outing that Ashton and I planned was to go to the world acclaimed, Georgia Aquarium. It definitely was an experience. We attended a dolphin show when we arrived at noon and then watched a short 3D movie, very similar to Finding Nemo (similar names and looks of characters), that focused on recycling and taking care of the environment. Unfortunately, I wasn't permitted to take pictures during the dolphin show, since that was Ashton's favorite part! I did sneak a picture of Ashton, as you'll see, watching the 3D video, though, shhhh ;)! I think I was more impressed with the rest of the aquarium, but they had a whole cafe, many mini gift shops and a huge play area. Ashton wasn't interested in the play area either... bummer! BUT, there were kid's walkway tunnels in each area that Ashton loved to run through. All in all our 2.5 hours there was pretty fun and I would go again for sure!

Playing Around at the Perimeter Mall {Atlanta}

2012-01-25T07:04:00.001-06:00

Today we had a lazy morning at the hotel, watching PBS and just resting. We made lunch plans with a friend we met at Dustin's co-worker's wedding a couple years ago. While we were waiting we played around a little bit before heading into the restaurant.

Adventures in the "O" tel {Jackson, MS}

2012-01-23T22:42:00.000-06:00

SO...we decided to take a VERY last minute road trip to Atlanta, GA with Dustin! Dustin is attending a training course for work and this is the first time in the year and a half that I've stayed home with the boys to just "up and go." We were very excited! Brennan is staying with my parents and having a blast, from all of the texts, pictures and videos that my mom has sent to us (THANK YOU!!!). Ashton has had a bit of fun himself. He absolutely LOVES the staying in hotels, or as he says "o-tels." I think it's so funny that Ashton is so enthralled in the telephones in the rooms, but then again, we don't have one at our house, because we just use our cell phones. The first photos are at the beginning of our trip and then the rest are at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Jackston, MS around 11pm when we finally arrived. Unfortunately, all we were able to do was sleep in Jackson... maybe another time we can do something more with our time there.

Rockin' with Elmo

2012-01-13T12:14:00.000-06:00

This morning is a lazy morning. We stayed home instead of going to a birthday party because Brennan is still battling an ear infection (first round of antibiotics didn't work :(...) and also a virus called Fifth Disease (luckily just a light case). So... we've just been playing and watching Little Women. I think it's so funny that Ashton has taken a liking to this movie. No problem with me here, as it's one of my favorites!

Here's a little part of the show that Ashton and Elmo put on for us this morning.

Merry Christmas 2011 {Sorry so LATE!}

2011-12-27T23:09:00.000-06:00

Child Proof?

2011-11-30T17:09:00.000-06:00

I think it's time!

Snuggled by the Tree

2011-11-28T23:39:00.001-06:00

Ashton just came down stairs to the living room in a sleepy stupor. Instead of coming straight to either Dustin or me, he walked straight down into our formal living, which has our Christmas tree and a chair right beside it. I thought it was odd that he didn't come out after 10 minutes or so, so Dustin peeked around the corner and this is what we found :).

2011 Halloween Outakes

2011-11-02T11:54:00.000-05:00

This year, we celebrated Halloween. We normally attend the annual Powell Ranch Halloween party and that's about it. I say that only because I'm not a huge fan of the holiday, but I've found that Ashton loves it... surprise, lol!

We started by painting and decorating some pumpkins and Ashton had a blast with those projects. We then purchased the boys' costumes (nothing fancy or expensive) at Target and Party City. Ashton was AMAZED at all of the party things at Party City and couldn't get off of the themed party plates, napkins, cups aisles. The whole trip was filled with "Look! There's Buzz and Woody" or "Mommy, come here, I want to show you something!" or "OH! It's Diego." My favorite was, "Mommy, there's Spider Man. I don't like it because he is MAD!" That gave me a laugh. I guess Spider Man is too mean looking for this kiddo!

Halloween weekend was filled with festivities. Friday, we had a play group birthday party/costume party for Brennan. Saturday, we attended the party I mentioned before, the Annual Powell Ranch Halloween Party and had a great time with friends and family. That lasted all night and we finally got home around 11pm. I hardly saw Ashton and tried to monitor candy intake as much as possible, but... well, you know, how it can be with a 3 year old child. Candy is king! Sunday, we went to church and then met some friends at the RE Trunk or Treat celebration. This was my first year to go, since last year I was a little preoccupied with a new baby on board, sweet Brennan. In the rush of things, I forgot my camera and only have a few not so great shots on my iPhone, bleh. Finally, Monday, we were able to trick-or-treat in our new neighborhood and Ashton LOVED it. Aunt Timby was able to come with us and we had a great time, watching all of the kiddos running around in their costumes. We made it home in time, to hand out some candy and Ashton was able to participate in that as well. He loved seeing all of the different costumes.

I was a bit disappointed that while we were gone for the an hour trick-or-treating, some of my mini pumpkins that I had as decor on our porch turned up missing. NO those were not the treats for you trick-or-treaters, haha! Silly kids! Who gives out real pumpkins for Halloween?!

Well, all in all, it was a fun weekend and it has shifted my thoughts on the holiday. I still don't like everything that it represents, but it is a fun holiday for the kids. Of course, the post wouldn't be complete without some photos of my lil guys! There are quite a few!

New Header & Blog Update

2011-11-02T11:30:00.000-05:00

Ok, so I finally have updated my blog header from June 2011... yes, it's SO embarrassing! Producing monthly blog header was a bit ambitious for me, so we'll see if I can stick with the seasons, haha! I have a ton of blogs that I WANT to post, but they are on the back burner at the moment. That includes Brennan's 12 month pictures. I hope to post them along with his birthday party photos this coming weekend - cross my fingers!

Pre-game Picnic

2011-09-20T17:10:00.001-05:00

Sunday was a BUSY day! We prepared the night before for a pre-game picnic before Ashton's t-ball game, since there was not time to run home between church and the game to get situated and ready. Here are just a few pictures from the picnic and the game.

After that we bathed and had a fun time with our LIFE group, whew! Full day without naps!!

Autumn/Spring

2011-09-19T12:47:00.001-05:00

MY Grandpa

2011-09-08T00:35:00.001-05:00

Tonight, Heaven has welcomed a wonderful man into it's court; Joe Metcalf. I rejoice in his newfound completeness and am saddened at his being taken away so quickly. It was about 4 weekends ago when we all found out that he had inoperable lung cancer. I'm glad that we were able to visit 3 of the 4 and that I was able to let him know how much I loved him in person.

If I could describe Grandpa in three words it would be, Generous, Gentle and Kind. He has impacted the way I treat others and I only hope to be half as generous as he was; giving without strings attached and to give often, however possible.

I will dearly miss you and carry only good memories of you in my life. Love you, Grandpa!

First Day of Preschool 2011

2011-08-30T16:28:00.000-05:00

So... I have broken my personal blogging fast! I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I've posted any personal entries. That includes missing Brennan's 8 month AND 9 month pictures. Those pictures have not only been neglected from being posted, but taken, as well. Bad Mommy!

That being said, I was bound and determined not to miss this special day for Ashton. So, I was able to snap a few pictures before we left this morning. He has been talking about going to school for a while now and today is the day! He finally made it! Ashton and I packed his lunch last night and he was just so giddy. Ha, a giddy school boy ;)! All decked out in his Toy Story backpack, Toy Story lunch box (from Nana and Big G) and Toy Story shirt for his first day. Not to mention the Toy Story fruit snacks we packed in his lunch! This kid loves...you guessed it...Toy Story!

I prayed that we would make it on time (for those of you who know me well, you know this is hard for me!) and that Ashton would do well at drop off. Man was that prayer answered! We arrived 5 minutes early (WEEE!) and Ashton ran right in, like it was our own home. I barely had a chance to kiss him goodbye and tell him to have a good day, but I did get a few of him coloring. I was amazed... and a little hurt, but not that much! I'm ecstatic that he had such a great experience for his first day.

At pick up, he was waiting at the door for me and ran down the sidewalk, shouting, "Mommy!" with a big smile. It made my day. After a big hug and kiss, he told me that he learned so much at school; about circles and the number 1 and all of the animals on the farm. I was impressed to say the least. Ashton was all smiles, so I took the last one in the car, since I hardly had a chance to get him running toward me (bummer)!

I'm so happy for Ashton and can't wait to hear what he will learn in the future! Love you, my smart, sweet, boy!

Fireworks | Happy July 4th {2011}

2011-07-06T11:05:00.000-05:00

I read briefly about how to catch fireworks in Bulb mode on my camera. I've never used this mode before and honestly had no clue about it! I still have yet to learn more on the subject and need more practice, but I came out with a few shots and I liked. I'm not through editing them, but I wanted to post before it was too much after the 4th.

I Clicked it Up a Notch | June Photo Contest

2011-06-30T15:13:00.003-05:00

Wow! I'm so back-logged on my personal blogging, but I wanted to post this picture that I just took today of our sweet little 8 month old son (can't believe it...). I rarely let him crawl around in his birthday suit, because, well... you know ;), BUT I had my camera close and wanted to snap a few pictures! This is by far my favorite picture I've taken this month. Who doesn't like a cute baby bum?!

Check out all of the other awesome entries by clicking below!

T-Ball 3-4 Year Olds

2011-06-08T23:29:00.000-05:00

Ashton is almost finished with his 8 game "spring" season in Tball this year. Who knew that 3 to 4 year olds had organized games?! I didn't until I started looking into it. This boy LOVES anything to do with baseball. Hitting is definitely his favorite thing, but he's getting much better and throwing and catching. I think he has a better concept of the game, having played 6 so far. This Saturday is his 2nd to last game and we will be sad to see the season end. He makes a pretty sweet little ball player. We love our little slugger!

Brennan {7 Months}

2011-06-01T01:54:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm not AS behind as my 6 month post, but still a week behind this time! Brennan turned 7 months old on May 25 and actually had to go to the doctor's office due to a case of roseola. There really isn't anything the doctor could've done, since it is a virus, I just wanted confirmation of what I thought to be roseola. After running a high fever (between 101-103.8) for two days prior, he was fever free actually at the doctor's office, haha!

Brennan was rocking on hands and knees and still wobbly sitting up just shy of 7 months and now is scooting/crawling (without face planting into the ground!) and getting into sitting position all by himself! I can't believe how determined he is to crawl to reach whatever he has his eyes on. His persistence amazes me, as he hardly ever gives up! This little boy is on the move!

He is also very curious about anything in front of him and of course wants to grab and "taste test" everything :). Puffs are easy to touch and pick up, but making it to the mouth is the hard part for him right now. Big brother, Ashton, is still almost the most interesting person to watch and listen to. It's cute to see him stop anything he's doing when Ashton is talking or walking by.

Brennan's current "loves" are bathing and swimming, or anything to do with water, crawling, sucking his thumb, Mommy's Fe Fi Fiddly Ey Oh song, Ashton, Puffs and Mum-mum rusks.

This was Brennan's first time in the grass. You can tell that he didn't look up from the camera (except for the first picture), no matter how silly Mommy was... he was so curious! The last shot melts my heart...he LOVES his Daddy... AND his thumb!

*STATS*
{Weight} 16lbs, 8oz
{Length} 26 inches

Sugar Bear

2011-05-27T13:55:00.000-05:00

After a good 12 years, our chow, Sugar, was put down today. I'm glad that she had a good, long, happy life. We love and miss you, Sugar Bear!

My Boys

2011-05-13T13:45:00.000-05:00

Here are a few photos of our little men; Ashton, 3 years and Brennan, 6 months.

We noticed that Ashton had been gone from the living room for more than normal and Dustin found him in our bedroom like this ;). He's NOT supposed to be playing with this ukulele... BUT it was cute!

Brennan LOVES his feet!

And...Ashton LOVES to read. We get so tickled when he reads to us. His favorite book right now is Ernie's Neighborhood and a close second is Elmo's Big Surprise.

Love these guys to pieces!!!

Brennan {6 Months}

2011-05-11T13:54:00.000-05:00

Wow! I say this all the time, but time does really fly, especially when you have little ones. Brennan is actually 6 1/2 months now, but I'm just now getting around to posting these pictures that I took just yesterday on a short trip to the park.

Brennan is such an adorable little munchkin! He's a big "talker" and loves to give out smiles. He just recently found his feet and his hands are always attached to them. Just today, the foot went into his mouth and he realized, "hmm... this is a good alternative to my thumb!," haha! That being said, he does suck his thumb on a regular basis, especially when we put him down to bed at night and during nap times. I think it's so cute, especially like it when he hooks his forefinger over his nose! I know, I know, we'll have to ween him of that later, but that's down the road!

Ashton is the object of his attention most of the time (next to Mommy) and watches his big brother's every move. While he's not sitting unassisted yet, he is sitting in the tripod pose for a bit, but is pretty wobbly still. This little man wants to MOVE! He tries so hard to scoot and is starting to get on his hands and knees, just barely! I feel like he may do that before he learns to sit steadily. He happily jumps in his jumparoo and is very curious (most of the time) about anything that's in front of him.

As for feeding and sleeping, we introduced rice cereal at 4 months and now he eats a variety of fruits and veggies; fruits for breakfast and veggies for lunch and dinner. Eating is NOT a problem for this lil man! There isn't anything he really doesn't like just yet... I've been enjoying that he sleeps through the night now (ahhh) from about 6:00pm or 6:30pm to 7:00am! I'm NOT complaining, whew! I'm glad he enjoys is sleep as much as I do :).

We love him so much and are so proud of our sweet little guy!

*STATS*
{Weight} 15lbs 7 oz
{Length} 25.5 inches

Up

2011-05-09T13:20:00.022-05:00

This shot was taken in St. Louis last August, when Dustin and I attended a wedding.

2011 April {Click it Up a Notch}

2011-04-27T18:39:00.000-05:00

Bluebonnets {2011}

2011-04-15T00:28:00.000-05:00

So, we finally made it out to the bluebonnets! Ashton really liked the Indian Paintbrushes better, so we took most of them in the red ;). Brennan did such a great job and was my photogenic guy today!

Love to Eat

2011-04-12T22:25:00.000-05:00

Our little man loves his food these days. Tonight's menu - Gerber Green Beans infused with Gerber Rice Cereal. Fine cuisine for a growing young man ;)!

Daddy's Teaching Me to RIDE!

2011-04-12T22:20:00.000-05:00

Delaney Vineyards {Grapevine, TX}

2011-04-02T23:25:00.000-05:00

My sister and I visited Delaney Vineyards this past Thursday in Grapevine. It's a little gem, that I had no idea existed. The owner introduced himself and made his way to each table, which I thought was wonderful. I couldn't hear very much over the music, but he mentioned that he is originally from a town north of Big Spring. I really have no point, in that it's the only piece of information that I picked up as he talked mainly with my sister, haha! Anyway, we had a great time and enjoyed some food, wine and a HEAVENLY chocolate chocolate chip brownie - mmmmm.

Sweet Lil Guy

2011-04-02T23:09:00.000-05:00

I can't get over our sweet, baby boy! He is so curious, rolls all over the place and is a bucket of smiles, bubbles and drool.

Brennan {5 Months}

2011-03-25T12:00:00.012-05:00

Wow - I can't believe I haven't posted a blog since last month! I WAS on a roll. Five months have passed already since our little munchkin was born. We are still trying to sleep through the night... and as I'm typing this, he has already slept for a 4.5 hour stretch, ate and has been asleep for the past 2 hours. Let's hope this sticks!

Our little man just learned to roll from back to belly and has performed this feat a total of two times! He loves to stand and has some strong little legs. Although he loves to jump or act like he's jumping when someone holds him, he hasn't figured out how to do this in his jumparoo. It does entertain him for a time though, which is great! He loves peek-a-boo, grabbing at his toys and at Mommy's face. His giggles and squeals are so sweet to hear.

Brennan LOVES his big brother, Daddy and Mommy. I was FINALLY able to capture a great smile yesterday on my big camera - yippee!

We love you to pieces Brennan and are thankful to have you in our lives.

Helping Daddy

2011-03-24T16:12:00.000-05:00

It looks like our first major project on our new house will be a large covered patio. Dustin is taking this on himself, as he did at our other house, however, this one will be much larger and more detailed. I'm so thankful for a handy husband. Ashton highly enjoys helping Daddy and that's what he did yesterday evening. He helped hammer in the stakes and measure with the tape measure for the plans. What a big helper!

I love how he gets together and "cheeses" for pictures. In the last picture, we had to redo it, and he said, "Daddy, we have to cheese again!" I've trained him well, haha!

Brennan {4 Months}

2011-02-27T18:19:00.001-06:00

Well, I can't believe how quickly time is flying, once again, with Mr. Brennan. He is an intense little guy, with HUGE grins and giggles when he's happy and he lets you know when he's not happy! He has learned how to roll from belly to back, but nothing has motivated him to move from back to belly just yet. He's very good at tummy time and will stay on his belly for most of the time, rather than rolling right over when he's on his tummy. We just started rice cereal and he seems to like it very well! Pretty, colorful toys capture his attention, as well as, well... ME :). He is a total "Momma's Boy," but of course, loves his Daddy and Big Brother also. They are greeted with bright smiles, also. We love you so much little man!

*STATS*
{Adjusted Age} 13 weeks (I'm dropping this next month)
{Weight} 13lbs 9oz
{Length} 24.25 inches

Joy of Love {Day 20: When They're Home}

2011-02-25T16:48:00.000-06:00

I'm skipping Day 19 for now... will come back to it. When Daddy is at home, he spends as much time as he can with this little guy. Wish I would have taken off his bib!

Joy of Love {Day 18: Going OUT}

2011-02-25T16:27:00.001-06:00

Mom, sister and me holding our Third Day tickets at the concert. We had a blast!

Joy of Love {Staying In}

2011-02-25T15:54:00.000-06:00

Toy Story are the toys of choice when we stay in.

Joy of Love {Day 16: Together (Self-Portrait)}

2011-02-25T14:25:00.000-06:00

Thank you to my wonderful sister for taking this photo!

Gym Fun

2011-02-22T16:01:00.000-06:00

We are having a blast with our new friends in a North Texas mom's group I just joined. Today we went to the McKinney Community Center for "Open Gym" for just a $1! Here are the outtakes.

Joy of Love {Day 15: Kiss}

2011-02-19T01:41:00.002-06:00

Baby B and his Aunt Timby - muah!

McKinney Trade Days

2011-02-19T01:02:00.000-06:00

The boys and I were able to go to Third Day Trade Days this morning in McKinney with a couple other moms and their kiddos. We had a great time walking around on this beautiful day!

YOU Capture {Who/What I Love}

2011-02-17T22:00:00.000-06:00

Betta Haven

2011-02-17T19:34:00.000-06:00

Our betta, finally has a home, after over a month of surviving in a small plastic cup. Sorry, little guy!

The Boy is 3!

2011-02-17T01:05:00.000-06:00

Our firstborn is officially 3 years old! Ashton is such a joy to our family. He says the cutest things like, "Mommy, Mommy...let me ast you a twestion...Otay?" followed by something random, not phrased as a question, usually pertaining to his favorite characters: The Chipmunks, Super Why or Toy Story. He just started this today actually and it cracked me up all day long.

Our big boy loves to sing songs at the top of his lungs and they are usually songs that we sing to him at nap time and bed time. If Brennan ever starts crying, Ashton is the first to rush over there and hold his hand (a little too tightly sometimes) and let me know that "Brennan's tryin, Mommy." We haven't quite mastered the "c" and "g" sounds yet, so they are still "t" and "d" sounds.

As I mentioned before, Ashton's favorite characters and movies/shows are definitely Alvin and the Chipmunks, Super Why and Toy Story. When playing with his toys at the house these days, it's a rarity for him to be playing with anything other than these characters. Just this morning, he was playing with Super Why and Alpha Pig (Super Why Character) and making them sleep in his bottom dresser drawer...random, I know! He spends lots of time setting up all of his Toy Story characters, especially his new Woody, Slinky Dog and Mr. Potato Head, otherwise known as "Sweet Potato." He likes to carry Woody around on his back (around his neck really) and also takes Woody into the kitchen to watch us cook and eat. I thought he was out of his coloring stage, but since he has Toy Story coloring books and pages now, he's coloring up a storm.

Ashton has been able to make a few new friends just recently, since I joined a "Mommy group" in the area, so that has been fun. He is definitely shy around the new kiddos, but has been talking non-stop about seeing "everybody" at someone else's house for a party. It's been a little hard for him to grasp that his birthday is over until next year and he gets upset if I try to explain that not everyday is his birthday.

We just enrolled Ashton in Jr. T-ball in Plano, so he is excited to get that started. The games will actually be in the summer, so we are looking forward to it! He has said that "Baseball is [his] favorite." We also have enrolled him in pre-school for the fall and spring semesters at an in home pre-school. We went to visit and see the place and he had a great time there with Ms. Kristen. I'm excited to see him with his little back pack and lunch kit (courtesy of Nanna) every Tuesday and Thursday. I know that he misses a group setting for learning, because he does love to learn. Ashton picks up on things very quickly, so I'm ready to see him progress in his learning. Picking out books to read at nap time and bedtime is fun for him and he has started "reading" a few to us, which is the cutest thing!

Ashton is also in a bit of a defiant stage though, where he is saying "No, YOU do it" with a stern face, if we tell him something that he needs to do. While this is frustrating at the time, these episodes don't last long and he after a few tears and sometimes the "hot seat," he gives in to what we have told him to do.

I love his sweet hugs and kisses. I love how he likes to sit next to me on the couch with his arm around my neck and say, "Hi Mommy...whatchya doin'?" Or if he really loves something, he'll say excitedly, but slowly, "It's BEAUTIFUL!" I cracked up the first times he said it and then realized it's from Toy Story 3. Still he says it mostly at the right times, but maybe not the right context. He said that when I bought him some more Toy Story "tummy tickler" juices. He was STOKED and screamed that as we walked down the aisle at Wal-Mart.

We couldn't ask for a better kiddo and can't wait to see him continue to grow. Mommy, Daddy and Brennan love you Ashton!

Romance

2011-02-16T20:01:00.000-06:00

Joy of Love {Day 11: Dreams}

2011-02-16T16:31:00.000-06:00

Nap time dreams.

2011 Family Photos

2011-02-15T20:14:00.000-06:00

Any birthday party is a celebration with both sides of our family and of course and excuse for a photo opp! Just wanted to post these pictures for everyone to download. I love you all and thank you for coming on Saturday!

Ashton {3rd Birthday Party}

2011-02-15T19:37:00.004-06:00

This year, Ashton's party was a huge success! I'm happy with how everything turned out, from the decor to the cupcakes and even the easy cleanup. We had a couple of friends and, as usual, lots of family. As you can see, Toy Story was the theme this year! Thank you to Rachel for the awesome treat idea. I did this for our take home treats, as well as for Ashton's Valentine's party yesterday. It was a lifesaver, as I had everything but the popcorn at home. We set up a kid's table in our formal living room and the kiddos had fun coloring Toy Story pictures, while Ashton opened his presents. Also, another thank you to my sister, Kimberly, for taking the wonderful photos of everyone in action! My sister also helped clean our house, top to bottom, so I wasn't stressed and our house was sparkly clean. I owe you big, Aunt Timby! I was adamant about not having a ton of items left over this year, as I have the previous two birthdays, so I budgeted carefully and didn't over do it. We had one cupcake left to spare and just a few paper items. The rest was all eaten or given away, thank goodness! We are so blessed to have such loving family and sweet friends. Ashton's Aunt Charolette came all the way from Shreveport to be there and celebrate with us (I guess we put up the camera by then, because I have NO pictures of you in them Charolette - I'm sorry!) Thank you to everyone that came out to make Ashton's birthday special this year! Thank you, also to the friends that came to celebrate the weekend before the party with us. We love each and every one of you!

Joy of Love {Day 14: Wedding Ring/Jewelry}

2011-02-15T11:00:00.000-06:00

Joy of Love {Day 13: Routines}

2011-02-15T10:55:00.000-06:00

Joy of Love {Day 9: Passions/Hobbies}

2011-02-15T10:22:00.000-06:00

A is REALLY into coloring these days, especially his Toy Story coloring pages.

Joy of Love {Day 12: Their EYES}

2011-02-13T21:03:00.000-06:00

Through the eyes of my 4 month old (this Thursday) wow!

Joy of Love {Day 10: Where They're Most COMFORTABLE}

2011-02-13T20:43:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I'm skipping Day 9 for now!

Ice & Snow Days 2011

2011-02-13T20:32:00.000-06:00

In my previous post, I mentioned that we only went outside to play in the snow one time. The majority of the time was spent upstairs, playing and hanging out while Dustin worked out of his office. The most exciting thing we managed to do was make some orange juice! Luckily, Ashton liked stirring it up and finally drinking a nice cool glass, ahhh. Brennan tried out the jumparoo and liked it ok, but had a hard time keeping his hands out of the seat. I know it's a bit too soon for him to be in it, but he loves to hang in our arms, so I thought this might replicate the feeling. Ashton also enjoyed watching Veggie Tales and singing to their theme song, as pictured in the last photo ;).

Snow Fun 2011

2011-02-13T20:15:00.000-06:00

During our recent ice and snow storms we managed to get out of the house one time. It began and ended with crying. In the first picture, Ashton had just slipped and fallen in the snow. During his sobbing he managed to get out, "I don't like the snow... it's slippery." Aw, poor little thing. We both wanted him to have a good experience, so Dustin came up with the idea to pull Ashton around in a large plastic tub (one of the many that we used in the move). It was a HIT! He had so much fun and kept saying, "WHOA WHOA WHOA!" as Dustin ran down our driveway and through our street. There were a few other kiddos outdoors playing this day, too. As I mentioned before, our outdoor playtime did also end with tears, when the plastic tub took to sharp of a turn and Ashton toppled out of it. Maybe next year, when he's a bit more agile, and if it snows again, we can make it a fun experience with NO tears. That's the goal! Oh, and Brennan was out in it for two seconds, before I freaked out and put him in his swing inside. We didn't really have any clothes that warm, except for a really cute hat from his Aunt Courtney (Ashton's hat is from Aunt Courtney, too!) and between Dustin pulling Ashton in the tub (I gave it a go once) and me taking photos, "poor" Brennan was left in the nice warm house, haha!

Happy Birthday, Ashton!

2011-02-12T12:00:00.004-06:00

Joy of Love {Day 8: Gift from the HEART}

2011-02-10T13:21:00.000-06:00

Body Parts

2011-02-10T01:06:00.000-06:00

52 Week Photo Project
Theme: Body Parts

Joy of Love {Day 7: Generations}

2011-02-08T18:20:00.000-06:00

Our boys with their Nanna.

I'm Addicted

2011-02-07T17:56:00.013-06:00

Ok, so I've been looking over so many beautiful photo blogs and realize that there are several of these free classes/sharing forums, so I'm definitely going to be posting lots of pictures. Here is another weekly photo challenge.

Theme: COLD
We have finally had some very cold weather, here in Texas, along with ice and beautiful snow! We are so glad to have gotten a "taste" of it this winter. It made our "cold" time fun and interesting.

Joy of Love {Day 6: WHO they Love}

2011-02-07T17:17:00.000-06:00

My husband loves our boxer, Maverick. He was our first fur baby and has been a fun part of lives for the past 6 years. Our oldest son, Ashton loves letting Maverick give him slobbery, wet kisses...yum, haha!

Joy of Love {Day 5: Love to Hate}

2011-02-07T16:54:00.001-06:00

I always get annoyed when there is NO toilet paper left on the roll. It irks me because our toilet paper refills are not far away...and I'm not the ONLY one in this house! Haha!

Joy of Love {Day 4: What They Wear}

2011-02-04T08:00:00.007-06:00

I love baby clothes, but best of all I love these socks that look like shoes. I'm a little obsessed and need to order more of these Converse versions, since Brennan's feet are outgrowing them. No!....

Joy of Love {Day 3: Then and Now}

2011-02-03T01:51:00.001-06:00

I can't believe how he's grown these past (almost) 3 years!

Joy of Love {Day 2: How They Look}

2011-02-03T00:43:00.002-06:00

One of our many trips to the playground. I love my baby's eyes.

Joy of Love {Day 1: What They Do}

2011-02-03T00:37:00.003-06:00

Ashton copies Daddy all the time. I walked in and this is what was going on in Daddy's office :).

The Joy of Love

2011-02-02T23:35:00.000-06:00

So, I had forgotten that I signed up for this "class," but I will be posting more pictures for the next 28 days for The Joy of Love by Willette Photography & Design. Please feel free to join in the photography fun! I'm enjoying having a purpose for my photographs :). Just click on the link if you're interested.

Sleep

2011-01-31T14:00:00.009-06:00

Sunset Glow

2011-01-26T17:36:00.000-06:00

I promise this will be my last post for the day, but I just had to share my favorite Lightroom preset from Pretty Presets, Sunset Glow. Below are some before and after photos from Brennan's 3 month photos.

No Nap

2011-01-26T17:10:00.000-06:00

Regardless of what I thought would happen today, we did not have an official nap. This is what happens after much physical activity at the park...

Brennan {3 Months}

2011-01-26T15:19:00.000-06:00

Brennan is a little man with many moods ;)! His smiles are the cutest, and I was able to capture a slight one with my good camera just today. He likes to smile in the mornings and after feedings when he doesn't fall right asleep. I love the way he can fall asleep almost anywhere, as long as his gas is under control (haha!), although his naps never last more than 2 to 3 hours at the most, even at night, eh hmmm. Big brother wanted to get in on the action, so he decided to talk with his little brother and keep him entertained. He's such a sweetheart.

*STATS*
{Adjusted Age} 8 weeks
{Weight} 11lbs 0oz
{Length} 22.75 inches

Tired

2011-01-24T16:11:00.001-06:00

Macro

2011-01-21T11:51:00.001-06:00

Weekly Photo Project {2011}

2011-01-21T11:39:00.000-06:00

I love this project that one of my friends is also participating in, so I decided to join as well. Thanks, Becky! I'm starting with this week forward. This will also be a good thing for me to get on a blogging schedule, now that I have my camera back from repair. It was just an electrical issue and was fixed SO fast. Canon received it Tuesday the 18th and it was returned to me yesterday morning!

52 Week Photo Project

Jan 01 Newness
Jan 03 Cold
Jan 10 Breakfast
Jan 17 Macro
Jan 24 Tired
Jan 31 Sleep
Feb 07 Body Parts
Feb 14 Romance
Feb 21 Spirit
Feb 28 Vegetables
Mar 07 Underneath
Mar 14 Spring/Autumn
Mar 21 Planning
Mar 28 Fools
Apr 04 Excitement
Apr 11 Work
Apr 18 Growth
Apr 25 Trees
May 02 Mother
May 09 Up
May 16 Anger
May 23 Temptation
May 30 Looking in
Jun 06 Party
Jun 13 Father
Jun 20 Swing
Jun 27 Lighting Experimentation
Jul 04 Red, White, Blue
Jul 11 Family
Jul 18 Summer/Winter
Jul 25 Time
Aug 01 Water
Aug 08 Shadows
Aug 15 Peace
Aug 22 Defeat
Aug 29 Sunset
Sep 05 Spice
Sep 12 The Kitchen
Sep 19 Autumn/Spring
Sep 26 Tools
Oct 03 Colors
Oct 10 My Neighbors
Oct 17 On The Shelf
Oct 24 Memories
Oct 31 Texture
Nov 07 Wind
Nov 14 Music
Nov 21 Gathering
Nov 28 Beyond Reach
Dec 05 Smiles
Dec 12. after
Dec 19. Winter/summer
Dec 26. Oldness

Toy Story

2011-01-20T00:15:00.000-06:00

Ashton loves his Toy Story figures. Yes, he's in his underwear (we're finally potty trained!!!), but I thought this video was cute :).

Fun in the Cold

2011-01-19T23:48:00.000-06:00

We finally were able to play at our community playground. Although it was pretty cold, we had a great time. Ashton rode on the back of Dustin's bike and I pushed Brennan's stroller there, since it's very close to our house. Brennan was all bundled in his seat, in his stroller and slept while Dustin watched him. Here are a few pictures of our time there. Oh yeah, and Ashton has an obsession with Dustin's safety glasses and has been wearing them non-stop for the past 3 days.

Out of Commission

2011-01-09T15:57:00.000-06:00

I'm sad to say that my new Canon Mark II 5D is being shipped to the Canon repair store. Dustin bought it for my birthday in July last year, so it should have had a long life. I cannot pin down what happened to it, other than I was using it one day to take pictures at my grandparents' house in Coleman, and the next day it was taking black pictures. I tried to troubleshoot it with no luck, just to make sure my settings were correct, that it wasn't the flash card, or that it wasn't the particular lens I was using.

Pictures have been my safety net for blogging. As you notice, most of my blogs contain pictures, so without my camera I won't be posting new pictures anytime soon or any good ones of the beautiful snow we had this morning. I'm kicking myself for not having purchased another point and shoot camera when I lost my old one AND for selling my Canon Rebel that I originally thought would act as my backup camera. I will have to resort to my iPhone camera that is definitely less than par, but it will have to do to capture any moments with our family right now.

Hopefully the new camera will br repaired and returned by Ashton's birthday in mid-February. If so, that will be the first new picture blog that I will post. In the mean time, I will have to think of some blog worthy things to talk about... I'm not the typical conversation starter, haha! Or I'm sure I have some pictures to blog about pre-camera breakdown.

Christmas Celebrations 2010

2010-12-27T16:38:00.000-06:00

This year was a bitter-sweet Christmas for us. On December 18, we raced to be with Dustin's Mema as she spent her final hours surrounded by family. We had already planned on visiting Denison to celebrate Christmas with Dustin's extended family, however, it did not go as planned. Everyone is very sad, but knows that it was better that her suffering end. Jarvis (Mema) had been under hospice care for about a month, so we knew it was close to the end. The funeral was just a few days after she passed and was beautiful. She will be sorely missed in our family. We love you Mema!

On a much lighter note, we officially celebrated three different Christmases; one with Dustin's family, at his sister Courtney's house in Pottsboro, one with my family, at my parents' house in Longview and then we had a simple celebration at our house before we left for Longview. Ashton and I baked some peanut butter - chocolate chip cookies to bring to each house (Courtney's and my parents') and also a few for Santa. Both celebrations were full of food, good company and of course, many, many gifts! One of the high points at Dustin's family celebration was that we found out that Ashton will have a new baby cousin sometime in August 2011 (see the "1, 2, 3 girls" photo. We are so excited for Dustin's brother Brandon, his wife, Adrienne and kiddos, Paislee & Preslee. Love 'em!

Christmas {Powell House}

2010-12-26T10:38:00.001-06:00

On Christmas morning, Daddy and Ashton had a hard time waking up Mommy and Baby Brennan. Our lazy morning started with Daddy cooking cinnamon rolls for us to eat with orange juice. Then Ashton opened presents that Santa and Mommy & Daddy put under the tree. Ashton was super excited about his Super Why presents from Santa and was also impressed with the note that Santa left him, thanking him for the yummy cookies. As soon as it was over, we rushed around to get ready to drive to Nana & Big G's house, for another Christmas celebration.

Brennan {2 Months}

2010-12-25T23:32:00.001-06:00

Not only were we able to celebrate another wonderful Christmas, but our littlest addition turned two months old today! Although he isn't very happy in these pictures... the torture didn't last long. Brennan is growing like a WEED. In the last 6 weeks, he gained 3 pounds and grew 3 inches. No wonder he is always hungry... I don't foresee this trend stopping anytime soon.

*STATS*
{Adjusted Age} 3 weeks
{Weight} 8lbs 14oz
{Length} 21.5 inches

Merry Christmas! {2010}

2010-12-25T02:58:00.001-06:00

Christmas Baking

2010-12-25T01:44:00.001-06:00

Ashton and I baked some cookies for our Christmases at Meme & Papa Dan's, Nana & Big G's and of course, for Santa Claus. He enjoys putting each of the ingredients in the mixture as they are needed. My mom reminded me that I need to take pictures of this. I recruited Dustin to help with the pictures, too. Ashton was still in in PJs and Super Why undies (and with a new mysterious scratch on his nose) and I have no makeup. Oh well!

Cheese!

2010-12-08T17:44:00.000-06:00

Today, we had to be out of our house by 9:30 a.m., since our house was being shown from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. so we went to the donut shop for healthy breakfast (haha) and then on to story time at the Rowlett Public Library. We had a great time, but they also had a cute fountain and Christmas tree out front. He had no problem "cheesing" today - just a tad over the top!

For the Love of Cookies

2010-12-07T22:26:00.001-06:00

Today was an eventful day in the Powell household. Every first Tuesday of the month is free admission at the Dallas Museum of Art and there are various kids activities that go on between 11-3p.m. I was bound and determined to bring Ashton and Brennan there today.

I was a bit over ambitious on when we would actually leave the house. By the time we were bathed, clothed, fed and ready to go it was 1:00 p.m. Ashton's nap time is normally around 2:00 p.m. This in mind, I was still bound and determined to follow through with my (pretty much last minute) plans. Once we finally found the parking garage, after missing the entrance several times due to construction (eeek!), we made it in for the LAST event of the day... decorating a Christmas cookie with the chef.

Ashton had a great time "painting" his cookie with icing and dousing it with crystal sugar.. oh and sneaking a few M&Ms other than what he stuck onto the Christmas tree cookie. All in all this took about 20 minutes and we were able to strike up an interesting conversation with a cute 9 year old girl and her mom. That took another 10 minutes.

Ashton was way beyond his nap time and it showed, but he really did very, VERY well. I had bought him gummy bears earlier that kept him occupied while I fed Brennan before we left. He pretended the red ones were Alvin and the green ones were Theodore. This boy LOVES colors, and associates things that are green, blue and red with either the dots in the dot races at the Rangers game, or Alvin, Simon and Theodore. It's the cutest thing! He'll say, "You're Feodore," if you're wearing green, or if a lady is wearing blue, "She's Simon." He does the same with the dots. I think I should just put colors to numbers and this kid will be a mathematical genius, haha!

Well, even though we traveled 35 minutes to get there and 15 minutes to find the parking garage to stay just an hour, I still am glad that we went and so was Ashton. Here are a few pictures of our "travel."

Santa Claus & A Day of Fun

2010-12-05T11:13:00.002-06:00

Yesterday, Ashton had a fun morning with his Aunt Kimby. He always gets to do cool things, from painting pottery, to swimming (in the summer of course), puzzles, etc.

His morning started off with lots of games, prizes and lunch at Amazing Jakes's in Plano and then a visit to Santa Claus! He was so excited and it was his first time to do this outside of daycare. He talked it up when we picked him up.

I also enjoy this time as I was able to use my mani/pedi gift certificate and in previous times have been able to watch matinee movies with Dustin (thank you, Kimberly!)

Green Means Go

2010-12-05T11:06:00.000-06:00

A few weeks ago at a traffic light, I mentioned to Ashton that green means "go" and red means "stop.". Well, that stuck like a charm, so now at random stops in the car, Ashton will say, "Green means go...and red says stop...and yellow says slow down" (Dustin taught him yellow).

Of course we think its pretty darn cute, but we didn't realize how much he really understood it until this morning, on our way to visit Dustin's grandma who is not doing well. We were waiting on the person in front of us to turn right at a stop light. A little frustrated since it had been clear and the person hadn't turned, Dustin said, "Come on man, you can go; it's right on red..."

Ashton piped up and proclaimed with a giggle, "No, that's not right...red says stop!" I wasn't sure I heard him correctly at first, but then was really impressed when I figured out what he said.

Brennan {1 Month}

2010-11-26T11:17:00.001-06:00

On Thanksgiving Day our new little man turned one month old! I can't believe how fast time is flying for this little one. Just two weeks ago he still seemed so fragile and we were worried about him eating well and gaining weight. While he is still very tiny, I can tell that he has definitely gained more weight from the 5 pounds, 6 ounces he weighed two weeks ago. One indicator is that he has finally outgrown his preemie clothes and is now in newborn clothes! We love our new little bundle of joy and are excited to see him continue to grow.

My Favorite TIGI Products

2010-11-23T11:39:00.000-06:00

Our close friend works for TIGI, so we have been privileged to try many of their Bed Head and Catwalk hair care and body products. Here are a few of my favorites so far.

1. Tigi Catwalk Your Highness Shampoo & Conditioner

This shampoo does what it claims it will do. It gives you a ton of volume when you dry and style your hair and I love how it smells. I have also used the Root Boost & Thickening Gel Creme, as well as the Hairspray & Shine Spray products in this collection. Word of caution when using the Root Boost or Thickening Gel Creme - use MODERATELY. If you add too much, your hair may feel a little sticky. The Hairspray and Shine Spray work wonderfully.

2. Tigi Catwalk Headshot Heavenly Hydrating Shampoo & Conditioner

This shampoo and conditioner also delivers what it promises. I leaves my hair nice and soft and again the peppermint smell is wonderful. It is just so fresh and cool.

3. Tigi S-Factor Creamy Molding Wax

I like this product when I really want to style my hair. I don't do this very often, just when I'm going out for certain occasions, but it helps my hair stay in place like the way I want it. This is another product that you must use in moderation or your hair will feel very sticky. Like all of the other products, this one smells great!

4. Tigi S-Factor Flat Iron Shine Spray

This is a great product to use everyday if you use a flat iron. It leaves your hair smooth, shiny and smelling wonderful! I highly recommend it!

Can I See It?

2010-11-23T09:32:00.002-06:00

Ashton helped me bake a sweet potato bourbon bundt cake yesterday and was such a big helper. He kept asking to see each ingredient and also the batter each time we added something new. It cracked me up when he finally started asking, "Mommy, can I see it with my face?" Our big boy is so cute!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Brennan {3 Weeks Old}

2010-11-22T18:39:00.001-06:00

I realize this is a tad late, but our sweet Brennan turned 3 weeks old LAST Monday. Due to our internet being disconnected, we forgot to have Verizon postpone our disconnect date, and I was unable to post this from home.

Brennan's Newborn Photo Sneak Peak

2010-11-15T01:59:00.001-06:00

I'm so excited how Brennan's newborn photos turned out. My friend, Rachel did an awesome job! Click here to see the sneak peak of a few on Rachel's blog.

Brennan {Baby Showers}

2010-11-15T01:29:00.006-06:00

We are blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. Brennan was showered with love three separate times; twice before he was born and one after he graced us with his presence :)!

1. WORK SURPRISE SHOWER - August 30
The first shower was a surprise shower given by the ladies at my workplace, the day before my last day of work. It was such a nice surprise! The lady that was taking my place asked me to help her with something on our Customer Service side, so of course, I wanted to help. When she told me that really I needed to step in the kitchen for a minute, it was full of my friends and decorated with a cute cupcake cake in the shape of an umbrella, nuts, mints and punch. I was so happy when I walked in and heard everyone say "Surprise!" I wish I would've had my camera... all I have is a few blurry pictures taken with my camera phone, that I haven't uploaded just yet. I'll add them later, I guess.

2. CHURCH TRIPLE SHOWER - October 10
The second shower was given by our church members and it was a triple shower. There were two other ladies that had already had their little girls, previously; one just two weeks prior! It was so nice and intimate, but there was a huge spread of food; from fruit and veggie trays, to crackers, dips, cheeses and delicious fruit punch and coffee punch (my favorite!). Brennan received many diapers and wipes (THANK YOU!) and some cute little clothes and toys also. He also received some cute personalized burp clothes, onesies and wash cloths. I forgot my camera for this one, so I also took a few pictures on my phone camera of the food, cake and decor. I'll add them later, too :)!

3. FAMILY/FRIENDS SHOWER - November 7
The final shower, was held after he was born (not intentionally, haha!), since Brennan decided to come 5 weeks early! The hostesses were my sister, mom, mother-in-law, and two sisters-in-law. Also, at the last minute, since were hadn't moved into our new home in Frisco like we though we would, one of my good friends offered her house for the shower - whew! I LOVE you ladies!!! I was able to see some ladies that I hadn't seen in years; one of them I hadn't seen in at least 20 years! Brennan got such cute things from everyone and Ashton also received some Big Brother gifts. He was happy that he was able to play with his friends: Claire & Ryan, cousins: Brody, Paislee & Preslee and Hannah & Tally, who also attended the shower with their moms. Somehow, Marsha eluded the camera and I had NO pictures of her :(!

Each shower was so nice and enjoyable! I am very grateful for my loving family and caring, loyal friends.

Fun at Nana & Big G's

2010-11-10T22:38:00.000-06:00

Dustin, Brennan and I went to pick up Ashton at Nana & Big G's. Originally, Ashton was supposed to stay a full week with my parents in order for us to pack the house, but three nights into it, we missed him too much! We left Wednesday afternoon and came back Thursday evening. While there, Brennan was able to spend more time with Big G, since he only got to see him one time the night he was born, and Ashton was able to play at the park a bit. Although it was short, we had a great time and were so glad to be home as a family.

Brennan {2 Weeks Old}

2010-11-10T21:39:00.002-06:00

Baby B turned 2 weeks old this past Monday, November 8. We had another weight check and he weighed in at 5 lbs., 6 oz! That's a total of 8 oz. gained in a week - we are so thrilled that he is getting much bigger. Originally we thought that we might have to come in for a couple more weeks for weight checks, but the doctor said he just needs to come in for his regular 2 month checkup! My mom crocheted the beautiful beanie and cocoon that he is so nice and cozy in :)! Thank you Mommy!

Brennan {1 Week Old}

2010-11-10T21:33:00.002-06:00

Ok, so I'm a little late, but after only being home for two days, Brennan turned one week old last Monday, November 1. He weighed in at a whopping 4 lbs. 14 oz! Our assignment from the pediatrician: Eat and Grow! The cute baby book in the background was an early gift from my parents and sister - I love y'all!!!

Sweet Big Brother

2010-11-02T09:55:00.000-05:00

Ashton is doing such a good job with Brennan. He's very eager to help with handing Mommy diapers, wipes and giving his little brother sweet kisses. I love him!

Brennan Jacob

2010-10-27T17:40:00.001-05:00

For now, I'm just going to put some pictures of Brennan's unexpected early arrival. We are blessed beyond measure to have a healthy baby boy despite his size and awesome family and friends.

Born: 10/25/10
Time: 8:56 p.m.
Weight: 5 lbs. 2 oz.
Length: 18.5 in.

People present at his birth: Daddy, Big Brother Ashton, Nana & Big G, Meme & Papa Dan, Aunt Kimby & Uncle Stephen, Aunt Courtney, Cousin Brody, Aunt Debbie & Aunt Jenny.

Other Visitors: Dan Stevens, Uncle Brandon & Aunt Adrienne, cousins Paislee & Preslee.

State Fair 2010

2010-10-15T17:12:00.000-05:00

Last Wednesday, we were able to go to the State Fair with our friends and their two little ones. The majority of the five hours we were there was spent at the petting zoo, the dog show and the Birds of the World show. Oh... and WALKING, haha! Surprisingly we just ate two things; I had biscuits and sausage gravy because I forgot to eat breakfast after taking my meds and rushing around the house and Dustin had a corny dog. No fried FRITOS pie or fried grilled cheese for us. Ashton was content on eating his shared crackers and peanut butter with his friend Claire. He LOVED Big Tex and was upset when we left him. He just called him "The Cowboy." He had a great time at the petting zoo, feeding all of the willing animals and was pretty impressed with the dog show. I think he had the most fun though, playing with Claire in the fountains set up in pretty garden area sponsored by Home Depot.

Pumkin Patch

2010-10-12T16:33:00.002-05:00

Yesterday evening, Ashton and I had a little fun at a small pumpkin patch in Rockwall, down the road from our house. He enjoyed seeing all the different kinds of pumpkins, walking through a hay-bale maze and picking out a small pumpkin to paint for Halloween. Here are a few of my favorite photos.

Silly Cousins

2010-10-12T16:25:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, we attended a CPA party for Dustin's cousin, Evan, who just past his CPA exam. While I regret not getting a picture of the adding machine cake on my own camera, I was able to get a couple of pictures of Ashton and his two favorite cousins, Paislee and Preslee. The glasses were a part of the "nerdy" party ;).

Visit to Grandma & Grandpa's

2010-10-11T14:24:00.000-05:00

Last week, Ashton and I we were able to travel with my parents and brother to my grandparents in Coleman, Texas. This is where I grew up from 3rd grade to graduation. It was nice to visit them and see how my town had changed. We spent most of the time playing baseball on account of Ashton, we went to the park, ate at a local Mexican restaurant, Hidalgo's (yum!) and was able to catch up.

Here are a few pictures of our three days there :).

Chik-Fil-A Fun

2010-09-29T14:46:00.001-05:00

Ashton and I went to library story time and learned about fairy tales. He made a crown out of paper, pipe cleaners, foam and even a cute crystal ornament to put in the center of the crown. He had a great time and then we ate lunch and played at Chik-Fil-A. I'm surprised, but I actually caught a few smiles on camera - whew!

Fun at the Park

2010-09-29T14:40:00.000-05:00

Ashton and I took advantage of the beautiful weather on Monday. We ate lunch, played baseball, football and climbed on the park playset. We had a great time!