CHRISTMAS!

Well, Christmas was great! It was busy, but not crazy like it has been other years. We started our Christmas on Wednesday at Lee and Tera's with our Lavender family gift exchange, Thursday we opened presents at our house. Thank you Aunt Margaret and Aunt Eileen for the presents! Then went to my mom's (my dad and Missy were there) to open presents and eat. Then we went to Kevin's cousins house to eat yet again! We stayed the night at my mom's and went home the next day. Saturday we went to Louisiana to see Neil and Tiffany (who by the way is 9 weeks pregnant!). My mom came with us and we ate at Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro (YUMMY!). Sunday the girls and I went to a birthday party then over to Meoshi's to give them their gifts. I think we are finally done going places! It's nice to be home. The kids had such a great Christmas. For their "big" gifts Kaitlin got a telescope, Kiley got a bike, and Benjamin got a mini. power wheels (they all LOVE this!). Kevin got me Buckle clothes and a new camera (yea, he's the best!). It's a Nikon D200 and I was soooo suprised! Kaitlin's 5th, yes 5th, birthday is on January 9th, and on the 10th we'll be having a rainbow themed party at ChuckECheese! She's very excited. Kiley has been talking all the time lately! Just all of a sudden she has so much to say! And Ben is learning so many words! Yesterday I put his hat on his head and he put his hand on his hat and said "hat"!!!! I probably freaked him out a little with all my excited screaming, but I was so happy! Life here in Rockwall has been good, but I can't wait to get back to Fort Worth, to friends, family, and familiarity. MY plan is to be back by spring. But, who knows! This is the greatest house, and it should sell quickly...when we finally put it for sale. I miss having my husband working close to home. But, anyways! Here are some holiday pictures...

Where does the time go?

Well, it's been over a month since I last posted! We've been in our house for 2 months now. It's been exciting! I love Rockwall, but I can't wait to get back to Fort Worth. My photography business is really getting busy, so I'm driving alot to Fort Worth every week. We've got a really bad slab leak, so we'll be moving to a hotel sometime next week...so that stinks! They said it will probably take about 2 weeks to get everything done. They almost have to tear up our whole house! Should be fun. Anyways, Neil and Tiffany came to town this week for Thanksgiving. We went to an awesome train exhibit at North Park, saw "Four Christmases", and went to the Wax Museum (so much fun!). It's always so great when they come. We had dinner at our house. It was such a relaxing day! Benjamin started taking steps about 2 weeks ago!!!!!! He just gets up and goes! Kaitlin and Kiley are loving their school and mother's day out! And Kiley is finally participating at ASI Gymnastics! It took some time, but she loves it now. Kevin painted our dining room and entry yesterday. It looks so good! We are getting decorated for Christmas around here too! We got all the decorations out yesterday, and we're putting up the tree after nap time today! I love Christmas time...although, I could do without all the rude people during the day after Thanksgiving shopping! :) And BTW, I am loving having a dishwasher! 6 years of no dishwasher was no bueno! Kevin and I booked a trip to Maui for January 14 - 18! We can't wait to go back.

WE MOVED!

That's right! A lot has been happening in the month. We have moved to Rockwall (about an hour away from everyone). :( It's such a great town! We're supposed to only live here temporarily, maybe 6 months or so. After we do some work on the outside of the house, we plan to put it on the market and move back to Fort Worth. I will, however, miss it here. It just seems like everyone is much more friendly. So, besides the move...Benjamin turned 1 on September 21st!!! And we had a cowboy birthday party for him. It was so much fun. I think everyone really enjoyed it. I know all the kids had fun dressing up and doing the "boot" pinata. Then on the 27th we moved to Rockwall. And the next day I turned 25...getting older. As for the girls, they are now doing gymnastics at ASI gymnastics. Kaitlin is crazy about it, and Kiley could really care less about it 75% of the time. We're all adjusting to life in a different house...it hasn't been easy. We are so far away from family and friends. I think having a big house has brought us further apart. We used to spend the whole day together downstairs in 800sf, now the kids have almost 3600sf to roam in...I miss being "cramped" together. My mom has come to see us a few times, and Meoshi, Shiloh, and Monique are coming on Thursday to spend the night! Saturday we are planning a trip to the Dallas Arboretum. I've never been, but I hear it's beautiful, and they are supposed to be having a big pumpkin theme area. I have been driving to Fort Worth about 2 times a week...let me tell you how fun that is with 3 kids 4 & under! :) And Benjamin is still not walking on his own...maybe someday. He'll walk just fine holding your hands or behind a toy that moves. He's getting his top 2 teeth right now, poor baby, he just doesn't feel good all day. I've got so many pictures to put on here. I'll have to put them on some day soon when I have time. Ok, well that's all I can remember from this last crazy month for now!

ROAR!

Kevin and I thought it would be fun to have a Surprise Day one Saturday a month. So, this past Saturday Kevin took off work. We started the day with doughnuts with SPRINKLES! The girls love them! :) After that we went to McDonalds (for the kids) and Jason's Deli for us (I can only take so much Mc Donalds, and I think I've had enough for a while). Then we went to the Omni theatre to watch Dinosaurs Alive. I think Kiley was probably the only kid in there making noise. She loves to say "Roar!" when she sees dinosaurs, so throughout the whole movie she was roaring, laughing, and squealing. It was so cute! Since Kaitlin loves smoothies, we stopped by the Smoothie Factory before heading to the mall.

After a crazy day:
we were so tired:

I found out earlier this week that Neil and Tiffany are going to be moving to England next June. As if Louisiana wasn't far enough! :) Oh well, we'll just have to go visit them a lot. Benjamin's birthday is this Sunday, so I have been busy planning his party. We are supposed to be moving to Rockwall in about 2 weeks. We'll be far from everyone, but I think it will be a nice town to live in for a while.

BIRTHDAY TIME!

Well, we had the first 2 birthdays in our busy birthday time of the year. Kevin and my mom both had their birthday yesterday! Kiley and I made french toast and eggs for Kevin for breakfast. Then, we got Olive Garden for lunch with my mom. Then, that night, we had Kevin's family and Meoshi and Carlston over for trout and Kevin's favorite chocolate cake from Central Market. It was delicious! Kaitlin got to pick out a present for Kevin this year! She wanted to get him spicey gum and coffee (we got a Starbucks gift card), because "Daddy loves spicey gum and coffee!" It was a great day! Next Sunday, Benjamin turns 1! I can't believe it's been a year already!

MASSACHUSETTS

We left for Massachusetts on Tuesday! Kiley and Benjamin had a rough time on the plane, it's so hard for them to sit still. :) Seeing everyone was so great! Having all the family around makes me want to just pack up and move to MA. When we got there, we went straight to Grammy's and ate some pizza!

The next day we headed to the zoo!

Thursday, it was off to Martha's Vineyard with Aunt Teresa, Robert, and Andrew for some ice cream, carousel riding, and beautiful scenery.

Friday we headed to Wood's Hole for the aquarium, and then it was off to the beach!

We had a WICKED good time! :) And we can't wait to go back!!

Potty dance!!

KILEY IS POTTY TRAINED!!! Yes, it's true, my 23 month old is potty trained! We are all so excited. We do a little dance and sing "pee-pee in the potty" everytime she goes, she loves it! Last night I got her Elmo and Dora panties, and when she woke up this morning, she couldn't wait to put them on! In fact, I think throughout the day, she tried on 6 different pairs. She just couldn't make up her mind which pair she liked best. :) Kaitlin is such a great big sister. She truely is so excited that Kiley is a BIG GIRL like her. Yesterday, Kaitlin took Kiley to the potty all by herself! I couldn't believe it!, but Kaitlin knew she had to go, so she took care of it! Kaitlin is so amazing. Tiffany called tonight and said she and Neil might be coming for the weekend. That'll be nice, it's been almost 7 months since we've seen them!

A busy weekend!

Well, this weekend was busy! On Friday Kaitlin and Kiley got their first haircut!

Lovin' the suckers!

Saturday, the kids, Granny, and I went to Mineral Wells. First, we went to the Clark Gardens. The girls had so much fun chasing ducks, smelling flowers, and running all around. After 2 hours in 90-something heat, we decided to head out and go shopping. We shopped for 2 hours, then headed straight to Papa and Missy's for dinner.

2 hours in 90 degree heat...nobody wants to pose :)

Kaitlin and Kiley had a good time in the pool Sunday afternoon! Kiley got Kaitlin! That water is so cold!
Kaitlin got her back! :)

Well, it's been a while since I posted! Ben is army crawling! (Has been for about 2 weeks) Kiley is starting to talk more! And Kaitlin finally got to play with the 4 year old girl next door. It's so cute to listen to what 4 year olds have to talk about. :) We are very busy around here. I've been taking lots of pictures, and Kevin's got a partner in his spray foam insulation business, so he's been having late nights with that. Mother's Day was nice. I got my first Kaitlin-made card! Kiley did a little scribble on it too, and Ben crumbled it up and tried to eat it, so it's got a little love from everyone! My wonderful husband got me a Victoria's Secret card...can't wait to use that! Well, here are some recent pictures of the kids!

YEE-HAW!

7 1/2 months old, and too cute!

I don't know! She keeps me laughing!

Giving it a shot!

Well, I've finally entered the world of blogging! I think this will be a great way for our kids to remember their childhood. :) Our lives are so busy, and I usually can't remember what I did a week ago. So, this should be a great reminder! Well, today my friend Meoshi, her daughter Shiloh, me, and the kids went to Jason's Deli for some lunch. Kiley and Shiloh (our lunchtime screamers!) decided not to eat while Kaitlin made play date plans with the little girl behind us. I love every stage my kids are in right now. Kaitlin never meets a stranger, she's just got so much to say! Kiley doesn't talk much, but she understands everything. She's such a joy! And Benjamin...he's just so laid back and ALWAYS happy! I love my family! Well, the girls and I are off to play outside.