Jill's Pictures

Here are the rest of the pictures from our snow day.

Snow! It's our turn now!

All our friends in the Dallas area have been blogging about all the snow they've been getting. They've posted some really fun pictures of the kids playing in the snow and today is our turn! We are getting 3-5" of snow today! It is really quite amazing! Today was also our regular play group day and I was hosting. Before everyone left we bundled the kids up and took them into the back yard to see how they'd like it. It was really funny to me to see which ones liked the snow, which ones hated it and then Connor and Chloe who didn't really know what to make of it. Connor just sort of stood there and moaned while his friends Andria, Kade and Caleb were running and diving all over the place. Kaitlyn wanted nothing to do with it and just cried. So many different reactions! My camera was dying so I only got a couple of shots but my friend Jill is going to send me some. I'll post those later when they arrive in my inbox. Until then, just enjoy these.

Inspecting this strange crunchy white stuff.

Connor was being pitiful here. Chole just sat there and that's Andria running in the background.

We tried and failed to get a group shot. The kids were just too crazy.

Connor was really uninterested in having mittens on his hands.

Mommies and kids playing in the snow in our backyard!
Avery was in dog heaven!
She just did sprints around the yard the whole time!

Just a short video. Nothing spectacular.

Is it summer yet?

Last Fall, while visiting friends Connor was given some sandals that our friend Ian would not be able to wear. The sizing was just off for the season. Since then, I stashed them in his closet and haven't thought about it again. The sandals came out recently because I've been cleaning out Connor's closet and transferring some things over to Cameron's room. Somehow Connor got a hold of the sandals and insisted that we put them on his feet. We had to pull tags off and undo straps but he was very patient. I was also pretty sure that he would hate the strap going between his toes but boy was I wrong! He paraded around in those things for quite a while. He would stop walking just to look down and admire them. Eventually he needed to play in the bathtub, so we decided this was worth some pictures. Here is my silly boy with his grand sandals. Thanks Cara & Whitney!

Welcome Home

About a year ago I posted (See "A Life of Service" in March 2009) about our friend and neighbor, John, who was deploying for a year in Iraq. I am so happy to write a post to let you know that he is home! On Friday we were able to go to his welcome home ceremony and greet him with his wife Kelly and two kids, Johnny B and Reagan.
I was such a sweet experience to see so many families reunited. There were so many tears of joy and daddies holding their children and wives. I really loved getting to experience something so meaningful. I am also grateful that I will never have to experience it anymore than being an observer! I never wish a deployment on any family. They are trying and difficult on so many levels. One thing I have certainly learned over the last year is that while deployments may be necessary for war, they (like so many other things) were NOT God's original plan. He did not design marriage and family to be separated. Families that endure these deployments and come out on top are to be praised and admired. They have accomplished much and deserve recognition. The reality is that many families do not make it through the deployment and end up broken. I am so happy to say that for the Brocks, family life is looking good! They are back under one roof and Kelly says that they have really picked right back up where they left off. Here are a few pictures I got during the ceremony.

The kids made a Texas flag with their hands and feet.
With all the American flags around, this made it easier for John to find his family in the crowd.

Waiting Waitng Waiting...

Kelly & Reagan all dressed up for Daddy!

All American Girl

Our first glimpse of the soldiers. John was one of the first ones in.
He is to the right of the guy carrying the flag.

The soldiers came running in once they were announced.


There was a prayer and a few words from the Col.
"Blah blah blah! Let us at 'em!"

Reunited and it feels so good!

I don't think Johnny B has stopped talking since his daddy got home.
He apparently had something very important to tell him right away.

The Brock family.



This family (whom I didn't know) was so sweet. The little boy, who looked just a little younger than Connor, just clung to his daddy. The mom just watched with tears running down her cheeks. It was so precious I had to take a picture. (A lot of kids that young don't remember their daddies because they were so young when they left.)

15 months!

Connor is 15 months old and keeping us on our toes! We saw his doctor today for his check-up so I thought I would update everyone on all our boy is doing.
He is 15 (1/2) months old at 31.25 inches long (50 %), 28.2 pounds (90%) and his head measures 18.75 inches around (50%). This is the smallest he's ever been percentile wise. And actually he was much slimmer through the end of November, December and started chunking back up in late January.

Here are some of his latest words, tricks & abilities:

Words: mama, dada, no, dis (this), nana (banana), buh-buh (bye bye), dah (could be "that" but it is really his universal word for everything.)

Animal sounds: gorilla (he beats on his chest and says "ahhh" - this one is his favorite.), snake "ssss", cow "ooo" (no "m" yet), and last night he did elephant for the first time "ahhh" while raising one arm!

Skills & Abilities: He points and babbles all the time. He is rarely quiet. He takes his pacifier only at sleep times. He kisses, waves hello and good bye, lifts up his shirt and pats his tummy when asked "where's your belly?". He picks his nose and then sticks his finger in his mouth (really gross, I know but still something he's doing lately.) He knows sign language for "more." He claps and loves to dance. He loves to try to eat with utensils. He still refuses to eat meat but he has been sampling eggs lately.

He brought me one of my scarves to wear last week but I already had a different one on so I wrapped this one around him and he was all too proud to wear it.

MOPS had a play date at Wazoo's which is an indoor gym with lots of inflatable bounce houses. Connor is still young enough he gets in free and they have a toddler area where he really enjoyed playing. It was a great escape from the nasty cold weather that had been keeping us locked up.

Checking things out at Dr. Baca's office this morning.

I have tried three times now to upload a video of Connor demonstrating some of these new things but blogger is just not working correctly right now. I'll try again soon. Sorry!

My Baby! Ouch!

Tonight Connor was being silly, walking around with some of Matt's sweatpants draped over his head like a ghost or something. We were laughing and thought how cool it is that he is developing an imagination until...he tripped, fell and hit his two front teeth on a plastic bucket knocking his top two teeth half way back up into his head. He screamed, we cried and the blood flowed. It was horrific. Thankfully he recovered very quickly and according to a world renowned dentist (Dr. Gary Shults) there really isn't much we can do. Keep him comfortable and hope they don't turn black. Within half an hour Connor was chewing on a hard plastic bottle cap, a hanger and anything else in sight. He ate just fine for the rest of the night so I guess he's doing alright! We did consider upping our insurance coverage on him though!

Sucking on frozen peaches & ice to help with swelling.

Hey Dad, give that back!

Moooom! I was sucking on that!

Last Chance Getaway

Before Cameron's arrival Matt & I wanted to get away for a little time to ourselves. Matt did some research and found this great inn (The Inn Above Onion Creek) outside of Kyle. I was a little skeptical, not being a huge fan of bed and breakfasts, but then again neither is my husband. The drive out there and then the long, narrow winding road up to the inn (in the rain) both left something to be desired but once we actually arrived, I was sold! I was really blow away. Everything was this perfect blend of rustic & opulent. The buildings, architecture and decor were all very rustic and somewhat rugged while the furnishings, amenities and dining were wonderfully luxurious!
We went on Thursday night and enjoyed a wonderful 3 course dinner including Eggplant Caponata on Crostini, Blackened Tilapia with Shrimp Etoufee, Cheese Grits, Wilted Spinach with Prosciutto and finally Strawberry & Champagne Terrine (the best strawberry shortcake I've ever tasted!)
We spent time reading and playing cards in front of our stone fire place, with a roaring fire. I enjoyed a jacuzzi bubble bath and slept in an amazing feather bed. In the morning Matt enjoyed choosing from a large variety of teas while I chose coffee (decaf). Then we dined on fresh breakfast breads, cut fruit and granola, a spinach & pancetta frittata, yogurt with berries, cinnamon raisin toast and of course fresh squeezed orange juice.
We went for a walk the next morning (in the mud) to the overlook and checked out the creek which due to all the rain would really qualify as a river.
It was so great to get away and enjoy each other for just a little while. I was able to remember that I still think he's pretty great. I like the one I chose!

Here are a few pictures I took and a couple that I got off of their website. I HIGHLY recommend you take a weekend away with your spouse and I HIGHLY recommend you go to The Inn Above Onion Creek!

The main building which housed some guest rooms upstairs, the dining room, library and office.

In the dining room, after dinner. (28 weeks)

On our shared porch. (We had 2 private ones.)

Our amazing feather bed!

We had a jacuzzi tub and a very large walk in shower.
Plus those chairs and ottoman were very comfy!

Our over sized fireplace.

The doors to our room were old stable doors, so we opened them up and let the fresh air in!

(These are from their website.) We stayed in the building on the right.

A gazebo with table & chairs in the vegetable & herb garden.

We did not get to enjoy the pool as it was about 45 degrees
and raining most of the time we were there.