Christmas on the Beach

Decmeber 24th wasn't really Christmas Eve to us, we celebrated that on the 21st. Keith was stuck in Galveston so I carted the boys down for a visit.
We started things of at an awesome park by the airport.
Then we took the boys to the beach for a stroll.

Where we saw dozens of these Man-o-war.
It was cold and windy. Brr!
A fun walk on the beach!
Ready for the long car ride home.

Out with the old...

Before I make my goals for 2011, I wanted to do a quick review of my goals for this year...Here's where I stand:
1. Read 20 books I read about 8 1/2
2. Stick to a budget Quite successful. First time ever I can say that! Paid for a baby, emergencies, school with proper planning. Even saved a little!
3. De-junk the house Did we ever!
4. Learn to make a patchwork quilt Complete and utter failure
5. Start making felt baby shoes {Crickets}
6. Lose 40 lbs I lost 60!
7. Learn more about photography, and hopefully improve upon Learned more, still trying to improve with my dopey little camera. Let's just say I won't ever be charging for my services!
8. Find a hint of a green thumb I killed off my basil, but the Italian parsley is still thriving.
9. Be a better and more effective homemaker Mixed feelings on this one. The babies keep it interesting.
10. Practice civility, generosity, and graciousness in everyday situations A never-ending struggle. Being aware of my actions has made a huge difference. This will have to carry on every year.

Christmas Come Early

Keith works on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so we decided today was our Christmas! As usual, I get so caught up in the flurry of flying Xmas paper that I neglected to take many pictures.
Here are the highlights. Oh, and I'm posting this from my new laptop!
Remi got a power wheels Jeep and a G scale train, Marshall got a fun ball giraffe. Many presents arrived for the boys from all over the country, so thank you family!
What a wonderful and Merry Christmas!

African Forest

The Houston Zoo just opened their fancy new African Forest exhibit. I couldn't wait to go! The animals were awake and alert and it was a beautiful day for the zoo.
Here's what my boys opted for over animal watching:

Hiding:
Drumming:
Playing:
Snoozing:Spinning:Okay, he did watch the sea lions swim for about 3 minutes.

Rhino

He wouldn't pose with the real Rhino...Just this cutout.

Cockatoo Baby

That hair refuses to be tamed!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

This has to be one of the best Santas I have ever encountered! Our locally owned Toys and Candy on the Park hosted Santa for the holidays and the boys finally got a good look at him. He was everything that Santa should be! I managed to snap this photo while Marshall wasn't crying. No easy feat!
Remi told Santa he wants a Woo! Woo! (train) and that Marshall wants a Neigh-neigh.
We'll see what Santa has in store for the boys!

A Boy and a Truck

Remi has a sudden obsession with garbage trucks since seeing Toy Story 3. I remember seeing the merchandise for the movie and one particular item was a WM garbage truck with Lotso Huggin' Bear strapped to the front.
I thought, "How stupid! Who would ever buy their kid a garbage truck?"

Well, apparantly I am the stupid one!

Remi took one look at this toy at Kohl's and fell in love! Luckily for him, I had a $10 gift card a got the darn thing. He has insisted on taking this truck nearly everywhere he goes, even to bed! He gasps when he hears the WM truck rumbling down our street twice a week, delights when he sees the garbage men on their lunch break at the gas station, and last week we even waited outside as the men came down the street with their big, orange barrels. The truck driver was kind enough to wave to us, and we waved and waved until he was out of sight. Now Remi tries to find any excuse to take things to the outside trash and he tries to pull the can out to the curb. He doesn't usually get very far. We can't wait for the next garbage day!

Marshall Newsletter: Nine Months

Dear Marshall,

Today you turn nine months old.

A few tidbits about you:

Feeling all better after surgery and ER visits.

Cockatoo.

Scream-laughing. Hoarse yell.

Sitting up.
Crawling.
Trying to pull up to standing.
No teeth yet.

Loves to eat, eat, eat!

Scared of small black dogs.

Babbles "Dada"

Likes to imitate.

Our little drama king.

Wearing clothes meant for an 18 month old.

You love your family. We love you.

Love,
Mama

A Yummy Surprise

A small town farmer's market is the last place on earth I thought I would find amazing Indian food...but wait!!! What's this? Amazing Indian food at a farmer's market!
OMG, this paratha is truly an inspiration. I want to duplicate these SO much! I feel a tear-apart-the kitchen-cook-all-day-load-the-dishwasher-twice kinda day coming on.
For my manly meat-eater:

And for me, a little Chana Masala:
Each item cost five bucks but we stretched it out into three teeny tiny meals. Me-o-my. So good!

Moody Gardens Festival of Lights

Dada and I took the boys to Moody Gardens to see The Festival of Lights and the aquarium on Saturday. The weather was perfect, the crowds were light, and everyone was getting into the holiday spirit.

While Marshall looked on...
at the flame thrower...At his happiest when he thinks he is in an elevator!
Insisted on a picture in front of what he thought was a train-crossing gate. His favorite attraction of the night, by far.
He gave a shy smile when we stopped for this picutre

Car Crash!

We were blown away by this music video...
Which led Keith to create this clever little stop motion animation bit. His first attempt.

What a clever fellow!

Ah-Ah-Apple

Strange thing about this picture...I don't eat apples this way so I don't know where he learned it.

Marshall Newsletter: Eight Months

Dear Marshall,

Today you turn eight months old.

The most significant event this month was the surgery to fix your tongue. You were a trooper baby, but you made mama worry like crazy! It was not a tough decision to fix your tongue. Coping with the decision to put you under was the hard part! I kept thinking, "What if the little boy I love changes after anesthesia for some reason?" I didn't want to cause you unnecessary harm or discomfort. Here we are a week later and while you are still healing, I think you are recovering beautifully.

What a squirmy, chatty guy you have become! You are getting the hang of army crawling and rolling to get where you want to go. You love to play with things that will hurt you, like Remi's wooden train tracks or Baxter's face. You LOVE Daddy and all the giggles he's able to get out of you. No Dada is face around you! You love to slap his bare head, pull his chest hair, and scratch any tender skin left unprotected.

You are completely obsessed with Remington. You cannot eat, play or do anything else without watching him like a hawk to see what his next move will be. Sometimes Remi is a little too rough and tackles you or smacks you in the face, but you are very quick to forgive and you love brother's kisses.

You had visitors this month. Mama SheShe and Papa Gaga brought the kids to Texas for a little trip. It was fun for you to be held by so many different people. We went all over Houston and you hardly gave us any trouble.

You are, therefore you eat. A lot. You scream at anyone that is eating and not sharing with you and this month you tried mint chocolate chip ice cream, potato soup and you stuck your fist in my bowl of minestrone. You eat normal baby food too like bananas, sweet potatoes, broccoli, butternut squash, applesauce, and lentil mush. Yum.

Your sleeping habits are a bit out of whack. Sometimes you refuse to nap ALL DAY LONG. Do you have any idea how that is for the rest of us??? Well, I guess you'll find out in 30 years when you have your own kids. Other times you sleep for an hour in the morning, and then at 20 minute intervals here and there. At night you are a pretty solid sleeper. Your favorite thing is to wake up at five for breakfast and
then snuggle and snooze until Remi wakes up.

Did I mention your violent streak? These bruises should be proof enough! Let's just say you are an intense eater...You really like to beat up my right arm...

No matter...


I'm still desperately in love with you.

Love,
Mama

Happy Halloween

Well another gluttonous Halloween has come and gone. It was a lot of fun. Candice made pumpkin pancakes for breakfast.



We carved some pumpkins while Marshall soaked up some sun in the swing.







We went trick or treating with Callie's family and Sam, Remi's buddy. Marshall was a pumpkin and Remington dressed up as an elevator since he is totally obsessed with them.



Candice designed his costume out of an old diaper box. She is so clever!