New blog address

I'm trying out another blog host to see if it's any easier to upload photos. For now you can find us at:

http://araineyday.wordpress.com

See you over there!

Christmas: Parts 2, 3, 4 & 5

Well it's only almost a month late, but here are pictures from the rest of our Christmas-ing.

Part 2:

Christmas Eve at Uncle Bruce and Aunt Linda's

Papa and Landry

Sweet smiles from Camden

Me and my best girl

Uncle Bruce getting a smooch from Landry

My favorite seester

Granny and Papa on their 62nd anniversary

Owen doing a little teething on Dee's hand

Part 3: Christmas morning at home

Camden thought he was all out of gifts until we pointed him to his stocking

Landry was quite thrilled that she had more goodies

Camden was VERY interested in Owen's loot

Daddy and all his babies

Landry's new boots

Part 4: Christmas brunch at Haley's

My littlest reindeer on Dee's shoulder

Camden's favorite Christmas present - his John Deere tractor from Pop and Dee

Landry's Mini Cooper from Pop and Dee (she's a terrible driver, by the way)

Pop and Owen

My middle reindeer

My biggest reindeer

Part 5: Christmas afternoon at Uncle Bill and Aunt Beth's

Uncle Bill and Landry

Landry warming up by the fire

Brannon faked "helping" so he could play with the toys

Brooke and Pat getting some practice for their April baby

Landry loving on her Radio City Music Hall doll from Aunt Beth

We had a wonderful holiday. Camden and Landry finally understood the concept of Christmas, which is kind of nice and kind of not. There was quite a bit of pushing and shoving going on over their respective gifts. Luckily the new has worn off and now the arguing has been minimized. We finally felt the exhaustion of going and going and going for three days straight. The kids did pretty well, but it was very taxing on me and Blake. Next year we might have to take it down a notch!

We hope you all had an amazing Christmas and that 2010 will bring you lots of love and happiness!

Landry's 23 month day, Owen's (almost) 7 month day

Landry turned 23 months old on Christmas Eve. She is such a big girl! Her comprehension really seems to have taken off over the past several days. She's articulating better as well. It's hard to believe that she'll be two in less than a month. Where does the stinking time go?

Owen will be 7 months old tomorrow. We've got an early morning flight to Mexico, so I thought I better post this sweet picture tonight. He's trying to become mobile, but so far all he does is scoots himself backwards. His poor fat tummy keeps him high-centered a lot of the time. He briefly gets up on all fours, but all he can muster is a little rocking action. He's making more and more sounds these days. He's got "dada" down very well. His second tooth came in on Christmas Eve. Seeing teeth in a previously empty mouth is a little weird, but he's still cute as a button!

See? I told you so.

Christmas 2009: Part 1

Tonight we celebrated Christmas with Blake's mom, step-dad, sister, brother-in-law and niece. Camden was so excited about opening his presents that he ate his entire dinner. We got our first dose of "is it time to open Christmas presents yet?"

He got a tool bench from Nana and Chappy. He loved it so much that every time Landry got near it he started babbling incoherently and pushing her away. Even though we couldn't tell what he was saying, he was definitely angry! This was made even more evident when he would throw whatever was in his hands down - in a not-so-nice way. Landry got a bassinet for her babies and a new red-headed baby doll. She really loved her gifts, but the fact that Camden kept pushing her away from his made her all that more interested in staying up in his business. Owen got a cute plush toy car that was just his big. He had a big time chewing on it and accidentally honking the horn. Landry and Camden both took a turn behind the wheel, which looked pretty ridiculous because they're both entirely too big for it. Landry also got a purse and mini baby doll from Aunt TaTa. Camden got a couple of new movies to add to his collection, and Owen got a little cow doll that counts.

It's only the first day of Christmas, and it's obvious our kids won't be hurtin' for anything this year! Although Mama might be hurtin' if they don't get a handle on this fighting over toys stuff. I try to keep telling myself that they're only one and two, and that they can't really help it, but JUMPIN' JESUS ON A POGO STICK! it's killing me already. But anyway, besides me getting stressed out over the sibling rivalry, it was a very nice evening!

I'll update more after Parts 2, 3 and 4!

A wonderful weekend

Friday night we had Blake's company Christmas party at the house. The big kids stayed in Waskom with Nana and Chappy, and little O stayed home and partied with us. On Saturday we went and picked up the kiddos and went up to Pop Steve's old home place in Huffines, Texas. We had a great time visiting with Aunt Nancy and her clan from South Louisiana. The kids had a big time swinging, running and playing. Nana and Chappy came and rescued them (and by them, I mean us!) and brought all three kids back home so we could stay up at the farm and hang out with all of the cousins by the camp fire. A LARGE thanks to Nana and Chappy for all the kid wrangling they did over the weekend!

Toothless no more!

Six days before his 7 month day Owen finally cut his first tooth. The second one is not far behind. You have to use your imagination, but it's really, really there!

This was my first attempt at capturing the little shiny tooth:

A sad, sad day

I am so sad today. Wendy's dad, Ray McKibben, passed away yesterday. He went to school with my dad, so I'm going to guess that he's the same age - 57. Not that there's ever a perfect age to die, but 57 is way too young.

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Wendy and I met in sixth grade, but didn't become friends until 7th grade. (She had a weird haircut in sixth grade!) Mr. McKibben called me Other Daughter and I called him Other Father. He has been a part of my life for many years. He did an excellent job of grilling Blake before we got married to make sure he was good enough for me!

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He was truly a neat, neat person. He was loud. He was talented. He was brilliant. (He was also often cranky and sometimes downright abrasive, but that's neither here nor there!) The thing I know most about Other Father is that he loved his family beyond measure. He will be greatly missed. My heart goes out to Other Mother, Wendy, Hillary, Jason and their families.

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(By the way, I stole this picture from Wen's facebook page.)