Sunday, January 23, 2011

The long overdue post

Wow, I really don't have much of an excuse why it has taken forever to update the blog. Life is just crazy busy these days and down times are few and far between. Let's catch up.

CHRISTMAS 2010
Christmas was very special this year. The kids had a school program that was precious to kick off the season. Haley's class sang three songs and just melted our hearts.
Here she is singing her "Lights on the tree" song to the tune of "The Wheels on the Bus". Here they are showing how "Daddy goes Snore Snore Snore all Christmas Day".

Then Santa came to visit their school. As you can see Jackson was not too crazy about Santa this year.



Grandma & Grandpa Vara along with Uncle Michael came to stay with us for a week at Christmas. The kids had so much fun and Matt and I enjoyed the extra help. I really appreciated the help because I came down with the flu right before Christmas! What a horrible time to be laid up in bed but I started to feel better Christmas Eve, whew.
Haley was having lots of fun playing with Uncle Michael

And Jackson got lots of kisses from Grandpa (& Grandma)

Both kids were giving Uncle Michael morning greetings

Jackson getting into trouble with the tree

Uncle Mark bought the kids a trampoline for Christmas. He came over Christmas Eve to set it up which turned out to be the best weather day for a week!

Jackson tried on Uncle Mark's Christmas present. All ready to go, coach

Mommy and Haley getting cookies ready for Santa. We had 4 but Haley ate 3 of them before bed. Poor Santa probably left our house hungry.

Haley and the cookies for Santa. She was super excited and didn't want to go to bed. She wanted to wait up for Santa. In the morning she was upset that she didn't get to talk to Santa.

Santa was busy at our house.

Jackson checking out his new chair

And playing football while riding his fire truck

Haley was a very good girl and Santa answered her wish, a kitchen and cookies.

Christmas afternoon we spent at Grandma Jean's house. Haley helped make a pie

Uncle John helped Jackson with his new toys


What a very Merry Christmas we had.
NEW YEAR 2011!!
For New Years we went over to the neighbor's house. Jackson crashed prior to ringing in the New Year but Haley stayed up for the big event. She loved the fireworks until someone let off a round of very loud firecrackers. I still haven't figured out the point of firecrackers. They are just loud to me. Nothing fun to look at? Oh well, obviously people like them.

Jackson loves being outside. In fact, that is all he wants to do.

Haley showing off her new jacket. She is in to making silly faces for the camera. Not sure how to get her to smile normal anymore.

FIRST HAIRCUTS
Haley's first haircut was three years in the making! She really needed a trim and Jackson's curls, while cute, were starting to look a little shaggy. So we made a day of taking the kids to the haircut place in the mall.
Haley was up first and did a GREAT job.

What a big girl

She even got her hair styled in braids for the first time. How cute.

Next up was Jackson. He wasn't so sure at first.

The tears started...

But didn't last long. Mommy blew some bubbles and all was good.

What a handsome boy! He looks so grown up.

And since the kids did so good we rode the marry go round

Yeah, I'm cool like that
Now we're all caught up! That was the last 4 weeks in a few pictures. Now on to this week....
PRINCESS FUN
Haley has wanted to get dressed up when we come home from school. She is too cute. She always asks to put on her dress, pink headband, shoes, purse and Jackson can be her prince while she goes to the ball. Jackson usually has other plans but it makes my heart melt :)

Here is Haley dressed for the ball one evening.
THE ZOO
Today we took the kids to the Zoo. They love being outside and seeing all the animals so we ended up getting a membership. We're excited to visit several times during the spring and fall. The summers are usually too hot!
Haley wanted to visit the Tigers first, shocker since her best friend is her tiger (who is pink but she says it's a boy!).

Jackson loved the lions. I guess it was the nice cool weather and the time of year but the lions were really frisky and active today.

The male lion at the Houston Zoo

The newest exhibit is The African Forest. Jackson had a blast banging the drums

And Haley did her best Stevie Wonder impression

The chimps were a joy too. One time this chimp looked right at Haley and sat in front of her. It was awesome

And who can resist a playground even if you are surrounded by lots of cool animals?

The petting zoo is always a favorite. Haley did great brushing the goats while Jackson would try to eat the brush.


The last stop was right outside the zoo to feed the ducks and birds. We would watch the kids take a bite then throw some bread and pancakes to the birds. It was funny.


What a fun day at the Zoo! Hopefully it won't take another month before I post again :)

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The making of a Christams card

Ah, I love this time of year. The houses all decorated, the kids so happy, the crazy shopping, and of course the Christmas cards. Before we get to ours this year, let's recap Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Eve we had a wonderful dinner with my family at my mom's house. We all celebrated early because Thanksgiving morning we flew out to El Paso for an extended holiday weekend. The kids were excited to see Grandma and Grandpa Vara (and Uncle Michael too!). We had a great time visiting with family and catching up with friends.

Jackson enjoyed his sink baths...


and munching on pears...

and getting hugs from Grandpa

We also met up with Zeke who is 5 weeks younger then Jackson at one of our favorite restaurants, Cattleman's Steakhouse. Zeke is a cutie and so laidback, opposite of Jackson! Haley really liked playing with Zeke too.

Jackson was playing so hard he decided he couldn't hold up his bottle anymore.

And Haley loved playing peak-a-boo with Zeke

Matt's good friend Eric and his daughter, Matt's Goddaughter, Elysia also joined us. We can't believe how big she is getting and how beautiful she is. She was the precious flower girl at our wedding!

Haley has lots of fun in her fort Grandpa built her. Grandma was hanging out inside and wait, who is that coming through the window?

Dusty! What are you doing? Dusty is old and very sick with cancer but really enjoyed the kids. I'm glad he got to experience some fun in his final days...

Hey, if Dusty can climb in through the window, I can come out of it. Haley had a blast.

A few hours before we left we had a BBQ at the house and Zeke came over again. I think Jackson is showing him how to get in trouble...


We had a great visit to El Paso and can't wait to see Grandma and Grandpa in a few weeks when they come visit us for Christmas.

And now....the Christmas card. Every year at Christmas we have taken the kids to get Christmas pictures. 2 of the last 4 years they have been good, but I've never used it for the Christmas card. So this year we saved us the frustration of pictures at the mall and decided to take our own Christmas pictures of the kids. It was...well....fun and adventurous at the same time. We took over 200 photos and managed to get a few good one.
We started off in the house which was a great idea until Haley gave Jackson a hug, pulled him backwards and BAM...right on his head. Our picture taking was almost over before it started...

Then we moved out to the front porch and managed one with both kids looking

Then off to the park near our house.

We managed a good one of Jackson! One of my favorites to date of him. And yes, this made the card.

And a solo of Haley. She was being silly but this also made the card

Flying in the trees with Dad

Oh and look at that precious smile!!!

Most of the time the kids were not listening. I love Matt's face in the background as the kids ran off.

So I tried to coral the kids. Same problem. We could only manage to get 1 kid looking at a time :)

Sometimes we just let them play. I love their smiles.

And then we would make them pose. This one made the card too...love it!

After the park we headed to the golf course across the street. We got a great picture with Daddy. This is one of my favorites too.

By now the kids were done. Haley was more interested in "hugging" Jackson then taking pictures. Jackson was not impressed.

But he began to fight back...

Jackson's getting the upper hand...

And he's free!!!

Payback time. Jackson almost out weighs Haley so it's just a matter of time when he figures out he can sit on her. I do love this picture. They both had the biggest smiles taking these.
l
OK Mom and Dad, we are DONE

I couldn't pick just one photo so I did a collage photo card this year. It was lots of fun taking pictures of the kids but I don't think we'll be doing it again anytime soon. Whew, what hard work!
The kids are getting ready for the Christmas program at school this Friday. It will be the first official party of the Christmas season. We are excited and hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!

Tuesday, December 7, 2010