2011 Holiday Update

Christmas:
We had fun at the Carroll Family Christmas in Weimar. Braden loves his Mr. Potato Head! The adult gift exchange was entertaining.

Braden and I traveled to Gran's the week before Christmas. We got to help finish wrapping gifts and relax a bit before additional travel began.

• We had Christmas with Grandad on Christmas Eve. Braden gave Wyatt some puzzles and Braden received a rocking chair that Grandad painted.
• We opted to only take gifts to Nannie & Papa's for those that were not going to be at Gran's after Christmas (and a couple for the kiddos). Our side ended up staying at N&P's while Teri's clan went to church on Christmas Eve - flip! Christmas morning seemed rushed. Everyone hardly had time to wake up and get a drink before gifts were being piled in front of us - annoying. Braden loves his puppy guitar and dump truck! We ended up finishing the gift opening quickly. As we were preparing to leave, Shanna and Clayton called to let us know they would be stopping by so we stayed to wait for them.
• After traveling back to Gran's Christmas day we had dinner and resumed gift exchange. The kids made off like bandits - of course. Braden now has a fairly complete band set-up: kitty piano, puppy guitar, bongo, drum pads, and other miscellaneous hand-held percussion items = a seldom quiet house! :)

After Christmas, we opted to stay at Gran's through New Year's Eve. We came back on New Year's Day so we would have some time to unpack, organize, and relax before returning to school.

I would say that the Winter Holidays were a success!

2-Month Update

October:
Dewberry Farms was a big hit! Braden got to ride a pony, go on a barrel cut-out tractor/roller-coaster ride with Mommy, jump on a giant air pillow with Daddy, play in feed corn and slide, slide, slide!

The Carroll Family Reunion at Bear Creek Park was fun. We got to catch up with family while getting some fresh air!

I decided to stay in town for Ballunar and it got weathered-out...

Daniel's trip to Nationals in AZ was rather eventful. The team did well, but not well enough to make it to the podium.

We missed out on Nick & Melissa's Halloween party and the Moody Gardens event, but Mom came down for Hocus Pocus Pops and we went with Chris, Kate, and Becca Scaife and Katie and Brooke Sponsel. The kids sure did have fun playing with the seats!

November:
11/12 - Daniel, Braden and I went to Moody Gardens for the Festival of Lights opening. Braden loved the lights and music at each scene! He actually walked most of the trail himself!

11/13 - We all went to Texas Renaissance Festival for the day. We all got to ride in a pull-swing, Braden and I danced, Braden and Daniel rode an Elephant and Braden played with bubbles.

11/18 - Braden and I watched the fall theater production at school - Once Upon a Mattress. Braden sat with me through the entire performance and clapped at the end of each scene.

Thanksgiving at Sam's was a nice change. We actually got to play Shanghai! Braden and Mackenzie had fun keeping all of us entertained while we played.

December:
12/3 - Daniel, Braden and I went to the Farmer's Market in Sugar Land and got some Christmas shopping done while an operational remote start system was installed in the Commander.

12/9 - Braden had a check-up with Dr. Luu, his dentist. No cavities! YAY! While we were there I asked Dr. Luu to go ahead and seal Braden's lower molars. Braden wasn't too happy with me or Dr. Luu, but he was a good patient and kept trying to tell us about the movie he was watching while he got his teeth "painted".

When Braden and I got home for a break between the dentist and an evening party, we discovered that the house next-door has evidently been purchased and is being renovated - starting with pool removal! YAY! Hopefully, this will mean fewer mosquito issues this upcoming year!

We went to Tom and Angela's for Rico and Angie's Christmas party. The kids played outside on the trampoline while the adults sat around and stuffed their faces with awesome homemade tamales!

12/10 - Braden actually asked to go sit on the potty! No product, but a huge step! Braden also blew his nose into a tissue for the first time! He really doesn't like anyone messing with his nose (what kid does?), but after I explained that he could breathe out of his nose to help clean it the was receptive to me holding the tissue. :)

Upcoming plans:
Next weekend is family Christmas with the Carroll clan. I've still got to figure out what food we're taking...

Braden and I will probably head up to Gran's mid-week while Daniel stays behind to work.

We'll have to figure out our Christmas schedule so all family members can be seen. At this point, I'm waiting to see what Shanna and Clayton are doing before we make any set plans. It would be convenient to stop by Dad's either 1)at the same time they're on the way up to Amarillo or 2)when they're on their way back down from Amarillo. The issue is deciding whether to go up on before or after Christmas day... This may need to be decided when the weather forecast is a little more accurate. Avoiding a blizzard is critical!

It's Been a While...

Braden
Well, Braden is now up to 33" and 24.5 lbs.
His newest trick is jumping off of anything and everything. He's pretty good at jumping off of objects up to around 1.5-2' high.
Braden is now VERY vocal. He has this little gibberish he says before the actual information though. I'm still trying to decipher that part...

Haylee
I've started on the Couch to 5K program. In about a week I'll be doing it with the kids at school as an after-school enrichment.

Daniel
Daniel is gearing up for deer season. He's looking at hunting at Grandma's place this year.

Travel
We just got back from a trip north. Daniel went to scout out Grandma's while Braden and I went to welcome Gran back from her trip to Turkey/Greece.
The whole family came down for Shanna's birthday too. We celebrated with dinner Saturday night at Gran's and lunch/bowling on Sunday.
Of course, Braden had to show me up by beating me in his first game of bowling...108 to 100! He even got his first strike, spare, and gutter ball! He selected a pink 8-pounder to bowl with. He even picked it up off of the return and carried it to the ramp each frame.

Upcoming
We need to make a run out to Dewberry Farms before the season is over. I'm hoping to make it out this weekend.
Carroll Family Reunion at Bear Creek Park is this weekend also.
Next weekend is Ballunar and my 15th high school reunion. I need to decide where I'm going...
The following weekend is Nationals, Hocus Pocus Pops, Nick & Melissa's Halloween party, and Moody Gardens has a Halloween event going.
October is FULL!

Sentences!

Braden had quite a week/weekend! Gran came down on Wednesday evening and arrived just before bedtime. So, naturally, Braden had to entertain her for about an hour before going to bed.

On Thursday, he continued to entertain Gran and Roxy.

On Friday, Gran joined us at school for our annual Auction. Our auction had a rodeo theme this year. Braden quickly learned how to shoot a water gun! Beware students - he's got great aim! After dousing several students, Mommy, and Gran, he ran out into the Shoot-Out Corral where students were spraying silly string. Gran kept him on the edge of the action and then took him on a walk to check out all the cars. Along the way, he spotted Mommy's car. He stopped in front of it, pointed, and said, "Mama's car." He then continued walking until he came to Gran's care where he stopped, pointed, and said, "Gran's car." His FIRST sentences! He played until about 9:15pm. Then, he zonked-out - until we got home...

Saturday, he took an early nap and we went to check out a water garden/nursery while Daddy was at work. He had a blast running around and playing with all of the disappearing water features! When we got home, Mommy and Daddy went to The Arms Room while Gran and Braden played at home. After bath time, he insisted Gran join him in the ball pit and told her, "Get in." He played until about 9:30pm...

Sunday, he stayed up all morning playing with Gran and Roxy while Daddy went to Spaceland and Mommy took a very needed nap. Gran informed me that while I was napping, they went out and played in the yard and took Roxy for a walk. During the walk, Braden told Roxy, "Good girl." We got ready for the day, went to the grocery store, then got Gran loaded up and ready to go. After checking with Daddy, we also got Braden loaded up and ready to go home with Gran. Braden gets to camp-out at Gran's for a week! They left just before 3pm to head up. Of course, I cried... I think this will be hardest on me. Braden is great at adapting! I struggle when I'm away from him... I'll just have to remind myself that I will join him on Friday night.

So, 4 sentences in 3 days. I'm sure he'll do much more for Gran while he's away on vacation. (Isn't that always how it is?)