Merry Christmas!

Here's our picture with Santa. No tears or screaming so I would say it was a success! We waited over an hour to see St. Nick and Colton was so good while we waited. It helped that the mall had a fish tank, play area and balloon-making clown near the line area. Very smart thinking on their part! Have a very Merry Christmas!

Congrats Zach again!!!

What's better than a brother graduating from fire/rescue school? A brother getting engaged to the sweetest, loveliest girl ever!!!

Yes - just over a week ago - Zach and April got engaged! I'm so excited April will be joining our family! Way to go you two!

16 & 17 months

So I'm a little behind on Colton's updates... 16 months has passed us by and now our boy is 17 months old... Here is a glimpse into life with the C-man!

Voracious reader like his mommy and daddy! Colton insists on reading by himself on the couch and also insists on having ALL of his books nearby.
Where is Colton? All bundled up on a cold day. This picture happens to be in the kitchen. Colton loves sitting up on the kitchen counter while I'm cooking or doing anything in the kitchen.
Colton "sliding" to Daddy. Colton invented this game all by himself. He smashed a diaper box and started calling it a slide. I thought it was pretty ingenious!
Colton built this tower all by himself too. He's getting so big!

Here are a few other things to remember about this age:

• Can signal a touchdown with both hands in the air.
• Saying elmo (melmo), outSIDE, see (which we think means paci), more, eat, mama (now says this over and over until I do whatever he wants), lights, ball, car, truck and lots more I can't remember right now.
• Signing more, please, all done, no and eat. Working on thank you, yes and milk.
• Telling himself "Ready, set, go" and then takes off running across the house.
• Clapping for himself when he does a good job.
• Blowing kisses.
• Giving sweet kisses and hugs complete with sound effects! So cute! You have to be careful because a kiss can quickly turn dangerous with scratching and hair pulling.

We love this little boy so much! Thank you God for giving him to us to love and raise. Please guide us as we parent him.

Videos coming soon...

Congrats Zach!

Zach graduated this past Friday after a long and grueling few months of training. He's now an official firefighter/paramedic for the Dallas Fire & Rescue! Way to Go Zach! We are so proud of you!

Colton got some new shoes a while back from Cousin Wilkin. They finally fit Colton and he could not stop looking at them. He loved the sound they made on the tile floor and apparently they help him jump and dance really well!

Piano Playing Cousins...Take 2!

Finally had a blogging burst again. There are multiple posts because Picasa only lets me do 4 pics at a time - but it's super fast.

Enjoy!

Halloween Night...

After trick or treating - Mommy and one tired little monkey!

Three little pumpkins sitting on a couch.

Jazmin and Colton enjoying the night stroll. They got out at one house but weren't too thrilled so they stayed in the stroller the rest of the evening. The candy came to them however; and they had a good hold on their treat baskets.

Having a little sampling through the wrappers :)

The crew!

Hold Please...

Too cool for school!

I've GOT A PHONE CALL!!!

Playing with Bunny's cool red phone.

So many teeth in that little mouth!

I'm listening...go ahead.

Call me anytime!

More Cousin Time!

Here's Colton in his handsome new sweater! Thanks Pawpaw and Karen.

Playing rocks with Wilkin.

Cousin Time!

Here's Henry or Henny as his family calls him. He is such a sweet smiling boy! I love his zest for life!

Look - three cousins at the piano! Henry was big enough to join us. Video coming soon!

Big boys on the top bunk...

Three boys on a swing. They all had striped sweaters on (not planned - but cute).

Piano Playing Cousins...

This was from a while back (September I think). It's one of my favorite videos. I love how Colton and Wilkin look at each other and just grin! We can't wait until Cousin Henry can join Wilkin and Colton on the piano bench for a trio!

Happy Halloween!

This is a little sneak peek before we go trick or treating tonight. Last Sunday, Colton's school had Trunk or Treat.

Colton's first glimpse of a clown. He was mesmerized.

Off to get some goodies...

Our friends' "trunk" was decorated like Seseme Street! So fun.

First taste of a lollipop and candy for that matter.

Daddy and Colton...

He's got this trick or treating business down pat.

One of the trunks was decorated like "Jonah and the whale". He really liked that one and didn't want to come out. Happy Halloween everyone!

Great Big Pumpkin Farm

Sunday, Colton and I met Bunny at the Great Orange Pumpkin Farm in Richardson. It was extremely hot, but we had a great time!

Kissing the pumpkins.

I've never seen so many pumpkins!

Mommy and Me!

One year ago in the pumpkin patch...

Saturday, we went to the Fall Fair at Prestoncrest.

He loved riding this mini-rollercoaster!

Back at the pumpkin farm, patting the pigs!

Making sure we see them too.

Colton learned to say "Boo"! this week, too. He loved the ghosts but at the minute I took the picture he spotted an airplane.

Before we had time to think it through the man took off in the tractor with Colton in tow. It was a pretty fast ride (at least for Mommy) but I think Colton really enjoyed it. He did not want to get out.

First hayride!

Feeding the goats.

This is great!

Following the ducks.

Happy Halloween!