Tis The Season!

I LOVE LOVE this time of year! 

Everything about it makes me happy... the Christmas lights, the excuse to bake fun holiday treats, the gathering of family, the old Christmas movies that replay everyday, the fun holiday traditions, getting cards in the mail, the decorations you put in your house, going to my parents house and feeling like a kid again.

Here we are doing some of our favorite Christmas time things.

Ha! All the jolly talk and I had to include this picture.  This time of year also brings lots of colds for little ones.  See below...

Cousin holiday love on a warm December day.

Last weekend was very eventful...

Friday we went and saw Santa.  It is SO nice with Will having half days every Friday.  We beat all the mall traffic and there wasn't a line. Here is Benjamin checking out the big man before his turn.  

It was looking slightly promising... 

I was so wrong!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

He had a hard time afterwards recovering... our mall trip ended earlier than planned.

 Saturday we had a full day filled with Gaylord Christmas fun with the family.

(Note: Benjamin is wearing the same outfit but he literally wore it for an hour with Santa.  Don't judge.)

We went and saw the ICE! display in celebration for Amanda's 30th birthday! This was Will and I's third time to go and it felt very full circle.  The first time we were newly dating, the second I was very pregnant with Benjamin, and now the third pregnant with our second kid.  Lots of fun memories at the Gaylord.

 Here is Audrey and Pop waiting in line.

Benjamin loved soaking in all the colors and lights.

Leave it up to Pop to play like a kid! 

Ashley and Rett 

My family of three!

Cousin photo.

After ICE! we ate a Mexican food restaurant and while we waited for our table the kids enjoyed listening to Tula sing some carols.

Taking pictures with small children is rarely successful.

The ice adventure would have been enough fun for anyone, but we decided to squeeze in a little more.  Since Amanda and I used the same realtor, they were kind enough to gift us with vouchers to The Great Wolf Lodge.  We decided to use them this weekend, since it is just across the street from the Gaylord.  I have heard wonderful things about this place, and it did not disappoint!  There was a huge water park, characters, a magic hunt (too old for us at this point, but when they get older, would be great), a bedtime story, and snow falling in the lobby.  We were in kid heaven!  I highly recommend this as a family vacation, but next time would try and go on a week day, when it wasn't so crowded. (We didn't get any water park pics, because we were too busy having fun!)

I managed to squeeze in a nap with Audrey and Benjamin while the rest of the gang was at the water park.  Audrey woke up before Ben and enjoyed some snuggle time with Aunt Ali.

The bedtime story was precious!  They read a story in the lobby and all the kids wore their PJs.  At the end of the story it snowed in the lobby!

Getting ready for bed...

Maybe not the best idea right now...

The rooms were super nice but the night was longer than expected. 

(See below - I was somehow puzzled into the picture.)

What a great weekend! We are so blessed to live near such fun family outings! 

The Secret is Out!!

Well ... the secret is out! Benjamin is going to be a big brother come July 4th! We are over the moon excited and couldn't feel more grateful to God for giving us another precious child. 

Here is the tiny peanut at 9 weeks...

We moved into our house on a Saturday, I secretly took a pregnancy test on Monday night (it was positive but I didn't believe it), took 5 more Tuesday morning with Will (all positive) making it official I was expecting.  It is a very surreal feeling to see two lines on a pregnancy test... so surreal I had to take 4 more just to make sure! :) Tuesday (the day we found out) my Mom came over to help with the house and my Dad to help with the internet.  It was horrible not spilling the beans all day while I was around them!! At one point my Dad said, "dang Ali you sure are eating a lot!" :)  The timing was perfect because my sister and her family were living with my parents while in transition with their move. I had called Brian and let him know I was pregnant and he helped me with our surprise. Thanks Brian! After Will got off work we headed over to my parents.  Brian made sure everyone was on the driveway as we were walking up.  

I included the video of what happened next... I love Luke's reaction and of course the rest of the gang.

(Note: Kind of long.  Will got a little excited and started recording earlier than planned. Lots of high, excited girl voices.)

Pictures that followed the unveiling...

Big brother doing his classic pose.

Boy or Girl!?!

My family of 3 about to be 4!

Thanksgiving 2012

This year we had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Fort Worth.  Benjamin loved getting some time in on Rex's dog bed before we headed off to the country club for some yummy food!

It is always so nice to catch up with Adley!

Our table was thankfully located right by the balcony which came in handy. Will and I took turns letting Benjamin explore while the adults dined.

We were also located near the wall which came in handy for Benjamin to sneak a little rest time. 

Thank goodness Miss E brought some back up trains for entertaining!

We had so much fun spending time with the Schmid's and look forward to our annual Christmas dinner in a few weeks. 

Friday we loaded up the car and headed to the lake for the weekend.  As always the trip was filled with lots of relaxing, delicious food, story telling, laughter, and crazy kids running around. 

Love this picture of Amanda and Audrey. 

Amanda just found out Princess Catherine is pregnant and Audrey can't believe it! 

Boo from Monsters Inc = Audrey = precious

Trampoline Fun.

Will went hunting a few weeks ago and killed a ton of birds.  He was very excited to get his grill on and try out a new recipe. 

Note: I spy Boo. :)

Dove + Jalapeno + Cream Cheese + Bacon = Huge Hit.

Loving it.

We had great weather and spent tons of time outside.

Rett and Ashley brought the Wii and a dancing game.  We had so much fun challenging each other to dance offs.  It was a GREAT work out! 

Luke was a huge fan.

Get it Dad! ha!

Will finally decided to commit. :)

I have so much to be thankful for and being at the lake is always a great reminder of God's gifts to me.  I am so grateful for my beautiful growing family, our dream of a move to McKinney, and the love He shows me everyday. 

God is so good!!

Thanksgiving School Program

Benjamin's school had a Thanksgiving Feast a week before Thanksgiving.  (I am really behind on blogging) This was Ben's first organized program and it was probably the most precious thing I have ever seen.  The pictures I snapped are horrible but I have to post so I can remember later on.  The start of the program the 'big' kids came in and slowly the classes got shorter and shorter.  Benjamin's class was last and I was so proud to see my little man walking all by himself. 

(Note: He is the half child in the striped shirt.)

He started off engaged in the singing...

and quickly became bored. 

I guess he would rather be an audience member. :)

Blurry but so sweet of him looking at the choir teacher.

After the program we enjoyed a feast with his class!

 The week leading up to Thanksgiving...

...we enjoyed some yummy fries.

Benjamin was fascinated with this find.

... played at the park with the cousins.

Benjamin thought pushing Audrey was so funny.  The second I snapped this Audrey became devastated that Benjamin was being mean. They are at a fun but hard discipline age. :/

... we had Miss E, Boots, and Geeb over for dinner.

 ... we had the Larkins over for dinner too. 

Benjamin was a little sleepy in this picture.

... and enjoyed some long, tiring walks with Daddy.

Stay tuned for Thanksgiving week post!