Four Peas in a Pod: January 2013

Monday, January 21, 2013

Then and Now

One of my favorite pictures of the kids was taken when Jackson was 9 months old in our guest bedroom. I've been meaning to recreate that picture, so this morning, we did.

I love Jackson's huge, drolly smile with his little scrunched up nose and his chubby baby fingers! And I love how sweetly Sarah's holding him while smiling so beautifully!

This was the first picture today! It cracks me up!

I can't believe how big my babies have gotten!

These two have my heart.

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Date Night

Last night, we took the kids on dates. It was so fun and such a wonderful treat for all of us during the middle of the week!

For the boys "adventure"--Bryan doesn't like calling their outings "dates," Bryan took Jackson to get dinner at Schlotzsky's, then a smoothie at Jamba Juice, and then to ride in the car shopping cart at Lowe's. Although he's not smiling that big in this picture, right before I took it, Jackson was running and jumping yelling "Daddy big truck!" He was really excited to go out with Daddy and pumped about being able to ride in Daddy's truck!

I asked Bryan to take pictures while they were out, and he did! How cute are my boys?! Bryan said J was really good! He said the only time he started fussing was when they were going to leave Lowe's, and Jackson didn't want to get out of the race car cart. Bryan told J that they were going to go see Mommy, and he said, "OK!" That boy melts my heart even when I'm not with him!

Sarah and I went to Girls' Night Out at Chick-fil-a! When we were there last week for the kids' ice cream treat, we saw a sign about it and both got really excited. Since Bryan never knows when he'll get off work, I made a reservation for the 7:30 time slot just to be safe. (Yes, you had to make reservations--it was very fancy!) By 7:30 on a normal night, we've already tucked Jack in bed, and we're about to tuck Sarah in before snuggling on the couch together, but every once in awhile, you have to make exceptions!!

They had this on the table, along with a purple tablecloth and a bouquet of flowers. It was right up our alley!

We were given flowers when we sat down and a waitress personally took our order and brought us our food. Like I said, it was very fancy!

We got our picture taken with the Chick-fil-a cow! The had props you could use, so we chose feather boas! Sarah's wearing one too, I promise! This is a picture on my phone from the picture they actually gave us--the real one is much better quality!

Then, they brought us free ice cream that we were able to top with different goodies. Sarah chose Oreos and M&M's, and I had Oreos.

Our sweet waitress took our picture! Chick-fil-a is hands down my favorite fast food restaurant anyway, and then to be able to go there for a fancy date with my little princess made it even better!

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Shots and Ice Cream

Last Thursday, I took the kids to get flu shots. Sarah despises shots! Once we were in the exam room with the nurse, Sarah started crying and declared that not only did she not want to get a shot, but also that she didn't even need a shot! I told her that she had to get one to prevent the flu and that it would only hurt for a second. She kept crying though. The nurse and I finally got her to sit on the table, but once the nurse started opening the alcohol wipe, she flipped out again and jumped off the table crying and yelling that she didn't want a shot! I again told her that she had to get a shot and even pulled out the big guns--I threatened to call Daddy! All the while, poor Jackson is sitting in his stroller watching all of the shenanigans, not knowing that he's next! Sarah got back on the table and the nurse and I both told her that she had to be really still and that it would only hurt for a second. The nurse gave her the shot. She screamed as soon as the needle went in, then said, "that wasn't that bad!" Sarah then apologized for her behavior to me and the nurse. Next up was Jackson, and although he cried when I put him on the table, he finished crying as soon as I picked him back up after the shot was given. Who would have thought the 2-year-old would behave better than the 9-year-old?!

After a shot of any kind, I think the kids should get a special treat. Their Dad, the doctor, thinks their treat is the immunization itself because it keeps them healthy! He's crazy! So, I took them to Chick-fil-A for ice cream...most of which, Jackson ate without the help of his spoon!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Football!

Last Friday we spent our night watching the Aggies beat up OU in the Cotton Bowl! It was wonderful!

We had snacks for dinner--deviled eggs, pigs in the blanket, sausage and cheese, fruit salad, 2 kinds of dip, queso, and oreo balls.

Love him!

My sweet sister sent me this great Aggie dress for my birthday, and my Dad got Bryan this new Aggie shirt for Christmas.

We bought Jackson his first Aggie uniform as a Christmas gift, and he was precious in it! When I brought him downstairs wearing it, the smile on Bryan's face was priceless!

We let J stay up a little later than his normal bedtime to watch Johnny Football! Look at his shoulder pads--cracks me up!

Then, he decided to play his guitar while watching football.

Adorable!

Before the game started, Sarah said that she didn't want to watch it because "football is boring." Bryan told her that she was breaking his heart! So, she decided to snuggle with Daddy and watch it. Sarah ended up loving spending this time with Daddy and did alot of cheering for the Aggies! We told her she had to go to bed during halftime, but she asked us to record the rest of the game for her! (I don't know why Bryan looks so serious here--I must have snapped the picture right after a bad call or something!)

Monday, January 7, 2013

A Look Back

I love taking pictures of our family, and I also love looking back at them. Here are some of my favorite pictures and memories from 2012!

Jackson's first finger painting! It was raining and cold out, so we stayed inside and made some art! He and I had so much fun, and it was one of the many things that makes me count my blessings to be a stay-at-home mom!

Our little princess turned 9!!

We had a hot dog and s'more cookout with family and her friends in the backyard, and it was so much fun!

We celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday by reading several of his books and making green eggs and ham for dinner!

Sarah had an Open House at school, and I got to see a power point presentation that she made! We were so proud of her!

Daddy took a break from watching March Madness to join in on a tea party! He's the best Daddy!

We think it's so important to have special one-on-one dates with the kiddos, so while Bryan was on vacation in the Spring, we took turns going out with both Sarah and Jackson--which was a first for us to do with Jack! Sarah and Daddy went to a movie and out to dinner.

Jackson and Daddy went to a car show! So manly!

Sarah and I went to a tea room!

Jackson and I went to Chick-fil-A for dinner and play time, then to get frozen yogurt for dessert!

We took the wee ones to Krispy Kreme for the first time. This is how the boy ate his donut!

We took pictures in the bluebonnets! We've been doing this since Sarah was a newborn, but it was actually Jackson's first time to go! Bluebonnets are one of the many things we just adore about Texas!

We took Jackson to the park more times than I can count, but this shot is one of my favorites!

We celebrated Easter, and Jackson participated in his first Easter egg hunt! He loved it, and we loved seeing the two of them find eggs together!

As Jackson got older, he and Sarah became even better friends than they already were! They spent most nights after dinner talking and laughing under the dining room table!

Sarah went to her first slumber party! She was so excited leading up to it, and she had a blast while she was there! While she was gone, we took Jackson out to dinner and dessert and then had a quiet night at home!

Sarah went to a local college with her Gifted and Talented class and dissected a pig's heart!

Sarah made me breakfast in bed for Mother's Day all by herself and brought it to me right after 6:00 AM!

I made Bryan breakfast in bed to celebrate his first day off after working 19 days straight!

We went to a local petting zoo with the kids!

Jackson loved the goats!

We went to Ft. Worth where our families are for a long overdue visit. We took the kids to a duck pond that we used to take Sarah to alot when she was Jackson's age.

We love duck ponds--especially ones where we have such fond memories!

We went to a Ranger game with my Dad and siblings. It was the kiddos first time at The Ballpark, and it was so stinkin' hot that day! (Bryan was not the biggest fan of us all wearing matching shirts, but he's a trooper!)