Santa...Take Two

Last Tuesday we restarted our family tradition of Santa Clause. It was a mix of celebrating Jesus's birthday and my birthday while getting to see the big man! It was so much fun! I love getting together with family! We even had a birthday cake for Jesus and we cooked prime rib! It was so delicious!

We actually got a smile out of A this time. She seemed to like her Gi Gi doll. She went right for her mouth with it, but then again, everything goes in her mouth these days. I've been saying it for a while now, but her teeth are coming in. She doesn't like taking bottles and she was cranky yesterday. Her gums seemed to be swollen, but what do I know. Too bad Mommy washed the doll and her hair didn't quite hold up so well! Mommy thought the Gi Gi doll was kind of scary though, sorry Mimi!!

My cousins and I. Jamie is due January 21st and Rachel is due July 15th.

Rachel and Kelsey

Alexis loved Santa's story time. She watched him the whole time he read "The Night Before Christmas"

Brody was more into the gifts than Santa himself. He is growing up too fast!!

Bryce was pretty funny! He was waiting patiently for his gift! Once Brody and Eli had received their gifts, he was starting to get worried. He had to sneak over Santa's shoulder to make sure he wasn't forgotten about. Then the family told Santa to tell Bryce he needed a hair cut and Bryce was adamant that wasn't happening. He told Santa that his room is dirty because of Brody, not him. He was definitely animated this year!

Everyone, even Belle, was quietly listening to Santa's story. Bryce helped turn the page because Santa's gloves were getting in the way.

The McManus Family Visit

One of Daddy’s best friends, Ryan, and his wife Jen came into town, so we left the lake one night and trekked to Kingwood for a quick visit. The first time Alexis met Uncle Ryan she wasn’t exactly thrilled. She cried both times he tried to hold her, but this time she was back to her normal self. She was in her typical great mood. Ryan’s mom, Mrs. Amy, made homemade ravioli so we dined on some true Italian food. A big thank you to Mrs. Amy for sharing her famous ravioli, from what we heard she can be really stingy with them, but she was very generous with us! We are very thankful that we got to spend some time with the Mc Manuses. We don’t get to see them all that often because they live in Chicago. Thanks for sharing your family tradition with us. We love ya’ll!

Here are some pictures of the eclipse. I got some great shots as it was covering, but of course I stayed up all night to see the Lunar Eclipse and as soon as it was fully eclipsed the clouds completely covered it. I could only get a glimpse of it and not long enough to snap a picture!

This first picture was the next night of the beautifully full moon, of course there wasn’t a cloud in the sky!!

Uncle Ryan

Aunt Jen...Thank you for my lovee and teddy bear, I love them!!

We already miss you!

Busy Bees

As with everyone, we've been super busy this Holiday Season. I haven’t had much time to blog, so today I’m playing catch up. Last week I was a single parent while Daddy was down in the Valley for work. That made for late nights trying to get ready for the Christmas party we hosted with all our friends. It was nice to get out with our 300 Justice Road friends and our new babies last night.

A has been having a difficult time napping these past couple of weeks. We can get her down quickly, but then she is up about 45 minutes later. I'm not sure what to do. Any suggestions would be helpful. She is doing great at nights, we've been having a few more late night snacks than normal the past couple of weeks, but over all, I can't complain, I just wish I knew why she wasn't napping.

She is now eating baby food 3 times a day and there doesn't seem to be anything she doesn't like. I haven't tried the prunes, more so because I'm scared of the blow out, but if it's on a spoon, she eats it. She's becoming more independent, when she isn't tired, and can entertain herself for longer times on the floor and in her jumperoo.

Here are some random pictures from the last two weeks. I love these PJs. I'm not sure where they came from, but I had to get a picture. And you know how much I love bath time. She is much more active in the bath tub these days. She props herself on her elbows and just kicks, making the biggest splashes. I actually have to scoot back so I don't end up wetter than her!

Click on the links to see our last 2 weeks. Alexis is quite the social butterfly, just like her Mommy and her Daddy. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that she isn't napping. She's probably worried that she will miss out on something fun.

Train Station Photo Shoot
Santa Jim
Lights in the Heights
Gage's 2nd Birthday

Katy Train Station

This morning we took A to the Train Museum in Old Katy. This outfit was given to her by one of Donna's Friends, so we dressed her up and took her out for a quick photo shoot! It was cold and windy, but she did great! I love these pictures!

Christmas Party

As everyone knows, Christmas is my favorite time of the year! I love every part of it, especially the traditions! Growing up Santa always visited our house on Christmas Eve. I couldn't wait to start this tradition with Alexis. So, we got our friends together this year and had quite the turn out! It was chaos! But, it was every thing that I remembered. We even had crafts and cookie decorating. I think the kids definitely enjoyed themselves.

We will be doing Santa on December 22nd with my cousins at my parent's house. Next year will be even better with Rachel and Jamie's new babies. Our family is growing so fast and I can't wait to carry on the traditions of the Ford family with the next generation of Fords. If only Maw Maw were here now. She would be so proud of each of us and she would be so happy to know that we are as close as ever. We miss you every day and we know you are watching over us and smiling down.

Alexis was more phased by Santa's "bling" then she was of the man himself. But, luckily she didn't cry. I'm sure she will next year. As for Makena, Gage and Keely, well, that is a different story! But, it makes for great pictures and it's just another tradition that makes Christmas so great!

I think this is a pretty good attempt at getting all the kids. Granted, we are missing a few, but you take what you can get.

The adults had a good time with Santa too! We are so excited for Aunt Kristi and Uncle Michael. Next year we will have two more babies to add to the party! I'm not sure whose bigger, Aunt Michelle or Santa, it's definitely a closs race!

High School Harrys and their families

Lights in the Heights

300 Justice Road hit the streets last night for Lights in the Heights. This is a little hidden gem in the heart of Houston. We've never heard of it and we thought we were just going to check out some Christmas lights with our friends and the next generation of 300 Justice Road. But what we discovered was a mini Christmas Mardi Gras in our very own Houston. It was a blast! People were dressed in costumes, including hula dancers and one very disturbing Santa Clause with tight shiny gold pants. Thank God Alexis didn't see him, but I feel very sorry for those kids that did. Others were in roller skates and Christmas lights. There were bands on every corner and on front porches. We even saw bag pippers!! I think the goal is to not only out do your neighbor in tacky Christmas Lights but the inventive way people decked out their coolers was even better than looking at Christmas lights. I think the lights just give these people an excuse to party in the streets and have your kids see Christmas Lights. It's a pretty good compromise for parents and kids.

Our friends Jason and Kaley have been patiently waiting for this bundle of joy for as long as I've known them! Introducing Van Frederick Huette. He is absolutely handsome and so sweet!! He will be the future brisket cooker while Reagan and Alexis man the chili team. All three babies did great on our journey through the Heights. Alexis slept just long enough for me to get this picture, but other than that, she decided that she wasn't napping yesterday but was still in a great mood! She was very smitten with Mr. Beau too! She just smiled at him every time he looked at her!

High School Harrys

This blog is a tribute to my Daddy and my besties. He laughs every time I tell him I've got plans with my girlfriends, who just so happen to be my best friends from high school. I've said it many times before, we aren't just friends, we are the sisters we never had. My closest, dearest and oldest friends are all the ones that I graduated high school with and I wouldn't give them up for the world. My dad calls us the High school Harrys. He thinks we should move on! But, we have a unique bond that I wouldn't trade for anything in the world. Luckily this Holiday season, I got to spend more time with Joy and Megan who are the only two that don't live here. Strangely enough, I miss them more when I see them! I wish they were here all the time so I could see their kids more and hang out with them more, but I cherish the time that I get to see them when they are here. Chalk it up to that time of the year or having a baby, but having them around and playing with each other's kids makes me so happy! I can't wait for the next time we're all together again.

These are pictures from Gage's 2nd birthday. It was the first time we got to celebrate with him and the kids had a great time. Alexis already can't decide which boy she likes more, but I don't thinks she wants to share!

Makena 11 mos, Nate 3 mos, Alexis 6 mos, Ryder 5 mos

Nate

Makena, she is just so beautiful and she has the most amzing eyes I've ever seen!