Mommy & Daddy's Fun

In early December Reese and I got a quick get-away to Vegas!  It was a semi-work related trip of Reese's, but it was a reward trip so there was no actual working while on the trip.  So, we had two awesome sitters (Grammy & Aunt Reagan) in town to watch our two wild boys and we hit the road.  We love Vegas.  We got engaged there in July of 2003 at the Bellagio and celebrated our first anniversary there among a few other trips here and there just for fun.

This trip, Reese surprised me with a late birthday present of a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon.  It was a wonderful experience and such an awesome way to see God's beautiful work.  We had a great trip.  Here are a few pictures from the helicopter tour:

Do I look as nervous in the picture as I felt? (this is right before taking off)

 Hoover Dam

 Flying through the canyon

 We landed for a picnic down in the base of the canyon.

 A champagne toast

 There were 5-6 helicopters in our tour from the same company .  

This was a few hundred feet in front of us as they were taking off from the picnic area.

 One more stop in the middle of the desert for a refueling.  

The take-offs and landings were really neat- so smooth and strange the way you  just start floating.

I actually sat in the front on the return trip (huge accomplishment!) and was really comfortable at this point. :)

While in Vegas, we also got to see Cirque du Soleil Love which is the Beatles show.  It was really good and was one I had been wanting to see for awhile.  We also had never been back to the Conservatory at the Bellagio which is where we got engaged.  So, we dropped in for a picture:

Standing in the spot where Reese proposed (it was decorated very differently at the time).  I tried to convince Reese to get down on his knee for a picture, but he wouldn't.  ;)

Factor in the wonderful dinners we had with friends who were also on the trip, the fun night out to an official "Vegas Club" where we were on the list, and a few hands of blackjack?  It was a really fast, non-stop, but FUN trip!

AND- even though it doesn't fit with the Vegas trip.... We also had a fun night at the Bain Christmas party.  It was held at the Dallas Museum of Modern Art and their feature exhibit of fashion icon Jean Paul Gaultier.  It was a fashion/red carpet themed party so there was lots to see, along with the very interesting exhibit.  

Probably the only red carpet picture we'll ever take!  ;)

Anderson's Gym Class

From October through December, Anderson took a gym and trampoline class at the community rec center that is literally 1/4 mile from our house.  I enrolled him to give him an outlet for some energy in the winter months on Wednesday mornings when we didn't have much else going on (and the class time worked well with Everett's napping schedule).  Anderson was a little slow to warm up to the class at first because during the first week's class he hurt his finger while doing a somersault on the trampoline.  So, he had to work through some fear issues during the next few weeks.  But, by the end of class Anderson always came out smiling and excited.  There was a nice big window area that the moms could sit and watch through so I got to see Anderson's progression from moving SO slowly and wobbly on the balance beam to being very confident, quick, and so balanced that he was able to do turns.  He even picked up some skills on the uneven bars (which I missed taking a picture of due to chasing Everett around!) We haven't decided if we'll re-enroll in the upcoming winter session.  It's really such a bargain price, though, that if Anderson wants to continue then we'll go for it.  Too bad Everett is too young to join the class with Anderson!  He wants SO badly to go in there with Big Brother each week. :(  Here are a few pictures I did sneak in and take on Anderson's last day.

Jump...Jump...Jumping across the big trampoline.

Time for the big dismount!

Steadddyyyyy

C   a   r   e   f   u   l 

wooooaaaaaaahhhhhh!  I'm Good!  :)

 

Fire Station Visit

So....before I can get to the Christmas fun... we did have an exciting visit to the Carrollton fire station with the CECPTA in November.  The funniest part was that as we were driving there (late) we passed two firetrucks with their sirens blaring.  I said to Anderson and Everett, "That's not a good sign."  Of course, once we finally arrived at the fire station, we found out that the firemen had indeed been called out on an emergency call and our group was just left to "wait".  So, about 35 of us literally just took over the fire station and just hung out for about 45 minutes.  It was kind-of funny how they just left us there all alone.  Anyway, once they all returned from their call, they graciously led us on their tour and let the kiddos have a ball searching out the firetrucks.  Both Anderson and Everett had a great time!  Here are some of the pictures from our visit:

Anderson was both torn and thrilled at his outfit for the day.  He was so sad that he didn't have a proper fireman shirt (which he now has!) yet he was excited that he got to wear his dress-up/play fireman vest.  Isn't he just adorable? 

I really love this picture!  Such a cute snapshot of the boys and their hometown.

Fireman Everett

Everett walked around the firehouse like he owned the joint- high-fives for all the firemen, etc.  He was a riot and had all of them laughing.

The fireman dressed up to show the kiddos what they looked like in full gear.  Here's Anderson giving the fireman "knuckles", which he thought was super cool.

Jingle Bells!

Anderson ~ 3 1/2

Finally! Big Enough Paper!

Anderson mastered writing all of the letters of his name a few weeks ago, but we hadn't been able to fit them all on one page of paper yet. Writing at 3.5 years old requires lots of space, especially when your name is so long!  But, in one of Mommy's birthday presents was an enormous sheet of paper!  So, Anderson was thrilled to write his full name all on one page, although it still barely fit!

Happy Birthday, Mommy!

I had such a sweet birthday this year with my boys.  Reese took them shopping on a special trip to Walmart where they got to pick out a card, flowers and balloon.  Anderson was so proud of the red roses that he picked and presented to me.  Everett was very adorable bringing me my balloon.  (I think an extra birthday bonus would've been to be a fly on the wall during this shopping trip.)  As it turns out, Reese also let them pick out cupcakes for me which turned into Reese convincing Anderson over and over that we didn't need a sheet cake that was big enough to feed 48 people.  They were able to all agree on a dozen Elmo cupcakes.  :)

This worked out well, though, since Anderson's present idea didn't quite go how he wanted.  He really wanted to get Mommy her very own Lightning McQueen t-shirt to wear.  They had to settle for Cookie Monster if it was something Mommy actually was going to fit into since she's not the size of a toddler boy.  

After a family dinner out for sushi (thank goodness it was a Wednesday night at 5:30- we weren't too disruptive), we came home for cupcakes.  I had to put on my new shirt before I could have one.  ;)  

I was also so excited to get this necklace that I had dropped a huge hint about last July to Reese.  It's a square calendar pendant that has a stone that looks like a diamond (April's birthstone) placed on the month of April which is the month that both boys were born.  I've been hoping that this was coming, so I am thrilled to have it!

Leila Capture the Month Pendant

Reese also has a surprise planned for me while we are in Vegas in a few weeks, so I'm anxiously awaiting to find out what's in store for me!  Thanks to my sweet guys for a love-filled birthday.  It was a very special day!

Going Once...Going Twice...Where My October/November Went

Right before Everett was born in 2010, I joined the Carrollton Early Childhood PTA with a few of our playgroup friends that live in Carrollton.  The CECPTA is affiliated with the National PTA and provides support, education and activities for parents of infants and toddlers.  There are lots of socials, parties and playgroups that we attend with our CECPTA friends as well as the monthly meetings where the children are treated to great programs while the adults get to socialize and participate in parent education.  At the beginning of this year, I joined the CECPTA Board as one of the Fundraising Co-Chairs.  That put me and my partner in charge of coordinating the organizations' only fundraising event, our 21st Annual Silent Auction.

So, where did all of my free time go the past few months?  To sending emails, making phone calls, designing print materials, organizing donations, planning auction details and just general begging for money.  :)  The auction was held on November 11th and was a success!  With close to 100 attendees, almost $8000 was raised.  Things went smoothly overall and it was a fun event.  Here are a few pictures, although the same excuse applies here too: I was so busy at the event itself I didn't even have time to take proper pictures!  Oh well!  I guess there's always next year  ;)

Raffle Table (4 Day Cruise & Hotel/Dinner Date Night)