Ok, so I know we think about this normally being said abotu Christmas, and I actually think Christmas is the best holiday.... but this year, this Thanksgiving week is panning out to be very memorable. The older I get the more I appreciate family and friends. I am just so lucky and this time of year can really remind you how much you do have.

We got down to Conroe on Friday and went to dinner at the Caddy Shack and the weekend was off to a great start. Saturday, I saw Tommy at the hpsotial. I held him, tickled his feet and sang to him. He was so alert looking at me and it just melted my heart and I didn't want to put him back in his incubator... I just wanted him to go home with us. So, that has been one disappointment of the week, we did think he would make it home but he has to be at a certain time window to finish his bottles and he is just not quite there. He is almost 5 lbs though and I have a great picture with him, but can't seem to get my pictures uploaded to my parents computer.

Saturday also was a special time with my girlfriends. Blythe, our first mom of the group already has 3 boys and is pregnant with a GIRL! So, we threw her an "all things girl" shower. I am so excited for her to be a mom of a girl. Again, I have great photos, but can't download right now.

While my mom and I were having a girls day, Poppy and Joe took my girls to the Texas Renaissance Festival. They had so much fun. They took my Nana's camera, so here are some pictures.

New & Old Memories

This past weekend was great! We celebrated Carlee Jo's First Birthday. It was a pink poodle theme and it was decorated so cute... of course... everything Jenni touches is creative. It was fun to spend the day out in Granbury. Here are the cousins walking through the Pecan Trees. I am so glad they all have so much fun together!

Joe and I celebrated 7 years yesterday! Sunday night we went out to eat and had a wonderful time remembering all of the fun memories we have made these past years. We have been fortunate to be able to take great trips and of course the highlight are the days Elle and Emme were born. Here are some pictures of our first year of marriage. Alot has changed, but it is great to say that we have had so much fun!

Here is our Christmas Card in 2002, we had been married just one year and we already had our hands full!

Here is our official 1 year anniversary. We opened the topper to our wedding cake and enjoyed a bite!

One our favorite memories to talk about is meeting our Home Team. 2 months after we were married we visited the Mathis Home Team and instantly formed connections with the couples in the group. 6 years later we are still meet every other week and fun events like our annual Christmas Party.... here is our first Christmas Party!

I thank the Lord everyday for Joe. It just goes to show you that God has everything planned and if you trust in Him, His plan WILL be reveled and it will be more than you ever asked for!


Update on my sweet Tommy! 4 lbs 3 oz. Today he will have a swallow study to determine the cause of him not being able to completely finish bottles. When he takes 8 bottles, he can come home. Right now, he is at 4. Please be in prayer, we would love to have him home for Thanksgiving!

Too Much Fun, Not Enough Time

Wow... this is why weekends were created! What a fun one! Probably one of the best this year.
Friday night was so fun. We had a pre party at our house and then went trick or treating. Our neighborhood ROCKS. All of the homes were decorated and kids were everywhere. We had a post block party too and that was a great time. The kitty kats were sure cute!

We went to a Nascar race on Saturday. We stayed all day and watched the race from a condo on the property. It was so nice. Joe and I came home and got our pj's on and watched a movie and fell asleep on the couch. No kids and a good night sleep can make the make the best date night!

Halloween Hoopla!

On blogs everywhere and on facebook too, I imagine there will be a quite a few pictures of everyone's kids dressed up in costumes. So, since my girls have 2 costumes, I decided to post early this morning because I am still in a great mood from dropping them off.

Their school went ALL out! All of the kids were dressed up and so were the teachers and you would have thought it was Christmas morning when I woke up the girls to put on their princess dresses. I did their hair and makeup! They have a school party at lunch and Joe and I are going.

Elle is Sleeping Beauty and Emme is Cinderella

I Love Halloween

I love Halloween, always have. I can remember alot of my costumes growing up - especially a bride costume my mom made one year, it was so pretty. The girls are loving this time of year too. They are so excited that Halloween is Friday and we have big plans within the neighborhood.

I have an awesome husband. Each year, we go to our Home Team Halloween party and I had the idea for Joe to go as Richard Simmons and he did. He was acting like him all night and really was making everyone laugh. He got the best dressed award for males... I was Olivia Newton John and it was fun to dress like her too. Here is our group photo... notice Rachelle in my cheerleading outfit from SHS....I didn't even attempt to try it on, probably wouldn't go over my thigh!

Elle and Emme playing with the wigs.

The Green Giants had a great game this past weekend They are really getting the hang of it and I was so proud of all of them!

With my new flexible schedule at work, I am able to take the kids each morning to school. It turned really cold yesterday and here are the girls playing before we were going to school. Don't they look like they are about to go rob a bank? Each morning we listen to Praise Songs and it just makes me so happy because they are both learning the words. Music is so important to me and I just love sharing that with them.

Our sweet Tommy may go home in 1 week! I just can't even believe the miracle he is. Thank you to all that have kept him in your prayers. I can't wait to meet his angel one day. Here is a picture of Mimi T and Tommy.

Up, Up and Away!

Well, not really. But, we sure did have fun! This past weekend was the Coppell Oaktober Fest. It was all free, but very crowded. We (us and the Smouse's) took turns waiting in line for the Hot Air Balloon Ride. 2 hours in line and it was our turn! It was fun, only lasted a few minutes and we didn't go super high, but it was high enough for me!

Also, here is the latest Tommy update:

From Brian: He’s looking better every day. Last night he weighed 3 lbs, 8.5 oz. Another ounce and a half, he will be double his birth weight. He still has the feeding tube but they have started the process of making him take bottle feedings. He’s learning fast. The nasal canula (the lightweight clear hose in his nostrils) gives him oxygen while he’s feeding, but he hasn’t needed the oxygen assistance otherwise.

Tommy Goes to Two!

Level 2, NICU, that is! Because his conditions have improved, he has been transferred to the Level 2 nursery, this is for babies who are more stable. He is 3 pounds 3 ounces. Because he is anemic, he is having to have three two-hour sessions of blood transfusions today. So, if you are reading this, please be in prayer for that to go smoothly!

This past weekend, we had Ann's baby shower and it was so fun. She got some great items. It is funny... I only had a child 2 years ago and she got some new stuff that I hadn't seen and of course, thought they were so cool!

I love these pictures!!!

We also went to another pumpkin patch by our house on Sunday and the girls had so much fun picking out pumpkins to take back to their school for their Halloween Party.