Thanksgiving in Mason

Thanksgiving in Mason is a time we look forward to each year. Time to relax in the small town Texas Hill Country life with family. The kids had such a great time playing with their Granddaddy and Lela. It was also the first Thanksgiving with my mom being cancer free and what a difference that makes! Not only did she eat everything on her plate - at every meal - she even ran around outside with the kids and dogs...way to go mom. Your life is a true miracle and we are so grateful for you and dad!

Of course we left our camera in Dallas so all of these pictures are from Jeff's phone and we don't have too many. There was plenty of football and whiffle ball in the yard as well as painting rocks, cooking and exploring crystals and quartz with Lela.

The cows had wandered up to the gate by the house and the kids were quite excited. 

Granddaddy took them over to visit.

Mornings with Jessie cuddling in Granddaddy and Lela's bed.

Abbie in one of her favorite spots - cuddling with Granddaddy

Fishing down at the tank...reeling one in

"Look what I caught!"

Learning to cast the line.

A fish!

The Fishermen

On Saturday night they had the Lighting of the Square and Santa came to visit. Abbie did meltdown after about 30 seconds so we quickly removed her. We don't do a lot with the traditional Santa - more of the St. Nick tradition but Santa is Santa and who can take that away from a 4 yr old?

18 Months and 4 1/2

Copyrighted by MeganTakesPictures

How can it be that they are 18 months and 4 1/2? I wish at times that I could freeze moments so I won't forget them. Today I absolutely loved breaking all the "sleep rules" dancing with Abbie long after she feel asleep on my shoulder...I wanted to freeze the moment and savor it as I flashed forward to her as a grown woman someday all too soon. (sorry for my lack of grammatically correct sentence structure.)

Evan at 4 1/2 is so full of life and imagination and ideas. He loves football and has a memory and logic for it I don't fully understand. We do watch football but not in huge amounts and yet he can tell you who is playing, who they've beaten and why they will or won't win the game because of that. My dad joked at Thanksgiving that he and Evan were headed to Vegas. He loves to learn about the teams and who the players are and what their roles are in the game. He gets his football and plays on our couch right alongside the game complete with his own commentary and replays. This rough and tumble boy also loves books and has begun reading. He loves to learn about space, the planets, rocks, minerals, and most anything that has to do with the earth. At 4 1/2 he wants to be a football playing scientist. He has the most wonderful sense of humor and loves to make up jokes - only a few of which make sense - but he cracks up and so does Abbie. He is an amazing big brother always looking after his little sister. He plays with her puzzles with her and is such a wonderful encourager and praises her when she puts the shapes in the right places. She in turn wants to be wherever he is and loves to hug him and cheer for him as well. We are so amazed by the little person growing right before our eyes. His love for and understanding of Jesus is growing as we are watching him learn to love and serve others. He has a very young, sweet and gentle faith as he learns and has so many wonderful (and difficult) questions along the way.

Abbie at 18 months is full of life. She is smart and quick and funny. She can repeat just about any word you ask her to and has already begun stringing 2 words together and using them regularly. She loves to talk to everyone we meet waving and saying hi. She really likes to work her shape and animal puzzles and it's amazing to watch her mind work as she looks from the shape in her hand to the puzzle and then the look on her face when she knows where it goes. She loves to laugh and will even laugh just if you ask her too. She has begun saying "bless you" anytime someone sneezes - it's cute as it's more like "bess oo." She loves to give kisses and hugs and cuddles while reading books. She has definitely hit the 18 mo independent phase and has a mind and opinion of her own so there have been a few timeouts along the way as well. One thing I love to watch is that if I can't get her to come with me somewhere I can ask Evan to go take her hand and she will hold his hand and go wherever he leads her. Such undeniable faith. She is a light and a joy to watch grow.

We are truly blessed and thankful for all that we have and for these two gifts that we've been given that end up teaching us far more than we ever thought.

Evan is Reading!!!

More on this later but I didn't want to forget. I will also keep the piece of paper with our words to read on it...probably scan it. He is so excited and so proud of himself. I'm not sure he can go to sleep, he keeps asking me to write more words. We weren't practicing. Actually we don't practice really - not reading at least. Pre reading I guess we do naturally. Tonight however he read a word and then I starting writing down a bunch of easy 3 letter words and he sounded them out and read them. I was/am amazed. A few words were hard and we did them together. Then we pulled out a High Five and began reading the Spot story together. I love watching his eyes light up with every word he figured out. He is so full of life. He is growing so fast. I want to slow it down but I also love watching him grow. What a blessing he is. Love him!!!

How Abbie Goes to Sleep

Our little reader. After story time Abbie usually asks to take her book to bed where she "reads" by the light of her musical Aquarium.

Halloween

The Duck and the Race Car Driver

They switched hats for awhile - these two are so funny together.

Abbie was not so sure of the talking head at the first house.

...but ready for round 2

We met up with our friend Buzz Lightyear and trick or treated together for awhile

Fall Fun Fest 2010

Evan did a few rides however he knew that he would get candy for playing games so he basically just went up and down the Midway most of the night.

Halloween Parade and Trick or Treating at School

 Evan's teacher

Iowa State Football Game

Jeff and Evan had the opportunity to go to the Iowa State vs. UT football game in Austin this year. They were able to visit Amy's brother and his family as an extra bonus since they live in Austin. 

Packed up and ready to go!

Working on a masterpiece before they leave for the game.

Dressed and ready to go...Let's Go State!

Evan with Cy

Evan and Jeff Johnson

With the University President (you can't tell my two are related can you? Look at those smiles!)

Memorial Stadium

After the game with the team celebrating the victory with their fans

You can't quite see the scoreboard but the score was. ISU - 28 UT - 21

It was such a great game and great memories built.

Family Fun

State Fair 2010

One benefit of living in Dallas is that we have the opportunity to go to the Texas State Fair every year in our own backyard. We usually only go once and aren't able to come close to seeing everything - the thing is HUGE. The Fair is a fun experience every year.

"Howdy Folks!" - Big Tex

So when your friend is 8 months pregnant at the Fair and her husband is out of town...you ride the kiddie roller coaster and other rides with her other children until you feel sick...because you love her and her kids.

Evan, Jake and Eden ready to go!

Abbie was not sure what to think about the Merry Go Round

 It pays at the Fair to be a tall 4 yr old - lots more rides to ride.

 On the largest Faris Wheel in the Western Hemisphere. I did not take this picture because I have never ridden on it - nor do I want to. I am just fine with my feet on the ground.

Post Fair Crash

 (and at least I got him to eat an orange first...after all the Fair Food)