Thanksgiving in the Boonies!

We always try and see both sides of the family during the week of Thanksgiving. This year we headed down to southeast Oklahoma to hang out with my side of the family, then we went to Gainesville to see the Lawsons. I forgot my camera so I depended on everyone else to take pictures for me on this trip. I haven't gotten pictures from our time at the Lawsons yet, so I'll try and fit those in another post. Here are a few pictures from our time at my Meemaw's house...One of the big events of Thanksgiving week was Cohen getting to have his first hunting experience. He's finally old enough to walk quietly through the woods and be still while waiting for a deer, so we finally let him go. My Brother, Chaney, killed a deer the day before Thanksgiving. I think Cohen liked to pretened it was his deer... we let him pretend!

Grammy and Campbell enjoying the sunshine!

My Pepaw passed away last August. He was an important part of the community, so back in the Spring they named the baseball park in his namesake. We went to check it out. Here are the kids running the bases on EE Shelton Field.

Our whole family under the EE Shelton Field sign.

Campbell was excited to eat her first Thanksgiving meal!

A family photo where everyone is looking at the camera! This never happens!

Channing Turns 2!

We celebrated Channing's Big Day with family and a few close friends. Here she is trying out several of her presents at once... the keyboard, the hat, the purse, and the mittens!



After the party, family stayed around and we played Just Dance 2 on the Wii up in the playroom... my hubby has some serious dance moves!

Trying to get a family pic with 3 kids ages 4 and under is a little tough! Here is our best attempt. Please ignore the laundry room door being open in the background.

Channing is still at the age where she needs a little help opening presents. So I plopped myself down on the floor to be her "assistant."

Playing with Daddy.

In case you haven't seen Campbell in a while... her face is permanently like this! I've never seen a baby who grins as much as she does!

This child loves carbs! I had to stop her after two BIG pieces of strawberry cake.

A banner made of pics from her last 2 years of life... Thanks Pinterest!

Can you believe this is a homemade cake?!?! My mom and I experimented the night before and came out with this...

Channing,

You are our Chan-Chan, and there is not another like you on the face of this earth! We love so many things about you…Your contagious laugh, the way you instantly make friends with a stranger just by flashing that gorgeous smile and giving a wave with your “hiiieeee," the way you sing and dance to sound of every song you hear, your independence, and your passion…who can forget your passion!?! Even as a 2-year old, you are one of the most passionate people we know! And although you’re a handful sometimes, we wouldn’t change a thing about you. You’re a leader and you know exactly what you want and how you want it.

Our prayer for you is that God uses that to mold you into an amazing woman who will take these incredible talents you’ve been given by God, to have a huge impact on this world and do BIG things for His kingdom!

We love you Chan-Chan! Thank you for 2 wonderful and entertaining years! Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mama and Daddy

Another season come and gone....

Another T-ball season has come and gone! When the season first started I told Cohen that his new team was the Dodgers! He looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and said, "But we don't live in L.A." The funniest part was that he was dead serious! Bless his heart, I haven't told him yet that this wasn't Major League Baseball.

I managed to get a few pics of his last game.

Here he is high-fiving his coach. He actually threw a kid out at first! If you have ever watched 4-year-old baseball... that NEVER happens! But his team managed to actually get a few of these outs this season!

He's so cute I can hardly stand it! Check out how baggy his baseball pants are.... He takes after his father, not his mother ;-) No "junk in the trunk" for this boy!

Go Dodgers!

More please....

Cohen got the Wii Super Mario Brothers game for his birthday back in September… since then it has turned into his favorite game! So it was only natural that our kids be Super Mario characters for Halloween. My sister, who always loves a good craft project and a good bargain, took on the task of making their costumes for less than $10 a piece. I'm not sure I thought it could be done... but she succeeded. As you can see in the pictures, Cohen was Mario, Channing was Princess Peach and Campbell was Toad.

About halfway through the night we noticed that Channing was lagging behind a little and her bag was a little heavy... she wouldn't let anyone else hold it so we decided we would empty it out and start over. It was when we began emptying it that we realized her entire bag was full! She had 3 times the amount of candy that the other kids had! How could that happen?!?! Then it occurred to us... Channing is getting better at her verbal skills but currently her favorite words are MORE PLEASE! As we watched her the rest of the night, each time we walked up to a house she would say, "Trick or treat... more please" She was so darn cute in her princess outfit that they continued to give her more. Then she would say "thank you, your welcome!" She has yet to figure out you don't say those two words at the same time. It is amazing how much candy that kid hauled in!
On another note... we definitely should have put a bow on Campbell's mushroom hat. She looked like a boy and after about 5 minutes of trick or treating I gave up on explaining to people when they called her a "he" or "him". I just smiled and we moved on.... my fault for putting my child in red and blue! Oops!

Overall it was such a fun night. Cohen is at the prime age to really enjoy trick or treating. He kept saying, "This is the best halloween ever!" Although I'm quite sure it is the only one he remembers!

Friday Night Lights...In a Suit!

Recently, Cohen was asked to be the crown bearer for Pearce's homecoming football game. A couple of months ago he received a hand-me-down tux from a friend. As soon as he was asked, he told me, "I get to wear the bow tie suit". He was all excited about the idea so he ran up to his room and tried it on... the minute he came down the stairs I knew that unless tux capri pants are a new trend then his bow tie suit dreams would be crushed. I promised him that I would buy him a really fancy suit, and that I did. Thanks Ross ($11.99). I mean, seriously, doesn't my son look like a million bucks?

Above is a pic of the little girl Cohen walked with.. They had only met once before, but they decided to hold hands through the whole thing!

About 30 seconds after this pic was taken, everyone ran off the field in excitement. There stood Cohen and Ellie, all by themselves at the 50 yard line... still holding hands. I always wondered what it would be like to be in front of that many people on the field (this is TEXAS FOOTBALL!) Now I know... I did my best non-chalant sprint out on to the field in heels to retrieve my little boy and his date. I am certain that had I not saved the day they would still be standing there as the second half kicked off!
Cohen and the Pearce Mustang! I'm hoping when he grows up he aspires to be a mascot as opposed to a football player. Sorry Chad! I get all panicky at the idea of him on the football field... unless it's the kicker, of course! Surely he can't get hurt as the kicker! I've brainwashed him into thinking the kicker is the most important player on the field!
Doesn't he look so grown up in this pic?!?! It kinda makes me get teary!

My Big Boy is 4!

Cohen turns four this week, and we celebrated on Saturday with his friends and family. It was really fun planning his party this year. He helped plan and make almost everything!

Here is the backyard before the guests arrived.
He was our special "sprinkler" when making the cake balls.

We made this white chocolate covered popcorn with sprinkles for the party favors.

These special drinks were one of his creations...

He colored the labels and put his name on each of the bottles with stickers. Then attached the individual packets of kool-aid so each kid could pick their own flavor.

Cohen and his friend Douglas enjoying the snacks!

Silly boys!

My pretty girl with cake all over her face!

Once again, Cousin Jake made it up for the party!

Our very special guests, Cohen's great-grandmother, Mom Barr. And, we can't forget Nana!

Anxiously waiting to eat his cake pop!

Blowing out candles.

FINALLY!!

Our slip-n-slide relays! Each kid had to go down the slip-n-slide, shoot a basket and come back. Then the next round they had to go down again, eat a marshmallow, then make it back.

Then we played with the parachute and water balloons.

Having some brother/sister time in the bounce house.

Baby pool at the end of the slide... genius!

Afterward, they all came upstairs for an exciting game of BINGO.

My sweet Cohen, you are so special to us. Our family would not be the same without you. Your nurturing, empathetic, and joyful spirit make you a great big brother and a wonderful son. We love you!