The latest...

Mama ready to go cheer on the Baylor Bears in the Texas Bowl.

The four wheeler is a hit, definitely Isaac's favorite toy these days. He wants to go out and ride it as soon as he gets up and tells everyone about it. I know I'm biased, but he is so cute when he's out driving it around. He gets very serious, focused, and mature. I never would have guessed that a two year old could drive a power wheels vehicle with so much control and precision. He looks like a minature adult driving...it really makes me giggle. Obviously Luke can't drive it yet, but he loves that four wheeler, too. When Isaac is driving it Luke has to watch him, if you turn him away he pushes and turns until he can see him again, never taking his eyes off of big brother. I know that as soon as he can reach that pedal he will be driving around the yard, too...and probably sooner Isaac will let him ride on it with him.

Luke has had some big milestones the last few days...his second tooth came through on December 26; he started saying "DaDa" on December 29, and he army crawls/launches himself around the room.

On Wednesday, Carl and I went to the Texas Bowl to watch Baylor. Carl got me these tickets for Christmas. It was Baylor's first time in a bowl game in 16 years, so I was excited to be able to watch them play. Unfortunately, the game did not go well for my Bears, but it was still a fun night for us! It is always refreshing to go out with my man and have some time to be us.

Old Friends together again

Lindsay, me, and Susan...friends that are like sisters to me.

The whole group!

The girls on New Year's Eve

The guys and their cigars.

Our champagne glasses with our wedding rings in them.

Luke celebrating the New Year with Susan.

A quick shot of me, my peanut and my man.

The past two days we got to spend some quality time with some of my best friends from high school. It was a great way to end 2010 and start 2011. Susan and Sergi live in Barcelona, so obviously we don't get to see them often. Carl and I visited them in Spain last fall while in Europe, but they haven't been here in a year and a half. On Thursday evening Susan's parents had us all over for dinner at their house. The group consisted of 4 couples; Susan, Jeremy, Lindsay, Eric, and I all ran track together in high school, so we spent many hours together many years ago. Now we get together when we can, but the whole group only gets together every couple of years when Susan comes in town. Thursday was a great night...the Duelm's made us a delicious dinnner and served it so nicely...it was a night of playing catch up on life. While together everyone's plans for New Year's came up in discussion, we were still up in the air with what to do because we really wanted to stay home with the boys. So before I knew it, plans were made, and our group would be together again the next night.

Unfortunately, Lindsay and Eric were not able to come over last night because they already had some plans with family...they were missed. Carl and I put the boys in bed before everyone showed up, so once they got here we were kid free and ready for some fun. Sergi and Susan cooked dinner for all of us; it was a delicious chicken and potato meal that took 2 hours to cook. In typical Spanish fashion we ate dinner at 10 pm, which turned out great because we had lots of time to talk before eating, then we enjoyed our yummy meal and had some great conversation. During dinner the fireworks really picked up outside, so afterwards we sat out by the fire and enjoyed the show. At midnight we learned some more Spanish traditions...at midnight you have to eat 12 grapes, one per second and then of course toast with a glass of champagne. Another tradition in the champagne though, we had to put our wedding ring in the glass and drink the champagne to get it out. Right at midnight our little Luke woke up, I think he wanted to be a part of the festivities. So he got to visit with everyone for a while before I fed him and put him back in bed. He had a great time babbling or talking to everyone and giving lots of sweet smiles. Isaac has developed a fear of fireworks, but thankfully he slept through all of it! After getting Luke back in bed we had dessert and then more great conversation until 3:30 am! I haven't been up that late, unless feeding a baby, in years. I'm so boring, I know. =) It was a special night, one I will not soon forget. I am so thankful the Lord has blessed my life with these sweet friends...miles and time make no difference, we can pick up like we saw each other yesterday.

Here's to another year past and a great 2011 ahead! I wish you all a blessed new year full of love, laughter, and joy!

Christmas

Christmas morning, before gifts.

Playing at their new table.

Checking out the tree together.

His new love. =)

My precious little reindeer.

Jesus' birthday cake.

Luke with his best buddy, Opa.

Carson introducing Luke to Star Wars...this moment was priceless.

Tante Soo Jin with her boys.

Isaac and Opa playing with his new truck.

Reading the Bible and looking at pictures with Emmy.

Cousins

We had the most special Christmas this year! It was Luke's first Christmas, and he was much more into the presents and being involved than I expected. Isaac was very into opening presents and talking about the meaning of Christmas. He loved every bit of the day...especially going to both grandparents' houses and playing with all of his cousins, aunts, and uncles.

We had Christmas morning here at our house, just the four of us enjoying the time together. Luke woke up first, at about 7:30 and Isaac was up at about 8. We had breakfast first, yummy rolls given to us by one of our sweet neighbors. And after breakfast it was time for gifts...starting with the stockings. Isaac got some new sunglasses and an army man to use as a driver in his trucks. Luke got a new rattle and a stuffed puppy dog. Then we moved on to the other gifts...books, shoes, an alphabet toy, and a few other things. Luke's favorite was a spinny toy that has four vehicles on it, you spin it one way, then let it go and it spins back and forth...it's hard to explain, but it's cool! Then both boys were surprised to find a new table and chairs, just their size, in the living room. Isaac immediately chose a chair for himself, and pointed to the other saying Luke could sit in it. We put both boys at the table in their chairs, of course with Luke closely supervised. Then after a quick picture Carl moved Luke to his exersaucer...he did not like that and he let us know...he wanted back at the table. So we buckled the booster seat to his chair and put him in it...he loved it! I think it made him feel so big. He wants to do everything Isaac does, so of course that includes sitting at the table with him. Shortly after it was time for Luke's nap, so it was just the three of us. Isaac had one more gift, it was outside, so we bundled him up and headed out back. There he found his very own four wheeler! Oh, he was excited! Immediately he said, "Mama, put Isaac's four wheeler in the grass." He climbed on, after a brief instruction from Daddy, he was off. It's been so cold out everyday, but all he wants to do is go out and drive that four wheeler! He drives it, parks it, then gets off and just walks around it looking at it in awe. On Christmas Day he said many times, Santa left Isaac a four wheeler! After some time outside we had to go in, it was too cold. So we had some lunch, then birthday cake for Jesus! Isaac thought that was great, we sang to him of course and had a Lightening McQueen candle to blow out. We also read the story in the Bible and made a Nativity scene together.

After naps for both we headed over to Oma and Opa's house for Christmas with the family. It was a fun time, of course! It was so sweet to see how excited Carson and Colton were to give Isaac and Luke the gifts they had for them. They both got great gifts from everyone and really enjoyed playing with everybody. Isaac was distracted during present time over there, he just wanted to drive his auto...silly boy. Luke sat with his buddy Opa and watched all the fun, while destroying a Baby MumMum in it's wrapper (snack food). We had a nice dinner, prepared by Oma and Soo Jin, and then some more play time before heading home. It was a wonderful time.

Sunday, was the Christmas party with the Griffin family, and what a fun time it was, too! All of their cousins were there, as well as Aunt Leah, Uncle Aaron, Emmy, Gumby, and our Aunt Donna made a special appearance. It was special to share the evening with her, as she had never met Luke, and hadn't seen Isaac in a long time. We started the party with a delicious meal all made by Emmy...we are so spoiled. After dinner, Gumby read the story of Jesus' birth from the Bible and Emmy showed pictures to the kids. We talked about Jesus and the significance of the day. Then present time...the kids were very excited about that, and Amber was our little elf passing out gifts to everyone. It was a fantastic evening with family fun!

I am so thankful for my sweet family, and the wonderful memories that were made over the last few days are some I will treasure forever. God has blessed me with more than I could have imagined...my boys (big and small) bring me so much joy and love!

Christmas Eve

(Isaac is saying, "HO HO HO!")

Christmas Eve is always one of my favorite days. Every year since I can remember my family went to church together on Christmas Eve. It was always something I really enjoyed, so Carl and I have continued that tradition since we have been married, and now with our own children. Last year Isaac went to his class during the service, but this year we kept both him and Luke with us in the service. Of course, I was quite distracted during most of the service, but I still loved being there and sharing this tradition and time with my boys. This year Emmy and Gumby joined us, which made the time even more special! It was a wonderful time of worship and celebration of Jesus' birth.

The boys are both tucked into their beds, sleeping sweetly so Santa can come to visit our house, and fill their stockings as well the tree with fun new gifts. I can't wait to see what he brings...I guess I better get to sleep now, too, so he can get his work done! ;-)

Santa!

Isaac is VERY in to Santa Claus this year and everything that has to do with him! He got a letter from him, which he loved! He points him out every time he sees him...blow up Santas in the yards, Santa in books, and even Santa on TV. One day last week Santa was on Live with Regis and Kelly, I had the TV on and happened to see him, so I told Isaac to look. He ran to the TV, and watched him closely, saying, "Isaac hear Santa say Ho Ho Ho!" Then he sat on the couch and said he was going to watch Santa from there. It has been very sweet to watch his excitement grow this season.

Brothers

1st bath together!

Showing Luke the water in the boat.

Playing together witht he big truck. Luke is smiling so big!

Big brother reading to his little brother.

Both pushing the Jeep around, without fighting! I wish this could last forever!

The boys have started to interact and play together more and more...it's so exciting to watch. Luke lights up when he sees Isaac, and I think he misses him when he's not around. If Isaac is playing with a toy, Luke does everything he can (roll, scoot, etc) to get to him and play with him. Of course, that doesn't always go over so well with Isaac, but usually he's pretty good about showing him the toy. Isaac will even bring a toy to Luke to show him how it works or what it does. His latest thing is to read books to Luke. They both really enjoy reading, and watching Isaac "read" a book to his baby brother is the sweetest thing. In the picture above he is reading him his newest tractor book, he was sure to point out the hay in the trailer, talk about the animals, and of course the tires on the tractor. Thankfully, I captured it on video, it was a special moment. Yesterday was a big milestone for them...they took their first bath together. Isaac was thrilled about this! He immediately brought his boat over to Luke to show him the water in it, he even grabbed Luke's hand and said, "Feel the water, Luke." Aaawww! It was also Luke's first time to sit in the bath seat, so it was a quick bath for him because he had a little trouble staying upright. It was a fun time, though!

These first few interactions have been a sweet glimpse of the fun times they will share in the future. I know they won't all be sweet times, but I pray they will grow to be best friends!

This is a random story, but I have to share it and document it so I don't forget it. Yesterday morning during breakfast both boys were getting a bit fussy and needy at the same time, as I was cleaning up. I said, "Boys you need to be patient." Isaac quickly replied back to me, "Mama, Luke left his patience at Kristin's house." Ha ha!!! How does he come up with that stuff!?!

Isaac and his coach, Ashley

This is his newest skill, a backward roll...he can do it by himself, but had some trouble when I was videoing.

Isaac has been in gymnastics for about 7 months, and he LOVES it! He knows that Wednesday is gymnastics day, and when I tell him in the morning that it's Wednesday he immediately yells, "Gymnastics!!!" (It doesn't quite sound like gymnastics, that's a hard word, but I know what he's saying.) He has been in a mommy and me class, and I think that I enjoy it just as much as him. He has had the same coach since we started, and they've really bonded. Ashley is a GREAT coach, very encouraging, fun spirited, and of course knowledgable! Starting in January he is moving up to the next class. He will be doing it all by himself as I sit back and watch from the parent area. This is bittersweet for me...I love helping him do gymnastics and spending that one on one time with him, but I am also excited for him to take on this new challenge. So from now on Luke and I will sit back and watch...until it's his turn to start tumbling.