Fall Family Photos- minus Tom

A while back, we joined the Warminski and McAdams families at the Arboretum. It was a chance for them to take Christmas card pics and for us to, well... hang out with them and maybe get a few decent pictures... (Johnathan takes a mighty fine pic) Tom had to work, and I had already decided we are not sending out Christmas cards (shooting for New Years).

Henry's got pants that match the color of Margaret's dress... they were too big on him, though. So I let him go with the jeans and boots- it's how he rolls these days, anyway.

Come on, MG.

His arms were quite tight around my neck... surprised my face wasn't blue.

Tried to be artsy... just slightly awkward.

And a couple of pics, I took of the kids:

Margaret Gray's "cheese face"
Classic group shot

Luke, Audrey, Brinley, MG, and H

Thanksgiving/ Shreveport

We spent this year's Thanksgiving in East Texas at my cousin's house.

Always a good thing when there is lots of room inside and out for the kids to run freely.

My cousin Harrison (the tall one- I baby sat him starting when he was 6 months old!) was very entertaining playing football with the little ones.
Harrison's sister, Clara, got engaged that morning and they announced it to the whole family.

We are all very happy for her and Riley! Can't wait for their wedding!

(Her dad, Witt, is my dad's 1st cousin)

Somehow, my mom, sister, and I all showed up wearing the same color shirts. Sarah was my only sibling to be in town this Thanksgiving :( , but it was special, as always, being there with her :) She is preggo with her 2nd- due in June.

I'm super jealous that all of the sibs with be together for Christmas.

(by the way, I've tried playing with the settings on my camera, and I'm pretty certain that I'm not quite sure what I am doing and why I am doing it- some pictures are so bright!)

My great Aunt Katharine and her daughters and granddaughters

"Margaret, give your cousin, Liam, a hug."

She kept asking to ride the dog.

This didn't turn out well.

Fun with Mimi

It was a great Thanksgiving Day. LOTS of good food (I was afraid that I wouldn't have room to enjoy all the delicious-ness, but I proved myself wrong) and sweet family time.

Onto Shreveport...

So I had this idea that ever time we go back to Shreveport as a family, I want to take a family photo in the spot where Tom proposed. Doesn't have to be the perfect pic- just documented. Totally wished we had started this a long time ago, but oh well.

Tom proposed to me in some gardens on our college campus.

Henry looking as nervous as his daddy did almost 9 years ago!

MG checking out the beautiful campus.

And here we are! :)

(ha)

My favorite

Tom snapped these pics. I love them.

Only cousin photo.

While in Shreveport, Sarah and I took my mom jean shopping, Henry watched football with Papa, we went on walks to the pond...

... and Tom and I went on 2 dates. My birthday evening, then to a friend's wedding. Good times, just us two.

Well, I made it back home without going into labor on I-20, which was my goal. It was a super bonus that I had a great time with my parents and sister, too. Next time I go back, I'll be a mom of 3.

36 and 31

I'm 36 weeks pregnant.

Feeling pretty good.... albeit a little tired.

Got a sonogram on Monday. Baby looks great. Head down. We were pointing out the different body parts to Henry and trying to explain the organs that are inside Baby... He said "Jesus is in there, too, Mom!" He thinks Baby is a boy.

Margaret gets real excited about hearing the heartbeat and shouts "BoomBoom! BoomBoom!"

I've started to progress.

We've put Dec. 21st on the calendar as a possible induction date... I'm not 100% sold that I want to be induced, so we'll see. Doc said I could cancel the morning of, if I wanted.

Nursery is not complete nor do I plan to complete it before the baby arrives.

Henry has moved into Margaret's room and I'm about 75% finished with that "transformation"... Henry's rocking it under some beautiful floral window valences :) and I've try to boy up the rest of the room.

They are doing very well sharing a room.... naps and all.

Even though I'm starting to feel claustrophobic in our house, I keep reminding myself "a year and a half"... that's how long we'll be here until we move to Birmingham for Tom's 1 year fellowship.

And I turned 31.

Tom made it a special day for me. He cooked dinner and had our family over to enjoy it with us.

Whew. Looking tired. 31 is hard. :)

While in Shreveport for Thanksgiving, Tom surprised me with a delicious dinner at one of our favorite spots and got a hotel room so that I could catch up on some sleep- too bad I woke up at 3 and couldn't fall back asleep for hours. Booo. Also enjoyed a pleasant breakfast at our favorite greasy spoon restaurant before returning to the kids.(Thanks Mimi and Papa for keeping them!) Like the theme of my birthday ??- Eating and Sleeping :) Tom knows what this mama needed!

So that's me in a nutshell.

Heartbroken

A little photo documentation from the Rangers Playoffs.

Game 1 of the ALDS against Tampa Bay... or as Henry called them "Tam Obey".

PawPaw and Henry tried to get excited by waving their rally towels, but unfortunately it was a horrible game.

The only game we brought our kids.

Our crew for most of the other games consisted of PawPaw, PatPat, Kate, and Brent.

Tom had to work the next game, so we didn't attend.

The Rangers pulled it together to win the series and continued onto the ALCS against Detroit.

Game 1

2 rain delays made for a very long game.

PatPat and PawPaw were not able to come, so Mikey and Kristen got to join us. It was so fun to be there with them.

Game 2 (a day game)

Tom had to go to work that night, so we had to the leave after the 9th (I went to relieve the babysitters)... which would have been ok if it had been a normal game... but the game lasted 2 more innings. Incredible game with Nelson Cruz's walk off grand slam.

Watching from home

Didn't bring my camera to Game 6, which seemed like batting practice for the Rangers... so it wasn't the most exciting game, but it was fun to be there when they won the American League Championship.

Onto the World Series versus St.Louis

Game 3- Tom had to work, so I brought my mom :)

with the ALCS trophies from the last 2 years. looking good :)

Tough game for the Rangers.

But Louis memories were made... let's just say that PawPaw had some technical difficulties with a sign he made and fans below us may or may not have been hit in the head with wooden sticks.

Game 4- sat this one out and Tom took his friend, Barker

Game 5

Great game!

Tom and his dad had Bible study that night so they showed up late.

Rode bikes to the Ballpark. We were thankful they got there safely :)

Riding off... just as happy as a lark.

Too bad the next 2 games would break my sweet husband's heart.

I think he's doing better now.

April 6, 2012 - Opening Day versus Chicago White Socks.

Should be interesting bringing 3 kids.