Random Afternoon

I keep thinking I need to catch up on my blog.... but then I realized that I have nothing to catch up on. ha.

San Antonio/ San Francisco

Tom went to San Francisco for a week for a Boards course review.

We did well here. 

In laws provided dinner a couple of nights (which was very helpful), I had 1 memorable very bad parenting moment, then we headed down to San Antonio on Thursday.

Drive was pretty uneventful... if you don't count Henry almost going potty in his pants and the state trooper who pulled me over for not having a front license plate. 

It was great to go stay with the Whitesides!

 Mary Pat and her sweet girls were the perfect hostesses!

Friday morning they hosted a playdate to celebrate the very special Burkharts being in town from Indianapolis!

It had been way to long since we had seen Jenny, Bekah, and Benjamin!

Margaret Gray and Bekah hit it off and Benjamin has gotten so old.

Can't wait to see them again next month!

That evening, MP and I took the kids to the San Antonio Rodeo.

Ryan's company is a sponsor, so we got front row parking and free entrance. Very helpful. 

I consider it a great success, considering we had 5 kids and only 1 stroller, and only 1 meltdown... poor MG wasn't pleased with the ride she had chosen. 

 Evie, supporting her Daddy's company.

This pose of hers is rockin'.

 Sniffed out the video game.

 Mr. Simon was in heaven with all the animals.

 Pretty ladies.

VERY excited to ride the ponies.

 Evie rode Twinkie

 Henry on Dr. Pepper

 Margaret Gray on Bullseye

Thank goodness for the Puffs.... kept these 2 happy. 

I found one in my boot when we got back to Arlington. 

 Evie and MG were happy with the swings....

... Henry was not.

MG was excited to go on the dog ride with me... 

.... until she saw Evie and Henry going down the big slide.  

I had given her the option... she chose the dogs...

Good times with our sweet family! 

We had so much fun visiting San Antonio and appreciate the Whitesides for having us!

Its was win/win for everyone-  kids had fun playing with each other, and there's nothing like staying up way too late talking to a sweet friend.

But let me tell you how excited we were to see this very special guy! 

 :)

Will miss him when he goes to San Deigo in March.... boooo....

Simon- 13 months / 1st Haircut

I never got around to doing a 1 year post for Simon, so here is a 13 month one.

Not planning on continuing monthly posts, but figured I go ahead and wrap up his 1st year of life.

So, Henry and Margaret Gray really love having their little brother around. 

No one makes Simon laugh harder than Henry. Simon knows Margaret will share food with him...but sometimes they are a little too much for him :)

He continues to adore Elly. 

Simon's gotten to be a really good/ predictable sleeper.. 

Bedtime ~7. Wakes up ~7.

2 naps. ~9:30 and ~2ish. Anywhere between 1.5-2 hours.

I'm sure when molars start coming in, his sleep will be all over the place.

Books continue to interest him.

Has got a few animal sounds under his belt- cow, lion/ tiger/ dinosaur (all one sound), duck, fish, monkey

Blowing raspberries... one of his favorite pastimes. 

Henry encourages this.

Still doesn't love shopping carts/ strollers/ having his diaper changed/ car seat.

Thought putting him in MG's old car seat would help... and maybe it has some, but still doesn't like being strapped down.

Ran from me for the 1st time the other day-

We were over at a friend's and I saw that he put something in his mouth.

When I walked towards him to find out what it was- he turned and moved faster than I've ever seen him move.

It was an OREO. ha! Don't blame him.

Feel like he's more verbal at this age than the others were... probably since there is never a quiet moment in this house ;)

Knows some body parts. Used to know head, but when we started doing belly, head is always belly now. Sometimes knows toes. Working on eyes, nose, mouth, and ears.

Too bad what he wants to do more than anything is walk around with a marker and try to take off/ put back on the top. 

He's pretty good at keeping himself entertained... as long as he's not hungry/ sleepy- then he's at my feet.

Makes him happy to just sit at the little kids' table.

This year FLEW by. 

This little guy was my hardest 1st trimester and was also my most challenging infant with nursing and sleeping. 

I feel like we bonded through these hard times and he also strengthened my reliance on God for guidance in parenting. I'm thankful for that.

He is SUCH a JOY to have around! 

I mean, really?? How sweet is this guy??

Loves to dance

Henry gets him rolling

12 month check up

Wish I could find the sticker where they wrote down his stats...

 Wanted to get a picture of Simon in his 1st snow.

Poor guy fell and his hands were instantly frozen.

Love.

Loves the slide... even though he's had several accidents.

 "DaDa" is on every phone he can find

Rocks on MG's sheep way more than she ever did.

If Henry or MG are on it, Simon uses a little force to get them off. 

Back off Brother.... it's my Fancy Nancy book.

Trying to put on "got". Shoes are also "got".

Just this morning he brought me my black flats and pulled at my feet.

He's a smart one ;)

Mention the bath and he darts right to the bathroom

Also if you say byebye, he goes and waits at the backdoor.

Whenever he hears the backdoor shut, he looks for "DaDa".

This little guy ADORES his dad. 

Flashback to a week before Christmas:

We met PawPaw up at Hudson's for Simon's 1st haircut.

Dean (who gave Henry his 1st haircut) was not there.

So this kind lady stepped in... she did a good job- exactly what I wanted- not too much off.

Dean would have buzzed him. ha.

Simon was sort of in a daze through it all.

 Had to make sure to get the Nascar and Dallas Cowboy cheerleader documented.

Dean showed up in time to take a picture with our Simon Man.

Such a big boy!

Thanks for the memories, PawPaw!