Small Camo Party

We decided just to have a small family party for Lawson's 3rd birthday.  It was low key, low stress and just right!  Jarrett made chili and we had frito pies, hot dogs and homemade dip.  Jarrett's mom and nanny brought the cutest little bundtinis from Houston.  Basically, we ate, sang, opened presents and just let the kids play while the adults talked. 

The most fun thing about the party this year was that Lawson was really excited.  I took just him to Hobby Lobby to pick things out for his party, and he really got into it.  He kept asking when his camo party was and any time we saw camo, he would say he needed it for his camo party. 

THREE!

My baby is three, how is it possible?  Over the past few weeks, Lawson has completely changed.  Its like one morning he woke up a little boy.

He is finally for the most part potty trained.  Still a few accidents here and there.

He loves to sing songs.  He surprises us all the time with new songs he has learned at school.  Some of his favorites are:

• The B-I-B-L-E
• Jesus Loves Me
• Twinkle, Twinkle little star
• Five Little Monkeys

And my two all time favorites, his ABC's which he insists on singing every time he sees letters.  For example, we drove by Hobby Lobby and he saw the sign on the front of the building and said "Oh, I need to sing my ABCs".  My 2nd favorite is the Itsy Bitsy Spider.  He sings it in all kinds of different voices from a high pitch voice to a low loud voice.  I'm assuming this is what they do at school.  It is too cute.

He loves to play outside.  He plays on Jarrett's boat, digs in he dirt, rides his gator, pretends he's hunting or fishing.  Anything outside, he loves.

The biggest challenges with him are of course the potty training and also night time.  He won't fall asleep without one of us laying with him.  He also usually gets up in the middle of the night and crawls in our bed.  He loves to say "hold me mommy" or "hold me daddy".  It can be exhausting, but we try to just take in the sweet cuddle time.

Some other things I want to remember are that he knows his shapes and colors (since around 2 1/2) and can count pretty well.  He is extremely funny and extremely stubborn.  He can also be extremely sweet and loving.  His pisses (that's how he pronounces kisses ha!) and hugs are the best.  He is a great big brother!  He loves his sissy.

I still can't believe he is three!

Valentine's Day 2013

Kisses.....then and now....

Picture with Santa

We waited until Christmas Eve to take the kids to see Santa.  It wasn't on purpose, it really just snuck up on us.  I was dreading it because I thought it would be crowded and our children just are not the easiest to handle in pubic these days.  When we got there at 9:30, there was no line and we walked right up.  This year Lawson was hesitant to walk up to Santa.  Before we left the house, we looked at pictures from last year and he pointed out his sissy and his blanket in the picture.  This year he HAD to have his blanket in the picture too.  And poor little Lauralyn was just frightened by the jolly ole elf.

Christmas 2012

We spent the weekend before Christmas at Jarrett's Nanny and Mom's house.  It was a ton of fun and the cousins had a blast hanging out together.  Lauralyn is all over the place and thinks she's twelve, so I was able to actually take pictures of all the fun. 

 Christmas Eve we spent with my family.  The cousins were wild and everyone had a great time.  This was one of the quiet moments with the boys hanging out on the couch.

Lauralyn and her four wheeler!  She also got a pink play gun from her Barbar, so she is set to be a country girl!

Lawson got tons of train stuff from both sides of the family, and he was loving it!  

I'll be happy when family pictures get easier.  I'm always sweating by the end of it.  Even if its just for one picture!  Right now Lauralyn loves to smile, but Lawson is a little toot!

The only group shot we got.  

Jeje, Papaw and their grandbabies that they love to spoil!

Merry Christmas from the Englishes

Thanksgiving and the Deer Lease

We spent the night before Thanksgiving at my mom's house stuffing ourselves with yummy food.  It is always a good time and my mom always makes way to much food.

Here is Lauralyn in her fall dress from her Barbar.

The next day, Jarrett and I loaded up the kids and headed to the deer lease in Graford.

The trip was one of those experiences that wasn't a ton of fun until it was over ;)  Let's just say, a two year old and a one year old plus a small camper, cactus, a daddy gone for hours hunting, dirt and very little running water are quite an exhausting mix.  In the middle of the trip I had the thought "what were we thinking".  Some of the highlights of the trip were not showering for 2 days.  Pulling cactus out of Lawson's legs.  Cleaning dirt out from under fingernails. Wiping snotty noses.  Having Lauralyn scream because she couldn't run around everywhere outside.

Some of the other highlights were sleeping between my two babies and snuggling all night.  Seeing my children light up as the ran around and had the time of their lives.

Having their cousins and Aaron and Ashley come up the second night.  All 8 of us sleeping in one camper (I wanted so badly to head home because I didn't think Lauralyn would sleep well.  However, she fell asleep easily at about 8:30 and slept until the next morning).

It was all worth it.  And was an experience I know I will never forget.  Since we've been back home Lawson will randomly ask to go to the deer lease and likes to tell everyone that "daddy not see a deer".