You. Light Up My Life

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a happy Thanksgiving at our house today filled with food, fun and projects. Mike had to work so it was just the kids and I at home doing turkey stuff. Mike had done some of the cooking ahead (hallelujah!) and that left a few dishes for Clay and I to work on.

Clay was my big helper for making a pumpkin pie and dressing (he left me on my own for the rest). A couple of weeks ago we made a "pumpkin pie" with "whipped cream" and pumpkin spices on top. Clay was so impressed when the real pumpkin pie smelled just like his project. So cute.


We've been working on Thanksgiving projects for the last couple of weeks and today we wrapped it all up with our Indian headdresses and "I Am Thankful for..." books. It was Carolina's first time with a paintbrush when she painted her headdress feathers (and she was NOT happy when I took it away).

The book covers came out so cute with the kids' handprints for turkeys. Clay is thankful for police cars, playgrounds and drawing & scissors. Carolina is thankful for her favorite songs, being able to walk a couple of steps and her lovies (her kitty, Clay's monkey and her doll).



All in all it was a quiet (or as quiet as it gets in this house...) Thanksgiving but we feel blessed to have spent it with our sweet little family.

So... as Clay told Lilly (our cat) tonight--"Happy Thanksgiving!"

Conversations with Clay

I was holding Carolina the other day and Clay kept coming up and ramming his head into my stomach. I put out my hand and blocked his head and this is how it went:

C: Di' you hit me??!
M: (trying to think of how to explain this)
C: Di' you HIT me??
M: Um, I didn't hit you. You were trying to hit Mommy with your head and I stopped you.
C: That not nice. You need a go to timeout.
M: (I don't think so.)

Carolina's 1st Birthday Celebrations: Part II

Carolina's birthday was such a special day for all of us. We loved making her feel special and singing to her all day (and all week). She ate it up when we sang to her and she loved all the attention.

We started the day with singing to her in her bed. She was all smiles (and a little shy).

She wasn't too sure about getting the birthday bucket and how to get all of the stuff out (but that's what big brothers are for, right?).


We made sure she blew out the candles and had a song every meal which she and Clay both enjoyed.

For lunch, we went to eat at a family favorite, Posado's. Carolina got her first ice cream cone and she was a huge fan!

After lunch we went to the Children's Museum and did whatever the birthday girl wanted.

After playing for a while at the museum and taking an official birthday nap, we got our evening festivities going. Since we had already had one cake during the week, we decided on a cookie cake from JD's Chippery (we also had one from there the day Carolina came home from the hospital!).

Aunt Rebecca came over to help celebrate and Carolina had LOTS of fun packages to open (and some that were already assembled). Clay couldn't wait to be the helper on this one.



Some of Carolina's birthday presents this year were a Fisher-Price Happy Sounds Home, a new doll, new pajamas, snap-lock beads, lots of girly books, a play table, a Little People van, a tea set, some very cute shoes and more money to start her bank account. She got so much fun stuff from sweet friends and family.

We had a great day playing with our one-year-old and celebrating her big day. Such a big blessing in a little girl!

Carolina's 1st Birthday Celebrations: Part I

Carolina had some sweet first birthday parties this year (and I'm just now getting around to blogging about them!). She had her first party in San Antonio the week before her birthday. We were blessed to have family and friends there to celebrate with us.

I chose EZ's Restaurant and it turned out to be a great choice. They gave us our own party room and it was so nice to be able to visit with everyone without worrying about bothering those around us or hanging around too long.

I wanted to keep her party simple and sweet so I just brought flowers, a cake and sweet plates and napkins. It was so much less pressure than trying to haul a bunch of decorations on a trip with us and it didn't seem to matter to Miss Carolina one bit.


We were able to eat with everyone and then open gifts and eat cake. Carolina got so many cute things (tutus, clothes, a bow maker, money and some Little People sets). She was so good the whole night even though she had totally skipped her nap and screamed the whole way to the party.

I loved the way she listened as everyone sang to her. Her face just lit up when everyone said her name in the song as if she had just realized it was all about her. So cute.

When I put the cake in front of her to blow out the candle (which Mama forgot and Stacy had to bring!) she just reached out and pulled her whole hand through the cake. She must have known that the birthday girl gets the first piece!

She wasted no time digging into that cake and getting dirty. She had cake everywhere by the time she was done!

We were so happy to be able to share Carolina's birthday with some special people in her life. Thanks to everyone who came!

Clay's Crown

I have a few things to say about this crown--

1) If a kid is little enough to be wearing a crown from Burger King, aren't they a little young to be reading Twilight?? What happened to the plain gold crowns?

2) Clay told us he had Mommy and Daddy on his hat. Do you like our new hairdos and awesome airbrushing?

3) Isn't this kid adorable?

While Clay gets Minty Fresh

What is Mommy doing? Getting Carolina up from her morning nap and getting her dressed
What does Mommy hear? "Mommy, I need sa help! I need to bwush my teef!"
What does Mommy see? This...

Out and About

We went to a program on Monday which Clay really loved. It's made Mike and I consider some kind of class for him a lot more seriously. He was very hesitant at first and then all of a sudden...I have never seen him get so excited about a song or dancing with the other kids.

We took some pics (which came out awful b/c I used our old camera so I won't post them) and some video. Every time I watch the video, I crack up because Clay is obviously the kid most into it. All the other kids are just standing around and he's jumping up and down like it's his own private concert. So cute.

Today's adventure was to a children's museum. They had a story/craft time and I love that kind of thing. Since we don't have Clay in any kind of preschool program, I'm trying to take him more places where he can practice following directions, sitting still and listening to a story or singing songs with other kids.



After the craft/storytime, we played in the rest of the museum. The kids had such a great time. I love how the pictures capture Carolina's constant happiness and I REALLY love the new trick I figured out with Clay. If I say, "show me your teeth", he does (along with his great smile). I love it! So here are some pics from today:








Lots of pictures, lots of smiles! We're so blessed to have happy children.