Santa Party

On Saturday afternoon, Harper and Harris had a very special visitor.  Santa Claus came to visit so we just had to invite our friends over to meet him.  We had about 70 kids and adults over for Milk and Cookies with Santa.  We asked everyone to bring cookies to share so each family got to take home a bag of cookies for Christmas.  And Santa was AMAZING!  If you ever need an appearance from Santa in San Antonio, let me know and I'll get you his digits!

Honey Hijacking

My mom wrote this a few weeks ago and I wanted to share.  Thank you Honey for your words of wisdom!

It was over four years ago that I began starting my days with a quiet time each morning.  Much has happened in our lives in those last four years and my quiet times have brought me strength and comfort beyond words.

After reading Brooke’s blog entry concerning Harper’s upcoming surgery, their fears, our fears and the incredible love we all have for both Harper and Harris, I wanted to share one of my most recent quiet times with those of you reading Brooke’s blog.

Ephesians 3:18 says “I pray that you...will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love-how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is.”   As I wrote that verse the first thing that came to my mind was a little game I began playing with Harper when she was about a year old.  

The game started with me asking, “Harper do I love you this much?”  I would hold the palms of my hands slightly apart and would shake my head and say “Nooo!”  Then I would ask, “Harper do I love you this much?” and I would spread my hands farther apart, shaking my head and saying “Noooo! “The game would continue until my arms were outstretched as much as they would go and still I would say “Noooo!”  Finally I would say “Harper do you know how much Honey loves you?  Honey loves you this much”  and I would wrap my arms around her and hug and kiss her and we would laugh and laugh.  The game soon came to a point when the first time I asked her “Harper do I love you this much?” she would shake her head and throw her little body into mine because she couldn’t wait for the hugs and kisses to come.

I can’t wait for Harris to get just a little older and he can begin to play our game. I can’t wait to see the light in his eyes when he realizes how very much he is loved and the joy and delight that comes in knowing that hugs and kisses are just within reach.

So how much greater then is the power of Christ’s love for us?  How wide?  How long?  How high?  How deep is that love for us and what will it take for us to understand the greatness of that love?  Were those outstretched arms of Christ on the cross not proof enough?  When will we get to a point where we can throw ourselves into God’s arms knowing he will be there to tend to our every need?  I know his love is so much more than any human love and no matter what circumstances we face God is there to wrap his loving arms around us and see us through whatever lies ahead. 

We all face times in the lives of our children when we will worry and fear for them, for their health, their safety, their well-being...that’s part of being a parent, a grandparent, that's part of loving.  I also know that it is so much harder to try to deal with these issues without a faith, without a feeling that there is someone who loves you and cares for you and will carry you through the tough times.

So it is my prayer for myself and to each of you~that we may all have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love, in all of life’s situations.

May your holidays be full of joy,

Honey

Harris - 9 Months

I've been good to take these pictures on the actual 9th of each month but posting them has been another story.  So a few days late but I'm trying to only document things Cito was doing up until his 9th month and not over the last 10 days because, believe it or not, there have been some significant changes.

This last month can be summed up with two words - ear infections.  It seems like Harris lived at the pediatricians office and was on some form of antibiotics for the entire month.  We have our appointment with the ENT in January and I'm praying for tubes. The good news is that his inhailers are doing their jobs and his breathing has gotten much better.

The raise in ear infections has resulted in a lack of sleep.  We might have had one or two nights of uninterrupted sleep but otherwise, this mama has been up throughout the night and is pooped!  You'd never know it from my happy boy though.  He's still full of smiles.

We're venturing into finger foods much to the dismay of his father.  If Jared had his way, our kids would have their food pureed until they were 30 but the kid's gotta learn how to eat!

My boy is busy, busy, busy.  He is crawling like a maniac and pulling up on anything he can get his hands on.  I must say, he's pretty quick to get his bearings too.  

Cito has found his voice and has this Chewbacca noise that he makes.  It's pretty hysterical.  Most of his babble consists of da-da-da but the ma-ma-mas are starting to slip in there.

And he adores his sister.  They just laugh at each other all day and it totally melts my heart.  

Santa Visit #2

I got some insider information about Santa visit number two and I'll share it with you now but mums the word.  This Santa visit was a hidden gem!

The Grand Hyatt here in San Antonio partners with the San Antonio Library and the SA Humane Society for  Santa Paws two time during the month of December.  The first was this last Tuesday but the next is Tuesday, December 18 at 11am.  Parking is free and they have a free hot chocolate, hot apple cider and cookie bar set up in the lobby.  The Humane Society has puppies available for kids to play with and then Santa himself makes an appearance and reads a Christmas story.  After that, local celebrities read stories.  We got some local weather guy and a radio chick but word on the street is that they've had Spurs players (and the big names too) in the past.  There were only a few kids so the Squirrel and Cito got up close and personal and had some dedicated one on one time - not that it helped since neither one made a peep but oh well.  We got some great pictures! Again, most definitely one to make a tradition out of.   And thanks for coming with us Honey!

Santa Visit #1

And let the Christmas posts begin!  

We kicked off the beginning of December with a bang and boarded the North Pole Flyer out of Cedar Park, TX.  This is run by the Austin Steam Train Association and is a two-hour train ride with the Big Guy in Red.  Along with Santa was hot chocolate, candy canes, Girl Scout Christmas Carolers, Mrs. Claus and a story reader, all spread out during the two hour trip.  Cito might have been a tad too young but it was still fun all the same and we will, most definitely, repeat this as a holiday tradition.

Harps was a little weary of both of the Clauses but no tears were shed.  Harris had no trouble grabbing at Mrs. Claus's face, glasses, hair, etc and was thrilled to be in the arms of some strange old guy.  

Big Thumbs Up Thursday (on a Wednesday) to the Austin Steam Train Association for such a great holiday event!

We met Sutton and her crew for the big train ride

The Girl's first taste of a candy cane.  Her face says it all.

Pittsburgh - DinoExtravaganza

In case you didn't know, Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Natural History has one of the top dinosaur exhibits in the country.  When we started planning our trip, I knew this was a stop we couldn't pass up and it didn't disappoint.  The Squirrel was in awe and wonder.  As she walked in each room, she'd say "Whoa!  Wook at dat!  Stegosaurus!" or whatever dinosaur we happen to be approaching.  Her little mind really amazes me and I'm one proud mama that she can name all of those creatures.  Of course, the piece de resistance in her mind was T-Rex.  She soaked in every minute and it was so much fun to see.