Prom...or our 9th anniversary. Whatever.

Today I feel ooooold.  Eric and I just recently celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary.  9!!!  Needless to say, when a clerk at Home Depot asked me if I was 18 last week before he would sell me spray paint, I wanted to cry.  Or kiss him.  Or maybe both.  But not in a creepy way. 

 

For our anniversary some of our good friends offered to watch our kids for us so we could go see Wicked.  Eric went 1950s sweet on me and bought me a dress to wear. Before we left we posed in front of the fireplace circa prom.  He was only sort of joking when he asked whether he should have bought me a corsage.   

 

We went to a fancy schmancy dinner complete with cocktails (because we are grown ups you know). We had a wonderful time and I LOVED the show.  But I also realized that I am getting kind of old, because once the lights went out I had to eat Starbursts to regain my energy throughout the performance (that is clearly an indication of me and not the show). 

All in all, it was one of the sweetest anniversaries that I have had and I look forward to many more with Eric.  He is such a great husband and daddy and I couldn't be luckier!

Liam turns 4!

Liam recently had his 4th birthday party.  I know every parent says this, but where does the time go?  There is a lot of truth to the saying, "The days are long, but the years are short."  For the second year in a row, Liam wanted a Cars themed birthday party.  Until two days before the party when he wanted a Toy Story party.  Sorry bud, mom had already purchased the Cars goods. 

 

Anyway, this year we let Liam invite 5 friends from school and several additional family friends.  We decided to go low key and rent a bounce house, make Ballpark franks, popcorn, and cupcakes.  Super healthy right?!  Oh well, kids parties are supposed to be filled with the good stuff.  Our good friends, Jenn and Craig, came over the night before to spend some time and they helped us blow up balloons, fill the pinata, and do some last minute shopping. 

 

The day of the party we had a great time and it was so much fun to see Liam really enjoy himself.  In years past he hasn't quite understood the whole birthday party thing.  But this year he had a blast decorating, playing with friends, and just enjoying the day.  We are so blessed to have this little man in our lives.

 



About to blow out the candle on his birthday cupcake. He also decided the day of the party he wanted to have cake and not cupcakes.  Sorry again bud.

I love this shot because it is like a little kid dinner party.

Liam got the biggest kick out of the Cars decorations, which stayed around our house for a full week.  That may have had more to do with our laziness than anything else!

For some reason the kids decided that they wanted Liam to open his gifts in the entry way.  Strange.  It was definitely an "all hands on deck" effort with kids handing Liam gifts and paper flying everywhere.

Liam thought his bounce house was so cool.

The family that jumps together stays together.

Mommy and Jenn acting like school girls while Ansley looks on.

It occurs to me that we didn't get many shots of the kids bouncing.  But we have lots of the adults!

So after the party ended we realized that we didn't break out the pinata.  Fail.  But that didn't mean we couldn't have a little fun ourselves.

Ansley is freakishly strong.

The simple joys of balloons. 

Liam was blessed to get a bunch of super cool gifts.  But the big time gift was the bike and helmet from Grandma Becky and Grandpa Ron.  His first big boy bike!

Springtime in the 505

February and March were such busy months for me at work that after my last big event, I decided a little family time was in order.  The weekend after we came back from Kansas, we hopped a plane to Albuquerque so that we could finally meet our rapidly growing niece. Because we were only going for two days, we decided to split the time with each of our parents.  We never feel like we get to spend enough time with everyone, but it is always so great to catch up with family.  

We were thrilled and surprised when upon exiting airport security, we saw my brother, his fiance and my new baby niece, Joanne!  She was so tiny and sweet.  Truly a happy baby and a real cuddle bug.  She is the perfect blend of my brother and Jennifer, and I just love her to pieces!

Baby switch! Uncle David loves on Ansley while I get some quality snuggle time with baby Jo.

After a great breakfast at the Range with the Pates, we headed over to Corrales for some outdoor time on a gorgeous day.  The kids greeting the neighbor's horses.

Eric's parents new kitchen.  Proud of my hubby for designing the kitchen.  Proud of Becky for handling the process like a complete pro.  The result is just lovely.

Ansley and Liam trying to find lizards in the lavender bushes.

The happy grandparents.

After helping Grandpa flood the field (irrigate), Liam took a break to sit on the "Holly" branch.

Liam is obsessed with the Pate's doorbell.  He loves to ring it and listen for the chimes. Over and over again.

We love sitting on the porch swing on these lazy days.

It was actually warm enough for the kids to play with the hose. 

Have a drink.

The next day we woke up and had a leisurely morning with my parents.  My brother, Jennifer, and baby Jo came over to hang out before our big family lunch at one of our staples, Sadie's. Just a small lunch with us and 24 of our closest cousins...

Uncle David and Ansley.

Sweet baby Jo.  Funny enough, Liam kept calling her "Baby Aunt Jolyn."  Um, not quite.

Ansley has become quite fond of saying, "No, No" and waving her finger with authority.

Liam and his cousin, Haley, were born on the same night within two hours of each other. Since we were all together we celebrated with a birthday cake for all the April birthdays - 5 in all!

Whenever we are in town, we are blessed with the rare luxury of having a free babysitter.  My parents watched the kids on our last night so that we could have a double date with my best friend, Stephanie, and her hubby, Gabe. We went to Chama for great burgers and beer.  Did I mention that I totally need to detox after this trip?  Because I do. 

We had the best time in Albuquerque and we look forward to seeing our families again soon.  The trip ended on an awesome note when both kids fell asleep on the airplane.  A first, and probably a last!  

I had to include this last funny picture.  This is as good as it gets with family pictures.  Baby Jo wasn't thrilled about being away from her mama, Liam was showing off his new Cars watch from Uncle David, and Ansley is just being Ansley. This was the best picture of the ten I took.

Easter

For Easter we headed north on I-35 to Wichita to spend the long weekend with the Kansas Pates.  We had a blast watching the cousins hang out.  Plus we got to use Ryan and Jolyn's new hot tub while enjoying some Easter bubbly.  This was Liam's first year actually coloring Easter eggs.  It was also the first year that Ansley was able to partake in the egg hunt, and she loved it! It was great to see the big kids all help her find the eggs.  Such a fun weekend!

After Sunday Church services. This was the only picture I got of Ansley in her sweet Easter smocked dress.

Easter morning going through the loot left from the Easter bunny.

Brotherly love

In their Easter baskets, they got these great little automatic bubble wands.  All the kids loved playing with the bubbles.

Ryan and Jolyn have a slopped yard. Ansley loved going to the top of the hill and toddling at full speed all the way down.

Sweet Holly

Ansley really got the hang of putting eggs in her basket.

Sam and Liam on the hunt.

As always, we had a great time visiting family and can't wait to see them again soon!

Fun with cousins

Literally, the day that Ron and Becky left back to ABQ, we changed our guest room sheets, cleaned and prepared for an overnight visit from Eric's cousin. Phillip, his wife Elissa and their son, Parker.  The Bodecker's are stationed in Oklahoma, but are originally from Houston so we have enjoyed their stops in Dallas when they have traveled back and forth. 

We always have such a great time together and this was no exception. Even though the grown ups always have fun together, it is a whole different level of fun to see the kids play together!

Bath time! I don't think Parker realized how much my kids splash.

Moving the kitchen across the living room as a team.

Christmas

After a long break, I am finally trying to catch up.  I didn't realize how time consuming working on the campaign side was.  I also didn't realize how keeping the blog forced me to take pictures of the kids in an effort to capture our family moments.  So here are a few shots from around Christmas!

Ron and Becky made the drive from ABQ with Moses in tow. They stayed for almost a week and we loved every minute of it!  We sent to see the Christmas lights in Deerfield, celebrated my birthday with Thai food and a carrot cake made from my Nana's recipe by my dear husband.  We also had several trips to the park, a few long walks, and we discovered the joy of cinnamon ice cream with steel cut oats (thanks to Sweet Firefly).  We watched movies, ate, drank and enjoyed each other's company.

Liam decorating the Christmas tree while drinking mulled apple cider and watching Christmas movies.

Grandma and Grandpa reading a bedtime story to Liam.

Prior to candle light Christmas Eve services at our Church.  Ansley's dress was a gift from Aunt Jolyn when she was born and she was big enough to wear it to the service!

Home is where the heart is.

After our New Mexican Christmas Eve feast complete with tamales and spanish rice, Liam and Daddy prepared for Santa's arrival.

Carrots for the reindeers and cookies and milk for Santa.

Santa arrives!

Cookies, carrots and milk gone.  Santa forgot his Diet Coke with Lime and Kindle though.

Christmas stockings filled with loot.

"What of it? Don't talk to me until I have had my morning milk."

Bow and arrow from Santa.  Stephanie would be proud.

Vintage Julia Childs cookbook from Becky.  Love it!

Cuddling with Grandpa

Shooting instructions

Becky has this super crazy ability to guess what everyone is going to receive just by looking at and feeling a package.  Her predictions had a 90% success rate.

Santa brought Eric a book he has wanted ever since his time in the architecture program.

Ansley LOVED the Disney Princess Little People castle that Grandma and Grandpa gave her.

Mid-morning workout before we consumed yet more calories.

Ansley's turn!

We love our advent calendar which was a gift from Noni and Papa a few years back.  This was the first year Liam enjoyed putting the characters up.

And one of the best parts of Christmas morning?  The unexpected white Christmas!

Completed snowman. 

Warming up inside.

Time for Grandma and Grandpa to go.  Ansley tried to stow away, but somehow her presence was discovered.  What a great year for building memories!