Gig 'em Aggies

We have a new Aggie in the family. My brother got accepted to the MBA program at Texas A&M for next fall. We are so excited to have him in College Station with us for the next two years. I hope there will be some Uncle/nephew nights in the near future:)
Ryan loves to wrestle with Uncle Adam.
Just some other funny pics. Jackson loves to carry my purses all over the house.
Ryan loved the hayride at Santa's Wonderland so much that he pretends to give them to Jackson at home. He turned a stool upside down and hooked one of the legs to the ride on toy. Jackson tried to be the driver too, but didn't get very far.
Jackson used to open up his PB&J to eat it. Ryan is showing him how to eat it like a "big boy".
They both thought this was just hilarious. Ohhhhh to be a kid again.

Anniversary weekend

You know you are a parent when you spend your anniversary weekend without kids putting together a swing set. The weather was perfect and it reminded me of our wedding day six years ago. That's OK...I am counting down the days until our real celebration this summer. My parents bought us a cruise and we leave the day after Nate finishes his first year. 5 days of sleeping in, room service, amazing food, free entertainment, white beaches, and the fact that it is our first real vacation since our honeymoon and probably our last until after residency.

That is MY man! He stayed out until after dark putting it together while I went to work at Santa's Wonderland. What a good Daddy. I know it wasn't his first choice of things to do after finishing his last exam of the semester, but he did it anyway.
You can guess what happened next:)
I think Jackson was even more excited than Ryan when he saw it today. He was stomping his feet in the fort. It was so cute!
Two happy boys! Thanks Mimi and Papa for a GREAT Christmas present!

Coufal- Prater John Deere store Day with Santa

We started a new Christmas tradition this year...well at least for as long as we are here in CS. We took the boys out to the John Deere tractor store last weekend. We met Ryan's new friend Ross from preschool and his family. The boys had a great time playing together and there was plenty to do. Ross's Dad is Italian and Ross is bilingual. Nate has started speaking more Italian to the boys after listening to Ross. It was really cute to hear him speak.

They had puppies for adoption which Ryan had to pet of course. Sorry Mom...we didn't take him home with us:)
They also had mighty trike races, face painting, bounce houses, and plenty of tractors to climb on. Ryan was in heaven!!
Jackson was happy to watch from the stroller and point to all the tractors.
We also had their picture taken with Santa. I was hoping I could back Jackson into the picture and get a pic before he realized who's lap he was sitting on. Maybe next year.
The boys loved riding the train together too.
This was the cute little old man driving the train.
We couldn't leave without looking at all the John Deere toys. Thankfully we left without buying any and without a tantrum.
I noticed something in Jackson's ear when I put him in the car seat to go home. A piece of candy cane!

We had a great time and I can't wait to do it again next year when Jackson is a little bigger and can do a little more.

Mommy's Day Off

Nate makes dinner for me every Sunday. It is the only day he doesn't study and the day I look forward to ALL week. Ryan LOVES to help in the kitchen and Jackson likes to be wherever his brother is. My request a few weeks ago was Chinese food. He made Mongolian beef and fried rice. It was really good and probably tasted even better because I didn't have to make it. He is a great cook and never disappoints me.

I love catching moments like this on camera. Ryan hugged Nate and said, "I love helping you Daddy."

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving. We spent the day putting up our Christmas lights on the house and decorating the Christmas tree. Ryan was so excited to get out all of the Christmas decorations this year. We actually ate out Thanksgiving dinner the next day with Mimi, Papa, and Uncle Adam.

I did a little Black Friday shopping starting at midnight at ToysRUs. I still can't believe I didn't turn the car around and go home when I saw the line just to get in. I got there at midnight, finally found the toys I wanted by 12:45, found the end of the line ten minutes later, and finally checked out at 2:15. I ran into a friend and her sister, so that made it a little more fun. I saved more than I spent, so I would say it was worth it. They convinced me to go to Old Navy with them which opened at 3, so I bought some $15 jeans for Nate and a pair for Ryan. I got home around 4:30 and got up at 8:30 to start cooking. I was just a little tired. I made my first homemade pie this year and Ryan helped me roll out the crust. It was so easy and tasted pretty good too.
We fried our turkey again this year. There is no other way to eat a turkey in my opinion.
We went out to Santa's Wonderland that night with my parents and brother.


I convinced Ryan to ride the mechanical bull. He was a little scared at first, but was a professional by the end of the ride. Look at that form! He got off and said, "I told you I could do it."
I talked my brother into riding it too. I hope he can still have kids someday:)
We also went on a hayride to see the Christmas lights. Ryan loved every minute of it and has even been pretending to give his brother hayrides at home. He got off the trailer and said, "that was the best hayride ever."

18 months and almost talking

Go Buckeyes!!!!
All done!
Giving Mommy hugs when I hurt my back
Eating dirt...YUM!
Getting down from his favorite spot.....the high chair
His hair is getting pretty long, but I still refuse to really cut it. He has some crazy bed head after his naps.
He loves to do whatever Ryan is doing.
He can really make some messes too. He will probably kill me over this pic someday:)
Hugging my leg

Jackson or "pepper jack" as Ryan likes to call him is becoming quite the little character these days. He still isn't talking yet, but he has started singing a song we sing at Music Makers. He loves the attention he gets when he sings it to us, so he will repeat it over and over again. I can't upload any of my other pics because he drowned my laptop with the cup of water Nate left on the end table!!!!! Good thing we bought the warranty protection plan:) He still loves to give hugs and kisses. His idea of a kiss is opening his mouth as big as he can and licking our cheeks. He thinks it is so funny. He still loves to wrestle with his Daddy and brother, but has started running to me and hiding behind my leg when he is done playing. I am working out at Santa's Wonderland again this year, so Nate has had to put him to bed several nights each week. I put him to bed after being away two nights in a row and I could tell he was happy to have his Mommy back. He gave me the biggest hug when we sat in the rocking chair together and then he just smiled and wanted to play. It is nice to know that I am missed when I'm gone.

Thankful

To the anonymous friend who sent our family a Christmas gift in the mail. Thank you. I can't even put into words the feelings of gratitude in my heart when I opened the envelope. I am truly grateful for great friends. My only hope is that I can do the same thing for someone else someday. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Ryan: "Daddy, do you want to play with me?"

Nate: Yes. I want to play with you.

Ryan: Then start listening Daddy!

Ryan: "Do you know what Obama is doing?"

Neighbor kid: "What?"

Ryan: "He is trashing the United States. He is trashing health care!"

(in the most pathetic voice from his bed)

Ryan: "Is there anyone that can help me?"

Nate went to check on him and he needed someone to cover him up.

(to the nice old lady walking on the sidewalk)

Ryan:"Get off your phone lady!"

Me: Ryan! Where did you here that?

Ryan: Daddy

Daddy got busted! Nate is very proud of his Obama comment though.