The Wyatts of West Texas

no excuses

2012-02-11T15:11:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to come up with a good excuse as to why it's been so long since my last post. The only thing I can come up with is...LIFE! We did a whole lot of nothing that some how made January fly by. The weather has been very mild so we've had a lot of outdoor time. We've joined a new music class, tried lots of new crafts, and taken trips to the zoo and aquarium. I am secretly hoping that we won't see any snow or colder weather in February or March, because being able to play outside takes a lot of pressure off of mama to entertain.

Jon and I got to go to a Lobos basketball game while the kids stayed at home with a sitter.

PJ day at school. A win-win!!

My first attempt at woopie pies.

Borrowing sister's shades.

All aboard the zoo train.

When three girls are together, holding hands is a must.

happy half

2012-01-20T11:06:00.000-08:00

Landon is 6 months old! No longer a baby but a roller, real food eater, sitter, and the happiest little boy I know! He loves solid food and eating in the high chair like a big boy. We get 10 hours of sleep out of him at night and a few hours during the day too. He smiles, laughs and bring so much joy to our family.

17 3/4 pounds (45%)

27 inches (66%)

Yum, yum, mum mum.

Rocking the spike.

Blending in with the bedding.

facematch

2012-01-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

I am sure every mother at some point performs a little child comparison. I thought about mixing these up and quizzing everyone, but seeing as it took me almost an hour to get it like this, I abandoned the idea. I am not sure the ages are right on, but here's a little Presley vs Landon for you to enjoy.

photo op

2012-01-09T07:11:00.000-08:00

When Ben, Brooke, Ava and Macy were in Albuquerque for Thanksgiving, we took advatage and had some family pictures made. Quite the good-looking family wouldn't you say?

the 12 days of christmas

2012-01-05T07:53:00.000-08:00

We spent Christmas in Little Rock and enjoyed a nice long visit with family and friends. The kids and I flew in the Tuesday before Christmas leaving Jon to make the drive with Winston later that week. The kids were good on the flight and we didn't even have to get off the plane when we landed in Dallas. When it was time for Jon to make the trip, I-40 was closed due to bad weather so he had to take a northern detour and ended up spending about 15 hours in the car. He made it in around 2 am Christmas Eve. We spent the next week opening gifts, hanging out with lots of family, seeing old friends, and going, going, going! We drove back as a family on Saturday and ended up making the entire trip in one day. What a wonderful Christmas filled with very special memories.

Mimi

Bucket list.

Making cookies with Mimi.

Not sure I want any of those cookies!

PawPaw

Present #1 on Christmas Eve.

Santa came!

Everyone ended up getting socks!

Cousin time.

Aunt Brooke's preschool.

Landon helping crush the cornflake topping for Mimi's casserole.

Great Uncle Steve

Dress up fun with Ava and Macy.

This is what it's all about!

twas the week before Christmas

2012-01-02T20:39:00.000-08:00

We have been out of town for almost two weeks so I am a little delayed in posting about things that happened before the craziness of Christmas. I was in charge of snacks the week before Christmas break and found a cute idea on Pintrest that I just had to duplicate. Jon, Landon and I were also treated to a very special Christmas performance at Presley's school. The kids all did a great job entertaining the crowd with lots of wonderful Christmas songs.

Getting the frosting to stick to the powder proved to be slightly difficult.

Presley's present for mommy & daddy.

a december to remember

2011-12-14T20:44:00.000-08:00

Remember that time in your life when days and weeks seemed to drag by...NOT ANYMORE!! It's mid-December already! We have been so busy with playdates, parties, crafting and cooking. I started preparing for Christmas back in November but have still managed to get behind. I finally breathed a sigh of relief after shipping off the last of my packages yesterday. We are headed to Arkansas next week for a long visit and I can't wait to spend some time with family and friends.

We finally named our elf. Welcome to the family Tree Stump.

Snow and lots of freezing temps.

Observing the toffee making process.

Ditto.

Bundled up for our trip to the Christmas tree farm.

a little holiday magic

2011-12-06T15:11:00.000-08:00

An ordinary light switch...oh no. It's one of the best things about our rental house...

A gas fireplace that you turn on with a simple flip of a switch!

I find myself turning it on just because I can. Actually it's come in quite handy with temps not breaking the freezing mark for several days now.

albuquerque turkey

2011-11-30T07:17:00.000-08:00

We hosted the Thanksgiving festivities this year and had such a blast! It was truly heartwarming to see Presley play with Ava and Macy and I know Landon loved being passed around. Everyone arrived on Tuesday so that allowed for plenty of play time, a trip to the zoo and lots and lots of eating. With 4 cameras flashing, I had a hard time selecting pictures for this post. Here's to that warm, fuzzy feeling the holidays bring and the special place in your heart reserved solely for family. Happy Thanksgiving 2011.

turkey prep

2011-11-21T16:14:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Pintrest, I have been in full craft mode lately. Here are my latest creations for Thanksgiving...

Getting ready to make our turkey hand print craft.

Gobble Day attire.

Extra absorbent for all that turkey he will be eating.

dinner and a show

2011-11-18T12:37:00.000-08:00

Leave it to Presley to provide the entertainment along with dinner...I am guessing her hands were colder than her feet.

Landon is no longer happy just laying around all day. I have been required to find him new, more entertaining activities to keep him happy. Here we are enjoying the door jumper. Not so much a jumper yet, but a fun swing when sister is around to push.

Landon Update

from his 4 month appointment

14 lbs 14 oz (36%)

25.6 in (61%)

16.6 in (40%)

hummm...sounds a lot like another male Wyatt I know...tall, skinny...

busted stuff

2011-11-17T08:05:00.000-08:00

Presley experienced her first major injury on Monday night. I should probably not call it "major" because I am sure worse things are yet to come, but it was the first injury that required more than an ice pack and a bandaid. She was running around with Winston, slipped on the tile floor and split her chin open. Luckily the family doctor was on his way home and rescued me. We laid her out on the operating table, aka the dining room table, and slapped on a few wound closures and she was good to go. Here's to our first busted face!

cheek to cheek

2011-11-11T12:36:00.000-08:00

2nd anniversary

2011-11-09T16:58:00.000-08:00

I celebrated the 2nd anniversary of my 30th birthday on Monday. We spent the weekend hanging out as a family and indulged in a yummy breakfast and dinner on Sunday. Jon caved and got me a new coffee maker per my request. My mom and I usually meet in Dallas for our annual girls shopping trip but with two kids in the mix now, we had to call it off this year. No worries, we'll save the money and do it big next year!

I spent 5 years in west Texas without any boots, moved to New Mexico and picked up a pair after only 3 months. Thanks mom & dad!

no tricks here

2011-11-01T20:35:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful Halloween. It seemed to last all weekend long and then some. We had a great time eating yummy treats at a party with our stroller class, went on our first trick-or-treating adventure and wrapped things up with a party at school. Like the Elvis costume of last year, the elephant required some candy bribery but once she was all dressed up she really enjoyed running around with her ears blowing in the wind. Here's to probably my last year having a say in her costume selection...as for Landon, I get to call the shots for at least 1 more!

The elephant.

The peanut.

It's really hard to get a picture of a 4 month old.

We practiced for a few days about what to say when you went trick-or-treating and the first house we came to just had a bowl of candy out. Don't worry, we had plenty of opportunities to perform as the night continued.

Happy Halloween 2011

G.U.S.

2011-10-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

My Uncle Steve (my dad's youngest brother) was a big part of my life growing up. It's so fun to watch him duplicate this role in Presley's life. During our trip to Little Rock in September, Uncle Steve and Presley really hit it off so he decided to make the trip to visit us in Albuquerque. Presley definitely has him wrapped around her finger...who else would want to play "awake-sleep" (getting in the bed under the covers and turning the lamp off and on) for almost an hour?!? We all had a wonderful visit and I can't wait to watch this special relationship grow. We love our U.S./G.U.S! (Uncle Steve/Great Uncle Steve)

family fun

2011-10-25T10:15:00.000-07:00

With a bye week and 2 away games, we've had the pleasure of having Jon around on the weekends. We decided to venture to Santa Fe and the Kasha Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument for a day of family fun. Santa Fe was a slight bust. We went down to the morning farmer's market, but found it a little difficult to get around with the kids. We tried to find a recommended burger joint, but it was closed for the week. After grabbing some local fare at McDonald's, we headed to the Tent Rocks. We managed to complete the 1-mile hike through the rocks. Jon was a trooper and carried Pres most of the way. All-in-all, it was a good family outing and another memory of our short stay in New Mexico.

handy halloween

2011-10-19T20:23:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that I LOVE Halloween. I get so excited to decorate and plan our costumes. Martha Stewart is the Queen of Hallooween, and I love getting project ideas from her maganize. Last year it was newspaper bones covered in cast plaster, and this year it was plaster hands molded from my own hands. I was able to find the material to make the molds locally, which saved me tons on shipping. The stuff is as light as air but has to be temperature controlled so it was going to cost me an arm and a leg to get it. I did a couple of test molds of my thumb and then ventured to make larger molds of my hands. I am totally hooked on this stuff and wish I could make molds of everything. You have to be pretty still for 5-8 minutes while the mold sets so getting molds of the kids is definitely out.

Waiting for the mold to set.

After I pulled my hand out.

The mold filled with plaster.

Peeling away the mold.

The final product.

what a difference 3 days makes

2011-10-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

Our first snow! We were looking for something to do as a family last Saturday so we decided to head back up the moutain so Jon could have a look. Things were a little different from our trip just 3 days earlier!

The mountain recieved 6 inches of snow overnight!

reunited and it feels so good

2011-10-13T20:15:00.000-07:00

We also got a very special visit from our best friends last week. Aurora and Jett made the trip to Albuquerque from Lubbock to play for a few days. Jett was a little standoffish at first but soon he and Presley were running non-stop and squealing with delight. It was great getting to show them around our new home.

Not quite sure yet...

Good to go.

A trip to the zoo.

Gorilla time out.

Hear no evil.

We had to google to find out how long a mama kangaroo has to carry her kiddo around.

This is was best jump place I have been to.

They let the grown ups do everything and this slide was super steep and fast. I screamed the whole way down!

Aurora & I took the big kids up on Sandia Crest. It was a beautiful drive and the view from the top was amazing. The wind was blowing really hard and it was about 40 degrees.

We made plans to get up and go to the Balloon Fiesta on Wednesday morning but rain the night before made the field too muddy for the balloons to fly. Luckily things cleared up and we were able to attend the special shapes event on Thursday morning.

up, up & away

2011-10-09T20:16:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta just wrapped up and we enjoyed several days of really exciting balloon events. My folks came out back in 2009 and were hooked right away. They made the trip again this year and showed us the ins and outs of the fiesta. Presley loved it all! The weather was wonderful the first day of the event and we had a great time watching close to 350 balloons take off within an hour. The only down side to the fiesta is that you have to get up around 4:30 am to make it through traffic and get to the field where the balloons take off. By 10:30 you are ready for lunch an a nap! The first year my parents attended the fiesta, my mom took about 800 pictures. I can totally see why. It's such an amazing experience getting to walk amongst the balloons and watch them fill the sky. Here are some of my favorite pictures of the fiesta.

My mom celebrated her 60th birthday during the visit.

We celebrated by taking a walk across the Rio Grande.

You can't really tell from this picture but there were probably 50 balloons still up in the air.

They looked like tiny blow up balloons.

Landon doesn't really like to take naps in his bed anymore but will sleep for hours in the swing. I am so worried that he is going to fall out on his face so...

picture perfect

2011-10-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

When I got the notice that Presley would be taking school pictures, I figured I was in for some generic photos with the plain cloth background. I was very surprised when we got the proofs and saw these...

I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see how they managed to get the kids to sit still and pose.

snips and snails and puppy dog tails...

2011-09-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

that's what little boys are made of.

Time for a post dedicated to our second born. Landon is well into his second month of life and we fall more in love with him everyday. He sleeps from 11 pm - 7 am most nights which makes mama very happy! He eats every 2-3 hours during the day and takes one 4-5 hour nap (another big smile from mama). He gets a little needy in the evenings after we put Presley to bed but who can blame him for wanting a little one-on-one time. He is such a sweet boy and really loves to watch his big sister run around. He still spits up like crazy, hence all the tie bibs, but that's the worst of it. He is the perfect addition to our family. We love our Landon!

Hanging with mom.

This is not an approved way to use this thing but it seemed to make him happy.

He has found his thumb and LOVES it.

Here's "Mr. Star".

Presley loved this thing. I'm not sure Landon feels the same just yet.

Getting a little outdoor time after dinner.

Baby blues.

Here are some numbers from his 2-month appointment.

Weight: 12 lbs 4 oz (56%)

Length: 23 3/4 in (43%)

Head: 16 in (46%)

correction

2011-09-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago, I made the mistake of saying that college football was the reason I loved this time of year. On my weekly trip to Wal-Mart, I was reminded of why I truly love this time of year...

my fair lady

2011-09-22T11:58:00.000-07:00

Jon & I loaded up the kids for a trip to the New Mexico State Fair. I couldn't wait to get my hands on some typical fair food and I knew Presley would love all the people and lights. We were not disappointed. The sky looked like it was about to open up and pour on us when we were parking the car but the rain held off and we enjoyed a fun-filled night. I was a little sad that my favorite cheese-on-a-stick was not offered at this fair but managed to survive on twisted tators, a corn dog and a funnel cake (sacrifice I know!). Presley was just tall enough (36") to ride the kiddie rides. She LOVED them! She was so brave and didn't even hesitate when it came time to sit next to strangers. Here's to the start of a great fall!

Having a chat with the cow.

Watching the Chinese acrobats.

Landon seemed to like all the loud music.

The boy sitting with Pres looks a little scared of her don't you think?!?

Mom got to go on this ride!

A friendly wave.

This was by far her favorite. She'll be talking about the "airplanes" for weeks!

A funnel cake a la mode? Where do they come up with this stuff?

lower standards

2011-09-21T06:13:00.000-07:00

I came home with a new pair of shoes and remembered a pair a bought last year that were similar in sparkle but slightly different in style. Oh, how things change...

BEFORE

AFTER

tales from the trip

2011-09-16T13:49:00.000-07:00

The kids and I made the trip to Little Rock last week for a wedding and a nice long visit with family. We had to leave Jon in Albuquerque to work and take care of Winston. I was more than anxious about taking both of them on a plane all by myself but we had an early flight and everything was on time which made for a relatively painless trip. Our last trip to Little Rock was last Thanksgiving so it was nice to be back and visit with family and friends. Everyone wanted to see Landon and Presley did a great job interacting with people she only sees a few times a year. I got a little spoiled having 2 sets of grandparents to help me with the kids. It definitely reassured me that with family is the place to be. Enjoy lots of pictures from our trip!

Presley's first time to fly with her own seat.

The purpose of our trip was to attend the wedding of one of my high school friends. This was Presley's first wedding and she was mesmerized by the bride, aka the Princess. Both she and Landon did great during the ceremony and ended up making it almost through the entire reception.

The best seat in the house.

What a face!

Me with my two Sara(h)'s.

Me and Tricia.

"Dancing" with Riley the ring bearer (Tricia's son).

Chowing down on a cake pop.

Hanging with Great Uncle Steve.

Sluuuuurp!

Building a "castle". She couldn't get enough of these blocks.

We have a set at home but mama gets tired of picking them up so they don't come out very often.

Pres and Riley.

Riley, Presley and Sophie.

Pres riding Ollie. A toy from when I was a kid.

AHHHHH!

There's a smile.

Playing store at The Wonder Place.

Catching bubbles.

Paw Paw couldn't get enough of Mr. Landon.

One of the few times Grammy got to hold him.

Thank you, thank you very much!

MLCECIOS #6

2011-09-14T07:55:00.000-07:00

Major Life-Changing Events Crammed Into One Summer #6

So I thought we were done with these but with all of the other life-changing events crammed into one summer this seemed to get forgotten. I have been in Little Rock for a few days and when I called to check in with Jon he told me he was celebrating. Why? Because...

JON PASSED HIS MEDICAL BOARD EXAMS!

He is now a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon. We are so proud of him!!

picture post

2011-09-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

if at first you don't succeed

2011-09-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

I am a sucker for food and craft projects. If I fail at my first attempt, I will usually try, try again, even if it's to the detriment of my sanity. I found a recipe for homemade fruit leather, i.e. fruit roll-ups. It looked so easy and strawberries were on sale so I gave it a go last Friday. By the time I threw in the towel 6 hours later, I had a big sticky mess on my hands and no fruit rolls ups. After pondering the process for a few days, and realizing there actually is a difference between parchment and wax paper, I talked myself into giving it another try. I looked up alternative recipes and made a few changes to my original plan and managed to succeed. Like most DIY food things I try, it's way easier (and cheaper) to just buy it.

game day

2011-09-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for some football!?!? College football has to be my favorite sport. I'm not sure why because it's not like I could quote you stats and game day highlights. Maybe it's because college football ushers in fall which is definitely my favorite season. I love this time of year when the weather starts to change and food becomes especially yummy. All that being said, there's something this year brings that doesn't exactly thrill me. I am now a football widow. It's similar to many Arkansas women who find themselves all alone once hunting season starts. The fellowship program at UNM comes with the perk of getting to be on the sideline at all the home football games. Jon is right there in the thick of it ready to attend to any injuries that occur during the game. I am fascinated by this role and fired off tons of questions after last nights game. I almost couldn't contain myself when he told me he got to come out of the tunnel after all the players ran out! While I am a little bummed that he will be MIA every Saturday, I am so excited for him to have this, in my opinion, super cool experience. Go LOBOS!

Ready to outfit the family.

I interrupted Landon's lunch for this picture which is why he is less than happy.

morning announcements

2011-09-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

day by day

2011-08-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

Time seems to be flying by these days. We have been in Albuquerque for over a month, Landon is 6 weeks old and August is almost over. We are in a pretty good routine most days. I found a stroller group to work out with on MWF and Presley goes to school on TTH. No wonder our weeks go by so quickly! The weather is still pretty hot but most afternoons bring dark rain clouds that offer a temporary break from the heat. We spend a lot of our evenings playing outside in the back"yard". We braved the high temps and ventured out to the zoo last weekend. We had a great time and definitely will be making a return trip once the weather turns a little cooler. Jon is working hard but has been home for dinner most nights. He seems to be enjoying his new position and has even had the time to play a couple of rounds of golf. Thanks for checking in on the Wyatts of New Mexico.

A tutu makes everyday special.

Getting a lift from daddy.

Landon doing as the animals do.

I have never seen an elephant "swim" before.

This father/child pair looked like they were having so much fun in the water.

Needing a break from pictures.

LOL

Tummy time = scrunchy face.

So sweet.

Finally! A decent picture for the birth announcement.

The latest...8.25.11

the latest buzz

2011-08-16T20:23:00.000-07:00

Today was Presley's first day at St. John's UMC Preschool. After 5 weeks together, both Presley and I needed a break from each other. There are 12 kids in her class and 2 sweet teachers. Here's to a great year at St. John's!

I am totally one of those parents who get into making things for the teacher.

The 2 year old class is called the Busy Bees.

The princess backpack Mimi bought her is almost as big as she is.

Going out for ice cream after a great first day!

HELP I need somebody

2011-08-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

Jon had to go to a workshop in Arizona 3 days after he started work so I called in the reinforcements. Mimi & Poppie made the long trip back to Albuquerque to help me with the kids. Unlike their last trip which involved working from dust till dawn, this trip was all play. We went on walks, played at the park, went to the aquarium and had lots of laughs.

Mimi and the grandkidS.

Presley in true drama queen fashion.

I should probably quit posting these pictures because it makes me look like a poor housekeeper but this was after another mopping of our tile floor. I think we're going to have to call in the professionals.

Presley's first trip to the aquarium.

This was the permanent expression of this shark. Scary!

M & P and Pres on the train at the Botanical Garden.

A ropes course with Poppie.

Dancing around in her tutu from "Grandma Mary Lou".

The sun makes for a bad glare, but this is what we wake up to on the weekends.

MLCECIOS #5

2011-08-12T07:33:00.000-07:00

Major Life-Changing Event Crammed Into One Summer #5

SELL THE HOUSE IN LUBBOCK

We have finally come to the end of our MLCECIOS series. We sold the house in Lubbock!! We put the house on the market back in March not knowing what to expect. I put a lot of time and effort into getting it in tip-top shape but month after month passed with hardly any lookers and certainly no offers. I couldn't imagine what we were doing wrong. I knew that God had a plan but I was definitely getting worried about what that exact plan was. The financial burden of paying for two houses was quickly becoming a reality. Then on Monday, we received an offer and after a counter accepted. Pending anything with the inspection and appraisal, we are good to go. I absolutely loved everything about that house. I don't feel like I got to say a proper goodbye to it and all that it meant to me. I realized yesterday that I don't even have a picture of Landon in front of the house that he lived in for a whole 3 days. All this being said, it's nice to know that we were finally able to sell it and allow another family to create memories for themselves.

homecoming

2011-08-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

In all the hustle and bustle that was our summer, I totally forgot to share some wonderful news. Jon has signed a contract with Ortho Arkansas in Little Rock. It's so exciting to think that this time next year we will be back with family. It's been such a blessing to experience life away but with 2 kids, it's time to be closer to "home". I am pretty excited about Presley and Landon getting to experience all the things I did as a kid. Here's to being temporarily Texans, New Mexicans for a year and always Arkansans.

picture post

2011-07-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

Rockin' the pigtails for the first time.

The effects of living in a home with tile flooring.

What little brother does all day.

Presley loves to hold Landon.

Such a sweet big sister.

I took about 10 of these before I managed to capture the "smile".

MLCECIOS #4

2011-07-25T15:33:00.000-07:00

Major Life-Changing Event Crammed Into One Summer #4

MOVE TO ALBUQUERQUE

The move was slightly tragic but things are finally settling down. We totally filled the 26 foot truck, plus all 5 cars and a tow trailer AND my dad and Jon's dad had to drive back to Lubbock with a pick up and the tow trailer to get the final load!! Needless to say, we moved a lot of stuff. It's all here and all the big things are in their place so now it's just maintaining some sort of motivation to get the rest put away. Presley and Landon have been troopers. When we got into town, the AC in the house was broken and it was 90 degrees. We had to camp out in a hotel room the first night but were able to move in on Saturday night. Another snag, the water heater and stove are gas so we couldn't get the gas turned on for 3 days so it was showers at the hotel as well. MADNESS! Everything is different. After everything having it's "place" for the last 5 years, it's been a bit of an adjustment finding new homes for things. Here's to our quick stay in Albuquerque and the adventures that await us.

The only dirt for Winston to do his business. Everything else is rocks.

Living in a gated community.

MLCECIOS #3

2011-07-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

Major Life-Changing Event Crammed Into One Summer #3

HAVE A BABY

Landon is one week old. He has been the best, most adaptive baby. We were discharged from the hospital late Tuesday afternoon and headed to Albuquerque on Friday. He is eating and sleeping like a champ. We took him to the pediatrician yesterday and he was back up to his birth weight and got a clean bill of health.

Ready either way.

Mimi & Poppie

Grammy

3 generations of Wyatt men.

We weren't sure we were ever going to be able to say that.

Another sibling for Winston.

Fairy Godmother Aurora

Landon's first bath at the Hampton Inn in Albuquerque.

the littlest wyatt

2011-07-13T05:49:00.000-07:00

The long wait is over and we proudly introduce the newest Wyatt...

Mr. Landon West Wyatt

Born on 7/11/11 at 2:49 pm

Weighing in at 7 pounds 13 ounces and measuring 19 1/2 inches long

Looking back at the detailed post I wrote after Presley's birth, Landon will get far less coverage but who needs to be wordy when you can sum up his birth in one word? PERFECT!

6:30 am

Jon and I checked into the hospital. They had had a very quite night and had our bed ready and waiting.

8:00 am

They began the pitocin which helps contractions begin.

1:30 pm

Bring on the epidural.

2:45 pm

Test push with the nurse to make sure we were really ready to go. After the first little push, she had to say "woahhh".

2:48 pm

Contraction. 3 pushes.

Nurse: "It looks like a girl."

Jon and Dr. Casanova simultaneously: "It's a BOY!"

Everything went so perfectly this time and Landon is absolutely beautiful. See for yourself...

Getting the word out.

A family of 4.

Time with big sister.

Homecoming.

< 24 hours to go

2011-07-10T17:12:00.000-07:00

We are scheduled to be induced on Monday morning at 6:30 am. It's been a little weird having the "D" day set. Jon and I spent most of the weekend packing and saying goodbye to folks who wouldn't be around this week. My folks got into town early this morning and Jon's crew will be here tomorrow.

Here's how I spent my last afternoon as a preggo lady...

I was given a massage certificate a while back and finally used it a few weeks ago. I must have been fresh on their client list because I got a call on Saturday that some therapists needed their continuing education credit so I cashed in on a free 1-hour mother-to-be massage. What a treat!

A pedi was a must!
Luckily Aurora felt the same level of importance and joined me.

big sister love

2011-07-05T15:18:00.000-07:00

Although the new baby isn't here yet (see below for the latest update), Presley completed her first Big Sister task this afternoon. Pres is very attached to her lovie which is a pink bunny head with an attached blanket. I thought it would be fun if she could pick out a special lovie for the new baby. Jon, P and I headed to a baby store this afternoon and found a 1/2 sale on the lovies which only left us two styles to choose from. I thought the brown, spotted dog would surely be her choice but she was sold on a blue bear (maybe she knows something we don't). She brought the new lovie home and carefully put it in the hospital bag. I can't wait to experience the moment when Presley can give her little brother/sister the special lovie.

Baby update:
I saw the doctor last Monday and there were no signs that baby Wyatt was ready to join the world. I have my next appointment this Thursday morning and we are hoping things will have progressed some what. I am planning on asking the doctor to induce us on Friday night. We'll keep everyone posted.

2 and a half women

2011-07-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

June means it's time for the annual girls photo session. It's fun to watch how much Presley has changed, not only physically but personality wise since we started taking these pictures. She does great at listening to what the photographer tells her to do and usually we can get a realistic smile out of her. Here's to our last session of just us 3.

MLCECIOS #2

2011-06-26T00:11:00.000-07:00

Major Life-Changing Event Crammed Into One Summer #2

GRADUATION

We celebrated Jon's graduation this past weekend. It's still surreal that we have been here 5 years and are now the ones on the way out the door. Jon's parents and my mom drove out for the festivities and we had a great time celebrating this amazing accomplishment. Now it's on to a 1-year sports medicine fellowship and another chapter in our lives. We are so proud of you Dr. Wyatt!

Ben & Joyce's last graduation????

4 weeks until due date.

Faustin Stevens, Jon, Dr. George Brindley (Department Chair)& Josh North

His graduation gift from the department.

The graduating class and their better halves.
Poor Jon!

Class of 2011

The prettier half.

MLCECIOS #1

2011-06-22T12:14:00.000-07:00

Major Life-Changing Event Crammed Into One Summer #1

RENT A HOUSE IN ALBUQUERQUE

Jon took a solo trip out to Albuquerque a few weeks ago and secured us a rent house. The house is on a quiet court close to a small park and about 8 miles from the hospital. It's a two story place so the baby weight is going to practically fall off. There's no grass in the backyard for Winston, but we think we can remove some rock and lay some sod so he doesn't have to do his business on the concrete. I haven't physically laid eyes on the place but Jon is usually more picky about house things than I am so I have faith in his decision. The official move date hasn't been set yet as we are waiting on one very important item that will be moving with us. The drive is only 5 1/2 hours away from Lubbock so we are planning to do it ourselves with lots of help from the family.

B9 & a spoonful of sugar

2011-05-29T08:12:00.000-07:00

My stroller group tries to plan a monthly Mom's Night Out. This time we decided to visit a local Bingo Hall. It was a wild adventure to say the least. I guess I just pictured bingo to be like what you used to play at Travelers games but oh no, this was hard core, serious, speed bingo. We wanted to get the most bang for our buck so we purchased the 18 card sheet. MADNESS!! The announcer gives you about 20 seconds for each call which would totally be enough time if you weren't looking at 18 cards! Each game had a different method of achieving bingo such as blackout, t's & l's, frame the free. It took about 45 minutes to blow through 6 games and unfortunately none of us walked away with a win. It's pretty addictive stuff and I wouldn't mind another crack at it in the future.

Our 18 card sheets!

Getting ready to play.

Moms gone wild!

At the after party.

For Mother's Day, Jon got me tickets to see Sugarland. It's been over 2 years since my last concert so I was pumped. Aurora and I got all dolled up in our cowgirl gear and rock the night away.

Country strong.
I borrowed the boots from a friend and was so worried that my feet were going to swell and I wouldn't be able to get them off.

the days of our lives

2011-05-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

To say that we have a lot going on would be an understatement. I continue to pray that our house here in Lubbock will sell so we don't have the burden of two house payments on our hands. We knew life would be hurry up and wait come this time but as each day passes, I get more and more anxious about the events of the next 2 months. All that anxiety has translated into me developing shingles. I woke up Saturday morning with a small rash on the lower part of my back. Jon's first guess was shingles but he quickly recanted his statement when he saw how upset I got. I confirmed the diagnosis with a friend who is a P.A. and began an antiviral medication. It really wasn't a big deal the first few days but now on day 4 it burns and itches. I am hoping that it will run it's course quickly and I can get back to normal. This too shall pass...

In the meantime, we are quickly approaching major event #1...graduation! Come June 17, Jon will officially be a graduate of the Texas Tech Department of Orthopedic Surgery (or something like that). I am so proud of him. He took his last call last night and won't have another one until he goes into practice next August. He has worked so hard to get here and I hope he can pat himself on the back for all he has accomplished.

talkin' 'bout your best friend

2011-05-19T06:51:00.000-07:00

As our time in Lubbock draws to a close, I wanted to take the opportunity to recognize someone who will make leaving that much harder. For the most part, my closest friends are those from high school and college. We are all separated by miles and miles now so I thought it was probably time to get a good friend closer to home. Finding a friend like that isn't exactly scientific and most of the time just happens. For me, this special friend to came along after the birth of Presley. Enter Aurora. We meet one morning at StrollerFit and my first impression was that she was loud, energetic, and when she asked to hold Presley after only knowing me for one day, a little ballsy. All these quirky things would quickly lead us to develop an amazing friendship. We soon became inseparable and everyone who interacted with us thought we had been friends for years. Her son, Jett is a few months older than Presley so it's been nice to have someone guide me on this journey of motherhood. I can't imagine surviving the last two years without her and am a little bummed we didn't know each other B.C. (before children). God definitely knew what he was doing when he sent me Aurora. She has been a constant support for me and we are two peas in a pod. Our husbands both work long hours so I joked that she and I should move in together and let the boys live together. Chocolate bunt cake and reality TV every night! It breaks my heart that Jett and Pres probably won't remember being friends. As I prepare to have another friend separated by miles, I am grateful for the time Aurora and I have had learning and growing, changing our hair color, crafting inside jokes and becoming the best of friends.

are you my mother?

2011-05-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

I had an absolutely wonderful Mother's Day. From the fresh donut breakfast to the quiet time after bedtime, it was a great day. Jon tried to convince me that Mother's Day was a time to show off how good you are at being a mother, meaning he should leave me to mothering while he played golf, but he didn't get very far with that one. (He was totally joking about this idea of course.) We spent the day together as a family and I loved every minute of it.

Muffins with Mom at PDO.

Trying to find a nice background for a picture at church.

Daddy getting some attention too.

A few extras...

Presley was Star of the Month for April in her class at PDO.

Showing off the 30 week baby bump and my return to the dark (and short) side.

one little monkey jumping out of bed

2011-04-28T08:10:00.000-07:00

I had convinced myself that it would be a few more months until it was time to jump this hurdle with Presley, but here it is. At our 2 year appointment, the doctor warned us about Presley crawling out of the crib. I had never seen her even show interest in this task so I just blew it off. Well, to my surprise, I walked into her room on Saturday morning to find her outside of the crib. I still use a monitor in her room and didn't remember hearing a thud or any kind of crying and she didn't appear to be nursing any wounds. So I told Jon about it and still brushed it off as a once off thing. She was tucked safely in her bed Sunday morning so I thought we were good to go. Jon went to get her up after her afternoon nap on Sunday to find her happily playing, once again, outside of the crib. We bounced her back in bed and cheered her on to show us how she got out but she just looked at us like she had no idea what we were talking about. Needless to say, we had to address the issue. They have these net things you can put over the top of the crib but we agreed it was a waste of money given her age and the fact that she was probably ready for a toddler bed. Luckily our crib is a convertible one so we removed the front and now she is free to come and go as she pleases. We cleaned out most of the drawers and are hoping our threats will keep her in bed as much as possible.

how sweet it is

2011-04-25T05:42:00.000-07:00

No, it's not another food posting. It's a picture of the cake I made to mark a very special occasion. The end of Lent!! I gave up sweets this year and this was by far the hardest sacrifice I have made thus far. I probably shouldn't have chosen to give up something that directly impacts my mood while pregnant. I was a bear! I controlled my cravings by eating box after box of cinnamon toast crunch cereal. Any way, it's all over now so BRING ON THE CAKE!

easter lily

2011-04-24T05:54:00.000-07:00

We got these pictures taken at the same time as her 2 year old photos and I totally meant to post them earlier in the week but potty training has taken over my brain. Jon is on call this weekend so it was just the girls who ventured to the early service at church. I had to give her a piece of chocolate to keep her dress on. This girl knows how to get what she wants.

potty camp

2011-04-18T11:12:00.000-07:00

The Wyatt's of West Texas have survived 72 hours of potty camp. This is definitely one stage of motherhood that I would happily pass on to say a Mimi or a nanny. I give the weekend a B with only a handful of accidents and way more hits than misses. Knowing that Presley was ready for this milestone made it much easier on me to buckle down and get 'er done. I know I am going to be grateful I spent the time and effort doing this now before baby #2 arrives.

How we spent most of our weekend...

time for some PT

2011-04-15T04:30:00.000-07:00

The time has come for us to beginning the process of potty training. Presley seems to have been interested in the potty for several weeks now but I haven't been quite ready. It's the first time I have felt like the pressure is all on me. For previous milestones, I feel like her instincts have kicked in, but potty training has a lot to do with me and how well I "teach" her. We are going to try the 3-day method where you allow them to go bottomless around the house for 3 consecutive days. I know it will take a lot longer than 3 days but this is how we are going to start. Wish us luck! Updates to come on Sunday.

Tools of the trade.

a little west, a little south

2011-04-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Jon took his final week of vacation as a resident last week so we planned a few smaller trips to occupy his time. First, we headed to Albuquerque to check out the town and look for neighborhoods we liked. It was weird traveling to a place for "vacation" that would soon become our residence. We had a great time trying the local Mexican food, learning our way around the city, checking out the zoo and mapping out all the Wal-Marts and Targets. It's hard to believe this is where we will call home in just a few short months.

Hanging out in the hotel room.

Jon and Pres are standing right in front of the polar bear.

How we got in our daily naps.

Slow and steady in the beginning...

Chocolate Monster!

The end of our week included a trip down to a ranch in south Texas. We have been visiting this ranch since the beginning of residency and were sad to be making our last trip before everyone moves away. The girls are treated to all the comforts of home - some even nicer than our own homes - and the boys get to be boys. This place truly has a way of restoring your soul.

Dying Easter eggs.

Sunset.

One of the wives made bone cupcakes in honor of our bone doctor husbands.

Some ATV time.

Hugs from friends.

Doing the "ring test" on my baby bump. The ring went side-to-side meaning...a girl!

in like a lion

2011-03-30T05:16:00.000-07:00

March has been a busy month for us. We are looking forward to warmer weather and preparing for the new baby and a move. Here are some pictures from our roaring month.

New shoes.

Bath puppets!

Saturday morning donut holes.

The face of an angel.

Donkey want a carrot?

Pretty in pink.

Our new diapering tools.

Working on discipline.

the evolotion of a daddy

2011-03-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

When Presley was born, I had no doubt that Jon was going to be an amazing father. He had already spent the last 5+ years being a wonderful husband so I knew the new role would suit him well. Over the last 2 years, I have had the absolute privilege of watching Jon evolve into an outstanding daddy. Presley worships the ground he walks on and is definitely a daddy's girl in the making. I still remember our 2nd day in the hospital as Jon exclaimed "woman!" after Presley managed to dirty her 3rd diaper in a row. Diaper changes live on but now daddy means hugger, launcher, horsey, dance partner, the list goes on and on. Jon spends countless hours a day tending to the needs of others and still manages to come home and give his all to us. He never hesitates to give me a break even though he's the one who needs the down time. As I think about adding another member to our family, I can't wait for him or her to meet the most important man in the world. There's no doubt that Presley loves her daddy and I can't think of anyone else I would want to be with on this crazy journey called parenthood.

March 2009

September 2009

April 2010

May 210

June 2010

July 2010

August 2010

March 2011

work it

2011-03-22T05:53:00.000-07:00

As always when Mimi is here, we headed to JC Penney for some updated photos. I was locked and loaded for the shoot with 2 outfit changes, the portable DVD player for entertainment while we placed our order and grand promises of treats. All of my prep work paid off as she did GREAT! She posed like a champ and did everything the photographer asked of her.

retirement

2011-03-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Presley was swaddled until she was close to 10 months old and we transitioned from the swaddle to a sleepsack. I thought it was way easier than bundling her up at night and hoping she would keep a blanket in the crib. Last week after her big birthday she wanted to make sure we knew that she was over the sack. I found her out of the sack 3 mornings in a row which is quite an accomplishment if you have ever seen one of these things. Some how she managed to get out of the sack and zip it back up. Jon had his theories but it still remains a mystery to me. Anyway, the sack has been retired and we are all sleeping soundly without it.

when the cat's away

2011-03-14T16:04:00.000-07:00

Jon is at a week-long conference in Sun Valley, Idaho so it's just me and P. Although I miss him like crazy when he's away, there are a few perks to this temporary single status. Here are a few of my favorite things...

* I get the entire bed to myself which is pretty nice during this stage of pregnancy when I can't seem to get comfortable.

* I don't have to cook. Not that I do any kind of great cooking when he's here but I really get to slack off when he's away.

* I can watch TV live instead of having to DVR it which is a big deal with all the crappy shows I am hooked on.

* I can talk my mom into coming out for some "reinforcement" aka shopping and pedicures.

* I can leave the lid of the toilet up at night which helps with the frequent middle-of-the-night potty breaks.

* I can make 3 trips to redbox in two days and bring home 4 girly movies to watch during nap time.

* I can drive his car which has way more trunk space than mine.

Here's to my week of a few things I don't always get to enjoy when the hubby is around.

monitoring

2011-03-11T06:42:00.000-08:00

I am sure every mom has uttered the phrase, "I wish I had my camera!" I said the same thing Wednesday morning when I woke up to Presley sweetly singing twinkle, twinkle, little star on the monitor. By the time I got my camera to record the moment, she was saying in the most evil voice "no screaming Presley." Gotta love the memory of a mother which is home to all the things the camera doesn't record.

** I have been trying to load a video of what I did catch on the monitor but an error occurs each time. I never used to have this problem. Any fellow blogger.com users have any advice?

happy birthday partner

2011-03-06T11:59:00.000-08:00

I have read somewhere before that when it comes to birthday parties, it's 1 child per year of your childs age. If that's the rule, Presley just celebrated her 53rd birthday! We had the best time on Saturday celebrating our little girl's 2nd birthday. Grammy, Pawpaw, Poppie and Mimi all made the trip down for "Presley's Pony Party". Almost everyone we invited showed and it was a very special thing seeing the kids interact with the mini horses and have such a good time. It hasn't rained in Lubbock in months and wouldn't you know it that it rained Friday night, but prayers were answered when we awoke to sunny skies on Saturday morning. I love throwing BIG parties and this one definitely fit the bill. Happy 2nd Birthday to our little cowgirl.

Good morning birthday girl.

The only western wear Jon and I own...flannel shirts from Target.

The spread.

She was more interested in the balloons than anything else.

The horsey cupcakes. These things were more than difficult to make.
Thanks to Grammy and Mimi we were able to get them finished for the big day.

New boots from her BFF Jett!

She would love and hug all over the minis but didn't want a thing to do with riding them.

I'm pretty sure she was the only kid who didn't go for a ride.

This little guy was only 6 months old and he was a big biter. Just ask Mimi!

Presley's ponies!

Working on some crafts.

Ready to gobble up her cupcake.

One part at a time.

The only pony she would ride. This guy was mine when I was little.

Opening a few presents at the end of the day.

High heels from Uncle Ben, Aunt Brooke, Ava and Macy.

We had to pry them off of her before bed.

That's all folks!

it's a...

2011-02-24T11:52:00.000-08:00

BABY! We had our 20-week ultrasound this morning and took inventory of all fingers, toes and major organs...well, almost all major organs. My willpower proved to be strong and the wait continues to find out the sex of baby Wyatt #2. The ultrasound tech was sure not to put any notes or pictures of what she saw down there in the chart since Jon can access these records. Everyone is amazed about my ability to wait but since this baby is going to be in a car and in a new house within two weeks of its birth, I thought we would try things a little differently this time. For the first few months, it will live in onesies and sleep in a pack-n-play and we've got those covered. So until July, we love you baby Wyatt, boy or girl.

A 3D view.

v-day = me & p day

2011-02-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

I love it that our holidays now seem to last at least a week; Valentine's Day was no different. Between PDO, our stroller group and other friends, we started handing out treats last Thursday and finally wrapped things up Monday night. Here are some highlights from our celebrations.

I am loving that I can spoil Presley and her classmates at PDO. I was called an "overachiever" by one of the teachers but, since there are only 6 kids in her class I am simply going overboard before she gets to school with much larger class sizes.

I signed up for the "healthy snack". A little fruit, a little cookie. That's my idea of healthy.

Pretty in pink.

Miss Kelsey's class of 5 boys and 1 girl.

Treats for our stroller class friends.

I love that my mom introduced me to icing tips years ago.
Icing always makes brownies better.

Jon ended up operating until 9:30pm on Valentine's Day so it was a special dinner for Pres and I.

Who wouldn't want to spend a special evening with this mess?!?

it's my party

2011-02-04T01:34:00.000-08:00

I had Presley's 1st birthday planned at least 6 months in advance so when I got to the 2 month mark for party #2, I have to admit that I began to freak out a little bit. I had almost convinced myself to go with a Yo Gabba Gabba! theme but was not too happy with my decision. I wanted to do something with a western theme but was having trouble finding the main ingredient needed for the grand party pictured in my head. Finally, after dozens of phone calls, I was able to locate the guests of honor necessary to make my party dreams come true...2 miniature ponies! Presley's Pony Party is officially on! I happily dove into everything denim and bandanna and am so excited about planning this party. Here's the birthday girl's party dress ready to go and look, I still have a month to spare! What was I worrying about?!?

no kids allowed

2011-02-01T13:49:00.000-08:00

I have committed myself to being a social butterfly these last 6 months in Lubbock and while a hosting a platedate is fun and all, there's nothing like a night with the girls. Finishing a conversation, wearing clothes without snot streaks and eating your dinner while everyone else does. These are a few of my favorite things! I joined a Bunco group a few months ago after not playing since we lived in Little Rock. It's been so fun getting together monthly with great women who have a love for life. I opted to go ahead and knock out my hosting duties before things got too crazy and had a great time preparing a meal for everyone. Jon and Presley escaped to a friends house and gave me some much-needed girl time. The best part, I only had to wash 1 dish when everyone was gone. Gotta love hanging out with moms who know what it's like being left with a trashed kitchen. Till next month...

Prim and proper...

Yeah right!

Love this picture!

accessories

2011-01-23T17:47:00.000-08:00

Oh what strides we have made from not wanting anything to do with the fru-fru of being a girl to insisting on beads in the tub, sunglasses at dinner and our winter hat in the living room. As long as it results in smiles like these, what mom could say no?

inside information

2011-01-18T04:50:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures of the little at 12 weeks.

remembering

2011-01-14T04:34:00.000-08:00

Two years ago I became a blogger and although I have been slacking on posts lately, I have really enjoyed keeping this blog and updating folks on the comings and goings of the Wyatt's of West Texas. We have entered 2011 and thus our last 6 months of life in Lubbock. When we moved here in '06, 2011 seemed like an immeasurable distance away and now here we are. Lubbock has been so great to us. I never expected to get attached to this place but we've grown as a couple and as a family and picked up lots of friends along the way. My lip puckers as I think of all the wonderful memories we've made here that have molded us into the family we are. It's such an exciting time as another portion of Jon's training comes to an end and our year in New Mexico will surely fly by. Before all that happens we have to sell our house, find a place to rent in Albuquerque, take Board exams, have another baby and move. WHAT?!?! Yes, you read that last part right. We are happy to announce that Wyatt baby #2 is on it's way. I am 14 weeks along with a due date of July 14. I know, cutting it a little close seeing as Jon starts his fellowship position August 1. The relocation to Lubbock wasn't the smoothest process so why make the move to Albuquerque without a good story? Here's to closing another chapter of our lives with a lively ending.

let's end this

2011-01-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

I knew the clever title would suck you in...When my parents come to visit, I like to have a to-do list so no one gets too bored. I mean, who wouldn't want to be have a list of tasks to be completed on their vacation?!? Anyway, I have been wanting to make some type of bookends for Presley's room to organize all those little board books. My dad took me up on the challenge and this is the end result.

Thanks dad!

Who knew the hose storage box could double as a wood working bench!

christmas in a single post

2010-12-31T07:03:00.000-08:00

Here's our Christmas crammed into a single post. Enjoy!

Making cookies for Santa.

Waiting for a taste test.

Who's watching?

Elf.

Christmas morning.

Gifts from Santa.

She was so much quicker at opening presents this year.

Enjoying her first dollhouse.

Winston is not a fan of the ZuZu pet.

Here comes Mimi and Poppie with their sleigh full of presents.

Yo Gabba Gabba!

More Gabba.

It's a new...

CAR!

Another round of presents.

Hugs.

Making cookies with Mimi.

Flour power.

Here's another present.

Boots!

A girl could get used to this.

The final present.

Merry Christmas 2010!

cough, cough, sneeze, sneeze

2010-12-23T04:07:00.000-08:00

Man-o-man, we have been one sick family lately. We all got hit with some stuff before Thanksgiving so of course I thought we were good to go for a little while. Oh no! Sadly, we all got a vicious virus again and have each been nursing it in our own ways. Jon and I lost our voices and have been going through tissues like crazy. I took Presley to the doctor on Monday and she has a bad ear infection and a nasty throat. I also went to the doctor and didn't have anything that was antibiotic worthy so it's over-the-counter for me. I took the time to disinfect every surface in the the house this morning so here's hoping we can beat this bug and be well for a while.

PS I had to go to the doctor again yesterday and finally got the prescription I wanted...for an eye infection!

Awe, Presley's first bottle of amoxicillin! I feel like we have reached a milestone.

A pharmacy? Nope, just our bathroom counter.

tis the season

2010-12-21T06:09:00.000-08:00

Only 5 days until Christmas?!?! Where has December gone? Between the parties and general jolliness of the season this month has flown by. Our fridge was covered with invites to this and that so it's no surprise that we're all feeling a little run down. We chose not to travel this Christmas and are staying put in Lubbock, just the 3 of us. I can't wait to wake up in our house on Christmas morning and not have to pick out clothes from a suitcase. Jon and I established a few Christmas Eve traditions before P came along so we'll see if she's up for some church, Chinese food, and a Christmas movie. Other than those little things, we are a blank slate and ready to start some new family traditions.

This is her new favorite thing. She pushes the chair up to the island and hops right up to be Mommy's little helper.

Awe, such a big helper with the m&m's...

Maybe not!

A visit from Santa at our stroller party. She wouldn't go up to him on her own but hasn't stopped talking about him since.

Christmas cheese.

Mom and Dad at the Ortho Christmas party.

Her first experience with a bat and a pinata.

I can't get enough of kids in buckets.

e-cards

2010-12-16T01:50:00.000-08:00

We made a special trip to a park in Little Rock for some Christmas card worthy pictures but with the loss of my camera, those pictures appear to be long gone. Feeling super bummed about losing up-to-date pictures of the 3 of us, I opted to not send out Christmas cards this year. Mom, Joyce and I took Pres to a place called Portrait Innovations and got a few studio pictures taken. So everyone enjoy their virtual Christmas card from the Wyatt's.

christmas goodies

2010-12-14T05:33:00.000-08:00

Last year, I was given a top-secret toffee recipe by the wife of my former boss. There are lots of rules that go along with the process including how cold it needs to be outside. We finally got a cool day on Saturday so it was time to make toffee! Presley was a big help with the pecan pieces although she preferred to hurl them like a ball at the chocolate rather than scatter them. Hopefully making this Christmas treat will become one of our annual traditions.

Awesome technique.

is it me you're looking for?

2010-12-06T09:43:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been almost a month since my last post. We were visited by a not-so-friendly cold bug quickly followed by an even more unwelcome stomach bug and I didn't think blog readers would be too interested in the details of either of those events.
We took an extended trip to Little Rock for the Thanksgiving holiday and just returned home yesterday. Presley and I flew one-way the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and Jon drove in with the dog on Thanksgiving morning. We had such a good time visiting with friends and family. Little Rock is home to two of the best babysitters I know so Jon and I took advantage and had a few grown up nights out on the town. We headed back to Lubbock together with an overnight stay in Ft. Worth and actually fared pretty well on the long road trip. It was nice to get home to our own space and start living out of drawers again. The only bad part about the trip is that I can't find my camera. I am crossing my fingers that it turns up because it's prime picture-taking season folks!

Here are a few pictures that Jon's parents took and a prayer that I can post more once my camera turns up.

Going out.

PawPaw learning how to entertain Pres with YouTube videos.

Pres loves white powdered donuts. Who doesn't?

We were able to be in Ft. Worth for Ava & Macy's 3rd birthday party.
So much fun!

Cupcakes!!

Party animals!

mall rats

2010-11-09T16:29:00.000-08:00

November means it's time for the annual girls shopping weekend. Pres and I squeezed all of our belongings into one suitcase and took to the air to meet Mimi in Dallas. We had a great time! We didn't exactly get to shop 'til we drop but we certainly hit our favorite shops and managed to bring home an additional suitcase full of stuff. I love to compare, so enjoy some '09 vs '10 photos.

2009 flight.

Saved by the DVD player and a dum-dum!

Rainforest Cafe.
This was the best meal I have experienced with Presley.
Tons of visuals and balloons.

Sam Moon 2009.

There's that handy DVD player again.
Sam Moon 2010.

Cinderella.
Mimi trying on my snazzy new shoes.
She wears an 8 1/2 and I wear a 6 1/2.

Chatting with the buffalo at the Bass Pro Shop.

2009 Cheesecake Factory.

I can't believe they call that a kids ice cream!

Gaylord Texan '09.

We were able to park and run in for this annual picture.

Where does the time go?

Matching in our purple.

Thanks, Mimi for a wonderful trip!

october wrap up

2010-11-06T05:38:00.000-07:00

What a busy month! We went non-stop and had so much fun. This is my favorite time of year and I loved watching Presley get into pumpkins, hayrides, cooking, arts and crafts and Halloween.

Pumpkin decorating.

Presley decorating.

Play me a song Mr. Piano Man.

Posing.

I think in the end, we made 5 trips out to the MaiZe.

On our trip to the MaiZe with StrollerFit, one of the kids got his head stuck in the animal board. They had to saw off a piece of the pig hole to get him out.

I have no idea how she ended up like this!

Along came a spider.

Making cupcakes for PDO.

Pumpkin carving.

Not too interested in the pumpkin insides.

M-I-C-K-E-Y

From not wanting to wear any bows, to....

Wanting to wear them all!

elvis has left the building

2010-11-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

It seems like we celebrated Halloween all week last week. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Halloween so I was all too excited to enjoy it longer than one day. We started wearing our costume on Wednesday for a trip to the library and wrapped up the celebration late on Saturday night after a party at our house. The sad part is that by the time Sunday rolled around, we were a little burned out and didn't even get dresses up. I am sure most folks are glad that I can stop talking about this silly Elvis costume. I really put in a lot of time on it and was so happy to see Presley enjoy it. Everyone thought she was a boy but that's okay. I'll take a few weeks off and then it's back to brainstorming for next year!

Party at the library.

Trunk or Treat at the Mormon church. First experience with a dum-dum sucker.

Just look at that Elvis lip!

StrollerFit party at the mall.

Jett and Presley.

Going in for a Halloween smooch!

Elvis, Janis and Curt.
I spent so much time on Presley's costume that Jon and I got the last minute ideas.

Party at the Wyatt's!

We dyed her hair for the party at our house. The collar of her costume was completely black but it all came out of her hair.

When Jon's brother came for a visit, Brooke brought Ava and Macy's costumes so all the girls could get dressed up and take pictures.

Minnie, Minnie and Elvis.

Thank you, thank you very much!

family tree

2010-10-27T09:38:00.000-07:00

After a great visit with Jon's parents, Jon's brother and his family headed out to Lubbock. We had a full house! Ava, Macy (3 years old in December) & Presley squealed all weekend. It was a lot of fun to watch the girls interact. It was a very quick trip but we'll see them again during the holidays.

Quite the team.

Jon's first trip to the MaiZe.

Presley was reaching for her snack up.

On our way to feed the horses.

3 little monkeys jumping on the bed.

Driver's Ed

Squeeze!

9.5

2010-10-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Presley and I are taking a mommy and me tumbling class at a local community center. We go once a week and hop, skip and jump our way through the 45 minute class. She does her best to pay attention and I do my best not to pull a muscle. Her BFF, Jett is in the class so it goes without saying that they tend to pair up and find trouble. So far, she loves the apparatus portion of class. She has mastered the springboard and balance beam. It's really a treat to watch her in a class setting. Who knows what the future holds for her.

Not our best side!

Fun for moms too!

She got lots of claps after this attempt at a headstand.

1-2-3 JUMP!

it's time to get your crayons and your pencils

2010-10-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

I saw this on a friends blog back in February (thanks, Alisa) and thought we would give it a go. I actually tried to do it for the 4th of July but got ice cube trays instead of cupcake tins and tried to double-boil the crayons down which resulted in melted wax splatters all over our kitchen. Needless to say, my second attempt at this was well thought out and done while Jon was out of town. I did most of the work, but Pres helped where it mattered most.

Thanks for the pumpkin mold Grammy.

Here we go!

And now for Pres! Hocus Pocus!

Keeping a close eye on things.

Yea! Pumpkin crayons for all of our friends.

family matters

2010-10-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

Grammy and PawPaw (Jon's parents) were in Ft. Worth and decided to make the drive out to Lubbock for a visit. We had such a great time! The weather was absolutely beautiful which allowed for lots of walks to the tickle tree and 3 rounds of golf for the grown-ups. It was really cute to watch Presley interact with Grammy and PawPaw. She liked to say, "Hi, PawPaw", over and over. (Awe, she is sitting in my lap as I type this and is going crazy saying, "Gammy and PawPaw!")

Big smiles!

Getting crafty.

Sharing PawPaw's apple.

Cheese!

I have been working on Presley's Halloween costume since the first of September. It's not that it's a hard pattern to sew, but I had to shrink it quite a bit which required a lot of fittings. Until now, Presley has run in fear whenever I brought the costume out but on Saturday she got all the way dressed and strutted around the house. I can't tell you how excited I was. Here's hoping we can do it again when it really counts.

this is how you do it

2010-10-08T18:16:00.000-07:00

Presley loves to swing. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you have no doubt experienced countless pictures of Presley swinging. Since you've already been inundated with swing pictures, I didn't think you would mind a few more.

I used to be the swing pusher but now P has figured out a way to do it all by herself...

Trying to teach Jett her super swing skills.

it's boo time

2010-10-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

It's October!! I get Halloween decorations down from the attic like most folks get down Christmas decorations. I could spend thousands decorating every nook and cranny of the house, and one day hopefully Jon will let me do just that. I am a little worried that most of my decorations aren't the smiley, happy, pumpkin-ish stuff that kids enjoy so I might have to tweak my collection as Presley gets older as to not freak her out. But for now I am enjoying the creepy and spooky side of Halloween.

falling slowly

2010-10-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already October, although you wouldn't know it by the lingering hot temps. September flew by and we are all too happy to welcome fall and all the fun things it brings.

We took a trip out to the fair and Presley loved the animals. She was fearless in the 4H building and ran straight towards the sheep. Once again, it was hard to pry her away from the "cow", which was actually a bull. In the rabbit building, we discovered that when bunnies pee, it can be projected quite a ways. We both found ourselves almost too close for that little bit of information.

Not sheepish at all.

Hey Goat!

There's the "cow".

I thought this picture might look cute in black and white with Presley in color.

Now to figure out if my camera can do that.

Crash landing.

We took another trip out to the MaiZe. Mom and Joyce got to take her the first time and I never miss a chance to visit this place.

The cow was hiding in the shack when we got there so she stood there staring at him. Luckily, he finally came out so she could moooo at him.

Feeding the goats. She thought it was super funny when the baby goat sucked on her fingers. I, on the other hand, clearly read the sign on the front of the cage noting that baby goats can mistake fingers for food.

Hayride.

Pickin' punkins.

Last year, I took so many great pictures at this little spot and this year there was no way she was sitting still.

On the move.

Look familiar?

The Lubbock Race for the Cure was Saturday. It is a dwarf compared to the Little Rock one but I always have fun attending. There is no way to maneuver a stroller to actually run so most of the moms just enjoy a leisurely 1-hour walk.

Ready to run, rather walk.

I designed the t-shirts this year. I wasn't in love with the way they fit at first. We all looked like we had saggy mom boobs because the placement of the bra was off. But seeing them in pictures and getting lots of complements on them made me feel better.

holding down the fort

2010-09-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

While Jon and I were enjoying the unending buffets and picturesque views on our cruise, my mom (Mimi) and Jon's mom (Grammy) were in Lubbock taking care of Presley. I think they both would agree that it was best that the two of them came out because it's hard work keeping up with an active toddler. They all had a great time playing at the park, eating lots of ice cream and shopping. Presley is one lucky little girl.

Picking her up from PDO.

The weeping willow at the end of our street has been renamed the "tickle tree" and we have to visit it everyday when we go get the mail.

When my parents used to go away when I was little, they left me a little present each day to open so I could feel extra special. I continued the tradition and think Pres is a fan of getting daily gifts. What girl wouldn't be?!?

Apparently this Sesame Street train is a little on the annoying side. Opps!

Getting the hang of this present thing.

Spoiled rotten!

I think Winston got a little jealous.

The best part about all the presents was that they were actually pass-along gifts that another mom was getting rid of so I didn't have to spend a dime on any of them.

(Insert a shout of joy from Jon.)

Park time.

They took her out to the corn maize and she wouldn't leave the cow pen at the petting zoo. Mom said she had the most puzzled look on her face when the cow mooed.

Snow cones are the best!

Playing at the mall.

Blackmail.

They even called Aurora one day so Pres could have her Jett fix.

Welcome home Mom & Dad.

She was watching Yo Gabba Gabba when we got home so we didn't get much attention.

rock the boat, don't rock the boat baby

2010-09-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

Jon & I just returned from a wonderful cruise to the Bahamas. It was such a treat to get away just the two of us. We flew to Jacksonville, Florida last Saturday and boarded the Carnival Fascination for a 5-night vacation. We had ports in Half Moon Cay & Nassau. This was my first time to cruise and I loved the days at sea where we just laid around the ship all day. We stayed up past midnight every night and didn't crawl out of bed most mornings until close to 10 am. We ate our way through 1000's of calories and loved every minute of it. Who was in charge of Presley while we were gone? Mimi & Grammy of course! And that's a whole 'nother post...

Flying for the first time in 1 1/2 years without a kid. I used both of my hands to enjoy a great cup of coffee on our 6 am flight.

Spacious accommodations.

Leaving the Jacksonville port.

Just the two of us.

Ping pong on the upper deck.

Formal dining.

Postcard pic.

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

Horseback riding on the beach.

Getting ready to ride in the ocean.

Mount up.

Splish splash.

I thought we would ride the horses in the surf like some sappy TV commercial but we actually went in up to the horses neck which was mostly fun until...

a wave crashed over us nearly knocking me off the horse.

Jon taking one for the team. He had to dance too!

Port at Nassau, Bahamas.

The waves made it too dangerous to swim.

Carnival Fascination.

Atlantis in the Bahamas.

Our dinner mates.

What I enjoyed most!

mommy & p

2010-09-10T05:34:00.000-07:00

Jon enjoyed a boys trip over the Labor Day holiday so it was just P and me hanging in Lubbock. I stayed up till 1:00 reading, cleaned out my closet and watched 3 very girly movies. While I enjoyed all this me time, I was definitely ready for Jon to come home.

SHOES!

Donut holes!

GO HOGS!

Pig Souie.

Go Red Raiders!

m is for...

2010-09-08T14:54:00.000-07:00

MUSEUMS!

My friend, Aurora and I went on a museum visiting spree during August. We took the kids to about 5 local museums. They had a great time and surprisingly, it was pretty entertaining for us as well. Presley loved the Agricultural Museum with all the rusty old tractors. My favorite is always the Wind Power Museum with all the windmills.

Science Spectrum

Fish!

Hide and seek.

Agricultural Museum

She thinks my tractor's sexy.

Pres hearts tractors.

Hands on.

Wind Power Museum

Classic Jett face.

The perfect day for a visit. The wind was blowing about 30 mph.

They were wiped out after running this hill.

Downtown Lubbock.

National Ranching Heritage Center

Silly monkeys.

Rock 'n rollin'.

Throwing a major fit because Jett got in his stroller and Presley wanted him to walk with her.

Trying to break in. Jett has the right idea...run away!

Presley loves rocking chairs. Even dusty old ones.

Silent Wings Museum

In the clouds.

Trying to get two kids to look at the camera proved to be difficult.

presley meets chuck e

2010-09-01T19:10:00.000-07:00

We were having the best time running around Chuck E Cheeses playing all the games and riding all the rides and then Chuck E came out. The video says it all.

sew long summer

2010-08-30T14:34:00.000-07:00

What's behind door #1?

My sewing closet.

It's actually home to that interesting octagonal window.

Sorry about the snow scape. I only seem to take pictures of the outside of our house when there's snow.

I have spent a lot of this summer perfecting my meager sewing skills. I still get pretty frustrated with the wording associated with patterns but I am slowly getting better. I consider myself more of a craft sewer but am looking forward to improving my clothing sewing. After all, Presley is sure to need a wedding dress one day...maybe, NOT!

Here are a few of my summer projects.

A big box that only weighed about 3 lbs. What's inside?

Bean Bag filling. For...

Presley's personal bean bag floor pillow.

On top of the mountain.

And some baby gifts.

Tag blankets, burp cloths, paci clips, & bibs.

Since I am all girl around here, I thought I would take a stab at something boyish.

how 'bout them apples

2010-08-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

I have recently developed a great love for fresh produce. Most folks know that I am not a huge fan of vegetables, but when it comes to fruit, well I like just about everything. This was my 4th trip to the local apple orchard, and I can't help but smile as think about how things have changed. Our first trip was shortly after we arrived in Lubbock nearly five years ago. We also went when I was pregnant with Pres, and then when Pres was much too little to enjoy the bounty of the orchard. Well, I would say she got to enjoy this trip; my little girls eyes lit up while running the tree-lined rows picking up every apple she came across. It was a beautiful day and there were big, beautiful apples for miles. I tried to control myself but found every apple bigger and better looking than the last. Like most trips to a pick-your-own place, my eyes were much bigger than my stomach and my cookbook. We ended up with about 8 pounds of apples minus a few ounces for the one Presley finally picked out to munch on. Time to get my Martha Stewart on...

Isn't it interesting that you can take something so wholesome and healthy, add lots of butter and sugar, and make it into something soooo bad for you?!?

17 months later...

2010-08-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant, I convinced Jon that every good husband purchased their wife a "push present", a gift to commemorate giving birth. He picked up on my hint and purchased me a necklace that would include Presley's fingerprint. We got the kit and have spent the last 16 months trying to get a fingerprint to send in. If you take a look at a little ones fingerprint, it is extremely subtle and I could never tell if we were actually getting a print. We finally decided to just send in what we were able to get and here's the result.

It comes with all these special instructions because of the type of material it's made of so no showering, sleeping or exercising in it. None the less, it will be a piece I can treasure forever. Thanks Jon, for a super awesome push present 17 months later.

are those trees?

2010-08-11T06:26:00.001-07:00

The only time we are blessed to see big, beautiful, old trees is when we visit Little Rock or head down to south Texas. A trip to south Texas it was. Presley and I packed our bags for a girl's trip to Brownwood, Texas, a small town about 4 hours southeast of Lubbock. We went to visit with the family of an Orthopedic Surgeon who graduated from Tech in June and took a job down there. Presley did great on the car ride thanks to a borrowed DVD player, and my bladder held and allowed us to make the trip without any stops. It was a lovely taste of the life that awaits us after Jon is finished with all of his training. Their house was amazing! It sits on 5 acres of beautiful wooded land, and the backyard pool was a nice bonus. We spent the weekend in the most kid-friendly house we have visited yet; swimming, playing at the park and eating ice cream. Hopefully we'll make this trip several more times so we can enjoy this little taste of nature we miss so much.

All eyes on the DVD player.

Such a great house.
Only 23 more months until we can have one like this too!

All smiles with Tyler.

Tunnel vision.

She couldn't get enough of this toy that she was way too big for.

A creek that runs behind the house. When the water level is up, there's a pump that takes water up to a waterfall.

Swinging on the big swing.

Trying ketchup with her hot dog for the first time. She ate more of the ketchup than the hot dog.

I found that Twizzlers made for the perfect time occupying snack but they do leave their mark.