Christmas time!

Merry Christmas! Before we got out for the break I enjoyed some Christmas party fun with my class and popping on down to Easton's class for his party. 

And Emerson turned 8 months old! I totally forgot to post on here, but this is the picture we took and posted :) Sweet girl! She is now waving, has her 2 bottom teeth and still just goes with the flow. She already tries to be independent if we are helping her do something, she will push our hand away. She is always happy and still only fusses if she is hungry or tired, in which case she will whip her head back. She is babbling more and copies us when we make sounds to her. {Or the people sitting next to us at Chick-Fil-A coughing, she copied them too haha} She is in size 3 diapers and 18 month clothes. She got to see her Babcia and Grandad and had a lot of fun with her first Christmas! Happy 8 months baby girl! 

We went to Sowell Farms like we do every year and enjoyed the lights and train ride, followed by walking around looking at blow ups. 

It was Emerson's first experience with all of the lights, so I was telling Easton about his first time ever there and the hilarious picture we had of him from our night out, so we decided to re-make it :) Goodness time flies! 

 Kylie has been in town for her break and we were able to spend the day at Sams Fun City which was a lot of fun!

I cannot believe she is 13 now! 

We did go-carts, laser tag and arcade games. 

The next day pop and nanny were headed out to the beach, so I packed a quick diaper bag and we headed out

 Emerson loved the sand! And only attempted to eat it a couple times :) 

Then daddy was off and we got ready for Santa! Poor Drake had a stomach bug earlier in the week and after kicking that he ended up with fever and aches on Christmas Eve. Bleach has been used a lot in the house over the break and praying the babies stay healthy. 

Christmas eve matching pjs ♥ 

Love this picture ♥ If you look on the tree, you can see an ornament that says "Believe" on it. We get a yearly ornament each year. 2007-First Christmas as a married couple ornament 2008-New home ornament 2009-I chose the Believe ornament after no luck of getting pregnant that year. I remember feeling so sad that Christmas {and 2010 Christmas} but just believing we would one day grow our family. Now in the blink of an eye, I look at this picture and have two amazing blessings under my tree. That believe ornament hangs next to handmade popsicle stick ornaments and "first Christmas" ornaments. I am so thankful!

Easton helping Emerson open her presents :) 

 The day after Christmas Drake was finally feeling more like himself, so we took the kids to Chuck E Cheese and hung out with the family some more. 

 I am enjoying my time off that's for sure! 

Christmas time

Happy December! 14 days until Christmas! We haven't done as much as I would have liked so far this month, but we have a couple things coming up I am looking forward to. {The in-laws are coming in town this week, we plan to visit Sowell farms and I want to finish my shopping and wrap some presents}We did the little parade that comes by our house, but last night for the big downtown parade, I was shooting a wedding and Emerson was sick, so Easton was able to go with my parents but I hate that we all missed it this year. 

I continue to try my best with this crazy, messy, beautiful life. Some days I just feel so stinkin tired and I hate it. I'm up at 5 to try and get the 3 of us out the door on time, work a full day with other kids and then want to come home and be the best mom and wife possible, and some days I just feel like I'm failing at my goal. My hair is 90% dry shampoo most days, I have bags under my eyes and apparently the morning of this picture I decided one earring would be a good look! haha I just hate the feeling of treading water and feeling like I can never get ahead in anything, but I will continue to pray and just know that God will lead me exactly where I need to be and I can find my strength in him. This season of my life is tiring, but man it is such a blessing! Okay, sorry. I'm done venting. I just want to be able and truly appreciate this time with my babies ♥ 

 Not only did Easton get to go to the Christmas parade with my parents but he got checked out of school last week and they took him to the movies. Lucky duck! 

 ♥ 

 This is what it's all about right here! ♥ Both of my babies in my lap the other night watching Christmas movies. 

 Easton had his basketball evaluation and will be starting in January! We are excited to watch him as with every sport, but this is his first season ever in Basketball so it will be fun to see what he ends up thinking about it. 

This girl is going to walk as soon as her little legs will let her! She is ready to be big! :( She pulls up and walks around holding onto things. I can't believe she is about to be 8 months old. 

And another Friday morning pic...celebrating another work week done! 

7 1/2 more days of work. Let's do this! 

fall break

Last week before we jumped into fall break we were able to finish up our guest bathroom renovations. 

We changed the lighting fixture, vanity top, faucet and knobs. I painted the existing cabinet and we added wood to the existing mirror and changed the wall decor and shower curtain. 

Drake and I also took a personal day together and it was great! We did some Christmas shopping and had lunch together. Then we went together to get Easton and were able to get ice cream and go to the park with him before getting Emerson. 

This silly girl is also pulling up these days. Slow down. 

Last weekend Easton and I went on a mommy-son date. We went to a paint class and made a sign that is a countdown to Santa coming. I think Easton had fun :) I know I enjoyed watching him and helping him with the project. 

 My shopping buddy ♥ Gotta squeeze in that girl  time too! 

 This week I was off all week for Fall Break. It was so nice! We mainly hung around here, but the weather was nice and I enjoyed the time with my babies and just a break from the every day hustle and bustle. 

 We went on an adventure one afternoon, Easton loves looking at maps and figuring them out along the way! PS-When did my baby start looking like he is 12?! :(

 Then, one of the days I took them to skyzone to jump around and play. Always fun! 

 Emerson watching Easton and his neighborhood friends play in the backyard. 

 One of the days we went downtown and played at the park before eating outside at the food trucks. 

 Then we had Thanksgiving at our house Thursday. It was nice having the family over. We played the lipless game...and my brother laughed so hard he literally threw up {insert big eyed emoji here} That will be a story to remember. 

Then yesterday it was a boys afternoon...Drake and Easton went to the Virginia basketball game since they were playing close to home and check out these cuties getting filmed :) Pretty cool. 

And, tomorrow it is back to the grind. At least it's only for 3 1/2 weeks! I am a work in progress on my mood when these times roll around. I am SO lucky to have the schedule I do, but sometimes having all of the amazing time off just makes it that much harder to go back-you realize how much you are truly missing day to day. 

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving...excited for the Christmas season and to squeeze in as many fun outings/traditions on the weekends as we can leading up to Santa coming! 

Fall Family Pictures