Weekend Rewind

This past weekend, Jenny and I took off for Dallas. I had a conference all day Friday, and she was able to come along with me and visit some friends while I was in meetings.

The conference was the Orange One Day conference - hosted by the Re:Think Group. I will do another post on the conference. It was amazing.

This was our first time leaving Luke, and Jenny's parents kept both boys for us. I know it wore them out (the in-laws, not the boys...) but it was a great opportunity for us to get away and have a couple of quiet nights.

Jenny and I have been dieting since the first of the year, and while we did not go all-out on an eating frenzy, we did hit a couple of our favorite spots.

Thursday, our first stop in Dallas was here:

Friday, we met These Friends Here:

Then before we went back to the hotel, we shared a little treat here:

Speaking of food...I think Luke must have eaten the entire weekend. Jenny's mom used all of the food we sent with him, so needless to say he was fat and happy for the duration.

We sent Ben's Jeep with them so that he could drive it around their church parking lot/grounds/etc. He had a terrific time!

Thanks, Pippi and Poppa...for keeping the boys for the weekend!

Ten Months

My, how they change.

We love you, Luke William. You've filled our lives with the joy of your sweet, gentle spirit.

Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

This was the first time in our marriage that Jenny and I have spent Christmas Eve in our own house. What better time than our first Christmas with two beautiful sons?

I never imagined how emotional I would be as a father - but I am so head-over-heels with these two boys that I dont know how I survived without them. Christmas was such a fun time this year. Ben was into every detail - from Tiger, his Elf on the Shelf to opening a Christmas book every day of December leading to Christmas Day - he just loved it.

It was very difficult to keep curious little Luke out of everything, but we survived with the help of a Pack and Play and Ottoman to barricade the edge of the Christmas tree.

Our Happy Boys on Christmas Eve...

Luke smiles so big when Ben holds him. It just makes these two parents melt into a big puddle.

Can we talk about their names on their bottoms???

Christmas Morning, Jenny and I were the first to wake up. We were needing to make things happen soon so that we could get ready for church - since Christmas fell on a Sunday. Ben was great to stay in his room all night and keep his eyes covered until we made it into the den.

All he could talk about was Smokey the Fire Truck, so this was the first thing he ran to. Last year it was Stinky the Garbage Truck. Gotta love boys and their toys.

Surveying the goods.

Santa was able to find this $99 activity center for $49!

Checking out the stockings. Our quirky tradition is a sock monkey each year, and the boys' bathroom is decorated in Sock Monkeys.

I love it that Little People makes play sets that are more specific - such as this Batman playset. The figurines fit in all of his other Little People sets, so if he wants to put Joker in a taxi cab, he's free to do it!

Santa must have been really, really hungry, because Ben had this plate PILED HIGH with treats.

This was kind of Luke's face throughout the day - sort of confused wonder.

It was a great day. After church we headed to Jenny's parents for the day/night, then on to my parents for several days.

This time next year Luke will be walking and talking...and I can't imagine how fun it is going to become as the years go by.

'Twas the Night Before the Night Before Christmas

Jenny's family has a tradition of spending Christmas Eve together. I guess we have been with them every year since we were married. The first couple of years I even played Santa for a couple of the cousins.

A few years ago we altered the tradition slightly, and began gathering on December 23. This way Jenny's dad and I can be at our church services, other family members can go to their Christmas Eve services, and everyone can be home in plenty of time to get ready for Santa.

This little guy wasn't too sure about it all - but he liked watching all of his family.


Santa's helper arrived with plenty of toys for the kids...

Benjamin wasn't quite sure about the helper. He didn't want to sit in his lap this year, so we weren't sure how he would do when he arrived.

He was more than willing to open his present, though.

It was so fun to see because this was something that he wasn't expecting. We had told him for weeks that this would be Santa's helper and that the real Santa would be the one who would come to our house. He seemed to do fine with it all.

And then he surprised us all by giving Santa a hug. A real, genuine hug. I wish I had a recording of his precious voice saying, "Thank You, Santa!"

Again - Luke just wasn't too sure what on earth was going on. We're kind of a wild bunch, so he had plenty to look at.

Like brother playing rhythm sticks. And everyone else playing a musical instrument, for that matter.

Jenny's sister brought all sorts of instruments from her classroom and we all played something while we sang Christmas carols.

Ben and his cousin Dalyn are big buds. They're just 6 months apart, and she is the sweetest thing. Ben got hold of her Hello Kitty Mic and began singing, "Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News." Later they performed a medley of Christmas songs...basically various versions of Jingle Bells. Maybe next year they can bust out with Islands in the Stream...

Next Post...Christmas Eve/Christmas Day