Thursday, December 20, 2012

Galveston Trip

Eric's parent's graciously invited us to spend a long weekend with them down at a beautiful beach house they had rented in Galveston. So we packed up and headed down for a little getaway and some family time. Beware..... picture overload!

View from our beach house.
 Ella watching Carter and the adults on the beach from the balcony
 She spent lots of time out on the patio
 Family picture time at the beach!
 Haha... potty break!!
  LOVE!!
  
  
 Everyone!
 Last day there.... some more play time at the beach!
 Adorable!
 Just LOOK how happy she is!!
 Ella got brave and ventured into the water
 Running from the waves.
 Going way in....
 Soaked! And cold!
 Her hair really curled up with the humidity!
 Uh oh!! Oops.
 Storm coming.
 Heading back up the the beach house before the rain came.

This was Ella's first trip to the beach, and she definitely loved it!! Carter did too, of course! Fun times had by all! :)

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Carter's Christmas Program

Last week, Carter had his very first preschool Christmas program. It was so, so adorable!! He was seemed very proud to stand on that stage and sing the songs he had been learning for the last several weeks, and we were proud of him as well! I had taken a short video of him singing with my phone, but my phone totally bit the dust this weekend for reasons unknown, and I lost most of my media. I'm so, so sad about that, and I'm currently trying to recover some of it, so if I'm able to get it back, I'll post the video of that too. But for now, a few pictures.

Carter with his class
Big girl waiting patiently for her brother to sing
 Family pic afterwards.
 Nana and Grandad came, too!

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Santa Visit 2012

We took the kids to see Santa on Wednesday. Carter was excited and I knew he'd do great. But I fully expected Ella to flip out and scream. Well, she surprised us and was totally fine. Very serious in the picture as you'll see, but never seemed concerned about what was going on at all. Big girl! Carter told Santa what he wanted, and also told him that Ella wanted a princess and a unicorn, ha! Not sure where he came up with that, but we thought that was so cute.

A few pictures below.... Love this one of them at home before we left. Also, the two of them checking out Santa from afar, and the fact that Carter is rubbing Ella's head. He's so protective lately!

 
 
 

Monday, December 3, 2012

Christmastime at the Beckman House!

We've been busy little bees around here since Thanksgiving trying to decorate for Christmas! It took a lot longer for me to figure out what all I wanted to do this year since it's our first Christmas in our new home. With all this space, decorating opportunities are endless! But, unfortunately, our budget is not. So when I figured it all out and finished it up, I figured I should take pictures to look at next year, so I could remember what all I did! Just for fun and to document our first Christmas in our new home, I thought I'd post them here. I'm sure I'll be adding & changing it up a lot in the years to come, too.

Love having lit garland on the mantle! And our elf is making an appearance here.......

 Totally forgot to put ribbon on the tree before putting ornaments on. :/ Maybe I'll add it one of these days.... or maybe not.
 Fun way to display Christmas cards from friends.
 We started a little snow village this year. It fits here for now, but we want to add to it each year, so I'm sure I'll be moving this around in the years to come. 
 Carter helped us pick all of these out. We have a church, a large, lit Christmas tree, a playground, a fountain, a hotel and a library, and other various people/characters. 
 Garland in the dining room....
....and a baby tree that will eventually be upstairs in the kids' playroom.
 Nativity scene that my Mom gave me. 
 Lit garland on all the banisters. This looks so pretty at night!! 
 Our "way up high Christmas tree," as Carter calls it. Really pretty from the front of the house at night!! 
 Decorated window sills
 Very blurry pic of the lights on the front of the house, but you get the idea. :)

I love this time of year! Now we just need some cooler temps to allow us to get our new gas log going each night, and I'll be satisfied :)

Friday, November 23, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday! We spent the day with Eric's side of the family... yummy food and great company, of course! 

Some pictures from our day....

Waiting patiently for dinner to be served.
They love each other so much!
 Family photo shoot after we filled our tummies. 
 Eric and I so rarely have an opportunity to take a picture together, and I am IN LOVE with this picture of us!
The kids with their Grandma
 Oh my gorgeous Ella.......
 you're so precious just playing in the leaves. 
 So fun! 

 Handsome little buddy. 
He is currently obsessed with Jake and the Neverland Pirates, so I'll always look back on this picture of him with his Jake and remember that about him at 3 1/2 years old. 
Me and my baby girl

LOVE!
 And my best little friend.....

Eric was kind enough to take most of the pictures this time, so unfortunately he didn't end up in many. That's okay though, I love seeing myself in so many pictures for a change! :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your loved ones!