Daily Life - November & December

We've been getting back in the swing of things after the holidays these last couple of weeks, and now that we're mostly back to normal routine here, I finally have some time to sort through pictures from November and December. Most are cell phone pictures, but they capture our daily life nicely, and I love that! Prepare yourself for 5 million pictures! :)

Cole's first time in the Bumbo seat at about 6 weeks old.

 Starting to get those big smiles!

He loved this position and looking around!

 Happy boy :)

 Ella enjoying a day at Urban Air

 Every now and then I blow dry Ella's hair and you can really see how long it is when it's straightened. Wow! So pretty!

 Love my boys.

 Morning snuggles

 The fireplace had been running and it was still putting off so much warmth.... what a perfect spot to snooze!!

Roasting marshmallows in the fireplace!

 Big boy just watching every move they make.

 Mmmm-mmm.

 We have all battled allergies, sinus issues, and colds these last few months. Ella had to miss one day of school, I know she didn't feel good!!

 Bundled babies!

 Cheering on the Cowboys!

Happy boy after he slept through the night for the first time. This was when he was about 8 weeks old. 

 Enjoying lunch outside over Thanksgiving break.

 Cole fell asleep nursing and Carter snuggled up to us while watching TV.

 Sleepy smiles.... and that dimple!

 Bedtime fun with big sis!

 He was so happy on this particular night!

 :)

 3 going on 13

 Carter's obsession with writing and drawing continues.

 One of his many creative expressions :)

 Ella pushing her baby stroller around the house in my boots.

Sleeping (and warm!) Target shopping buddy.

Love that little booty

 Cutie

 Cole and his friend Grace. Cole was about 9 weeks, and Grace about 2 weeks old here.

 Look at her stretch! (She's wearing an Ella hand-me-down, too, love it!)

 Just talking to each other

 Good morning beautiful!

 Playing babies with Cole, ha!

 Sweet helpers (when they're not fighting over him)

Cole likes to ride facing the front now that he has good head control. This was one day when we walked to get Carter from school. 

 I swear, I think Ella pretended to be Mary just about the entire month of December. Complete with Mary costume!

 So many sweet brother pictures.

 Loving on my boy.

 Now this girl really is my Target shopping buddy. It's her favorite place!

 Cole was definitely over the shopping on this particular day, and Ella helped keep him happy through the check out line. Sweet girl.

 Happy kiddos!

 Love me some Cole kisses.

 Both in camo pants, on accident!

 Cutie watching me cook dinner.

 Cutie helping me make cookies that we took to the fire station.

 Cole's turn with the yucky stuff. I was in Ella's bathroom with him letting the hot shower create a steam room..... basically was dying in that sauna. But anything to help!

Our MOPS table had a playdate at Safety Town at the fire station after school one day. 

 The kids had a lot of fun, and actually learned a lot about what to do in an emergency.

 More lovin'... these kids give him a lot of that!

 More drawing. Current obsession is Star Wars, obviously.

 Laughing at silly Carter.

 Ejoying his new seat that he got from Nana and Grandad for Christmas

 Zoned to the TV, but I thought they all looked so cute sitting there.

 Playing Mary and Joseph again, this time with a meal.

 She's off to the Army!

 We had some girl time while the boys were at a bowl game.... so what do we do? Take a bunch of silly selfies, naturally.

 Love my girl to pieces!

 Cole had to get in one, too.

 HA! Just for fun!!

 I took Ella to the mall to play and see a movie one evening, just us.

 She always loves to ride the ice cream truck there. It's the little things :)

 We have found our hands, and they're in our mouth 24/7! Pretty darn cute!

 Tummy play time!

 Took the big kids to jump at a bounce house place over Christmas break, and Cole was pretty happy to be there and watch all the action.

 Nursing a hungry baby again....

 Posing with a cool robot outside of one of our favorite restaurants.

 

 This is how we get both the laundry and the baby upstairs in one trip. He's not so sure.

 Cuties all in stripes.

 He's starting to snuggle that lovey!

 <3 p="">

 Playing with my big girl, you'd think she was really eating ice cream!

 Watching the Mavs game with Daddy

Here are some other pictures I took with my big camera that I never got around to going through, going back to the beginning of November.

Sweet tummy sleeper

This play mat is his favorite.

 

What a pouty face!

  Precious boys

Trying to roll so bad!

That takes some skill!

I'm definitely going to try to remember to do a post like this once a month from now on because that was waaaaay too many pictures for one post!

Winter Break Fun!

Since the kids have been out of school, we've packed the last 2 weeks with not only lots of family celebrations for Christmas and birthdays, but also lots of activities just for fun! I think they've enjoyed their winter break so far, and it's not over yet! 

The weekend before Christmas, I took the big kids to a neighbor friend's Frozen themed birthday party at The Coop, one of Ella's favorite play places. Carter had never been and was dying to go, so I'm glad he got to tag along. :)

 

 Anna and Elsa came and painted faces and hands with pretty snowflakes. Ella was beside herself to meet them!

 Pretty proud of that pink snowflake!

 Most of the group

 After the party, we went back to our neighbor's house where the guys and Cole had stayed behind to smoke meat and watch football. We enjoyed dinner with them, and the kids had a great time playing until waaaaay past their bedtime. Ella and Maddie are such sweet little friends.

 The next day we joined my parents and brothers at the Superpit for a UNT basketball game. The kids enjoyed it..... Ella tried her hardest to get on the big screen, but that didn't happen, much to her despair. And Carter liked reading and watching the scoreboard, and learning and following along with the game.

 Cole in his usual spot. It has to be said, he is SUCH a good, easy-going baby. He just goes wherever we drag him, and never fusses or complains. As long as he has Momma close by to be fed by and snooze on, he doesn't need anything else. :)

 Crashed out on the way home.

 Eric's alma mater, Louisiana Tech, played in the Heart of Dallas Bowl this year, and you know Eric wasn't going to pass up the opportunity to go and take Carter with him! I think they had a great time, and LA Tech left with a win!

 cutie pie

 And the weekend after Christmas, we also took the kids to Medieval Times for the first time.

Posing with their souvenirs.

 Me and my boys

 Excited to cheer on the green knight!

 Family selfie

Again, perfect little baby Cole just went right to sleep in the wrap when we got there, slept for an hour and a half on me while I watched the show and ate my dinner, woke up to eat, watched and was pretty entertained by all the action, then snuggled up to me again and went back to sleep before we left. And of course, posed for this cute shot in his crown! Look at that face!!

 Fun with Carter's light up sword.

 brothers :)

 So much for him to look at..... he was just amazed!

 Riding home with their strobes going, it was like the Cash Cab! Eric kept thinking he was getting pulled over by all the red and blue lights in the rear view, ha!

 Fun night!

We had a fun New Years Eve! We had the Hornbacks over for appetizers, drinks, and of course playtime for the kids. 

Cuties playing dress up

 Cole hanging out with Daddy

 Big boys doing "work" :)

 The kids played so well all night long, but at about 10pm it turned into a sleepover for them and game night for the adults! Lots of fun hanging out and ringing in the new year!! 

So that's just some of the fun we've been having during winter break. The kids still have a movie and spending then night with Nana and Grandad to look forward to tomorrow, and then Grandma and Grandpa coming for a visit on Saturday!