Our Vacation- Now we owe Grammy and Papa one

We just got back from a 5 day Carnival Cruise out of Galveston with our neighbors Adam and Rachel. It was a blast!  So nice to get away from everything and have some time together and with friends.  We were most excited about not having to pick up food off the floor for a whole 6 days/5 nights. Know who got to? Grammy! Thank you SO MUCH Grammy and Papa- Uncle J and Aunt Ray- Aunt Amanda and Uncle Brad. Without all of you this trip wouldn't have been possible!

This was us watching the Super Bowl from the ship. I was very interested......

 So our trip was delayed leaving. There was fog in Galveston on Saturday and halfway down we got a call saying the ship hadn't even come in yet so not to come to the port until we heard back.  We kept a good attitude (we were just happy to not be home picking up food off the floor).  We were really just hoping to be able to get on the ship that day since they were supposed to dock at 4am and we were hearing about this at 10am and the ship wasn't even in with the people off yet.  Luckily our boarding time was just pushed from 12-2 to 2-5.  BUT once you get through all the lines to get on the ship, usually you just walk right on. Not this time- there was a big holding room where they handed you a number to board. We got 22- in the 10 min we were getting through that part of the line where we could hear we heard the number 8 be called. That was it.  I'm not proud to say we cheated, but we did- this nice man turned around and said- what number did you say you were??? Come with us we're boarding next. So we became their kids and went with them.  I think anyone that knows me knows that it would have been pretty bad for everyone if that hadn't have happened ;-)

With the recent cruise trouble I thought maybe I should just wear my life jacket around the ship. Just in case.

 We went to the dance club almost every night at the end of the night.  The first night we were there this little lady with the flower in her hair was there.  She had a flower in her hair that night too- she was just down on the floor by herself breaking it down having a grand old time. (much like me since my husband won't dance).  The first thing I told Chris when I woke up the next morning was that I wanted to be just like her when I grew up.  We met her and her husband the next night and she was SO funny and awesome - I hope I am half that fun when I grow up!  The other lady was there for a midwife convention she hung out with us for awhile too- and told us how awesome natural childbirth is. Thanks but no thanks.

 We stopped at Progresso and Cozumel.  This was Monday in Progresso - we got massages on the beach that were an hour long and 2 for $25. Can't beat that!

 Adam and Chris hanging out on the beach in the shade

 Adam and Rachel with their Red Solo cups that were a staple most nights

 Chris and I are still dressed up- apparently Adam and Rachel are 5 year olds and had to take their fancy clothes off right after dinner.  We didn't know that was happening. 

 Chris enjoyed posing like our towel animals each night

 In Cozumel we hung out downtown having drinks and shopping. Great combination. 

 As you can see

 I had to put this one in of the big TV on deck. This was the first time we were on a ship that had this. It was pretty cool- one night we just sat in the hot tub right in front of the TV and watched the movie Hop.

 Meanwhile our children were making their rounds through the family.  I felt like 5 nights was  a long time for my mom and dad to have to deal with all the shenanigans of our life, with getting Elliott to school and all that.  I wanted to be sure they'd watch our kids again sometime! Sunday the girls went to church with J and Ray- then to the aquarium with them and their friends Jennifer and Ava.  Monday while E was at school B had Aunt Ray all to herself- they are good buddies, a shopping trip and an earring trade took place.  Elliott spent Monday night with Rylee and Aunt Amanda got her off to school Tuesday- Rylee cried when she had to leave :-( Then it was back to Grammy for the rest of the trip.

Here are the girls riding with Tucker. I LOVE Berkley's face.

 With Ava at the aquarium

 Berkley was terrified of the turtle

 Aunt Amanda took Berk to dance- here she is in the car

 E at Aunt Amanda's house

 Patton enjoying Aunt Amanda's sonic ice

 While the girls took a few days away Grammy and Papa had Mr Patton all week. They had lots of fun- he is finally buddies with Baxter!  He used to scrunch up his face and scream when he came towards him- after finding him in a docile state sleeping he tentatively reached out and pet a tooth and the rest is history!

Patton is ONE!

Patton turned one on the 19th of last month.  It has taken me until now to accept it.  Its been a long process ;-) His birthday party was this past weekend so now there is now more denying it. Its official. It might be awhile before I manage to download the pictures and get them on here. So here's a bunch of P Money and a lot of Berkley to get started.  Poor Elliott- not really any pics of her, she's always at school or off running around. I'll catch her around here for the next round.

On Patton's actual Birthday Berkley and I made him cupcakes.  

I love how she cracks eggs. She hits them on the bowl then squeezes them until they bust open.  Its so cute. 

 She loves to work the mixer!

 She wants to get to eating her cake batter, the best part of any baking experience

 Since we just had a party with the family and a few of our friends we invited the neighborhood gang over for cupcakes to celebrate.  Poor Patton woke up from his nap with a fever and was not very happy.  Turns out he had strep.....and a double ear infection. Fortunately for him he had a well check a few days after this- he was crabby but sleeping well, and its usually not until they have a fever for awhile or disrupt my beauty sleep that I think its serious enough for the Dr.

 Check out my photography blog for pics of his cake smash. I am pretty sure this kid holds the record for most cake smashes and most pictures doing it.

 Oh! There's a picture of Elliott- see why there aren't many? She's too quick for the camera ;-0

 How cute is this guy? Seriously- I could just squeeze him until his little head pops off! Is that weird?

 Rylee and Amanda joined us for cooking class at Market Street, we had a good time...Mostly.

 Their turn to help the teacher

 Berkley was all into the meal preparation but when it came time to eat she didn't want any. Its cool. More for me!

 Such a little diva

 This is how I get a real smile on camera- chase her

 Peek a Boo

 LOVE HIM

Last one

 I lied

A few Berkley isms

B: Why does daddy have different skin than us?

Me: I don't know- what kind of skin does he have?

B: Hairy skin

Talking to Rylee

B: Sometimes I'm not very nice,  but today I am sugar plum sweet

Talking to a friend

B: Patton has strek (strep) and an eak confection (ear infection)

Hanging out, Barbie Jeeps and Haircuts

I love this pic of them. Berkley is probably getting ready to snap his neck but it looks like she's being sweet.

 Lazy morning around the house

 Patton put on some cool guy clothes and was having fun dancing while Elliott sang

 P got to go for his first ride in the Barbie Escalade. He thought he was pretty cool, he cried every time the girls stopped.

 I put this in black and white so it would look tougher.....Berkley used to ride like this too. I just think it so cute how he has his arm up like that.

 I love this pic of him and Gracie looking at each other as she drives him around

 I am so mean to this poor baby. Taking pictures of him when he's crying and wants to be picked up.  I just never want to forget how sweet he looks holding onto my legs.

 P went with Chris to Aunt Ray's salon to get his first haircut.  He really didn't need much of one, but his spikes were too long to stay up. I had to get that taken care of, he also had about two hairs growing over his ears.

 He was very excited about getting his hair cut

 He actually did really well, I told Ray she needed one of those little cars and TVs, but she's so good she didn't even need it!

 Check out those spikes

 All done! Handsome as ever :-)

NYE- a little rowdy

I have to start this post by saying how wonderful and amazing my parents are.  My sister was having a small get together at their house so her kids were going to my parents house.  Being that all our other babysitters are in their 20s it was a little hard to find someone willing to come sit at our house. Seeing that all our kids are little and crazy it would be a bit much to send all 5 over for the whole night. My dad came over to watch our kids so that we could go too!  The girls thought it was pretty cool that papa came to babysit. Elliott told me "Papa let us have popcorn on the couch because he didn't know the rules." Um yeah E- but you did....Nice huh? Its whatev apparently daddy lets them eat popcorn on the couch too.  Maybe he doesn't know the rules either ;-)

So we show up at the time we said we would. Because we're nothing if not on time and found an empty house.  I gave my sister a lot of lip about that.  Chris and I settled on the porch for a bit to wait for them to get back from dinner.  I decided I needed some pictures of our wait so I could call her out on our blog.

We decided to do a shout out to Berk with our pirate faces

 My brother and sister- the two coolest kids I know

 My little sweater thing kept creeping up toward my neck so Amanda thought we should try to tape it.

 She got a little out of hand with the tape..... Maybe Amanda and I got a little out of control...... its well deserved though!  Its been a year and a half of back to back pregnancies.  Its the first time we've really gotten to relax together with no kids around!

 Hanging out on the patio

 The guys.  Were unable to squeeze together for a picture. We asked Josh to get on Chris's lap and Aaron to get on Brads but for some reason they wouldn't.

 I got a good angle and of course Chris had to pull out the pirate face

 The end of the night, I sure didn't want to go.  Bless my husband for dealing with Tina!