50 updates in 52 weeks

We have done a pretty poor job of blogging the past few years. By we, I mean me because I'm the only one who blogs. I've been thinking a lot lately about how to motivate myself to do more things, including updating this blog more often.

I've come to a few conclusions lately. The first is that I deal with grief by making traditions, routines, and projects.

For example, Aeryn always wears blue at her birthday party as a way to include her brother. Even now that I don't pick her clothes as often, she chooses to carry on the tradition :)

I'm not going to list all of the things I do but just know there are a lot! I suppose i figured this out because have been going wild with these things since we lost Poppa in November.

The other thing that seems to get me motivated is a challenge. Maybe it is the reinforcement of a reward following the completion of the challenge.

I know that the reason everyone reads this blog is for updates on the kids - no worries, it's also why I blog. So I am not going to waste more cyber space admitting to you just how weird I really am.

What this has made me realize is that I need to make blogging more important to me. So I am giving myself a challenge to blog 50 times in 2012. That's once a week for almost the whole year. I think I can do it! Not sure what the reward will be but as soon as I figure it out, I will put it in writing to hold myself accountable. This weekend you can expect the end of year wrap up so that should make up for reading through all of this boring drivel!

Test post

Look who has joined the current century! Testing out this iPhone app. If it works easily, expect more updates soon!!

What'cha got Cookin', Good Lookin'?

In this busy life, we often struggle with balancing evening activities like homework and baths with a good dinner and quality time all before bedtime. We've been trying lots of new and different recipes. In all of the recipes, we make substitutions for what fits our family. We use as many low or fat free ingredients as possible! For instance, if it calls for heavy cream, we use fat free half and half. Sour creams and cream cheeses are always fat free. Most of the time, I leave the onions out of slow cooker recipes because none of us care for the taste of slow-cooker onions.


Our current favorites are listed on the left side of the blog under "What'cha got Cookin', Good Lookin'?" section! Right now we are having lots of warm and filling meals that keep us warm during the Texas version of winter! Just add a few steamed vegetables on the side and a delicious dinner is complete!

Please share your links with us as well - we'd love to try something new that's a favorite at your house!!!

A December to Remember

We had a fabulous winter break with lots of sleeping in, lazy afternoons, and plenty of fun. Mom finally got well (having been sick with pneumonia and various complications since early September), completed the fall semester with an extremely energetic class, and graduated from Lamar University with a master's degree in teacher leadership. Dad finished up his fifth year working for the state. Aeryn finished the first half of first grade and Derek completed the first half of his first year in pegasus (that's a lot of firsts right there!)

Of course, the highlight of any December is Christmas. We had several celebrations and enjoyed visiting with much of our family!

The kids each opened a present on Christmas Eve to go with their annual Christmas Eve pajamas and book.


Finding matching PJs is becoming more and more difficult as they grow and develop their own tastes. This year, we got monkey Santa jammies for Derek and (pink) monkeys making snowmen jammies for Aeryn. They were both happy, so job well done for us!

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Christmas morning, the kids didn't wake up until after 8:30, so we definitely felt like we got an extra gift from them!!!


Their big gift from us were digital cameras that also record video. They were very excited and have taken dozens of pictures since the packages were opened!

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At lunch time, we headed over to Gramma and Papa's for more! We had a yummy lunch with all the leftovers from our big family dinner the night before. Lots of yummy turkey, stuffing, and cranberry sandwiches for all!

Of course, before lunch, we opened more presents! The kids were completely spoiled by Gramma and Papa, but they assure us that's their job as grandparents. In that case, job well done, Gramma and Papa!


Aeryn got an enormous stuffed dog that she loves to cuddle up with when she is reading! Clothing, games, a barbie car, and lots of other goodies rounded out her gift list.


Derek's wish came true when he opened a Zippity (to stay at their house since we have the Wii at home). He also got a really neat toybox to keep all of the other treasures he received!

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In the afternoon, we headed over to Aunt Brenda and Uncle John's house to celebrate with the Thames side of the family! The kids were spoiled rotten with gifts and love and attention! Aeryn was in heaven getting to play with baby Tylee and getting to hold baby Callie!


Aeryn with Papaw and Tylee


Aeryn holding Callie all on her own (she was so proud)


Watching TV with Memaw, Papaw, Mason, and Aunt Brenda


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On New Year's Day, we went to Oma and Poppa's for our last Christmas celebration. We had so much fun with all the cousins, aunts, uncles, and extended family! We are so lucky to live close to so much of our family! Once again, Oma and Poppa clearly lived up to their job description and thoroughly spoiled the kids (as did the aunts and uncles)!

Among the million gifts, Aeryn got an easy-bake oven and Derek got a Leapster. Sadly, there were no pictures taken because everyone was having too much fun opening gifts! But, we did get several other shots throughout the day.


Aunt Amy played a really fun game with the cousins


We attempted to take a picture of all the cousins and Oma and Poppa.. not too bad!


Aeryn even got to give Callie a bottle - such exciting stuff!!


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We hope that 2010 ended as happily for you as it did for us! May everyone be blessed with a happy, healthy, and joyful 2011!

2010 in Review

After the extreme chaos of the past eighteen months (grad school, the never ending illness,full time jobs, two kids, and a mama bird in our pear tree), life is finally returning to "normal" (as if we ever were). To celebrate, here is the first of what we hope are many blog updates! Without further adieu, ABCD would like to present a quick review of our year!

January

We went to the theater to see the Biscuit Brothers' Christmas show


Aeryn participated in the Kindergarten Alphabet Parade - she chose Pp as her letter!

Aeryn lost her first tooth

February

The kids were invited to a birthday party for one of Derek's preschool pals


Thanks to the Madden Family's generous Christmas gift, all the cousins got to go see Sesame Street Live!


It snowed - and not just Texas snow (ie slushy ice), but real snow


The Beck family grew by one when cousin Graham was born

March

Aeryn participated in the Kindergarten Egg Drop - she had to create a container that would protect a raw egg from breaking when dropped off the roof of the school. Proudly, she saved Humpty from breakage! Hers is the one with the blue lid that's upside down in the very back


We apparently had so much fun in March that we didn't have time to use the camera - this is one of only a handful of pictures

April

Daddy went with Aeryn on a field trip to the Texas Memorial Museum


We participated in Relay 4 Life


Easter at Oma and Poppa's house


Easter at Gramma and Papa's (ready to try to fly kites)

May

Derek played during the baby shower for cousin Tylee (Aeryn was sick and missed the fun)


We walked in the March of Dimes Walk for Babies - thanks again for everyone's generous support of such an important cause!


We went to a baseball game for Mother's Day


They even have a playground!

June

Papa and Daddy took Aeryn to the KidFish event at Pflugerville Lake


Aeryn got the haircut she had wanted for years


The kids took swimming lessons


We went to Momo's house to celebrate Mason's birthday


Oma took Aeryn to Book People to meet Junie B. Jones (thereby officially making her the coolest Oma ever)

July

We helped Maggie celebrate her 5th birthday


Aeryn and daddy celebrated their birthday with a special dinner at Gattiland


Aeryn had a birthday party at the park


We celebrated Bethany's unbirthday at the splash park


We went on a fantastic vacation to Galveston


Granny Janet came for a visit


We had lots of fun spending a month with the Pearce Cousins



The kids had a second round of swimming lessons

August

Daddy and Aunt Amy took the kids to the waterpark


Aeryn lost 2 teeth on the same day


First day of school! Aeryn in first grade and Derek in the pegasus program

September

We got to help Aunt Jill register for baby things


We showered Aunt Jill and Callie with lots of love at the baby shower

October

Derek had a birthday party with cake!


and presents!


Oma had a birthday lunch


Skellerina and Mr. Derek Skeleton went trick-or-treating for Halloween

November

Daddy went with Aeryn on a field trip to the public library and to the park


Aeryn performed in the first grade program. It was a patriotic program to celebrate Veterans Day


We celebrated Thamesgiving


The Adams family grew by one with the birth of sweet baby Callie, our newest cousin

December

We attempted to get a good Christmas card picture...


but the effort was just too much for everyone!

2010 isn't quite over yet, but we will share the excitement of Christmas very soon!!! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good 2011!!