Christmas 2012 - French Style

Don't have a heart attack.  Yes, I am posting two days in a row!!  Amazing what you can do when you have that little thing called t.i.m.e.  We have been eating a lot, resting a ton, and feeling human again. I am thankful for the time off that all three of us have together this week.

We spent Christmas night with Papa, Mamere, and Aunt Kristen.  Reid had been sooo good...and then he just crashed and was a crazy little man once we arrived.  Third house in three days, plus tons of time in the car, plus no nap at Aunt Lala's = wild boy.  Thankfully, he woke up in a much better mood on Wednesday, especially when Daddy happened upon Super Why, Reid's favorite tv show.  I don't mind it because it promotes thinking, alphabet recognition, and reading :)

Aunt Kristen joined us and we dressed Reid up in some of Papa's goodies from the study.  Reid just kept finding things he liked and yelling, "Want dat!  Want dat!" when he discovered footballs, baseballs, golf balls....

Mamere had set up the high chair, but Reid was NOT a fan.  He remembered the little yellow table from last time and it was a hit.  He was a horrible eater until we threatened a spanking every other bite for lunch that day (wouldn't do that, but he hadn't eaten well in a day in a half!).  Thankfully, dinner was much better on his own...so he got star cookies!

Playing with Mamere before bath time.  Reid loves to play "I'm going to get you!"  but his version comes out more like "I get you!!!"  and usually has a belly hanging out at some point. 

We had fun hanging out, catching up, and chowing down.  Reid enjoyed all the attention, even though he played shy for the first day.  We even got our yearly dose of Christmas Vacation one night, and the weather was actually cold, so it finally felt like the holidays. 

Christmas 2012 - Shepherd Style

I SO wish I had a picture of myself posing exactly like this about 33 years ago!!  Really, the only difference would be the purse I had dangling from that arm that's up. I laughed so hard when Jason showed me what Reid stole off of the shelf in our closet to wear downstairs.  Grammy, you'll sure recognize this...

Thanks to Thanksgiving being so early this year, it was a fast and furious week before Christmas vacation.  I went out three nights in a row--Bible study social Monday evening, team dinner Tuesday evening, and MNO (Mom's Night Out) Wednesday evening.  In between events, I had to finish Christmas shopping, finish my classes' Christmas craft for their families, pack, bake (I finally just gave up on that one), and wrap presents.  I was totally and completely exhausted by the time we headed to Conroe on Saturday, but it was so worth it.  Grumpy got a surprise greeting first thing.

"Hmm...what was I doing?"

"Oh, yeah...tackling my cousin Alex!"

 Reid enjoyed a tractor ride with Ben, then drove it all by himself.  I took video, but it ended up being really long so it would take forever to post.  He did seem awfully proud of himself, though!  Then he enjoyed some drawing time with Grumpy and the sidewalk chalk.

 We went to hear Grumpy teach Sunday school on Sunday morning.  It's rare to get everyone together, so Grammy attempted to take a picture of the kids and grandkids.  Of course, everyone did very well except our little wiggle worm.  This was the best he did...

All the cousins that evening, having fun away from the adults.  It quickly turned into a game of "jump from cushion to cushion," a childhood favorite.

We took Aunt Lala's car to look at Christmas lights, a holiday tradition.  We found some beautiful houses, including a favorite in Grammy and Grumpy's neighborhood that plays the light show to Christmas music.  I looked over and Reid had helped himself to one of his cousin's water bottles that looks similar to ours.

Sadly, the paper reported that this is the last year this River Plantation family will be putting up their lights.  I'm sure it's because it has cost them an arm and a leg to pay the electric bills and put up/take down this veritable "Disneyland," as we'd lovingly dubbed it.

The next day we enjoyed lots of food, fun, and festivities.  Ben had been dying to open presents (Reid still didn't have a clue this year) so we decided to let the kids open all of theirs.  Reid needed help to open his presents again this year.  Once he got going, he enjoyed it, but he'd still rather have us unwrap so he could see what's inside even faster!

Part of the paparazzi...

Alex, showing off his Aggie nutcracker

Reid loved the first present he unwrapped so much (Ramone and Mater from Cars) that we had to convince him to stop playing and see what else he'd gotten.

He seemed more delighted with each one...diggers, Matchbox cars, cute books, and lots of other goodies...

...and even his first harmonica!  It was hilarious to watch him try it and he kept handing it to me to hear more music.  Once he got the hang of it, he'd blow in and out to make his own tunes.  The funniest part came once we got home, though.  Last night, we were unpacking everything and he sweetly took his harmonica over to Dixie, gently set it down, and smiled.  "Here, Dixie!"  I was laughing as I told Jason and said, "He thinks Dixie can play it."  Reid looked at me with a "hello!" look and said, "Dixie can play it!"  Then he kept going back for the next half hour to see if she'd tried it out yet.  At least he's learning empathy...not really the way we expected it, but it was so cute!

AND then came the one present he was not excited about.  I have been trying to get him a Buccee's shirt for years, but they apparently don't make onesies or very small shirts.  But Grammy and Grumpy got him his first one...an XS that matched his cousins.  Reid was not a happy camper when we put it on, and it became funnier and funnier to us adults as we attempted to pose him with the other boys.  Ben and Alex were sweet and patient as we took picture after picture...and Reid slid lower and lower...and cried louder and louder.

Time for a Christmas tale, one of my new, nontraditional favorites called Moostletoe.   I hope Ben and Alex like it as much as the kindergarten teacher in me does :)  Reid bounced around the whole time.

Reid wasn't much of an eater, as we had anticipated, but he did pretty good on a meal one night, so he got his favorite treat, M&Ms.  It shocked us that he was willing to share them with Grumpy.

On Christmas Day, we headed down to Katy for a feast with Laura, Matt, and the Kirkhams.  It was fun to catch up with everyone and to see their beautiful new dining room furniture.

All the boys had fun, too.  This picture cracked me up because everyone was doing their own little thing.  Reid is always in heaven at their house with all the toys.  He did shock me...went right over to the LeapPad, turned it on, said, "Diego!" and acted like he knew what to do.  I don't know anyone else who has one, so I'm not sure how he knew to do that or if it was just a fluke...

It was a fun day in Katy, but we still had more family to see!  Northward and onward to Papa and Mamere's house on Lake Conroe...entry coming soon...  We hated the drive, (and weren't sure it would all fit in the car!) but the family time makes it all worthwhile :)  We are thankful for God's gift of our wonderful families.

Getting Ready For Christmas

It has been soooo hectic and busy around here that I never realized it'd been nearly a month since I updated the blog!  School is nuts this time of the year (and I'm not just talking about the kids, who are crawling the walls with excitement right now)...parties, report cards, planning for the 3rd nine weeks, etc.  And just this week, I've had three evening events in a row.  I'm not sure that's happened, but it's allowed me to finish Christmas shopping before/after them and Jason's been very sweet about taking care of the rugrat. 

In the spare moments, which are few and far between, we did decorate the house.  Reid was very enthused about the tree and insisted on redecorating the bottom branches all by himself.  I did everything else while he was napping, in hopes to not draw too much attention to the things he could possible destroy or maim.  I did not put out some of my favorite breakable ornaments, just in case...

Jason and I squeezed in a date night a few weeks ago before things were totally nuts.  We had a fabulous meal at Sushi Sake in Richardson, a place Jason has been hearing about for nearly a year.  The place fills up by 6pm, so unless you want a two hour wait, you'd best get there early.  We arrived right at six and enjoyed the most delicious salmon sashimi I've ever had, plus many other yummy delicacies.  Then it was on to the first movie we've seen since Reid was two months old...to keep in tradition, it was the final Twilight movie.  Jason is a good sport!

My playgroup (teachers and their kids) had our annual Christmas brunch.  Reid was pretty good for the first hour, but after gingerbread decorating, he became a complete toot and kept taking other kids' toys.  He went to time out three times and later got a spanking in the bathroom after he slapped me across the face and laughed.

Getting ready to decorate his first gingerbread house...

"Candies!! Candies!!"

The best Mommy & Reid shot we could get...

The next weekend, we attended one of the playgroup girl's birthday parties.  Again, totally embarrassing two year old toot.  Reid was the ONLY one who didn't listen to the instructor at The Little Gym and proceeded to run around like a wild child.  This has happened at all three birthday parties we've been to there.  But then he turned into a little charmer again at home and cracked us up with these pictures.  And no, none of them are posed.  It's all Reid.  Can you tell that he takes after Daddy? ;)

More help decorating for Christmas...

I am so thankful for this season.  It amazes me how just when you get pretty sick of a season, God has a new one waiting with different things you love about it.  Only He could invent such a thing!  Most importantly, we are thankful for his Son, whose birth is what Christmas is all about.  Too bad most folks just don't get it.

Thanksgiving 2012

I had the entire week of Thanksgiving off.  Can you say FABULOUS??  The only thing I would've liked better would be for it to be longer...and for us to see our other parents.  But you can't have everything.  We loved our time with Grandma Penny.  It was finally a visit that was long enough (but we still wanted her to stay longer!) to where we didn't feel as if it were, "Hi...bye!"  Reid, in true tradition, came down with some weird stomach virus thingee.  I'm sure it's something I tracked home from school because one of my kids this week has already had it (and I've heard of a few more)...throw up, random fever for half a day, and just general crankiness.  Fun times!  Thankfully, it was over within two days (and yes, I did take him to the doctor to make myself feel better) so he could enjoy his Grandma time :)  Reid and I missed out on dinner with Daddy, Grandma, Uncle Steve/Taunt/cousins, but thankfully he was back to normal on Thanksgiving.  We enjoyed fun times and fabulous hospitality at the Karins' house. 

Chef Steven, preparing the turkeys to fry:

 Taunt with the two youngest boys, Henry and Wyatt

 French Daddies, Penny, and Harrison

Our best attempt at a family picture with a very squirmy Reid. Hoping future years will hold better photo opps...but this does pretty much resemble our lives right now.  We adults look pretty darn tired and wrinkly...but Reid thinks it's hilarious.

The Frenches' kids and Karins' kids made up their own headdresses and performance to do before the meal.  I posted it on Facebook and can't seem to access it at the moment, so here's the still shot.  Wasn't even my kid, but it made me tear up because it was all their idea, all American, and so sweet.

After dinner, Reid discovered this little cart.  He was pushed around by the girls, pushed around by Henry, and pushed around by Harrison.  What's wrong with this picture??  Shouldn't he be pushing his younger cousin around?!

They also loved playing on Uncle Steve.  Harrison used him as a drum and Reid thought it was hilarious.

The youngest French boys and Grandma Penny :)

The next day, Jason, Grandma Penny, Reid, and I enjoyed a nice walk and played in the park.  Reid did actually play on the playground for awhile, but then decided he liked a little girl's soccer ball, "Reid's ball!  Reid's ball!" The family had a spare and was very sweet to immediately offer that we borrow it.

Back at home, I had to get a photo opp with Grandma Penny and Reid, who (of course) had to include one of his beloved pumpkins.  Not sure what we'll be looking for on walks soon with all the pumpkins disappearing because he counts them and yells every time he sees one.

That evening, the other Frenches (minus Aimee and Harrison, who didn't feel well) came over for dinner and fun.  I have a priceless video of Jason playing football with Hayden.  Reid insisted on joining in (Henry loved the ball pit indoors) and Hayden was trying his best to teach Reid how to catch.  Apparently, it's too long to post on Blogger.  But here's a cute one of  Henry and Reid doing a puzzle together...

We are so very thankful for everyone God has placed in our lives.  Reid has five fabulous grandparents, five wonderful aunts/uncles, and five fun cousins.  Jason and I have one crazy, trying, hilarious kiddo for whom we are very thankful for each day.  We are thankful for all of our service men/women who fight to keep our country free.  But most importantly, we are thankful for His Son.  The verse that always seems to come to my mind, especially this time of year, is 1 Chronicles 16:34. "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting."