Christmas 2012

What an exciting end to 2012!  We absolutely loved spending 2 weeks in Texas for Christmas this year!  We feel so blessed that Matt was able to take that much time off from work.  We are Texans at heart and it just felt really good to be home.  I must say that Callie's flying skills are much improved since our last flight.  She did a great job!  She did get upset with me at one point when we had to turn off her DVD player to land... but other than that she was perfect for the whole flight!  It's so nice that I can just bring coloring books, snacks and a movie and we're set!

When we landed in Texas it was in the 70's!  Crazy Texas weather... Then less than a week later it was snowing.  We saw it all!  Callie really enjoyed all of the time that she spent with family.  She got lots of attention from just about everybody!  We stayed at Matt's parents for the first week, and then stayed with my Mom for the last week.  At Grandma and Grandpa's house Callie had her own room.  Not just any room... a room equipped with a Dora the Explorer ball pit, and princess castle tent, and all sorts of other toys.  I'm shocked that she slept at all! :)  Nana (Matt's Grandma) spent Christmas in Texas this year so it was very nice to see her as well.  While at Grandma and Grandpa's we went to visit Santa, we looked at Christmas lights at Texas Motor Speedway and we also spent a lot of time with family.  It was great to spend time with Matt's sister Lindsay and her husband Steven!  We don't get to see them enough!  We really missed Jennifer this year but she spent a beautiful Christmas in Portland!  She had snow too!  Hopefully we can see her soon.  

Here is a first for Callie on this trip.... So we went to church as planned and assumed that there would be child care available... well, we were wrong.  So Callie sat with us in the service.  I was not looking forward to the hour long service... but as it turns out Callie didn't make a peep!  Well, with the exception of screaming YAY and clapping after the songs were over (which was just plain cute)!  She really understood that she had to be quiet and used her very quiet little whisper voice when she needed to say something.  She did manage to tell Grandma to "sit still please"!  Haha... Grandma was sitting still the whole time in case you were wondering.  Oh Callie.... she cracks me up sometimes!

We were also able to go to Stephenville for a family Christmas celebration.   It was such a wonderful time.  There was lots of land and animals to explore and Callie had a blast.  She noticed all of the horse "droppings" on the ground and decided that they were "Chile poop"! Hahah...  It sure was good to catch up with family that we don't get to see very often!  Oh and don't worry... Callie was absolutely spoiled rotten by  everyone there.  She had some serious loot to take home after that!
Then we went to Mom's house for Christmas Eve and stayed there until we left.  It was so good to see everyone on that side too!  My cousin Jordan and his soon to be wife, Katie were able to come and it was so much fun getting to know them better! Then on Christmas day we went to Oklahoma to visit MeMaw and  our Uncles. We really had such a great time (minus driving in icy conditions on Christmas day)! We felt so very blessed to see all of our family!  I miss hanging out with my Mom and sister soo much.  It was awesome to be together.  Matt and I also went out to the cemetery while we were there.  It was hard... I guess it always is... But I'm sure thankful that he is without pain and was in Heaven to celebrate Christmas.  We sure do miss him though.
Well, I'll just let the pictures tell the rest.... :)

 Callie playing in her room at Grandma and Papa's!

 Dress up and keyboard! 

 Grandma was rockin it too!

 Happy  much?

 Christmas Eve!

 Callie's new doll "Chloe".

 Callie's new Bible.

 The biggest smile ever... because she just got a Belle Princess dress.

 Love my Aunt and Uncle! 

 The men.

 :) So glad they came!  They are such an awesome couple!

 More presents.

 Saying thank you to Mimi!

 Callie loves her Velveteen Rabbit!

 Callie and Hannah! What a cute pic!

 Kisses from Aunt Lindsey!

 The Christmas PJS pic!

 Callie saying thanks to Aunt Blynda and Uncle Doug!

 Aunt Blynda made some reindeer food to sprinkle in the lawn! Hannah helped Callie put it out! :)

 Merry Christmas morning!!

I sure love my girl.

Halloween!!!

Happy late Halloween!
This is such a wonderful time of year.  The weather is finally getting nice and all of the holidays are right around the corner!  Most of October was warm, but we did get a few cooler days so I am thankful for that.  We had a wonderful Halloween this year.  We went to the pumpkin patch in town and went to party and then of course Trick or Treating! Well, I guess it was more like Trunk or Treating!  We went to our Church's annual Trunk-or-Treat event on Halloween night.  It is such an awesome community outreach.  They have free hot dogs, face painting, music and candy of course.  Members from the church decorate the trunks of their cars and pass out candy.  Matt decided to take a night off from school to join in on the festivities!  Our good friends Chris and Liesl came with us also!  Callie was such a cute little Minnie Mouse this year!! She showed a lot more interest in candy.  She has not had more than a bite of candy in her life, but she definitely added to her lifetime total on Halloween!  Her "Uncle Chris" kept sneaking her more and more... we spent a lot of time brushing her teeth that night. Haha!  Oh I guess you have to live a little! :)

Callie sure is growing up fast!  Callie is now in her big girl toddler bed.  She was trying to climb out of the crib, so I reluctantly asked Matt to convert her crib into the toddler bed.  She loves the freedom of being able to get out of bed.  Me? Not so much.  It's getting better though!  We had to put a gate up in front of her door so that she could understand the boundary.  Hopefully we will take that off soon!  She usually plays for 10-15 minutes then goes back into her bed.  Of course she tries every trick in the book like, "Mommy!  I need some water!!"  and "Mommy I need something" and "Mommy I need to go potty!" Haha...
Another big change is in the way that she plays now.  She is pretending like crazy.  She loves dressing up and anything that has to do with Disney Princesses.  I love watching her play when she doesn't know I'm looking.  She just goes on and on talking about all different things.  Recently she has been giving all of her dolls a check up.  So she listens to their hearts until they feel "all better"!  It's sooo cute to watch!
Like any toddler, she has a lot of opinions right now.  Very strong opinions! :)  But we are working on obeying Mommy and Daddy and sharing toys with our friends.  Oh it's hard being a toddler!  Callie is doing quite well with potty training.  She consistently stays dry for longer and longer periods of time and usually stays dry during her nap time.  We are still working on night time... we are not there yet, but we are close!
Well here are some pictures of Callie during all of the Fall Festivities!!  I hope you  have a blessed week! Much love!
Erin

There are lots of pictures... you've been warned haha!

Callie was very fascinated by the chickens walking around.

Callie and Daddy! Haha her face shows that personality!

Posing!

Callie was thrilled to see kitty cats!

Doesn't she look so grown up?

Yay! A Callie and Mommy picture!

Yum! Fresh apple cider from the orchard!

This was at our Bible study Class Halloween Party.  Matt and I dressed up as Napoleon Dynamite and his girlfriend Deb.  Callie was a darling little Minnie Mouse!

Pumpkin carving time!

These are all pictures from our Church's Halloween Trunk-or-Treat!

These are our friends Chris and Liesl!

Checking everything out from the comfort of her stroller... that didn't last long. Ha!

"Trick or Treat"!!

I have never seen her sit this still!

Cute little Minnie Mouse with a bow!

Arizona Trip!!

In September we were able to meet up with Matt's parents in Phoenix, Arizona for Nana's Birthday.  Nana is Matt's grandma (Marty's mom).  We had such a great time!  It had been so long since we had seen Nana last!  It was at our wedding... 6 years ago!  Nana turned 85 on her birthday and as a surprise Marty, Debbie, Matt, Callie, Chile and I showed up at her party!  She had no idea that we were coming so she was quite surprised!  She was happy to meet Callie and Callie was happy to finally meet her!  They had a great time together!  Nana even let Callie help her blow out her birthday candles.

Callie really enjoyed the whole trip!  Her favorite parts were going to Nana's church on Sunday and the hotel in general.  She loves staying in hotels.  I guess that makes sense because I used to love it as a kid too!  I remember that every time we stayed in a hotel as a family we would get in the room and the first thing that Dad, Lindsey and I would do is jump on the beds.  Haha! I bet you can guess who came up with that idea... no, not the children... my Dad!  I love how spontaneous and fun he was! I sure miss him a lot.  Fond memories...  Now all i think about when I stay in a hotel is germs... hahahaha.  Callie was spoiled rotten on this trip.  She's a lucky girl to have such wonderful Grandparents.  I think she thought it was HER birthday... haha.  She got several presents and even got to go to Chuck E Cheese!  She always loves that.  We were also able to find a local park to go and play at.  I must say, I'm a little jealous of Phoenix.  That actually have real trees and grass.  I guess we have real trees... they are just real small!!!

It was lovely getting to meet Marty's side of the family.  I had never met any of these people, besides Nana, and I feel blessed to have gotten to know them.  They were all so friendly and welcoming.  Hopefully we will get to visit them some more while we are stationed here.  It was only a 5 hour drive or so!

Well here are the pictures from our wonderful trip!  I'm so glad it worked out that we were able to go. We love Nana and we are so thrilled that we got to see her.

Callie and Grandpa reading a story!

Wheeeeee!  

At the park!  Of course she would want to climb that... haha!

Nana's 85th Birthday!

They had a great time!

I thought this pic was funny, notice how much Callie is cooperating... and also pulling my hair... haha

Trying to get a picture with Nana! Cute!

Marty, Nana and Debbie.

Matt with his cousin Stephen.

The bestest puppy in the world.... CHILE!

More pictures at the park.  Look at this tree! I wish we had trees like this!!!

A good one of Marty and Matt.

Grandma joined in on the fun!

My sweetie.

Aw! Her smile!!!!

Yea, these are out of order... but again Nana's Birthday!

Nana looking at her photo album of Callie!

Precious! Can you believe Nana turned 85! She looks amazing!!!

Chuck E Cheese. 

Cute!

Callie was listening to the "band".

She enjoyed being spoiled on this trip!