Joe vs. Snow

Joe's inital reaction to the outdoors of Colorado. He didn't like putting his gloves on and DID NOT like the snow. Good thing we live here in Houston. I bought him a sled and Grammy and Papaw took him on it and he cried the entire time. Poor baby.

Here he has adjusted a little to the weather. We are taking in the sights and sounds at the base of Keystone Mountain.
Actually taking steps in the snow. When he would here the snow crunch, he would get off it.
Sharing the driving. Thanks Joe!

Skiing with Maw and Paw

This is another picture that doesn't give this view justice. On a clear day, you can see Breckenridge mountain from the Outback of Keystone....simply amazing!

I must say, my parents are in their 50's and are still going strong. I am so proud of them. My dad can still smoke me everytime down a run.. I thought this would be my year. What also amazes me, is that he doesn't take very many breaks on the black runs....I can't figure it out! Good job dad!
My dad and I on a run in the woods somewhere in Keystone. When I was a little girl, I would just follow my dad right into runs like this...you would think I would figure it out.
A welcomed challenge by my dad and I.

My hubby and me

Some pics of Jeff and I skiing. Jeff did so awesome this year. He skied the Outback (This has no greens....only medium blues and blacks) at Keystone
and did great! He skied some blacks too.

Jeff and I about to hit Elk Run (Our favorite)

After a short break, heading to the Outback. This picture gives this view absolutely no justice.
Myself on Geranimo (A blacky and the longest run ever!!)
Getting toasty in the Gondola. (Best chair lift ever)

Favorite Things

This is one of mine and Jeff's favorite things Joseph does. He will take a book or in this case, a cd case, and just talk away. I wonder what he is thinking ,or for that matter, saying.

In this one, he loves planes, so all day when he hears one, he lets me know. He will usually say "Je" for jet, but not today.

Welcome Tilly!

We would love to welcome our new niece Matilda "Tilly" Belle Harrell. She weighed 8'1 and measured 20 3/4. She has brown hair and is absolutely precious!

Charlie!

Saw this video on a talk show (which shall remain nameless) and thought it was so adorable. Hope you enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OBlgSz8sSM

Our little Entourage

I entered these pictures in the wrong order, but here are Joe, John and Luis growing together. It really seems like yesterday we laid them side by side and took their first group picutre.

Joe 14 mo.,John 13 mo., Luis 14 mo. (The boys in their matching shirts provided by John's mama.)

The boys at 10 and 9 months.
The boys at 7 and 6 months.

The boys at 2 mo and almost four weeks old.

My Epiphany

This is kind of a late response to Katie's blog and her New Mom's Resolution. First, a short story. The other day a couple of mom's and our babies went to Chick-fil-a for lunch. Once we finished eating, we all made our way to the play area. While we were in there, my nephew Jack was playing by himself and minding his own business, when a little girl, probably a year older just started harassing him. She took over what Jack had been playing with, started laughing at him, making faces at him and everything he tried to play with, she would just shove him out of the way. Lindsay and I were, well at least I was, in shock at how ugly this girl was being. Lindsay, being 9 months pregnant, just got in between Jack and the little girl and put a stop to it. I was very impressed at how she handled it. I, myself, don't know if I would have been that calm if someone was doing that to Joseph. The best part of the story was before Jack and Lindsay had left, Jack had gone up to the little girl and asked her if she wanted to be friends and then started playing with her. I was so impressed by that and thought, wow, that is how we should all handle situations. I know somewhere in the Bible it talks about having a child like faith...to me, this is an example of that verse. I think it is hard at times because we have all been hurt, offended and our hearts have been hardened by certain people, but we need to be forgiving and go up to our family, friends, spouses, etc and say, "Do you want to be friends?" We need to have the innocence and pure heart and mind of a 3 year old and think of everyone as our friend, even though they have wronged us. So, my New Mom's Resolution is to be a Godly model for Joe in ever single situation and encourage those in his life to be the same. I want to handle every situation with Christ like character when Joe is watching or not watching. I want to teach him that we as Christians need to be the bigger and better man in every situation, even when the person deserves to be knocked out (I am not that violent). The way Jack handled the situation was such an example of Christ like character and an example of how great of a job Lindsay and Brad have done with raising him. They are about to have another baby any day now and I am sure that she will be equally amazing.

Kemah

Hmmmm. Even thinking when asleep (Notice his finger). He was so tired after Kemah...literally pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road and he was gone.
All aboard! Ready to ride the train with ticket in hand.
Mark jumped in at the last second with a great smile...Joe had a big smile too but I missed it.

Our little bundles of joy and Courtney. (L-R) June 1 1/2, John 1, Joseph 1, Jack 3, Mark 4, Luis 1, Lauren 9 mo, Allyson 2. I was thinking after taking this picture how fun it is going to be to get to show them this years down the road...hopefully we will all still be around here. This is such a great group of mom's and babies and I feel so blessed to be able to stay home and get to enjoy our little get togethers. Today we went to Kemah and played, had a picnic lunch and rode the train (it was a great ride for $3).

Taking Steps

Sorry for the short video. I don't have a hook up to my regular camera so I have to use my digital which doesn't shoot long videos.

Just A Mom

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk Office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is" explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a......?"
"Of course, I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom."
"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"What is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask, "just what you do in your field?" asked the clerk.
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, [what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom." Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make Grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and Great Grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates?" I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".

Bouncy Bouncy

For some reason this pictures haunts me...the fact that I am letting my child enter a dark tunnel. Good thing this isn't a real tunnel and just a fun obstacle inflatable at Bounce on It.


Joe making his way through the obstacle course.
I don't know what it is, but my son always gets hurt on slides, even inflatables. Here he is perservering after taking a spill down the slide...I believe he was trying to crawl down it and his arms got stuck and his legs came over him causing his to tumble to the landing pad.

Joe in ball heaven. I think this one and the train obstacle were by far his favorite.

Aeros

Joseph taking in his first Aeros hockey game. We had front row seats and he did really well with all the banging and yelling. What was also special about this night was during the intermission we took him to the food area and let him move around. While we were up there he took 2 1/2 steps!!

Hoop It Up

Here is Joe playing hoops and Grammy getting it on film. I never taught him to do this, he just figured it out one day.

13 Months

13 months today! Can't believe it. He isn't walking yet, but is pulling up more and more everyday and standing all alone more and more. He has nine teeth. He can say 6 words everyday and says many other sounds for words. For instance, his 'more' is 'ma', bath is 'ba', Elmo is 'nono' or 'uhuh', cause he wants me to push the buttons. His new food discovery is Yogurt...oh my goodness! Grammy lets him dip his hands in it and eat it that way...his favorite thing. He can make baskets in his basketball goal. I thought this was pretty amazing. His goal is in our livingroom by our window. The other day I saw him get his ball, place it on the window seal, pull up, get the ball, and then make a basket. My mom got him doing it this weekend on film...I need her to send it to me. Anywho, enough braggin.



His face when he drops something.