Whirlwind Holiday!

What a crazy week. From a quick trip to Lake Charles/Beaumont to see family and friends, to 4 days with Grandpa and Ellie as houseguests/workers, to celebrations with the Oberly and Harless families, it was a great and busy week.

Highlights included Alyssa's new big girl room. With her completely unaware, we painted the guest bedroom, furniture and moved her toys and clothes. Christmas morning began with her getting to see her new room. She slept that night for the first time in her own big girl bed! (Of course, Daddy did have to sleep in the trundle bed next to her! -- baby steps)

Cayden got almost as many toys as attention!! He's getting to be a lot of fun, rolling around, smiling and talking. The part where he screamed from Beaumont to Baytown caused some tension though. Someone doesn't like their car seat very much.

Celebrations with family were wonderful as always. Alyssa and Cayden got more toys than they'll ever need. Daddy and Mommy got lots of great loot as well.

One of the best moments was watching Alyssa learn to ice skate. Apprehensive at first, she had it down after a few laps. It was a small battle to get her off the ice. Guess we'll have to go again soon.

Overall, this Christmas was everything we could ever ask for and more. We hope you and your families had a Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year!!

Santa's Wonderland

In what appears to be a new family tradition, we took a quick trip up to College Station to visit Santa's Wonderland (http://www.santas-wonderland.com/) where we enjoyed a hayride, lots of Christmas lights, hot chocolate and a great time! We were joined by Aunt Angela, Preston, Zachary and Ellie and Grandpa! Alyssa loved the lights...Cayden wasn't as impressed.

Breakfast with Elmo!

The Houston Museum of Health offered a "breakfast with Elmo" for the holidays. Daddy, Mommy and Alyssa went for a great morning of fun! Alyssa was SOOOO excited to meet Elmo. She made us go back in line to give him another hug and a kiss!

She got to play and enjoy a lot of different exhibits about the human boday. The smile didn't leave her face for hours after we left!!

Terrible Trio

So - the doc called last night and informed me that I had the "terrible trio" plus some. My weekly soccer game turned painful last week when I heard several loud pops while trying to dodge a few defenders. The lady who performed my MRI said upon completion of the MRI: "that looked like it hurt like hell." She was right. Oh well...on to the verdict. I only tore my acl, mcl and meniscus. I also did damage to my patellar tendon and have lots of cartilage damage as well as multiple bone contusions.


I'm not sure what all that means, but it's mostly just annoying now. I don't believe that April was expecting this when she agreed to love me in sickness and health. She's been amazing in taking care of me and more importantly our kids. Thanks April!!

Oberly Family Trip to Ohio

About 2 hours before the rest of the world woke up, we pulled onto the road for 18 hours of driving. Loaded up in a suburban (thanks Angela & Corey) we began our trek to Ohio to visit April's grandparents for Thanksgiving week. 18 hours of driving in and of itself is not too bad. But when you add in an infant that needs to be fed every few hours and a 2 year old who is as impatient as her mom and dad, you've got the potential for DANGER!! Thankfully, (kinda ironic considering it was Thanksgiving week) the kids were both great overall!!
The worst part of the trip was our hotel on the way. If you're ever in Marion, Ill., do NOT stay at America's Great Inn. There is nothing great about it. It's a dump. The sheets and towels had stains. Oh...and the plethora of dead deer in the backs of trucks made for interesting conversation over breakfast. (evidently its commonplace for deer hunters to stay in hotels and hunt on public land in Ill.)


It was nice to be able to visit April's family in Ohio. Grandpa and Grandma Oberly were excellent hosts as well as Aunt Deb. They had lots of great food and plenty of activities to keep Alyssa and Tatum busy!! Alyssa didn't want to sit with anyone as she has hit that stubborn 2 year old phase. We did get several good pictures of both of the kids with their great grandparents. Enjoy!



















Finally - we got some cute pics of the kids by themselves and of our family and the whole bunch:

Pictures w/our Cousins

We got together today at Collins Park to take some pictures of Alyssa and Cayden with Preston and Zachary. We've got a couple of special ones that are for Ellie and Grandpa, but here are a couple we liked.

Cayden decides to try out for American Idol as well!

Cayden wants to be a singer just like his big sister!

Our American Idol!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Cayden is our little clown!!!

Alyssa is a beautiful ballerina!! She loves to dance!!

Weekend in San Antonio

April and I took a well deserved weekend off and went to San Antonio. We were lucky enough to meet Shamu and his friends for dinner!!

We missed the kids a lot, but it was nice to get away by ourselves. Hopefully we'll find the time to get away again soon. (anyone want to babysit?!?!)

Alyssa helps Daddy get ready for his soccer game!!

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch!!

Family picture at the church pumpkin patch!

Alyssa and Cayden getting up close with the pumpkins!

After we left the Pumpkin Patch, we went to Cy-Fest at Cy-Fair College. Mommy and Alyssa paint a pumpkin while Daddy and Cayden take a little break!

Cayden meets his Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles & Cousins !!!

Ellie and Grandpa Harless

MawMaw and PawPaw Oberly

Megan, Tatum & Scotty!

Preston, Zachary, Corey & Angela

I'm more proud of my children than of anything i've accomplished in this world. God has blessed April and me with two very special people to raise and we hope we can meet the challenge!! Alyssa is a sweet and loving 2 year old. Her brother is a challenging 2 1/2 month old!! I think we forgot how little they sleep at this age!!

Cayden is starting to smile a lot lately. It makes up for all the crying and fussing...and 4 am feedings. Thank goodness God made women the caregivers...our kids would be lost without their mommy!!

Alyssa is getting too big!! This is her first trip to Sunday School with her new backpack! She couldn't wait to show all her friends her Dora backpack!!