Post-Holiday Blues and Big News

I have to admit that I have a pretty good case of the post-holiday blues this year. I don't know if it is because December was so much fun, and full of so many activities, that now I am left wondering what we're going to do back in reality, or if it because of all the changes that are occurring all at once in our lives!
My dad and mom and are leaving for Rome, Italy tomorrow morning so that my dad can begin his new job with FAO. I am excited for him and this once in a lifetime opportunity, but selfishly I don't want him to leave because we are going to miss him so much. My mom will only be gone 12 days, which will feel MUCH longer, but we are not sure when we will see my dad next. We have talked about taking everyone over there in the spring, but I am just not sure it will be possible because...
After many prayers, and lots of tears, Sam has decided to take a new job with another company located in Fort Worth. It is a great opportunity for him, and he won't have to travel as much, but it means that we are having to leave our friends and family, and basically everything we know, to move. He will still have to work for two more weeks with BP (he leaves Wednesday) and then he will rotate with EOG Resources for three or four months. There is a strong possibility that he will be gone for the entire month of January! Just thinking about him being gone that long is enough to drive me a little crazy. Luckily, my mom will be home on January 12 so I can make her come and hang out with us when she gets back to College Station!

Christmas Activities

Carter and Justin deer "hunting" from the kitchen at GaGa's house.
Ally LOVES her new caterpillar!
Carter examining a rock in the pasture at GaGa's house.
Carter got a new hat just like daddy's and he won't take it off!
Carter helping daddy take all the matchbox cars out of the box.
Mommy reading to Carter and Ally before church on Christmas Eve.
Ally and mommy all dressed up for church.
Carter looking at all the toys Santa left for him on Christmas morning.
Santa left Carter new tools!
Ally loves to play on her new blanket that her Aunt DeeDee made for her!

We had a wonderful Christmas Day this year. Sam and I woke up around 5:30 am to get dressed and ready for the day. Ally woke up around 6:00 am and we woke Carter up at 6:30 am so he could come and see what Santa had left him! It was so much fun to see his expression when he walked into the living room with all the presents Santa had left behind for him and Ally! We went to GaGa and Granddad's house at 7:15 am and found out that Santa had visited their house, too! We had playing with all the new toys throughout the morning. We ate lunch at their house, and then everyone took a very short nap so that we could go to Sam's grandparents' house for dessert. We are so blessed to have such a happy and healthy family, and I can't wait to do it all again next year!

Baptism

Ally got baptized today at our church. It was a perfect day for it, and Carter even got to help pour the holy water!

Peek-a-boo!

Special Day

Wednesday was a special day for Carter. Not only did he get to perform in his first Christmas program, he got to stay up a little late and watch "Frosty" on tv!

"Oh, Wow!"

That was the phrase Carter used when GaGa and I decided to take him to get some cowboy boots like daddy's and granddad's. You see, one of Carter's favorite things to do is to try on daddy's boots. Although we don't have many of these moments captured on film, when I accidentally leave our closet door open for a few seconds, he rushes in there and brings out all of Sam's boots that he can carry before I catch him! Carter was sure that all those boots in Cavendar's were there just for him. We were a little worried at the time because he only wanted to wear the boots that were too big for him. However, GaGa went ahead and bought him some that are his size, and all it took was for us to get home and those suckers were on his feet before we could get all the stuff in the house! We thought it would be cute to take a few pictures of him in just a shirt and boots, but as you can see that quickly turned out into just a diaper and John Deere hat. It was his idea to get the tools out of his room and start working. He told us that he need to fix the "big wall," so for the next 20-30 minutes that is just what he did...I'm still not sure what exactly needed fixing, though! Carter has worn those boots everywhere for the past two days, and he is proud to tell anyone who will listen about his new boots!

Christmas Joys

We took Carter and Ally to see the Christmas lights at Central Park the other night. Carter loved seeing all the lights, especially the tractor ones! While we were driving home from dinner the last night, we passed the park and Carter kept saying, "More lights...walk...more lights." I promised him that we would take him back soon!
It was cold and damp so we had to bundle Ally up for her first "winter" outing. Although she slept through most of the walk, she woke up in time to see the best part...the Santa lights. Obviously, she was happy about seeing him...maybe she knows something we don't!
I took this picture of Ally this morning after she woke up (the bow cracks me up!). Don't let this pretty girl fool you...she has decided to stop sleeping through the night, and she thinks it is fun to not take naps anymore! Agghh! It just makes it worse when she uses this smile at you when she is supposed to be going to bed or down for a nap! Maybe it is just a phase (I hope), but I have already told her that she is much more high maintenance than her brother!

Happy Birthday Carter!!!

The day of Carter's birth!
Mommy and Carter!
Daddy and Carter!
Carter learning how to walk last year on his birthday!
Carter laughing at mommy a few days ago!

I cannot believe Carter is already two! He is such a blessing and is growing so fast! He constantly keeps me laughing, especially with his new vocabulary words and his daily attempts at independence (ok, that doesn't always make me laugh!). I can't wait to see what the next year holds in store for him!

Just Because...

This is a picture we were going to use on our Christmas card but decided to use just the kid's pictures instead. It is hard to tell, but Carter is actually crying and smiling at the same time!
Carter loves to "hold" Ally, which usually means she lays next to him or on his tummy.

New Pictures

Carter hiding under the Christmas tree. The cats enjoy sleeping under our tree every year, and this year Carter thinks it's a pretty cool place to hang out, too. Sam and I have a bet to see how long our tree is going to make it this year!
I had visions of having a really cute Christmas card with pictures of the kids. However, my dreams have been vanished because every time I try to get one of those cute pictures, this is what ends up happening! Maybe next year...
Carter loves to eat pudding with grandad!
Ally taking a nap in her bed.

Ally loves to smile and laugh!!!
Carter and Socks hanging out in shoe boxes. Notice that Socks is so fat that she broke her box!
Carter playing with his cousin Kaylie. I think he's telling her how to get in trouble! Carter randomly kissing Ally while I had the camera near me! He is such a good big brother!
We took the kiddos to the local John Deere store to see Santa. Needless to say, we didn't see Santa but Carter got to drive a tractor, which is much better than Santa in his eyes!