Parties!

In effort to get caught up on posts, here are a few more pics from happenings in Jan...

Girls just wanna have fun!

AnnDee, Mia, Emma, and Marissa got together while their daddies watched some football and their mommies enjoyed these beginning moments of socialization - which admittedly was maybe an occasional moment of eye contact before Marissa took toys from the girls. I guess she gets to be the bossy one since she's the oldest (and currently most mobile).  It is fun that they are all so close in age!   It was a lot of fun, even if the Bears did not advance on to the Superbowl, like the Mitchells were hoping.  Better luck next year.

Then last Thursday Nate got to go back to Jump-N-Jungle for Landon's birthday. 

He is totally loving this place right now.  What a lucky guy to have gone 3 times in 2 weeks (he also went with Gram Aunt the previous Friday)!  Happy Birthday to our sweet buddy, Landon!

6 months old

Where, oh where, has the time gone? 

6 months have passed, since I had this little one.

How did it happen? It's gone by too fast.

I want to make this infant stage last.

Yet she continues to grow and change every day

She loves her jumper and loves to play.

She sits and lunges for anything within reach

She loves to babble and loves to eat.

She puts in her mouth anything that she can

She likes to pull up and likes to stand (leaning on things)

She is so fun to watch, with her coos and her grins

As she tries to keep up with her brother's shenanigans!

She is our delight, our joy, and our love

Our perfect gift, from the Father above. 

Marissa we love you more than you know

And we truly do love watching you grow.

Family Fun

This post is coming about 1/2 a month late.  Our computer got a virus, then we all got viruses, so not much has gotten done around here lately.  The good news is we are all on the up-swing now.

In the middle of Jan, we had my entire family down for an extended weekend.  That is right my parents, grandparents, siblings and their families.  12 people stayed in our home and 4 got hotel rooms....and we loved every minute of it!  It was the first time Marissa got to meet her Great-Grandparents.  Her Great Grandpa is who she is named after, so it was a very special visit.  Here are a few pics from our weekend.

Children's Museum

Nate and Craig get into serious trouble with the law

Orders Up! 

 Playing Vet....I bet Auntie Barbara had an influence on this one 

Our little artists

(more than con-artists, that is) 

 Nothing like a ball pit and a tea party to liven things up!

 Outside fun!

 Fun at Casa De Yancy

Dawson and Craig loved the glider swing

Nate cuddled with Great-Grandma and played hard with Gigi

The youngest granddaughters and the youngest grand kids

Lots of family love here

Marissa's Dedication
The highlight of the weekend was Marissa's baby dedication.  My grandfather did a very moving ceremony for us, charging us to raise Marissa in a Christian home.  It is our greatest desire she will learn to love Jesus and to love others with her whole heart.  It meant so much to have one of the men I admire the most perform this little ceremony for us.  It is a moment I will never forget.  Thanks, Grandpa!

Back to the house

Izzie had fun dressing Marissa and the dogs had fun with each other too!

More love to go around

4 Generations

Silly boys

Jump-N-Jungle 

Slipin'-slidin'-jumpin' fun!

One of those days...

It was one of those days....

Marissa did not sleep well, I was up late, Nathaniel did not want to get out of bed, he dropped his chocolate milk all over the floor, threw a fit because he wanted to keep his PJs on rather than get dressed, threw a fit because he did not want to brush his teeth, then threw a monster fit because he did want to brush his teeth (after I brushed them for him), ended up with a bloody nose from all the fit throwing, I was late to work, work was busy, came home and Marissa was super fussy, Nathaniel went to the potty while I was changing Marissa and dumped a bottle of bubble bath all over the floor, he then slipped and fell in it.....and I was feeling overwhelmed and a bit sorry for myself.

Meanwhile I got a phone call that some of my friends lost their two year old son to cancer early this morning. 

Stop.  Perspective change.

I am so thankful for my crazy life, the fit throwing, the late nights, the big messes.  These children are gifts from God, despite it all - and I too often take it for granted.

My grief for the Wyatt family is overwhelming today.  Abbott taught us many things during his stay on Earth....and taught me one more lesson tonight.  Thanks Abbott, we will miss you.

5 months

Just for fun...Here is Marissa at 5 months

Here is Nathaniel toward the end of his fourth month

(Both pics were taken at the Velazquez home)

Yes, my sweet baby girl is 5 months old now, and more and more fun each day.  She is becoming more interactive, reaching for toys, pushing up, holding her own bottle, sitting alone for extended periods of time, moving things from one hand to the other, squealing in delight, maintaining good eye contact, and blowing spit bubbles constantly.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I cherish this phase of life (although a little more sleep would be nice).  Nate loves his sister and interacts sweetly with her (we will see how much that changes when she is mobile and can take his toys!).  I am blessed beyond measure with these two!

New Years with Old Friends

What better way to ring in the new year than with good friends?  We travelled up to the Denton area to hang out with some of our dearest friends, the Velazquez Family.  As always, they spoiled us rotten with their amazing and generous hospitality.

Nathaniel was very excited to Baby Sophi again- even if she is not as small as Baby 'Rissa, he still calls her Baby Sophi.

And I think X was pretty excited to see Baby 'Rissa, but perhaps not as excited as she who found her new favorite snuggling place.

((I cannot believe I did not take a single pic of Sarah on this trip- she was the most amazing hostess ever))

Then to top it off we also got the opportunity to hang out with some more good friends who live in the area.  Krista spent time snuggling with 'Rissa and building robots with Nate.

John, who has been Daddy's best friend since high school, also came over and hung out with us for awhile. 

And on the 1st we went to the Meador's house and got to meet Georgia for the first time, see how much her brothers have grown, and catch up with Templa and Gavin too!  Jenni and Templa used to work with Mommy and Daddy - so many funny reminiscing stories were shared.  Jenni cooked some delicious, traditional New Years food so we could all start out the New Year right.  And as you can see, Georgia and 'Rissa became fast friends.

We had a great time catching up with everyone.  We are so blessed to know such amazing people!  We could not imagine a better start to 2011!  Thanks everyone, we love you.

More Gifts....

The Christmas fun just does not seem to stop. 

On the 30th we went over to Granny's assisted living facility and met up with some more cousins to exchange gifts.

We had not seen them in over a year so this was the first time they got to meet Marissa.

There was plenty of love to go around...





 

  



And then they had fun ripping into their packages!



It was good to see them - even if cramming everyone at Grannys was a bit crazy!