Hunt/Terrell/Hamilton/Bell/Hendrix/Stephens Christmas

Last Sunday, we got an early start to Christmas celebrations. We had Stacy's side of the family at his sister's house. There are 6 last names included- crazy! It was fun to see the kids interact- Austin, annabelle (21 months), Morgan (32 months), and Rhett (almost 3). We had gumbo, cornbread and a bunch of yummy desserts. It was fun to see the older kids enjoy opening gifts. Austin doesn't quite get it. He got a couple of fun toys
and the adults did a white elephant exchange. Austin even came home with a loaner hand-me-down sports toy- a basketball hoop, baseball bat all in one.
We even got the kids to pose for some pictures.

Toddling to Santa

Spoons

If only he could always be this easily entertained...

What is it with the iphone?

Playing catch up

Our big news is that Austin has started deciding that walking is cool and he wants to do it.  He has known how to walk for about 2 months now.  In the past two weeks he started walking on his own from point to point.  He knows what it means when we say "stand up" or "walk to me".  It is great.  He holds his hands up in front of his shoulders so they are ready to catch himself if he falls.  He usually has a huge smile, like he is saying "look at me, I am a big boy".  I bought a Little People nativity for him and he enjoys putting the angel on top of the manager because it plays "Away in a Manger" and the star lights up when the angel sits on top.  He mostly enjoys putting all of the pieces in a plastic tub, dumping them out, then repeating by putting them back in.  Once he did this at least ten times in a row. He focuses so hard on making sure every piece makes it in the tub.  I am doing my best to teach him who Baby Jesus is :)

Last weekend we made a quick trip to Lufkin for my cousin Claire's engagement party.  It was at the East Texas Museum which had a Christmas tree exhibit.  It was beautiful.  David volunteered to babysit Austin in the hotel room (the party started after Austin's bed time).  Coincidentally the party started at the same time as the Texas vs Kansas State game so David enjoyed watching this at the Lufkin Best Western in my mom's room across the hall from our room where Austin slept.  The party was fun and festive and we are excited for Claire and Parker's wedding in June.  Austin played with the stuffed "pillow" Santa at Aunt Jennifer's house.  DiDi also has a stuffed Santa at her house so Austin knows who Santa is, but I am still working on "what does Santa say?"....Ho, Ho, Ho.  He hasn't caught on yet.  They are taking pictures with Santa at his school this Wednesday.  I can't wait to find out if he cries, smiles, or is just in shock.  We will see!

Checking him out

Hugs for Santa

This guy is fun

He is a pillow

Lounging

That's my big boy walker

I got a call from the nurse at Austin's school last Monday saying that he was okay, but a "friend" bit him on the cheek.  It didn't break any skin but definitely left a bruise and bite marks.  I got a quick picture in the tub....luckily just the day before we had some professional pictures taken of our family....I am thankful for this timing.  I felt so bad for the little guy.

Here are just a couple more recent pictures.....

Candles at DiDi's house are fun

Nativity tub

Carrying it around the room

In other news, we closed on our house on Friday.  We don't take possession until next Saturday.  We won't move in until right after Christmas because we are having some work done before we move all of our stuff in.  Plus, I wanted to be in a decorated house for Christmas and didn't see myself buying a tree and decorating it just 10 days before Christmas.  We are excited to move in and feel more settled here in Houston....and I know Savannah is ready for a yard :)

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving day sure was a busy one.  We spent a little time in the morning at MiMi and Big Deal's house.  We then had lunch at my mom's with Stacy's side of the family.  There were about 20 or so people, including 4 kiddos.  Austin was the youngest.  We had not seen Stacy's niece and nephew and their families since moving back to Houston so that was fun.  Everyone came over around 11am and we played with the kids before Austin went down for a nap.  The adults ate around noon.  After a yummy lunch, David and I took off for Austin for the Texas vs TCU game.  So weird!  No more Texas vs Texas A&M on Thanksgiving.  It's just not the same.  Thanks to Stacy we were given some pre-game field passes.  It was cool to be down on the field level with the players while they practiced.  I sure looked like a "fanatic" snapping photos.  We sat with my dad and Michelle using their other two tickets.  My dad also invited my uncle Scott and Marsha.  It was a fun time but I wish the Horns had won.  David said all along that he was indifferent as to who won but I think he really wanted Texas to win since they could have gone to a decent bowl game.  So much for that!  The frogs pulled out the win.  We are kinda crazy and drove back late after the game.  It was a super quick trip so that we could get back to be with Austin on Friday morning.  We had a nice long weekend hanging out with our little man (who is SO CLOSE to walking).    

Tried to get a family photo - not too great though

Rhett (almost 3), Marilyn, Morgan (2 1/2), Meredith, and Annabelle (20 months)

Waving to Annabelle through the window

Hi pretty cousin

Handsome boy in his Hamilton shirt (fancy!)

All the kiddos around DiDi's new kids table

Bevo, up close

The GIANT screen (TCU?!?!?)

warming up

David Ash (definitely NOT his best performance)

All grown up

Austin is growing too fast!  We went to the Nottingham Forest Club playground a couple of days ago for the first time.  This is the neighborhood park that is near MiMi's house, where David grew up playing, and where our rehearsal dinner was (in the clubhouse).  They have a little people's playground with smaller slides and a tunnel.  We helped Austin walk up the steps to the tunnel.  I was shocked that he knew how to crawl through the tunnel, turn around backwards to climb down the ledge.  Then he was able to sit up like a big boy while going down the slide.  He also knew how to turn around and slide down on his tummy.  I realized that he must know how to do all of this because of the playground time at school but we hadn't seen him in action yet.  He also liked getting sandy (of course, he is a boy).

We might have an engineer on our hands.  Austin loves to "build" things.  One time a few weeks ago my mom broke a cracker into 4 pieces and, instead of eating them, Austin stacked them on top of each other.  Austin loves nesting toys (boxes, rings, baskets).  He has also discovered legos and making towers with them.  He has some blocks that he stacks and says "Ahhhh" every time he stacks 3 or 4 blocks on top of each other.  It is like his in a state of "wow".  The other day he enjoyed resting the blocks on the ledge of the armoire in our room.  This was hilarious to me because he spent about 10 minutes just resting the blocks on the ledge, taking them off, then putting them back.  Such a funny little guy!

Austin is very fortunate to have 2 older cousins who are outgrowing many of their baby/little kid toys.  MiMi has been hiding a Radio Flyer wagon in her storage shed that was formerly Ben and Summer's.  She pulled it out last weekend and Austin loved it!

Houston Zoo

Last weekend, the three of us headed to the Houston zoo.  I had never been and David had only been to the Houston zoo as a kid growing up here.  We took Austin to the Denver zoo in August before we moved but he didn't get any of it then.  He still wasn't too interested this time but we had a great time.  The weather was nice (actually felt a little like fall).  The petting zoo had farm animals that were close-up consisting of goats, a cow, ducks, and chickens.  He liked watching the ducks splash in the pond.  Austin was not that interested in the goats, which might be because they are about 3/4 the size of Savannah.  He plays with and pets that big fluffy dog every day.  We also bought tickets to the Polar Express 4D movie.  I thought Austin might actually notice a movie on a huge screen (since he still has zero interest in TV even when I turn on a kids show....no rush on that one).  He preferred to eat his snack during the 10-minute long movie and was very frustrated when it was all gone.  David had to leave early with Austin.  Oh well; I enjoyed the mist, bubbles, and jab in the back through the seat (hence, 4D).  Austin noticed the elephants and giraffes, I think, but he was still just more interested in people-watching.  Too bad they don't have Cars at the zoo.  He did enjoy the carousel.  He rode on the cheetah and could even see Daddy each time we passed him on the sideline with the camera.  It was a fun family event and I am sure he will enjoy it even more the next time we make the trip.  

Checking out the goat

Would rather play with mommy's sunglasses than watch the giant giraffes

Riding the cheetah!

He wanted to stand on it - daredevil

Happy little fella