I LOVE This Stage!

Every house needs a cabinet like this for little ones to explore. I love it!

A Much Needed Visit

We haven't been to Houston since Christmas. I miss our families whenever we go that long without seeing them, and I especially miss witnessing all of the changes in the children. Except for Dawson, all of the grandkids are babies or toddlers and they change so quickly.

Since Madalyn turned one year old on the 16th and was having her first birthday party on the 17th, we decided to make our much needed trip to Houston that same weekend. Jason wasn't able to go because of work, so I took the kids and made the eight hour drive {although it took us nine to get there}. We left on Wednesday after gymnastics. My sweet neighbor let us borrow her portable DVD player. Jackson thought he was in heaven! He watched Miss Patty Cake and Hermie, The Common Caterpillar the entire way to Houston. I kept begging him to turn it off and talk to me, but he was too excited about the DVD player. I really appreciated having it because it made the drive without Jason a lot easier.

Thursday, we spent the day with my parents. My mom took the day off and my sisters came over with their kids. We had a great, yet very busy, time together. I didn't get any pictures because we were all having fun enjoying each other. Later that afternoon, after Melissa had already left, we went to the park. I got a few shots of Allison and Madalyn swinging. When I saw Madalyn, I couldn't believe how tall she was. Look at those legs and that sweet face:

Allison got a fever the night before we left and it didn't break until the morning of our drive. I think she had an ear infection because she kept pulling her ear and putting her ear to her shoulder. That's why she's got cotton in her left ear in this next photo. Allison and Madalyn are 3.5 months apart.

My sweet girl in the swing:

Jackson loves Coco, my parents dog. He also loves my mother-in-law's dogs. While we were at my parents, he primarily played with Coco. He loved walking her around the house on a leash. Apparently, she wore him out:

Friday was our day to spend with Jason's mom and sister. We planned a trip to the Houston Zoo. I was extremely impressed with the entire Hermann Park area. It was beautiful and a child's paradise. There is so much to do down there with kids. We started the day at the zoo.
Grandma and Jackson looking at seals:

I love giraffes. They are so beautiful.

Jason's mom is a very generous grandma. He got a blue snow cone, which he tried to keep from his Aunt Jessica although this photo doesn't show it:

And cotton candy too!

We saw bears. Isn't the sleeping one so precious?!

Every zoo must have a carousel. They are so much fun, and Jackson always loves them. While Jackson, Allison and I were waiting in line for our ride, Grandma and Aunt Jessica took a break and watched our wagon. Allison was tired and fussy. I was trying to keep her happy while Jackson stood next to me. When our turn came up, I looked down to get Jackson and he was gone! I looked down the line. No Jackson! I looked around the outside area behind the line. No Jackson! My heart was beating one trillion times a second. I felt sick all over. I could feel myself losing it quickly. I thought someone must have taken him. I didn't see him leave. I didn't notice him leave. I didn't hear him leave. I didn't feel him leave. My eyes were scanning in every direction as fast as they could focus. I was sick all over and asking everyone if they'd seen a little boy. Thankfully, the carousel operator watched him walk around to the other side of the carousel...where Peggy and Jessica were sitting. I ran over there and found him. And then I felt what every mom feels at that moment - I wanted to spank him and hug him both at the same time. My eyes were full of tears and seriousness as I told him the importance of NEVER walking away from me. Oh my, that was a frightful 60 seconds.

For the second ride, I watched the wagon while Grandma and Aunt Jessica took the kids:

In the children's zoo area, I tried to encourage Jackson to get wet and run in the water. He made an attempt, but decided he didn't want to.

Grandma took Jackson to the petting zoo. As much as he loves our parents' dogs, he's not into animals all that much. I think my mother-in-law said he petted a few, but he was ready to leave after about 5-10 minutes. {He was also exhausted.}

The grand finale, and probably the only reason Jackson ever wants to go to the zoo, was the train ride. He'd been waiting to ride that train all day. It was a 10-15 minute ride and it went all the way around Hermann Park. Of course, we had to get the seat closest to the engine.

And although Allison was a major Momma's girl the entire weekend, she did let Aunt Jessica hold her for a few minutes on the train.

After the train ride, we piled into the car and headed back to our side of town. Both kids fell asleep in the car. That night, we ate dinner at Pappadeaux so we could see Aunt Megan and her boyfriend James, who both work there. It was a wonderful day!

Madalyn's 1st Birthday

Last Friday was my niece's first birthday. Jackson, Allison and I traveled to Houston to be at her party on Saturday. Meredith and Ryan hosted a sweet cupcake party for their precious daughter. Everything was fantastic. I took photos of the day {and had a lot of lighting issues} but I think I got a few that turned out alright. {I desperately need to take a photography class!} I'll tell the day in photos. {And I just realized that I didn't fix the red-eye in any of the photos and I've already uploaded them. Oh well! But that doesn't mean I like it.}

My mom and dad, Jackson, Allison and I got there early to help decorate and set-up. I am not a decorator by any means. Give me fruit to cut up and food to set out, but decorate? Not a good idea. Thankfully, Meredith and Ryan had most of it done. I mainly had to hang balloons and put cupcakes and napkins on the table. Not too difficult!

The food table - they served Brats and hotdogs, potato salad, chips, and fruit. The Cheddar Jalapeno Brats were delicious. Ryan is a grill master and cooker of all meats.

The cake table:

Meredith had an experience similar to mine on Jackson's first birthday. His first birthday was before my blogging days. Would you believe me if I told you his final cake was #7 of 7 attempts?! Meredith didn't have to let it go that far. She stopped at 4. She had the most adorable cupcake cake pan. The only problem...the cake was so thick it would not cook in the middle...even after a few different recipes. I think she did a great job the morning of the party turning out this cake:

Aren't mommy's the best? She did everything she could to make her baby girl's first birthday super special.

Daddy and his birthday girl:

I love this photo of Meredith. She's so beautiful. Both of my sisters are so beautiful and photogenic.

Tiffany and her hubby Jonathan were the first guests to arrive. They are a PRECIOUS couple!

Danna, one of Meredith's greatest friends and the funniest girl I know:

Grammie and her girl:

PaPa, Grammie and Madalyn:

Allison has a serious case of the Mommy syndrome. She wouldn't let anyone hold her the entire weekend...EXCEPT Melissa. It was so strange. She even went to Melissa from me one time. It didn't last long, but she was actually happy with Melissa. Maybe we smell alike?

Meredith and her two friends, Renee and Danna:

These two LOVE each other. They formed some kind of bond and it's intense excitement whenever they see each other. When Dawson saw Jackson for the first time, he exclaimed with cupped hands on Jackson's face, "My Jackson!"

Here comes the cake:

Happy Birthday sweet girl! Your Aunt Adrienne loves you to pieces!!

Her first touch:

And her first taste:

Yum, yum!

She needed to get after it with a fork:

A very happy family:

Grammie cut the cake:

These boys waited very patiently for cupcakes:

Proof that she liked her cake:

Yay!!

Someone was getting tired from all of the festivities:

Time for presents:

Melt my heart:

This sweet and generous family is the reason our girls have clothes. Jeff and Randi give us all of Alyssa's clothes once she's outgrown them. Meredith gets them first and then passes them down to me for Allison. They have been a huge blessing to us!

I was so happy to see my dad's sister, our Aunt Sharon. {They're pretending Madalyn is in the photo.}

Cousins! Clint {my Aunt Sharon's son} and his wife Amber. We were just missing Jennifer {Clint's sister} and Ronald.

And just because I love her so:

We had a great time celebrating Madalyn's special day. Meredith and Ryan, thank you so much for a wonderful party!! We love you!! Ronald and Christy, we missed you!!