Christmastime

Yesterday, during Hudson's morning nap, Nate and I finally built the gingerbread house from the kit I bought at Walmart.  Nate had a good time putting the candies on the house, and sampling the candies for quality control.

Finally I had to share my new favorite Christmas decoration.  I ordered these from a woman on Etsy and I absolutely love them!

Fun Times at the Hommer/Schroeder Apartment

This past week T.J. was out of town for work for the whole week.  In order to break up some of the monotony of being home with two boys by myself I decided to trek to San Antonio.  Laura was in the middle of her finals week, but assured me that if I came Thursday and stayed until Friday I wouldn't be bothering her studying too much.  So that's what we did.  On the way there I stopped by the post office to pick up a package my mother had sent with Christmas gifts in it.  The package was so large I couldn't fit it in my trunk.  I did manage to fit it in the back seat and off we went.  When we arrived I found out Laura had talked to my mom, who gave permission to open the Christmas gifts.  These were the two favorite gifts:

Nate also enjoyed Hudson's gift

This is a set of Cars themed Legos.  Mitch kept trying to get Nate to build the set, but Nate wasn't having it.

We had fun hanging out in the apartment and Hudson showed off his new skills.  He can now sit up on his own and he can scoot around some.  Laura tried to make Nate a Packer's fan.  He did enjoy the cheesehead, but I'm not sure she is done working on it.

Family Tradition

There are lots of traditions we had growing up and, after starting a family of my own, I wanted to start some traditions with my boys.  So far my favorite family tradition is that I get all of us our own ornament for the year that represents something that happened during that year.  That way when my boys get older they already have ornaments to start their Christmas tree.  Here are this year's ornaments:

Nate's

Hudson's

Mine

T.J.'s

Busy Weekend

For the first time in a long time T.J. and I both had the weekend off with nothing planned.  It was nice.  We did a ton of stuff.

Nate and I made dozens of cookies-

I made some more homemade baby food for Hudson (sweet potatoes)-

T.J. put up the Christmas lights on the front of the house-

And Mama got a new do-

Thanksgiving Fun

  So I know this is a little late, but I've just now finished recovering from our Thanksgiving week.  We had a busy one.  My sister and her boyfriend arrived Wednesday along with my brother-in-law Matt and his girlfriend Erin.  We made a delicious meal and hung out most of the day, and then Matt and Erin left.  Laura and Mitch stayed through the weekend, and T.J. got Mitch to help him build a gate for the end of the drive.  They worked on it most of the weekend.
  Then on Thanksgiving day we got up early with the boys and started the cooking.  T.J.'s other brother Monty and his girlfriend Stephanie showed up mid-morning and we had a great day visiting.  Nate enjoyed all the attention, and it was nice to be able to cook without someone clinging to me.  Monty and Stephanie left late that night.
  I worked Friday, and T.J. and Mitch went out fishing.  This left Laura to babysit the two boys and she says she only cried once.  Saturday T.J. kicked me out of the house and I dragged Laura with me.  We spent the day Christmas shopping and running errands.  That night T.J. and I went to get our Christmas tree.  It was nice to be able to get so much done in one day.
  Sunday we had Hudson baptized and T.J.'s brothers came back to town.  We ate the rest of the leftovers and had a great day.  Then Sunday night T.J. and the boys and I decorated for Christmas.  It was a very eventful and exhausting week, but it was great to see everyone.

Nate and Erin wrestling on the bed in the spare bedroom.

The most perfect pie I've ever made.

Nate taste testing the mashed potatoes.  I think he liked them.

Laura was anxious to get the festivities started.

My Thanksgiving fail.  This was supposed to be gravy.

Monty Blue and his new lady.

Our new gate.

Hudson and his sponsors.

The whole crew.

Our Christmas tree.

Amarillo by Morning

Saturday morning we left bright and early for the Austin airport and from there to the Amarillo area to visit T.J.'s family.  We spent the long weekend driving around the Panhandle to visit T.J.'s Granny and Grandad, his Dad and Stepmom, and his Mom and Stepdad.  We had a great time and a relaxing visit.

Sick Baby

This week for the first time in his short life Hudson has been sick.  Coughing, runny nose, croupy sounding lungs.  My sweet baby has not been sleeping well, which means T.J. and I have not been sleeping well.  This morning for the first time he seems to be on the mend.  Oh the joys of sending your kids to daycare.  At least this means he won't be as sick when he gets older.