2009 Year in Review

Everyone seems to be doing a review of the last year on the news, talk shows, and radio so I thought I'd do my own 2009 Year in Review with pictures. I hope the New Year brings both my family and yours many blessings and lots of love!!!

We bought our first house in February!!

A month later, a hail storm came through and totaled roof. Good thing for home owners insurance.

Lincoln kept growing more teeth to BITE us with.

Easter in Marble Falls...not intersted in the bunnies.

Bluebonnets in April on Hwy 281 N.

Monster Ice Cream in May

Dog Days of Summer at the Weiner Dog Races

Playing in our backyard.

Swimming in our backyard "pool".

Josh's car accident and having to buying a new one. (And Linc burning his leg with the iron.)

July 4th Pancake Breakfast

Lincoln's first trip to the beach (Port Aransas)!!

Lankford Grocery and HUGE hamburgers in Houston.

Paddle Boats on Lake Marble Falls.

Lincoln's 2nd birthday (Sept. 27th).

Texas-OU weekend at the Pumpkin Patch

Halloween: Charlie Brown, Lucy, and Snoopy

Lincoln's ear plug obsession continues.

Trimming our first REAL tree. Coat Rack Tree broke and couldn't be mended in time.

Hating seeing Santa!

Spending time together as a family!

BRING ON 2010!!! Happy New Year!

Best First Date Anniversary Gift!!

Last night, I tried to sneek a peek at something Josh was planning for me on his computer. Luckily I waited until this morning and woke up to find the laptop next to me in bed with headphones and a "Play Me" note.

It was a video he made to celebrate our first date 10 years ago TODAY!! He added one of my new favorite songs and spliced lots of pictures together perfectly with the song. We are going to take a ballroom dance class (because I want to learn) and then go to dinner at the same restaurant as our first date. Josh even got a babysitter without me knowing. I am so lucky to have such a wonderful, thoughtful, romantic hubby!

I had to video the computer to put it on here. It's not the best, but you get the idea!
I LOVE YOU HONEY!!!!

Crib Solution

A couple weeks ago, Lincoln learned how to climb INTO his crib, which only meant he was pretty sure how to climb OUT and crack his little noggin. Not yet ready to deal with the headache of keeping a running (nevers walks, always runs) 27 month old in his "big boy bed", or with the hassle of buying a big boy bed, Josh and I came up with a temporary solution that we think is pretty darn brilliant!

We cut a wooden dowel rod used for our closet (to hang clothes on) and added the two plastic end caps to his crib a few inches above the crib railing. The bar can spin, if he tries to escape, and it's high enough that, for the time being, he can't swing his leg over it. I'm sure there are mother's out there who are appalled at our attempt to "stifle his development" and "keep him from progressing", but they obviously haven't met my very ACTIVE (trouble-making) son. Spend a day/night with him and you'll see things from my perspective.

So far, it's worked and it has let everyone in the family sleep peacefully...for the most part.

Never say never...

I always thought that parents who let their children fall asleep while eating or playing were bad parents for keeping them up and not making them take a nap. I would never do that! Well....

Lincoln skipped his nap, although he was in his crib for 2 1/2 hrs, and this was the result at 5:15 pm during dinner.

I'll never say never again....until next time.
P.S: Josh found my journal for me sandwiched between the headboard and the box spring while he was fixing the mattress. Yeah!

Lost Journal

Somehow between mid October and now, I've managed to lose my journal. I don't know how it got lost or where it is now, but I have a feeling it is due to the little hands of Lincoln. I had my journal on a shelf behind our bed (that is another of my brilliant ideas not fully realized). I remember showing it to my brother-in-law Austin when he was here for the Texas/Oklahoma Football game. I haven't seen it since. I have a feeling that "chunky" (Lincoln) stole it and hid it someplace so well, that now HE can't even find it.

So now is the chance for me to begin a new journal on my computer. It would be easier if I had a laptop so I could type while laying in bed, but I think this will work just as well. We'll see. Just hoping I can find it sooner than later. By later, I mean the day we finally move out of this house 5 to 10 yrs from now.

So long far journal. May we meet again some day soon and laugh about all the really trivial yet "important crisis'", cry at the sad times, and be uplifted by the spiritual experiences I experienced. Adieu, Adieu. Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Halloween 2009- The Peanut Gallery

Lincoln enjoying his FIRST sucker!

This year for Halloween, I decided to make us all Peanuts characters. Josh was to be Charlie Brown, I would be Lucy Van Pelt, and Lincoln would be either Linus or Snoopy. We settled on Snoopy, since Linus and Lucy are brother and sister. That would just be weird.

I couldn't find a yellow shirt for Josh so I dyed a white one then sewed on the stripes. I made Linc's hat and sewed on the ears and a black spot on his back, and had to again dye a shirt for me then added some elastic for the sleeves and ruffles around the neck. I've got a sign that says "Psychiatric Help 5 cents. The Doctor is IN." I also painted a box to look like Snoopy's dog house, but none of the pictures show it very well.

So there are the home made costumes that didn't turn out NEAR as good as they looked in my head!!(They never do.) But it was fun. Everyone loved Josh's and Lincoln's but couldn't figure out who I was, if I was standing by myself.

We had lots of fun at the Trunk or Treat at church. I was in charge of decorations and games for everyone, so I spent most of the night running around making sure things were running smoothly. Next year, I'm taking a break from event planning so I can actually ENJOY Halloween. Who am I kidding? I will NEVER be released from the Activity Planning Committee now that they know I was a Special Event planner!!!

Here are some pics of us and our friends at the Trunk or Treat. LOTS OF FUN!!

Quinn and Jessica (Dorothy) and one of their children as a Munchkin.

The Hinson family...UT fan, 50's girl, Jedi, and Slaughter Samuari!!

Tennessee Trip

(Mike, Lila holding Evan, Lacey holding Lincoln, and Josh)

We had a great time with our friends the Stuteville's in Tennessee last week. Josh and Mike are brother's from another mother, and his wife, Lila, is one of my best friends. We met them when we lived in Tennessee while Josh was attending Graduate School at Middle Tenn. State Univ.

One reason we flew out there was for Josh and pal to attend the latest U2 concert in Atlanta together. Another reason was to meet the Stute's new adpoted son, Evan, who was turning 1 yr old. So the boys left Tuesday morning for the concert, leaving Lincoln, me, Lila and Evan to play at home for a couple days.

We had a great time, although I'm not sure that Lila appreciated Lincoln encouraging (or increasing) Evan's screeching. We played on the playground, bought Halloween costumes, and got ready for Evan's early b-day party the following Saturday.

When the boys came home and the kids went to bed, it was just like old times; playing dominos, laughing at/with each other, and having fun. It was like we hadn't been gone for 4 years. That's the sign of a true friendship.

The last night we were there, we got together with another family of friends, the West's, and the same comfortable feeling came over me. I missed seeing them and it was wonderful to just hang out and let the kids run around while we chatted. I know we will probably move back to Tennessee one day. Who knows when, but it was great getting to spend time with GREAT friends!!!

New Use for Veggies

We had our first experience with shoving food up our nose yesterday. Lincoln started crying during dinner while Josh and I were cleaning the kitchen. I saw he was rubbing and sticking his finger up his nose. I said, "I wonder if he stuck something up there." So I left to get a flashlight. While I was gone, Josh said that he sneezed out an entire lima bean! I saw it on the table and couldn't believe how BIG it was. I thought maybe a piece of corn or something.

(Who can guess which nostril was stuffed from this picture?)

But he was still picking his nose. I started rubbing in a downward motion and out popped a pea! His nose was really runny and irritated for a little while, but he is fine.

I couldn't stop laughing at the situation and Josh was just the opposite. He was worried about going to the doctor at 6:00 pm the night before our trip to Tennessee. Oh the joys of having a two-year old!!! You MUST laugh or you'd go crazy!!! (Ignore the dates on the pics.)

Three Birthday Parties?

Lincoln got spoiled this year with birthday parties. We had his first party here at our house the weekend before his actual birthday because we would out of town on his birthday. We invited lots of kids from church and friends so our small dining room felt even smaller.

I made an Elmo/drum cake for him. The only Elmo topper I could find was of several Sesame Street characters (including Elmo) playing musical instruments. Thus the drum cake. It was cute, but if I ever make another drum cake I'll do it differently.

Lincoln did a great job with all the kids around and with the cake. He tried to blow out his candles but they were kind of stubborn, so mom helped. Then cake and ice cream for all.

The next party was actually ON his birthday, Sept. 27th at a friend's house outside the Dallas area. Our hostess made cupcakes with a different Elmo topper (way cutier than mine) and we celebrated with her family and us. It was very nice to keep it smaller. Linc succeeded at blowing out the candle this time and was absolutely delighted when we cheered. I think he finally was understanding that he was doing something fun. It was lots of fun!

The final stop on the birthday train took us to Nana and Papa's house in San Marcos the Monday following Linc's b-day. My mom (Nana) made a Turkey and had everyone bring a side, then we ate an octopus shaped pound cake that is always a crowd pleaser. Nana didn't have any candles, so we used fire starter matches. He is the 6th grandson...give her a break. She can't get candles for ALL of them! hee hee

We made our way home the next day, totally exhausted and ready for a good night sleep in our own beds. Thank you to everyone who made Lincoln's birthday special for us. Lots of Love!!!

Year Two

Year One

My baby boy!

2009 Summer in Review

Although we still have the Texas heat, the end of summer is rapidly approaching and I thought it was a good time to look back at how fast this summer went by and the fun things we did. Here are just a few of the cool things we did and the great people we saw.

We went swimming with our Johnson City friends at the lakeside pool in Marble Falls. The jetski's had everyone's attention;

Celebrated Independence Day with a pancake breakfast;

Spent fun time with Daddy around town (Waterfall at the golf course in Horseshoe Bay). You can see the golf carts go over a water crossing right in front of the falls. Very fancy...;

Took our first trip to the beach (Port Aransas). Got to see my "little brother" Keith Banks before he leaves for Costa Rica again for fishing (he's a boat captain);



Learned Lincoln likes to "cook" with mom;

Graduated to our "big boy" chair from the highchair;


Visited several Texas Hill Country swimming holes, including Hamilton Pool with Dan and Tannie Smith and family;

(can't remember why he's fussy. It happens so often these days.)

Road Trip: Tagged along with Daddy to a couple out-of-town conferences, including San Antonio and Galveston. This is of our hotel window in Galveston overlooking Schlitterbahn on the right side;

Floated Lake Marble Falls in a paddle boat;

We did so many fun things this summer it's tough to list them all. It's great that Linc is getting big enough to do alot more with us. Now if we can only get him to sleep in the car when he is supposed to. Then we can take more road trips!!! hee hee.