Where to begin?

I've lost count of the days that I intended to blog, but then got distracted by one of the following -

a) a screaming, teething 5-month-old
b) a two and a half year old that is constantly on the go, and always in need of something, anything, and EVERYTHING
c) an unexpected work-related "emergency" during my lunch hour
d) OSU basketball (it's all about priorities), or
e) all of the above.

So many things to share since my last post, it's hard to know where to begin...

I suppose Thanksgiving break is just as good a place as any...I took a day off work and we started our Amarillo-Pampa-Blackwell route Wednesday afternoon. It's amazing how much packing is required for our Sam! I pulled out my standard suitcase, hoping that I could fit clothes for me, Henry, and Sam inside...wrong. That was my hope...what I actually ended up packing was the original suitcase full of clothes for Henry and Sam, one diaper bag full of all things necessary for a 5 hour car trip, a second over sized tote/diaper bag (thank you Brooke and Micca!) full of books and toys to entertain the boys for 3 days, two bags of diapers, a play yard for Sam to sleep in, and a small overnight bag with my clothes. Needless to say, it took all of Wednesday morning to pack, load, then unpack, organize, and reload the CRV for our trip. But it was all worth it...

We spent Wednesday evening and all day Thursday with Wade's family. Sid's three sisters were all in Amarillo for Thanksgiving, which I understand is a rarity...and Uncle Wade (Wade's namesake) from Arizona was also there.

The Rosson sisters


The three Wades...Uncle Wade, Sidney "Wade", and Samuel Wade


More pictures of the men


Samuel Wade checking out Uncle Wade


They sure are a happy bunch


Other fun memories from the Shaw/Rosson Thanksgiving...
























Thursday night we made the short trip from Amarillo to Pampa. On our way there...surrounded by my three favorite fellas, good music, a sun roof, and thousands of bright stars on a clear night...I was reminded of how blessed I am.

Then, Friday afternoon we were off again. This time headed to Blackwell to see my parents and visit Grandmother Happy, who fell last month and broke her pelvis. Ouch! She is healing well, in physical therapy twice a day, and should be home by Christmas. Another blessing.

Henry, sitting in his rocking chair watching Pinocchio in the kitchen. He's getting so big...bitter sweet.




Sam outdid himself on his first Thanksgiving. He was pooped.




Our happy boy


Henry with his Papa

A night with Mamaw and Papaw Shaw

My favorite Kansas City purchase

Sam's wearing what has to be my favorite KC purchase


And he thought the dinosaur costume was humiliating...

Our rootin tootin cowboy

Getting ready for the big night


Howdy, partner


Stick 'em up!


Make that TWO cowboys




Enough of that cowboy stuff...I'm a dino!


This is sooo humiliating...

Ramblings

1) Henry was a rootin tootin cowboy for Halloween (pictures to come). And a few life group friends volunteered to watch Sam and pass out candy at our house while mommy and daddy took Henry trick-or-treating and to the Harvest Carnival. Such a sweet, sweet time with our Henry…he was a bit overwhelmed with all the costumes, but enjoyed being a cowboy and collecting goodies. Sam had his dinosaur costume (Henry’s hand-me-down) on for a total of 5 minutes…hence the hand-me-down.

2) Wade drug me (kicking and screaming, of course) to an OU football game. The morning prior I had an ORANGE pedicure to mentally prepare…if I had to endure a sea of crimson and cream, at least my toe nails would be orange!

3) Since starting back to work after maternity leave, I’ve somehow managed to go from drinking no diet coke, to drinking 4+ cans per day…woe is me…

4) I had my first group meeting with OSU’s head honchos…and lived to tell the tale…was also reminded of how content I am being low on the totem pole. I had half a dozen diet cokes on this day.

5) Had a fabulous time Christmas shopping with the Ward ladies (plus Sam) in Kansas City! Enjoyed the beautiful weather, excellent company, good exercise, and tasty margaritas (which always make the shopping a bit less painful).

6) I’m beginning to see a pattern…wine, diet coke, margaritas…I’d do well on a liquid diet.

7) Henry is officially two AND A HALF years old! It feels like yesterday that he was “Sam size”.

8) Sam is 4 months old, yet wearing 6 – 9 month clothes…Sam’s 4-month well baby check-up is Thursday…expecting him to be off the chart in height and weight like his big brother.

9) Henry has started playing more independently…his imagination has grown leaps and bounds and I frequently catch him having conversations with his animals and other toys. I LOVE hiding behind doors and around corners and just listening…so cute, and oh so funny.

10) I spent three solid hours deep cleaning our house yesterday and feel SO MUCH BETTER…nothing like a bit of elbow grease to relieve stress and tension.

11) Wade and I decided that our Christmas gift to each other would be to take a day off work (while Henry is at school and Sam is at home with the girls/sitters) and spend the day together in OKC. I’m thinking a nice lunch, a long stroll, and just whatever the heck we feel like that day.