Dinner with an Aggie Athlete!

I have not mentioned it in my blog, but I went back to work 2 days a week starting in October. The insane catch: I am working 2 days a week in College Station, Texas. My mom is keeping the girls and I am doing some case management and counseling. It feels great to be working with clients again, and I really love the people that I work with. The downside, is of course the drive and being away from Annalee and Caroline two days a week. The upside, is getting to see my parents so often and getting to piggy back on some of their A&M activities.

A couple of weeks ago, Blake and I happened to be in town when my parent's hosted a dinner for the A&M quarterback. He was so nice and gracious. He participated in the dinner in support of an Aggie fundraiser and was joined by another couple from the class of 1972. It was a really fun dinner to eves drop on and the food was also delicious!

One of the neat things about visiting my parents is that they live on the Texas A&M campus. I remember walking by the white house as a student and always wondering what it was like on the inside. It is really special to see all of my parent's things set up inside the historic home.
Annalee LOVES a party. That is one of the reasons she loves to visit Mittie and Pop. Their house is NEVER quiet. Student are constantly coming in and out for meetings and gatherings. She loves all the action!!

Mom made a yummy dinner that night. She worked really hard on it.. I was glad to be assigned to the clean up crew!
During the dinner, Blake and I took Annalee and Caroline up to take a bubble bath and hang out in Mittie and Pop's room. They were really good, and for the most part, were quiet.

Jerrod was kind enough to sign a football for a mother's club auction.
Jerrod is a great guy. I was really glad to have had the special opportunity to meet him. A&M should be very proud of this athlete...I believe he will go forward and make an amazing impact on the world.

My Caroline

Caroline is changing faster than Annalee ever did...she is speeding through all the stages...what is going on!!?? I can't believe she is almost 5 months old...I swear weeks and months have gotten shorter since she was born. Time is going by so fast, it scares me.

I really am trying to slowly sip in all the precious moments of motherhood. It is a constant struggle to try and keep my mind in the present. So...a post dedicated to you Caroline. Thank you for your sweet coos, giant smiles, precious giggles and warm snuggles. If time could freeze, I would choose right now!

First bow head...
Holding Mimi's finger...
First Aggie game with Mom...
First Aggie game with Dad....
You snoozed all day in your pack in play located in the kitchen. You were a sleeper those first three months. Now...not so much. You woke up and decided the world was to fun to nap!
First baths...

Nothing like your first smile. After you figured it out...you practically haven't stopped!
Blake always dreamed of a baby who would nap with him on his chest. Annalee wanted nothing to do with it. Caroline's first present to her Daddy...she made his dream come true!

Annalee is going to be such a little teacher! So far...my favorite words in my life have been Annalee saying "Hi, my La Line!!!

Thank you God...Caroline has been such a joy to love.
Sweet thing.

December Date Night!

This month Blake and I started out at 219 West on 4th Street. By far...the best happy hour deals I have ever experienced in Austin. It is really hard to find happy hour prices on a Saturday night...much less with the quality of 219 West. We each had a martini and got sliders, nachos, mac and cheese, and beers and got out of there for under 30 bucks...with tip. The food was delicious. My personal favorite was our Talapia Nachos and Blake is still raving about the sliders. YUM.

Not only was the happy hour spectacular...but the menu was also really fun. It is divided by drink type and lists tapas and main course to go perfectly with what you are drinking. A little confusing at first...but once we got the hang of it, it was super fun to navigate. Perfect place for a date!

We ended the night with the Sorrel's fun Christmas party and a movie back at the house, Dancer, Texas Population 81...great B movie flick. Blake is planning January's night out...I can't wait!

Caroline's Baptism

The weekend of Thanksgiving we decided to baptize Caroline. My parent's were Annalee's Godparents so we decided to keep the sweet tradition for Caroline. If you think she looks like an angel sleeping in my mom's arms during Mass...you are right. She was a complete angel through the whole thing. It was a really special morning. She was anointed with oil that smelled beautiful. The aroma amazingly stayed in her hair for a few days. I kissed her lots the next few days soaking in the sweet smell and precious memory of accepting God's call to love and care for Caroline, and the promise we made to teach her about His sacrificial love and Grace.

Caroline wore the same gown that Annalee and I wore for our baptisms. Caroline is what we call "a spitter". She has a way of getting rid of anything that does not sit well with her tummy. Such an art. I am especially aware of this art when either one of us is in something pretty. That is why she is practically wrapped from head to toe in burp cloths in a lot of photos. Needless to say...the baptismal garment needs to be cleaned before the next user!
This is the baptismal font. So sweet and simple.
Caroline right before her baptism. She is not nervous one bit.


The Deacon had us loosen her gown so that he could anoint her with the oil on her head and chest.

Here is the big moment. Annalee was amazed and asked for water on her head too.





The Deacon did a special blessing for the Father's.


We love you Caroline. At the end of the weekend I realized how fitting it was to baptize my daughter over Thanksgiving weekend. I am so grateful for the gift of my children. I have never learned so much about life, love, joy and sacrifice. I was humbled at Annalee's and again at Caroline's baptisms. Humbled and honored to have been given these two children of God to hug, kiss, play with, and love. I will always remember this day, as a day that I made a promise to God and to my sweet daughter. May the Holy Spirit guide us as we work to fulfill this eternal promise.

A&M vs. t.u. Thanksgiving

We celebrated Thanksgiving this year in Austin. We watched the Corps of Cadets march down Congress from the balcony of the Stephen F. Austin Hotel...after a delicious turkey lunch!

My parent's attended the Thanksgiving event with us. We were all geared up for an Aggie win to finish off the surprisingly fantastic football season.

Caroline spent the whole morning with Blake surfing the crowd, cooing and smiling at anyone who was willing to look at her.
Annalee spent the entire event EVERYWHERE. Since Blake had Caroline I had the hornet. What a work out.
Check out this cow. Beautiful. Hard to not love the longhorn. Fun to look at, even better to beat them at football.
Dad and Blake started at the bar. Apparently the Bloody Mary's were delicious. I would not know because I got hooked on the mimosas. They Were Lovely.
Mom and Cathy...both in their Maroon.
Aren't these boots amazing? They are worn by Aunt Sydney. WAAAAAY cute.
Here is Aunt Sydney loving on Caroline. Caroline is going to really love playing with her when she is older. She spoils Annalee like CRAZY. I hope every little girl gets someone like Aunt Sydney to love them.

The hotel was decorated with Maroon, Orange and White balloons. We only let Annalee play with the Maroon ones.


Here is Annalee with her Nini...can you tell she loves her???
Annalee was quite the character at the event. In fact. She was so busy. I remember nothing. Missed the parade...practically missed lunch...and did not have one complete conversation. I was also sweating from head to toe. Happy Thanksgiving.

Caroline assumed her normal position with Blake. The event did not disturb her morning nap. However, once the band arrived. She was wide eyed and all ears.
The band marched by and stopped in front of the hotel on a side street and played while the corps marched by. It was a pretty incredible view. We were really proud to be Aggies in Austin.


My sweet, concerned husband refused to let his little girls ear's be damaged by the BQs.

Quick family shot during the parade. Annalee was just about to lose it at this point.

Annalee loved the band. She yelled at the drums and the base horns. She screamed out at the horses from the calvary. She gave the parade a big thumbs up.
She was tired though. The parade cut a bit in to her nap time. I love this pouty shot of Annalee with Caroline in the back ground. This was another one of those days...so happy to have these two sisters to share A&M with!
Here I am with Nini. She was so gracious to overlook how sweaty I was. It was rumored that Austin was going to get cool on Thanksgiving Day...so the entire city dressed for snow. Turns out the cool front hit a little later than we all thought. So we all baked for a while. Annalee held on till the parking lot and totally broke down as Blake strapped her in to the car seat. Snot and tears were smeared all over her seat and the car window. An Aggie parade takes a lot out of little girls.
At the end of the holiday we headed to Round Rock to see Mimi, Grammie and Papa at Uncle Brad and Aunt Shea's house. We got to eat (again) and watch a little football. It was so fun to be with both families during the holiday week.
Caroline was very spoiled during this visit. When she wasn't in Mimi's arms she was dancing with Papa or laughing with Grammie.
I had to end with this. I was frantically calling Graham to smile while standing next to Mimi and the cute little man charged me with a kiss!! How can you not attempt to capture such a moment! I am so thankful.