Wednesday, December 10, 2008

San Antonio, COLD Weather Hats, and Getting Ready for CHRISTmas

This past Friday got VERY cold in Corpus...well, for Corpus, anyways! I was excited because I had the opportunity to get out another one of Kegan's winter hats and he got to try out his new walrus mittens I found on sale...and could NOT pass up. Something to note about my child - he keeps on hat and the mittens...and a coat, ONLY when necessary (ie - the hat is on for the trip from the door to the car, and then off as soon as we are in the car, then on for the trip from the car to wherever...repeat). No extra accessories for the sake of cuteness or fashion for this boy!

Snuggled up and ready to go!


Friday afternoon we headed to San Antonio to take my car to get some work done and meet up with the Setliff's Saturday to celebrate Kyle's birthday and go to a Spurs basketball game!
Eating out on Friday night - super yummy! I know...spaghetti while out??? He loves it though and the fact that he usually eats it a noodle at a time - his meal actually takes as long as Matthew's and mine! :)
Over ambitious bite of goodness!

Ok...one noodle at a time is much easier!...but I will hold the fork like I am going to use it...

After running around San Antonio Saturday morning and meeting up with Uncle Kyle (Aunt Lindsay has been VERY busy studying for law school finals - eek - go Lindsay!) mid-afternoon we headed to meet the rest of the family (Gramma, Pampa, Aunt Stephani, and Uncle Josh) for dinner at PF Changs! Yummm to the rest of us...what do you think Kegan's opinion of it was???

Where did Kegan go?
We got to the stadium a little over an hour before tip-off. Thank goodness for the box seats so Kegan could run around with a little more freedom! Kegan was actually very into the game - he loved watching the bounce the ball, throw the ball, shoot, run up and down...so much to keep his attention!
Checking things out with Uncle Kyle. Kegan kept telling me to, "watch basketball bounce"...while I was trying to take the photo. I think he was more interested in the basketball warm-up than my photo op...cute photo still!
What a view - he can see it all from there! (That glass "wall" was not so clean by night's end...some one's little fingers were up and down it...)
Ahhh...a great seat, watching basketball, and snacking with Gramma - great stuff!
For the first quarter Kegan got a special treat and got to go down to some seats the Setliff's have near the court - what a view from down there...even more activity to watch!
Can you find them???...look at the middle right hand side...
Hello!!! There they are!
If any of you have been around my child, although very adorable, he is very active, but he sat an ENTIRE quarter like in the picture below (eased my fear of seeing him run across the court on a quick get away!) - did not move, just clapped and cheered along.
Since the game, he talks more and more about basketball: "bounce ball", and "Shoot ball up high", getting basket...another sport to add to his repertoire!
Leaving the game - him and Uncle Kyle had a great trade off - Kyle carried Kegan so he did not have to walk and Kegan put his mittens over Kyle's ears to keep them warm...hehe...
Sunday afternoon Matthew had to go into Corpus for a meeting so Kegan and I spent the day at the Setliff's house.
Kegan is "helping" to trim the tree with the "heavy", as he described it, top piece.
Checking out Pampa's tractor with Santa on it.
*Funny story: After checking out Santa for a while, Kegan decided it was his turn and said "Clause off tractor...Clause off tractor"...now how do you explain to a 2 year old Santa can't share his tractor...it was rather funny! Then to add to it, the next day we were driving through the neighborhood and we saw a Santa figure and Kegan said "Santa off tractor!"...how funny...he though that was Pampa's Santa and he had finally gotten off the tractor! Oh...the mind of a 2 year old - how fun it is to follow!
Kegan also got to "ride" a tri-cycle at Gramma's. Poor guy's feet are still a bit short - he comes by it naturally...from both sides...but he loves to scoot around on it and LOVED riding down the slight slope of the neighbors driveway! No fear - the faster he went the better!
Today it was cold again - in the 30's and 40's...brr (specially since he was in shorts yesterday!)...and yet another chance to get out a winter hat!!! This one belonged to Matthew when he was a little boy. How cute does it look on Kegan !?!
A note about the above: I don't think cold weather phases little kids - I was so cold and my hands were numb and I was running around and doing everything to stay warm...Kegan did not even seem to notice!
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Well, let me welcome you into my home for a moment and show our Christmas ready house. I have done a little each night the past week and a half (I know...a long spread out time, but having a belly kind-of impedes some speed...and balance!). I am mostly done now and I just wanted to show my family and friends what it looks like - I absolutely LOVE decorating for Christmas...so many memories from being a little girl and helping my mom, flood my head and it just makes me happy to do it all! Then, to top it all off, Kegan is starting to appreciate it more. He loves the "Chirst...mas lights"
The dining area...


By the entry way door
A wheel barrel full of stuffed toys...umm...can you tell I decorate around a boy's toys!?
One side of the bookcases - just little touches here and there!
The living room and family ornament tree - one of my favorite parts to decorate - Matthew's and my mom both collected ornaments for us each Christmas as we grew up, and now we have one each year for us/our family, and we get one for Kegan. So many memories come to mind as I unwrap each ornament and remember what it is from, etc...
Notice also the "Little People Manger Scene" on the fireplace. I highly recommend this to any parent. One, I can talk to Kegan about the true meaning of Christmas - Jesus coming to earth, and he has is own manger scene to look at and is not tempted to touch mine!
Awww...the glow of the Christmas tree... :)

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Tyson update:
I am around 28 weeks along; only 2 to 2 1/2 months to go -ahhh...I can't believe how FAST this pregnancy is going.
According to the parenting website Ty should be a little over 2 lbs.
Still VERY active and seems to love Christmas music. I promise, he starts dancing when I sing/play Christmas music, especially while riding around in the car.
I go for my next check-up in a week!
Still NOTHING done in his room...I need to get started...anyone want to come help...haha! :)

Thursday, December 4, 2008

So Much to be Thankful For

We have so much to be thankful for! First, we are loved and watched over by Jesus our Lord, who gave His life so I could live with Him in eternity. We are thankful for our small...and growing immediate family, and for our extended families. We thank them all - grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces...everyone...we thank you for your love and are so blessed to have such an abundance of family that we love and can spend time with. We are thankful for another year that the Lord provided, took care of, and watched over us. I am thankful to live in a free country - just tonight I was talking to a lady whose husband is in Iraq - thank you to those men and woman who sacrifice so I can continue to enjoy my freedom.

Little man, mommy and daddy are thankful for you and the blessing you have been in our lives - you have brought so much joy and laughter into our home and lives. Mommy and Daddy thank the Lord for you all the time!

So much to be thankful for...these are just a few biggies. I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving and have had a merry beginning to the CHRISTmas season!!

Well...I am just going to put up the pictures from our big Bentley Family Thanksgiving get together (Gail's mom's side)! It was WONDERFUL to see everyone and great memories were made! :)



Tuesday: Playing blocks with Pappa



and....a little basketball...



That night we went to the Wharton Christmas parade....Kegen LOVED it...all the lights and cars and trailers and big trucks...he had a great time!!!



as he would say...."ciding!!!" (aka: exciting)....



Wednesday: We spent all day at the church cooking and getting ready...Kegan found plently of fun things to play with...

Bubbles...


...are a little messy on tile floor, so they went outside...check out the action jump!

Playing with his cousins - Juliann, Tori, and Kaycie

Yumm Yumm...enjoying some of his great-grandma's super yummy chocolate cake (seriously....the best chocolate cake and icing a person has ever had!)



STRONG MAN!



No chairs....I will use a ball....



Thursday: Happy Thanksgiving!...I think Kegan was munching on something...which he did ALL day long!



That family sitting down to eat...check out the group!


Gramma and Pappa saying a few words of thanks before we all prayed and ate. (A side note: not only was the family getting together to celebrate Thanksgiving but this past year, my Grandma turned 85 and my Pappa 88...and the celebrate 68or 69 years of marriage...I am not positive of the year...but still...wow!!! We love you both!!!)


Dinner time...eat up!



Hmm...whose fingers are we spotting in the side of Grandma's birthday cake?



...and snatching even more desserts....cookies!


A great grin while his cousin Tori was tickling him!


A little help...please...anyone???


Looking through pictures with Mommy, Dadddy, Grandma, Tori and Kaycie


I guess he liked that picture???



More playing...


We love our cousin Karsyn. (Totally UNprompted photoe - they did this on their own...I just happend to catch it!)


Awww...sharing...again, all on their own....so sweet!



Playing around....uhhh...so the flags were just found...as well as Karsyn's nice yellow glove...and they decided they needed to play with them....silly kids....


These kids sure can dance???...well atleast have a good time! :)










Friday:

Friday morning Kegan was watching me brush and blowdry my hair...then he decided it was his turn...he got it all together by himself...it was funny because he was really trying to do it "right"

Nolan, Popa and Matthew took the kids out to my Pappa's land to see the cows and ride on the tractos and gator....

...and pose for a few pictures for the mom's sake :)


Of course...what does Kegan go to?


Taking a ride with Popa


"Umm...if Karsyn is driving this thing...I am out of here!"


Just roaming around the barn...



Boo....

Saturday:

Before heading out Kegan got in a little more play time with his great grandfather.

He would splash his hands around in a bowl of water Grandma has out for the birds...and then Pappa would dry them off....Kegan enjoyed this game...

Saturday night we went and had dinner with the Setliff's. Well, Pampa wasted no time in spoiling Kegan...he asked Kegan what dessert and he wanted and Kegan chose a HUGE piece of chocolate cake...although we all shared a little of it...little man did a pretty good job of eat it...or atleast spreading it all round on his face...haha



Sunday:

Uncle Josh and Aunt Stephani went to Disney World with Josh's family for Thanksgiving and they brought Kegan (and Ty) back some souvineers....Kegna really liked the Mickey doll :)





Random pictures from this week:

Does he look relaxed or what. (Just a note - feet are not allowed on the counter, but the picture was too cute to pass on...so after pictures, the feet and boots were taken off and went back to dangling over the edge)



Thursday morning it gor really cold - well really cold for Corpus, so Kegan bundled up to go to school. Isn't he a cutie


Thursday evening was the Christmas Chat n' Play - cookie decorating...and eating!



Haha...aren't they cute! :) Matching shirts :)


Soooo....I am not sure how he put this all together, but he put on the hat, grabbed the tamborine, and the magnifying glass and starting marching around playing a little rhythm...silly boy!


Hahah...the face made me laugh!




As you can see - so much to be thankful for.