Decades Day

These two had Decades Day at School! Atticus did not want to dress up, until the night before and thankfully we could pull together an outfit for a boy from the 40's. And Grace was the cutest 50's girl you ever did see! When I asked them what their favorite part from their day was (where they learn all about their decade during their school work all day), they told me:

Atticus: learning about WW2
Grace: eating ice cream during snack (aka Root Beer Floats minus the root beer for Grace)

November Memories

November was such a busy month, but here are few more pictures of some memories!

 4 kids means it's always chaos in this house!

 Atticus loves his baby sister and it is so sweet to see them snuggled up on the floor. 

So, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and before we went to Sanger, I stayed home from church one morning while Vic took the 3 big kids. They came home and Grace showed me her turkey hat she made. Well, it took all of 2 seconds for Everly to put it on and claim it as her own. Thankfully, Grace didn't mind. But, Everly wore this hat constantly (we know her love for accessories). And, she even took it to Sanger and wore it some there. She is the silliest girl! And I love her pose and hands on her hips in this photo!

 Vic was invited to a Ducks Unlimited banquet by a relative, Warren Seidel. Apparently, Texas A&M has the biggest or one of the biggest Ducks Unlimited chapters or banquets or something. And, on this night, Vic knew there would be dinner and drinks and an auction. He took $20 in case there was a raffle or something he might want to bid on. Well, this kind of event was slightly out of their price range. He came home talking about how people spent thousands of dollars on auction items and trips...at his table alone! He kept his little $20 bill in his pocket and enjoyed the free dinner and beer instead! But, he had a great time!

 We kept going through big sister's previous clothes...this outfit was actually bought for Grace by Kristofer and Katie! It has gotten its wear with 3 little girls!

 Hazel is just hanging out with her big sister, who is wearing tupperware on her head, and probably engrossed in Mickey Mouse. Another day in her life!

 Hazel was having a tough time on this particular day. She was in the middle of her first cold that wasn't going away and we ended up taking her to after hours care to get an antibiotic. I just remember putting her in this outfit that dates back to Atticus and loving this little crab covered sleeper!

 Give me all of the baby snuggles!

 One one of our evenings, she was so stuffy and congested, I made a hot shower for her to stand by to breathe in the steam. I have to laugh because I posted this photo on instagram and people commented on how sweet it was of Vic holding her. And, it WAS sweet! But, I laugh because about a minute into this process of letting her breathe in steam, Vic needed to do something so I took her and stood there myself for another 20 minutes. Mom life is taking the photos, and not getting the credit for those non-photo moments (but also not needing it when you have the memories of the sweet moments!).

 Tickle Tickle!

 At 3 months, Hazel was already growing out of her bassinet. But, we kept her in there anyways!

 Grace was the Dancer of the Month for her dance studio this month!

 Lauren and Miriam were in town this month and we got to meet one another's little girls! Lauren and I go way back to Ag Program Days and this was a good day!

We got school photos of these two this month! Atticus in 2nd and Grace in Kindergarten! I love school photos, but there is something about a Kindergarten picture that is just so innocent and little and shy and I love it!

And, the last of the photos for this month. This sweet girl was just as happy as could be and propped up like a big girl in the chair that I have nursed all of my babies in! And her blanket, crocheted by Melbo, is in the background!

It was a good month in November!

Decorating the Tree

This year, while we were in Sanger for the first half of Thanksgiving Week, Vic was home working during the day and decorating for Christmas at night. I like to do this as a family, but honestly, it was better that he just did it because it is hard to get much done with the kids! However, he did leave the tree for us to decorate. I wasn't even home the night they did it! Ha! But, here's our pictures...

Slobbery Kisses!

The other day, Hazel was giving me kisses. I love when they reach this phase! She opens her mouth to try to get my face into her mouth and it feels just like a special baby kiss!

 Looking cute today!

 And she's got my chin in her sweet little gummy mouth!

 She is not letting go!

 She breaks away and I try to snap a photo, but that little mouth looks ready to kiss again!

But, I snag my kisses first! Oh sweet Hazel - I love you!

Everly's First Cat Experience

So, as you may remember, Melbo had a cat named Bubba for many years. And, Grace, who had a long phase of loving kitty cats (or "titties" as she would often say), LOVED Bubba the Cat. He was not a fan of being loved on, but he was never mean and he always allowed Grace to pet him and mess with him. He would try his hardest to escape but Grace always found him. And she really loved that cat. Well, Everly was not really around Bubba much and has not been around cats. And Everly, being our funny, little girl who is confidant and curious, came across Chloe the Cat at Milly & Bobby's house. Chloe is the perfect cat! Pretty, fat, thick fur and even better....she let Everly do anything she wanted with her, although they were only together a short time. And, I wish I knew that none of our family allergies would be affected so we could get Everly her very own kitten. I think Everly would love to have a cat. Check out the photos below!

Oh Everly! I hope you get to have your very own cat one day!

Thanksgiving in Sanger

For the past several years, we have mostly spent Thanksgiving in College Station with just our little family. One year the Seidels came and last year we went to Orange Grove. But, since we always want to see both families at Christmas, we decided awhile back that adding Thanksgiving in and traveling 3 times in about 5 weeks with little ones was a lot of work. So, we didn't travel. But, I was anxious to attend Erwin Thanksgiving this year because we hadn't been since before Atticus was born. So, the extended Erwin Family had never met any of our kids and I was just curious to see lots of them and attend Thanksgiving again. So, we decided to go. But, Vic had to work through Wednesday so I decided the kids and I would just go a couple of days earlier and stay the week and Vic was going to drive up early Thursday morning and stay the rest of the weekend with us. And, we had a great time! It was all going to be interesting because I didn't know how the sleeping with all of the kids would go, but it turned out great! Hazel was on antibiotics for a cold and had not been sleeping well in the bassinet at home. So, I had been swaddling her in the rock 'n play and she had been doing better at home. So, here at Grandma and Pop's, Atticus and Everly shared a room with Everly in the crib and Atticus in the twin bed. Then, Grace slept in the twin bed in the other guest room with me in the queen and Hazel in her rock 'n play. And then Vic, joined us in that room when he arrived. I was just so pleased that it worked!

We drove to Sanger Monday afternoon and went straight to Melbo and GG's to visit with them.

 Everly carried this little bunny around, just like her neighborhood walk bunnies, at GG's. Those little sweet hands!

 Then, we got to Grandma and Pop's later that evening. Everly was going through a stage of not loving new people holding her, but she did good here and there and was having fun on this first night with Grandma!

The next day, Mom and I took the day to drop off everyone, except Hazel, at GG's and go out for a day of furniture shopping to replace their couch and chair in the den. We shopped all day in Denton and Fort Worth and took pictures and video and came home with some options for them to choose from. It was a really fun day; Hazel was so good and luckily, easy going. As long as she got fed every so often, she just went along happily. We even had a photo shoot in the car! 

Hazel was a good shopper on this day!

After reviewing all of the options, we decided that Daddy and I would stop at a store that had shopped at previously, in Denton, to look at some more furniture. When we left, I took this photo of Daddy (because Mom had been requesting one of him in his uniform for Christmas) before he went to work. He looks so handsome as a Corporal for the Denton County Sheriff's Office. 

I headed back to Melbo & Pa's house for a little while. The kids were having fun feeding chickens and hanging out. 

Grace loves Melbo!

Although Hazel had been picky about being held, she let Melbo love on her and rock her for a little while.

And, later that evening, when Mom got home from work, we went back to this store and she bought the perfect couch and loveseat for their den. While she finalized things, the big kids hung out and Grace was the funniest girl! She walked around to all of the couches sitting on them to try them out, push the buttons, and tell me which ones were good or not. She loved doing this!

So, we got home around 9 or so that night and because it was the night before Thanksgiving, I wanted everyone to have baths. They hadn't actually bathed since arriving. Sounds gross, right? Well, sometimes you can let kids go a day or two with no bath if they aren't outside getting stinky and dirty. Mom and Dad no longer have a tub, so we had to do showers and only Atticus takes a shower normally. So, on this night, although everyone was tired, I made them bathe. Atticus was fine on his own, of course and got in and out quickly. But, boy did Mom and I have a fast and furious and systematic way to bathe the girls. Not to be TMI, but I got in the shower first and got Everly in. She was NOT having it, but I furiously washed her and by the end, she was saying "I did it!" and smiling through the tears. I pushed her out and got a hesitant Grace in, washed her through her tears, and got her out. In the meantime, Mom is getting Everly diapered and dressed. Then, as I sent Grace out, Mom is handing me Hazel and while I bathe Hazel in the shower, Mom is getting Grace dried off and dressed. As soon as Hazel is done, mom takes her and I quickly shower and get out, right before the hot water runs out. As soon as I get dressed, I rush to nurse Hazel who is crying for food! It was a whirlwind! But, I was pretty proud of us for getting it done. Lucky for you all - no pictures of that fiasco! :) 

The next morning, we got up and got dressed for Thanksgiving and headed up to Highland Baptist Church, where they have hosted Thanksgiving (and a long time ago Christmas) for many many years - since I was a little girl and probably longer. Vic met us there - hooray! We ate, had the auction (where Atticus got caught up in a chant of "5, 10, 15 (that people were bidding)" and called out "20" (as in dollars) not realizing that he was bidding on something that cost me real money!) I almost embarrassed him when I stopped him, but thankfully he just turned pink and kept smiling and happily took his framed copy of a Church Directory from many many years ago. It was one of those nostalgic things that was auctioned off that was nostalgic to the old people in the family - haha! But, side note: it now proudly hangs in Atticus's room. Also, I did embarrass Grace, without meaning to - my more sensitive child, when she too called our a bid on something and I said "no grace!" Although it was in fun, it was so sad to see her be so embarrassed. Oh my! It's tough to be a mom! Anyways, after lunch, we headed back home and napped and hung out. 

 I'm pretty sure all Everly ate for Thanksgiving was 2 rolls and some dessert.

 This was my view of these two kids at the auction, before they started bidding. It really was cute and they just wanted to participate! I was just so caught off guard when they started bidding!

 So, at the end, while we were cleaning and gathering, Hazel was hungry and just wanted to be held. Melbo just calmed her right down for a little nap and I thought it was perfect. Soon after, I did take her to the car and feed her!

 The best family photo we could get that day! First Turkey Day as a family of 6!

Vic took the kids out to play on the playground for a little while - sweet little pumpkins!

Grace is my kid that will ALWAYS gather people up, in a group photo, for a hug! She is the funniest thing and while Atticus is at an age to push her away, Everly loves to be hugged! Silliest kids!

One of the most fun things about having babies so close in age is that we can dress them alike! Ana and I bought these matching outfits for Hazel and Norah and they were so cute!

The next day, was Friday and what we deemed a little game day. Normally, each year at Christmas, we try to schedule a full game day where we play games all day and visit and eat delicious food. But, we would only be in Sanger for Christmas for a weekend and not have an extra day for game day. So, we decided that we would attempt one at Thanksgiving week. But, with babies and their schedules, it started to seem more complicated, so we just got everyone together at Grandma and Pop's house to visit instead. We did squeeze in some 42 playing as well! It was a good day of the Erwin crew together!

I'm just guessing, but I bet they were dancing here - Ana and Charley say that Norah loves to dance!

Atticus got Pick-Up-Stix at the Erwin auction and although I think he changed the rules sometimes, it was a fun game to play!

We got some 42 playing in...it's been awhile but I always enjoy it!

If you've never played 42 with Pa, you don't know what you are missing. He bids really high on terrible hands and somehow pulls them out with a win. He is really competitive but always a good partner and doesn't make you feel bad when your hand doesn't pan out. He just really loves 42 and could play from sunup to sundown when he plays. And, it's always fun to play with our family and I love that I learned to play in college and even taught Vic!

And, Grandma even let Hazel play on the piano on this day!

On Friday night, Grace got to go spend the night at Melbo, Pa and GG's house. The next morning, Hazel, Everly and I left Dad, Mom, Atticus and Vic to do some furniture rearranging (to fit the new furniture) at the house and went to pick up GG and Grace. When we arrived, I found Grace out in the "hoopie" riding around with Pa, in her pajamas, watering cows. Then, we got everyone loaded and headed to The Little Blue House. The Little Blue House is this fabulous scrapbooking store that is also GG's second home. They do classes of the cutest crafts and are always teaching something new. And, they recently moved to a newer location and I had not been. So, I really wanted to see it and shop. So, away we went. Of course, this meant we had to nurse Hazel before and after we arrived, in the car in the parking lot, so we did lots of visiting that way and loving on Hazel. Also, it was a fabulous store and it's better that it is not close to me, because I would want to go there all the time and spend lots of money and neglect my children, because the crafts ARE SO GREAT! Also, when we got back that afternoon, the Seidel Six (minus Everly) plus Melbo, Pa, Mom and Dad all went to eat at Bebo's in Aubrey. They have live music and happened to have one of Mom and Dad's favorite bands playing. It was a good night! And little Hazel slept the entire time in her carseat!

 My pretty little Everly!

 

The next day, Sunday, we loaded up our two vehicles and headed back to College Station. It had been a really good week! And we ended our trip with a stop in Frost and Bobby & Milly's house to drop some boxes off and see The Verett crew! Although there are few pictures, we did get this one. First, I should say that Taylor was "ready to get his mitts on Hazel" because he is a SUCKER for babies and if he ever has a baby girl of his own, I'm afraid he will be toast. But, Hazel was in an "I don't want anyone to hold me" phase that week and did not like his first attempt. So, I got her calm, sat down on the couch and we passed her to Taylor and she didn't even know! For that matter, that is also what we tried the past few days and it sometimes worked! It also worked here! So, we had a good little visit and then got back on the road. The kids played and played and be on the lookout for another post of Everly and Chloe, the cat. It was too cute! Otherwise, we loaded up and headed home!