All in One Day

Getting our maps from Dora

Setting up the Pinata

Presents!

The Cake!

Waiting to get her face painted -

I know she's mine, but I think she looks soooo pretty here!

He scored!!

The line up!

Warming up to play

Wow! Yesterday was a very big day for the Hughes family. We had opening day of the Alamo Heights Little League and Bennett's second bday party! AHLL seems like it is going to be lots of fun for Montgomery. Thankfully, no one got hurt in the first game, especially since a trip to the ER would have really thrown are tight schedule for a loop. After the game, we had just enough time to turn our backyard into Dora the Explorer party central! While Bennett was down for her nap, and thanks to the help of Gran & Gramp, we were able to get the tables & chairs set up, 24 balloons tied, drinks on ice, 50 tacos and the cake picked up, queso made, and the music turned on before our first guests arrived at 4:00. The party was great. We hired a Dora the Explorer "clown like" person to entertain the kids. She and her face painting friend did a great job. Bennett received way too many presents - thanks everyone! But she had so much fun. I still can't believe she's two!!!

Friendship

Walking up the driveway - Bennett said, "I hold Brother's hand." I grabbed my camera and boy am I glad I did. SO CUTE!

I think Bennett thought this was her birthday party. She has two more months to wait!

Bennett & Whitney playing in the moonbounce.

Hello!

This is as close as I could get to taking a picture of all of our children.

Here we are - Me, Nicole, Irma Jean, and Belinda.

Well, this weekend was full of friendship. We went to Irma Jean's daughter's 2nd birthday. Can't believe Whitney is 2!!! We had a blast playing. It was also so fun to see two of my old friends from Floresville, Nicole & Belinda. It has been YEARS!!! So, the four of us took a picture to mark the occasion.

Who knows when we'll all be together again. One thing is for certain, true friendships never end. It was so funny how we could sit and gab so naturally and try to catch up as our children bounced around us. I am so proud of them and the great moms they are.

New Year's Eve in Kerville

Happy 2009 to all of my friends and family!! I hope this is a fantastic year for everyone!!!!

Paige, Bennett, Anderson, & Montgomery enjoying their New Year's Eve dinner.

Paige, Anderson, and Montgomery watching Toy Story before getting in their own beds for the night. I was so impressed that they slept in the same room. Too Cute!!!

Baby Jack sleeping on Meredith. He is sooooo sweet and so good. I can't believe how big he is getting. He's almost 3 months old.

I love this picture because it is right before midnight and Meredith is caught doing
what we were all doing at this point - yawning!!!!

The Group looking cute - We took this right after midnight.

Don't you also love the two portraits above us?!

The Group being silly - notice where one of the portraits ended up!!!
(That is actually Meredith's mom Andrew is holding!)

The Hughes Family spent our New Year's Eve in Kerville with the Brewers and the Boggess'. Meredith's family has this fantastic ranch there with more deer and land than you can imagine and the house has this amazing sense of family and love that you can just tell has been there for generations. It's awesome! This was our second trip to the ranch and we can't wait for our third - hint, hint Meredith! We really enjoyed being out of San Antonio and up in the hill country. When we arrived the 3 big kids took turns with their dads riding the 4-wheeler that somehow, the moms didn't get one single picture of. The sun very quickly set and we all hunkered down inside it was very cold. The kids ate first - yummy hot dogs and fruit. Then we started the night time drill of getting them down to sleep. The babies were pretty easy - howeve, each one woke up at least once during the night, but tolerable. The big kids slept together in one of the rooms that has three twin beds. It was precious! After the kids were all down, we enjoyed a terrific steak dinner with twice baked potatoes and salad. Then a yummy piece or two of pie!!! By the time that was all done, it was only about 10:30 and we were wore out, but since it was New Year's Eve we played a few rounds of Mexican Train and then stood in the living room until midnight. After a quick celebratory toast, hugs, and a few kisses, the moms were all in bed by 12:10!!! Too funny! This morning was great also. Meredith made her scrumptious migas and then we ran the kids around outside as long as we could to tire them out, they took a few more turns on the 4-wheeler (that we still didn't get pictures of) and then we packed up and headed back to San Antonio. All in all it was a very fun 24 hours. Thanks again to Meredith for being the best hostess!!!!

Bilingual Bennett

Many of you have already seen Bennett count to 10 in Spanish first hand, but for those who have not had the "privilege" - here you go. I think it's so funny and I also think Bennett is pretty smart to be able to already count, but then again, I am her mom. Enjoy!

Cross Creek Christmas 08

Counsins (Ryan, Lexi, Bennett, Montgomery, Bryce, & Levi)
Pure Excitement - Montgomery got a marble run!!!!

Ryan & Bennett with their new babies & cradles -
handmade by Gramp

Getting ready to make smores!

Gran always comes up with the best activities for the kids.

This time they made a Candy Land Cake.

Lexi helped Montgomery line up the chocolate path.

Bennett peeking through the train window

Montgomery & Ryan riding the train!

We had a fantastic time at Cross Creek this year. As usual Gran and Gramp were fantastic hosts and spoiled us from the moment we arrived until we left. It was so great to see the whole Hughes family - minus Mamma and Papa; we missed them so much. But from Bub's group to our group, we had a good time playing with the kids and trying our best to catch up. Watching the cousins run around and laugh was amazing. The children are what it's all about at Christmas time. Thanks to the whole family for all the great gifts, the great time, and the great food!

Thanksgiving in Port A

We spent our Thanksgiving down in Port A and we had a really nice time. It's always good to get out of town and take a break from the pace of our lives. And what a perfect place to do just that. We enjoyed taking Shilee for a couple of walks on the beach. She has turned out to be a good addition to our family. She's sweet and she's pretty gentle. Montgomery has really enjoyed having a puppy with his energy and Bennett enjoys telling her "no Shilee!" It's pretty great! I am so thankful for my family, for my friends (old & new), and for Port A. The beach has provided the perfect backdrop for so many fantastic memories in 2008!

Trick or Treat

Sweet Bumble Bee

With school friends

Pita, Montgomery, Me at SAA class party

Boggess', Brewer's, & Hughes'

(I'm holding baby Jack, my Godson!!!)

Pirate Hughes - With his class Grizzly Bear

(It was our weekend for Grizzly to come home with us.)

Trick or Treating

The Loot!

Well, all in all it was a pretty fun Halloween this year!!! Bennett had a parade at her school and so it was really sweet to see her with her teachers and friends. I definitely think she's a girly girl who loves to dress up. She enjoyed having on her costume and carrying her bag. We thought dressing her up in a Bumble Bee costume fit her perfectly, especially since we call her "Bee" when we're playing with her. She's sooooo cute! Montgomery had a school party and my mom was able to join us. (Thanks mom!) The boys couldn't wear their costumes, but they played fun games & decorated cupcakes. That night we joined the Boggess' & the Brewers for fun filled, old fashioned trick or treating. I was AMAZED by the amount of candy that Montgomery - aka Pirate Hughes, Anderson - aka Spiderman, and Paige aka kitty cat were able to get in such a short period of time. Baby Jack slept in his stroller while Bennett & Cambell hung out together in Kara's double stroller. I'm sure next year, they'll be right there trying to keep up with their older siblings! I really love special holidays like this one. It is so child centered and we always love spending time with our loved ones, family & friends alike! (And not to mention once we get past Halloween, that means Christmas will be here before we know it!!!! Ho! Ho! Ho!!!!!)