Joshua is 4!

Joshua turned 4 on Monday, St. Patrick's Day!  I think he thought the day would never come.  He's been talking about turning 4 since he turned 3. We let him open his present right after we woke him up singing "Happy B-day." Of course I played it safe and got him a Thomas the Train toy.  He had a great day since he went to school and was treated like a prince.  He brought doughnuts for the class and wore a crown that Ms. Gwen gave him.  He didn't want to take the crown off for most of the day.

Steve and I had the day off since we closed on the house that morning.  Thought I'd be more excited about it but I guess since we've had such a long time pass since we went under contract (end of January) to now two months later the feeling was a little muted.  But still a big day for all.  We also met with several contractors at the house to get things done before we finally move in.

Then finally we went over to Mom and Dad's house for the mini-Bday party!  Joshua loved his ice cream sprinkles cake and us taking a million pics of him.  He also got a Talking James train from Granny and Grandpa and I think that was the icing on the cake!

"I'm glad I met you."

I can't believe how fast the year is already going by.  It's almost March and the boys are just growing up fast. I'll start with the news that we bought a house in the Ranch at Brushy Creek in late January and we will close on March 17 and probably move in 1st week of April.  We're very excited about the new house not so much the moving process.  Joshua and Noah know where the new neighborhood is and we pass it every day so I'm trying to get them used to the fact that we are moving out of the only house they've ever lived in.  I know they'll be fine but I am a little sad that we are leaving the house that we initially raised the boys in.  So many memories.

I wanted to remember that last week the boys said some funny things.  Joshua told me, "Mommy, I'm glad I met you."  Haha.  Me too Joshua.  And I asked Noah if he wanted a doughnut after dinner and he looked at me like I was crazy and said, "Of course I do."

We had a really relaxing Feb.  The first weekend we had Brant's Bday party and Ava's Bday party at The Thinkery (the new Children's Museum.)  It's been opened since December but this was our first time and the kids had a blast.  On Valentine's Day I received chocolate covered strawberries from the boys and they all got cards from Steve and I that morning.  Noah kept going around saying, "Happy B-day Valentine's Day"
The Jacob family came that weekend and we went to Zilker Park, Home Slice and Amy's Ice Cream.  That evening Shawn and I went for a nice sushi dinner.

Here are some recent pics:

                                                              1/23 - Ice Day (no snow)

                                                                2/15

Noah's 2nd B-day in Austin

We celebrated Dad's 65th B-day party in Dallas prior to Noah's 1st B-day party.  We went to a nice restaurant in Frisco where we had a private room.  Dad had a great time and we all enjoyed the food including Joshua and Noah.

On Noah's actual 2nd B-day (Jan 15) we celebrated in Austin with another Mickey Mouse cake that Mom made.  Noah couldn't get enough of that chocolate cake.  And of course both Joshua and Noah got a little present from Mom and Dad (trains).

The following weekend we took them to the circus at Cedar Park Center where they watched elephants, camels, dogs, a human cannonball, and motorcycles.  They enjoyed the motorcycles the most since they did flips and jumped off ramps.

Noah's 2nd B-day party in Dallas

We didn't do too much on New Year's Eve - I went to Cover 2 with Trisha for a couple of hours but was back home before midnight.  I worked on New Year's Day while Steve had the day off with the kids.
We both had Thu Jan 2 and 3rd off so that we could travel to Dallas and celebrate Noah's B-day on Sat.

Here are some pics of Noah's 2nd B-day party in Dallas:

The month of December

Continuing my late posts for 2013, I will now try to review our month of December.
We picked a random Wednesday to drive through the Rock N' Lights tour in Round Rock at Old Settlers Park.  Joshua and Noah loved seeing all the different themed lights including Santa's workshop with the elves  Round Rock sports, and many other Christmas lights.

On Dec. 13, Joshua had his Christmas concert/program at school.  I was the only one able to go since Mom and Dad were sick and Steve just started his new job.  I had a great time watching Joshua with all the 3 year olds sing 2 Christmas songs in the chapel.  He looked so sweet as he found me in the audience and kept smiling and staring at me throughout the songs.

Noah got the flu the next week and it took him a couple of days to get back to being his usual cheerful self.  He lost his appetite and subsequently some weight as well.  Steve and I also got sick with the flu around the same time.

We took Santa pictures at the mall on Sat the 21st and the picture shows perfectly the boys personalities.
On Christmas Eve, we read the last portion of the Advent tree in which we explained Jesus' birth in a manger.  Every night this month we did the Advent tree where they would hang the story ornament on the tree.  They were very excited that this was the last day because that meant the next day was Christmas.  They set out the cookies for Santa and we sprinkled the reindeer dust on the front lawn so that it would sparkle in the moonlight and the reindeer would see our house.  Thanks Ms. Gwen for sending that home!

On Christmas morning we ate breakfast and then read the Bible.  Only then did we let Joshua and Noah start to open presents.  We each took a turn opening presents from Santa.  We had a blast watching their reactions as they opened their present!  We saved the train table for last and they loved it!

At noon we went to Mom and Dad's and had lunch similar to our Thanksgiving lunch.  Joshua and Noah had a 2nd Christmas opening more presents!

                                                                      Joshua's Christmas program

                                            Sprinkling Christmas dust

                                                         Setting out cookies for Santa

                                              Opening presents at Granny and Grandpa's

                                          12/28 -presents with Ammachi, Appachen, and Uncle Subin