the past few months

We've had a great time this fall doing lots of different things-- here are a few of them =)

Hanging out with Aunt Laura at the arboretum


Joseph, Matthew and cousin Abby at Thanksgiving
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Erin and Matthew at the Holly Jolly Christmas in stephenville (our little mini-vacation)

Joseph and Brett

Six flags! Porky, Erin, Matthew, Sylvester, Brett and Joseph. We had so much fun riding rides like the mini-mine train, the big train, the carousel, and watching Matthew have the biggest smile driving a "car" for the first time =)

Joseph and Nana on the loony toon cave ride (Joseph was a little scared during that one!)

Our present cake-- we sang happy birthday to Jesus on Christmas Eve

Right before opening presents (doesn't Matthew look excited?!?)


At the boy scout museum

Matthew shooting a "gun" for the first time (at the boy scout museum)

it's official! (but not what you think) =)

I am so excited to announce that my etsy store is now open! For the past few years, I've wanted to do some design work on the side (mostly because I really miss doing creative stuff like this). I have created some really cute Christmas card designs, and you'll notice that most of them have scripture references/quotes on them-- to focus on the real meaning of the season.
Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CutieTooley?ref=top_trail

Here are a couple of examples of my cards-- I would love to design your family's card this year =)








(yes-- I did change their names for security!)

lately

Actually, I got on this blog to kill some time-- (as I was getting ready to give the boys a bath, I didn't realize Joseph had pooped in his diaper, and some got in the tub-- ick! So as soon as the boys are asleep, I'll be disinfecting the tub. Ahhhh-- what a wonderful use of a Tuesday night.....

On a better note-- the boys' sunday school teachers told us Sunday that Matthew and Joseph (who are in classrooms catty-corners from each other), saw each other in their classrooms, and ran out in the hall and met in the middle and gave each other the biggest hugs! (like they hadn't seen each other in 3 years, let alone 30 minutes). It's nice to know they love each other amidst the fighting at home. The teachers said it was the sweetest thing ever. =)

Also-- Saturday, we took the boys to their first pumpkin patch-- (pics to come later)-- it was so much fun! We went on a hayride, a mini-train ride, bounce houses and a picnic lunch-- what a fun day! My favorite part was watching Matthew climb the bounce house stairs (kind of like a ladder) to slide down the slide-- I was so proud seeing him climb up all by himself, and was reminded how big he's getting-- it was just 3 years ago he was my baby-- and now he's such a big boy!

That's all for tonight-- time to get the clorox!

happenings....

I haven't written in a while, and thought I'd give a few updates from our little world--

Brett started seminary the end of August, and is taking Greek, Old Testament, Spiritual Formation, and Hermeneutics (which is how to study the Bible). He is taking classes Monday and Tuesdays, and working Wed-Fridays (and studying in between!)

Joseph has started saying a few words lately- and oh so cute! He can now say Car, Dada, Mama (I think he's just said it once, but I'm counting it!), Uh-Oh!, and a few others I can't think of right now. All of his teeth (besides his 2-year molars) are in, or sprouting. He's walking great (almost running!), and loves talking on my cell phone (but he holds it on the top of his head, not against his ear- but really cute!)

Matthew is doing great-- it amazes me the words and sentences he's forming and how quickly he's learning (although he's learning some stuff I wouldn't like him to-- no more saying darn-it!) He is now old enough for the preschool choir at church, and absolutely loves it.

I've been keeping busy with the boys, and also trying to give Brett space so he can study. Brett and I did get to have a night out a couple weekends ago (thank you, Reagan!), and went to Uno's pizza and a real concert at the Bass Hall in Fort Worth. In my "spare" time, I'm also trying to start up a little side business designing Christmas cards, birth announcements, etc. More to come on that!

Hope you and yours have a wonderful week-

meeting Miss Abby

Last weekend, we made our way to Waco to meet the newest addition to the Maddox clan, Miss Abby. We had a great time visiting with Andrew and Kari, and of course, getting to meet Abby! I'm so excited that the cousins are so close in age =).

Abby, Matthew, and Joseph

ditto--

proud parents!

Miss Abby

Matthew's Birthday

Our Matthew is now the big 3! We had a great weekend back in July celebrating. On Friday, we had a few of his friends (and their mommies) over with lots of hot dogs to celebrate. Saturday, we went on a real choo-choo train in Fort Worth with Nana and Papa, and then topped off the weekend with donuts on his real birthday on Sunday, July 11th. Here are a few pics-


Matthew's party- with a kid sized table =)

on the choo-choo train

Nana, Papa and Joseph

opening presents

just fun =)

Matthew about to eat his cake (it's supposed to be a train!)

Joseph waiting on his ice cream

Matthew helping mommy make ice cream- yum!

kentucky....

Okay-- I'm a month late, but over July 4th weekend, we had a wonderful time visiting (and meeting) Brett's extended family at the High Family Reunion in Tompkinsville, KY. Since it was quite a drive, we made that our family vacation-- and had a wonderful time!

Joseph sleeping in his new "big-boy" carseat-- with Matthew's foot also gracing the picture =)

seeing the ducks march in at the peabody hotel in memphis, tn

Matthew and Joseph watching the ducks (they loved it!)

we drove through Erin, TN, just so I could get a picture (I know, cheesy, but it was fun to see other parts of KY and TN besides I-40!


The house that Brett's Grandma grew up in-- so neat!


The house that Brett's granddad grew up in (we seriously had to hike through a jungle to see it)

Erin, Joseph, Matthew, and Brett at Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage.

cruise!

Last week, Brett and I took a 4-day cruise to celebrate our 5th (can you believe it?!?) anniversary-- a couple months early. Many thanks to my mom and dad (aka Nana and Papa) for watching the boys-- we had a wonderful time just relaxing and getting some much needed sleep. Here are some pics from our trip =)


our cruise ship- ecstasy


waiting in a very long line to get on the cruise....


our pretty flowers waiting for us when we got to our room! (thanks mom and dad!)


our first day


formal night (of course we had to dress up!)


Brett on one of the pyramids (now in ruins)

mayan ruins-- the stones I'm on led to an 8 mile trail to the beach


the beach in cozumel


miniature golf-- hole in one!

our dinner table-- great fun getting to know 2 other couples- one from colorado the other from michigan (our waitress was in the middle)

Little Things

I thought I would just post a few fun things that have been happening lately--

Our family is going to be taking a trip to visit Brett's extended family in Kentucky in July. Matthew LOVES watching the "kitty-cat movie" (aka Shrek II). He got to watch it way too much when mommy and Matthew were sick a couple of weeks ago. Because of that, we are having kitty-cat movie detox right now, and I told Matthew he could watch it when we go to Kentucky (we got a really neat car-DVD player-- i'm so excited!). So now-- Matthew keeps asking when we are going to Kentucky!

We went to a wedding 2 weekends ago, and Matthew sat through the whole thing (and devoured 2 lollypops in the process)-- but he was quiet! Unfortunately, Joseph didn't even see the bride come in- so he and Brett watched from the back.

Tonight, we had a picnic- on our living room floor! I put down a tablecloth, and Matthew showed everyone where to sit (by plate color). Joseph kept trying to eat my plate (this is before Brett brought the pizza home, and Matthew did not appreciate it!) It was so much fun doing something different, and then we went to the park to play afterwards. I love nights like tonight.

That's all I can think of! Night night!

Joseph's first birthday

Well, I can't believe it's already been a year since we welcomed Joseph into the world. I'm amazed how much he's growing-- he's getting close to walking without help, says a really cute "uh-oh!" and last night he and Matthew were playing so cute together-- both of them just laughing-- it was so fun to watch them interact together! So, here are a few pictures of Joseph's b-day (he absolutely devoured that cupcake-- if I ever figure out how to post video, it will be of that!)


Happy Birthday Joseph! (Brett had to hold his arms so he wouldn't devour the cupcake to soon!)

Joseph loves his present!


before.....

after......I think he liked the cupcake!

it's beginning to look a lot like february?

My mom said it snowed a bunch back in 1985, but nothing like this!!! Yesterday, it kept snowing, and snowing, and snowing some more-- big flakes creating a Christmas wonderland, but in February. So today, the boys and I had to experience a little of it (in some of the pics, you'll notice the boys are in a laundry basket- I tied my old jump rope to it, and pulled them around the neighborhood-- you can't imagine the smiles I got from them both- wish I had pictures of that!)

the two cutest boys ever (I'm not biased or anything...)

our backyard (see how much snow is on the table?)

front yard- Brett couldn't even get his car up the driveway last night, and had to park it out front!