Valentine's Day

I rocked this Valentine's Day!

On Wednesday, Kevin had a pro bono trial he was nervous about, so I gave him a cute jar filled with Reese's Peanut Butter Cups with stickers on the bottom listing reasons why I love him and a tag that read..."50 Reese's Why I Love You."

  

Original from Pinterest

On Thursday, I showed up at Kevin's office with a batch of yummy homemade sugar cookies to share with his coworkers...they were a hit to say the least!

On Friday, I arranged for a babysitter to come while I met Kevin for a fancy lunch at Perry's Steakhouse. We got the amazing $11 Pork Chop and shared a great creme brulee (my favorite).

On Saturday, I organized a round of WhirlyBall with a bunch of friends (because nothing says "I Love You" like playing overly competitive bumper car lacrosse basketball) and then we all grabbed sushi afterwards - delish!

Kevin's Valentine for me didn't go so well.

The poor guy tried so hard!  After the VDay debacle of 2012 (Kevin was in Russia and completely ignored the holiday...I was not pleased) Kevin knew he had to do something to redeem himself, so he ordered a two-part package from 1-800-Flowers where I would receive chocolate covered strawberries the day before and then a dozen roses the day of Valentines.  Two surprises, how fun!

Sounds great, right?

Well, on Wednesday, Kevin kept calling me and asking if anything had arrived.  Nothing ever did. The next day - THE day - Kevin was on edge all day waiting for my flowers to come.  By this time he had told me what was going on and we had a good laugh about it. The flowers finally came at 8pm and get this - THE VASE WAS BROKEN!!

I didn't care at all, but Kevin was furious and demanded his money back.  We never did receive the strawberries.  I felt so bad for Kevin! He tried to surprise me with something fun and it just didn't work out.  I love him so much for trying so hard to make it special for me. He was so excited about my surprises and stupid 1-800-flowers really made an enemy out of my husband! 

In the end we have a funny story and I have a great husband.  I love you, Honey!

  

Legoland Discovery Center...

...or in other words, a big overpriced disappointment!

Kevin took Presidents Day off and we were looking for something fun to do in the area with Colin. At my suggestion, we went to this mini Legoland at the Grapevine Mills Mall.  $35 later, we would have had more fun if we had let Colin loose with a bunch of legos at a McDonalds playplace!  

Nonetheless, Colin did have fun and I documented it diligently!

Waiting to get in

During the "factory" tour (Colin is scared)

In Mini Land (pretty cool, but not worth the $$)

The Dallas skyline

Cowboy Stadium

Texas Fair Ferris Wheel

Southfork

Making Lego towers and turning on the "earthquake"

The long suffering Reagan hanging out in the stroller

Proof that I do exist

(I never seem to get pictures of myself in here anymore!)

Three Months

It is so hard to take pictures on her actual "month-a-birthdays!"  These were taken today and since it was so chilly outside, I just left her in her pjs all day :)

She is still sleeping in the laundry room for now, but I can't wait to move her upstairs to her adorable room (which will eventually be featured in its own post!)

At three months, Reagan is still running for best baby EVER! I don't want to jinx anything, but she has slept through the night four nights in a row.  Yeah, I am pretty excited about that! She can also sleep anywhere, and has! I think she has crashed at most of our friends' houses already.  Just swaddle her up and go! 

(all bugged out!)

Reagan loves to coo when you look at her.  Since the poor thing doesn't get a ton of attention when Colin is around, she makes all of her "mommy-time" count by being non-stop adorable.

Her sneezes still make me laugh!  After her sneezes she makes a special cooing sound that just melts my heart.  Reagan is growing like crazy and has moved in to her six month clothes, which means that we need to go shopping!  

VDay At the Farm

We are blessed to have so many wonderful friends! We try to be social and do fun things, invite people over, plan and orchestrate lively events and outings, etc...but sometimes it is so nice to be invited to someone else's place and enjoy the fruits of their labors :)

Today was Colin's first Valentine's Day party and he loved it!  While Reagan slept in a tucked away spot, the kids did crafts, ate fruit and Nutella covered crepes, and played outside on my friend's extensive property...or as Colin calls it, their "farm."

Making "bot" (robot) valentines 

Can you see Colin?  I lost track of him at one point and found him under the play set playing in the sand box having the time of his life!

Later, when I lost track of him again (negligent parenting, I guess) I found here: 

Thanks, Camilla, for such a fun party!

Getting Out

Everything is so much more work with two kids. I realize that is a "duh" statement, but seriously!  Leaving the house is such an ordeal.  I love it, I do, but it takes so much energy to do everything!

Right before I had Reagan, my friend Kaity asked if I was going to be super lame and never leave the house after I had the baby. I laughed nervously because that had been my plan.  Have a baby - call me in 6 months.  Well, as if to prove a point and not be that mom, I have REALLY pushed myself to not let the hassle of leaving the house and being out and about keep me from doing fun things.  Was it insane to travel with two kids over the holidays?  Yes, but we did it anyway. Is it a pain to go to the grocery store with the kids? Yes, but it must be done.  Am I never going to take Colin outside just because I have a baby?  No.

Every time we do something like go to the park, I consider it a victory for my independence from the house, if that makes sense. So, the other day we loaded up the kids and braved going to Yogurtland to get free frozen yogurt on National Yogurt Day.

We even took the kids to a cute park after!

Then on Wednesday we got really brave and took the kids to the Perot Science Museum.  We only made it for a few hours and stayed in the Children's Museum the entire time, but i was pretty proud of myself and Colin had so much fun with his friends.

Everyday since he has asked about the water and the boats!

The museum was so cute and has this play area that is in the shape of the Downtown Dallas skyline

Climbing up Reunion Tower!

Driving the farm truck

Cooking and camping

This guy still loves a good game of peek-a-boo!

He's a bird!

A big thank you to my friends who push me to go out and do fun things and help take care of Colin when he throws one of his many crazy public temper tantrums!  Arg!  Blast the terrible twos!

Super Bowl and Some Good Eats!

Last year, Kevin was called off to Russia and we missed having a Super Bowl party.  I don't think we have them every year, but since we were looking for a good excuse to make goodies and eat junk food, the Super Bowl was as good an excuse as any!  Of course we had WAY too much food, but it was fun! The kids had a blast dancing to Beyonce, the boys liked talking shop, and the girls gabbed and kept the little ones from hurting each other too much...all in all a successful  get together!

Reagan and Jen

Colin loved watching the game with Daddy

I wish we could eat like this all the time and not end up like whales!

Such a big boy!

Fuzzy Boots and Smiles

For Christmas, Reagan received the cutest pair of fuzzy boots that make me laugh every time I put them on her (thanks, Val!!).  Seriously, aren't they hilarious?  In fact, I went out and bought a little pair of baby jeggings just so she could wear them!

Did I mention that she currently sleeps in the laundry room?  No need hoofing it upstairs in the middle of the night!  I don't know why, but this is one of my favorite pictures of her!