Spring break/ Easter

So I know it has been a long time since I have updated the blog but I have a good reason... Our camera is MIA!! I am so sad about this and I guess I will have to get one for my birthday! Thank you Kristen and Kim for letting me use your pictures!

A lot has been going on in the past few weeks.

For Spring break Kristen and her two beautiful children came to spend the week at the lake with Charlie and I. We had so much fun!! Her kids (Will 4 and Lauren 3) love Charlie. Lauren baby's him and Will serves as a constant source of entertainment. As many of you may know Kristen is not only my sister but my best friend so having her around for a week was wonderful. We took the kids to a wildlife park that had 500 species of animals that we were able to feed from a tram. It was a bit cold but so much fun. We spent lots of time on the boat and at the Horseshoe bay country club that has a great pool and a white sandy beach area. Charlie loved playing in the sand and honestly he probably ate a couple of handfuls. We made s'mores and played games/cards at night after the kids went to bed. Mark and Brian came for a few night and my parents for one night so there was always a full house.

Charlie finally has teeth!! After some sleepless night and lots of crying his bottom two teeth have finally made an appearance. They are the most beautiful teeth I have ever seen.

For Easter we went to Galveston and stayed with Grammy and Papaw. Mark Charlie and I went to Punjab (the same party we met at 3 years ago) to help raise money for a friend of Marks that recently suffered a heart attack. We had an amazing time and won some great stuff in the silent auction ( 7 nights in Belize). The party raised about 20,000!!It was a great time and a great cause! On Easter Sunday we went to church and then to Galveston CC to eat lunch with all of Mark's family. Charlie got to go in his first petting zoo. We were able to squeeze in visits with my Mimi and Aunt Mary so all in all it was a perfect trip to the island.

Our house is back on the market so keep your fingers crossed it sells this time!!!

Pop and Lauren on the boat.

Lauren's birthday!!

Look at that things tongue.

Not so sure Charlie is enjoying being kissed by that camel.

It was cold so we had to cuddle up!

I love my cousin Lauren.

Will and Lauren loved entertaining Charlie.

Easter in Galveston.

Pictures

We don't have much to say this week so I decided to just put a lot of cute pictures of Charlie up. He is into EVERYTHING!! He crawls lightening fast and can pull up to stand on anything. Chasing after him is a full time job.

We didn't get the house but we have not given up hope that our dream house is out there somewhere!

Charlie standing up in his pack n play!

Charlie and his Emma.

A nice close up taken while we were playing with the camera.

Look how messy he gets while he eats. No teeth yet but he eats ham, turkey, cheese, avocados, bananas, mangos and pears.

Charlie and Dada playing with the camera.

His first bath in the big boy tub.

Bubble bath!!

Its almost Spring!

Charlie went to his first UT sporting event on Sunday and did fantastic! We went to watch UT play Stanford since Jay is looking at going (hopefully playing baseball) at Stanford. It was a great game and lots of fun. Pop, Jay and Jennifer (Jay's girlfriend) all came down for the game and we were sad to see them leave.

So this week we put an offer on a house that we LOVE! We are still waiting to hear back from the seller and it could take awhile. We put in a low offer so we are hoping they counter but as Mark says "a lot of things have to fall into place before we get this house." I of course am already deciding how to decorate! I am a glass half full type person!!

It has 5 bedrooms though one of those bedrooms is more like a game room! It has a 3 car garage and is on almost 2 acres. It has the most amazing back yard and views. Keep your fingers crossed.

Valentines Day

This has been the best Valentines day ever because I get to have two Valentines instead of one!! This morning Charlie and I let Dada sleep in(which is a big deal around this house) and we surprised him with breakfast in bed. We made his favorite jalepeno kolachies, I am sure he would have rather had migas but cooking on the stove while watching Charlie is HARD!

After breakfast we went for a walk and then it was nap time. I tried to lay Charlie in his bed but he decided he didn't like that idea. I walked in and found him standing up in his crib. So Mark took Charlie and they took a nap together. It was so cute that I snuck in and took a picture. I LOVE my boys!!!

Charlie and Major have become best friends! Charlie is eating finger foods now and LOVES to feed Major. Charlie can crawl really fast now crawling to Major and trying to climb on is one of his favorite games. Major is so sweet to Charlie. Poor Major gets hit and tugged on and never complains.

Poor Major!!

Major loves to give him kisses. Oscar is still unsure of Charlie but we're hoping he comes around.

Charlie standing up in his crib.

Dada's breakfast in bed. Homemade Kolachies.

My beautiful Valentines! I am so blessed! They are both perfect!

Cats

So yesterday Charlie and I saw one of the cats we have been feeding got hit by a car and was in really bad shape so we did some research and found a way to help. We went and picked up traps from the local SPCA that runs a feral cat program. When we went to set the traps this morning both cats were on the porch waiting for their breakfast. We had a bit of unfortunate luck when the first trap sprung and caught the uninjured cat but after an hour and some tireless work we got the injured cat in the second trap. Charlie and I drove them over to the SPCA this morning and they are both going to be treated and neutered/spayed and the injured cat will be treated. I have to go and pick them up this evening unless our hurt cat needs more attention. After we pick them up we will release them back into our neighborhood.

I have pictures but Kristen and Mark told me if NOT to post them since they are really graphic. The cat was hurt VERY badly and we're just keeping our fingers crossed they can save it and not put it down.

Charlie and I feel we have done our good deed for the day and I think we are going to spend the rest of the day in our jammies as a reward. It is cold outside!!!

Mardi Gras/ Stephen's surprise party

This weekend we went to Galveston for my cousin Stephen's 25th birthday and we had a blast. I took Charlie to his first Mardi Gras parade and he loved it! We both ended up getting WAY to much sun and look a bit red in all of our pictures. Charlie loved all of the bands and loud music! If only my Papa was around to show Charlie the true spirit of Mardi gras.

Stephen's surprise party was a success. He had know idea! Mark, Jessica and I were responsible for getting him out of the house and making sure he made arrived at the perfect moment. After the party we had a cousin's night out at Yaga's, Mark couldn't go because someone had to be a responsible parent!!!

Pop's Birthday/ Trip to Houston

Last week Charlie and I decided to fly up and spend the week in Houston. We had a blast! We spent almost everyday playing with Kristen, Will and Lauren and Charlie LOVED it! I love going to Houston because my parents have a wonderful nanny that comes everyday to clean the house and help out with their grandkids. Her name is Yolene and she is AMAZING! Yolene watched Charlie and I was able to get a massage and have some much needed ME time. I wish I had a Yolene in Austin!!

It was my dad's 59th birthday so we had to go help celebrate. I have the most amazing father in the world. He has always been there for me when I have needed him and he is an unbelievable Pop to Charlie. We love you so much and Happy Birthday!!

Jay, Jennifer and Charlie at Pop's birthday dinner.

Pop holding Charlie as we sat outside watching Will and Lauren swim in the hot tub.

The cake was a bit over decorated and of course had trick candles but boy did Will and Lauren have fun decorating it!

Will and Lauren making pop's cake. Charlie was sitting next to them helping out in his high chair.

Charlie's got his spoon ready to help mix the cake!! He spent most of his time using it to drum on the highchair.

We went to this amazing place called Wonderwile in Houston. It was unlike anything I have ever seen. It is a giant indoor fun place that has a giant play scape for older kids and a great infant area for Charlie. It had an indoor jumpy blob type thing that Charlie and Pop had a blast playing on!

Kristen (or as she likes to call herself Aunt fun) took Charlie to the top of the play scape and down the slide. I did not approve at first but Charlie loved it!!

Charlie and Lauren had a great time in the ball pit.