Thankful

We celebrated Thanksgiving at our house with the five of us, Roy's parents, brother, and two nephews.  We had a delicious feast and yummy desserts!  We watched lots of football and just had a wonderfully, lazy day :)

On Friday, Roy's other brother and his wife and their two kiddos came down from Dallas and we had a second Thanksgiving dinner.  This time we spiced it up and had a Mexican feast!  Homemade beef enchiladas, rice, beans, queso, and guacamole.  Can I get a YUM?!

We had a great Thanksgiving holiday and are so blessed to have been able to share it with those we love.  I am so thankful to have Jesus as my Savior.  This past week I have really sat and reflected on how He sacrificed His Son for me.  It's so HUGE that I can hardly wrap my brain around it.  I wouldn't be willing to sacrifice my boys for anyone or anything...  Can you imagine?  Jesus has blessed my life with so much and I am forever thankful to Him.  My husband, my boys, my family, my girlfriends, my health, my home,...the list goes on and on...  As we enter the Christmas season, I just want to continue to remember why we celebrate and never lose sight of that :)

The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  What can I give back to God for the blessings He's poured out on me?


Psalm 116:5, 12



Baby Maddox's Dedication

This past weekend the little boys and I traveled to Houston to attend Baby Maddox's dedication at his church.  We left Waco Saturday morning and got to Houston about lunch time.  We headed straight to Nikki and Gerald's house and had some lunch and hung out for awhile, then Nikki and I loaded up Ryan, Cole, and Maddox and headed out to the outlet mall.  We had such a good time shopping and just being able to spend time together.  I miss her so much!

After shopping Nikki called Gerald and him and the boys met us for some Mexican food ~ which was DELISH!

We left from there and went and saw another friend's new house and then I dropped them off at home and the boys and I headed to Kristi and Jimi's to spend the night.  We visited for a little while and called it a night.  7am was going to come way too early!

Maddox's dedication was on Sunday morning at 9am.  Nikki's mom, sister, BIL, nephew, cousin and her husband, Kristi, and me and my boys were all there to be a part of this special day.

 Gerald, Nikki, & Maddox

The Cowart 5!

Praying while their pastor prayed for all the babies :)

 Nik and her little man

Is he not the CUTEST?!

After church we all went to brunch at a yummy Italian place and just visited and ate.  We got on the road to head home after brunch.

Thank you, Nikki and Gerald for inviting us to share this special moment with you.  I wouldn't have missed it for the world!  I love y'all and miss y'all!

Orange.

Ryan's new favorite color is orange.  This cracks me up!  He LOVES all things orange!  He only wants to wear orange shirts and eat orange things.  Like oranges and orange Starburst.  He even told us the other day that he wanted an orange cheeseburger.  Ha!

He just makes my heart so happy :)

Finally Home

I think the boys and I have finally found our church home :)  We have lived in Waco for 7 years now, and have visited countless churches, but never really felt at "home".  Of course, I haven't been pursuing a church home every weekend either :(  But, for the last couple of months, this has really been weighing heavy on my heart.  I really want my boys to be involved in Sunday School and youth groups and I want to find a Sunday School class and a small group.  I just want us to be a part of a church family and really be involved.  So...I think we have found just what we have been looking for at Highland Baptist Church.  We have loved the past few times we have visited and the little boys really seem to enjoy Sunday School.  I haven't tried a Sunday School class yet, and neither has Aidan, but it is on our to do list :)  Just need to work up the nerve to go in ;)

Please be praying for us as we enter this new journey.  I want to be exactly where God puts us.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me."  John 14:6

Exhausted

I am exhausted.  There.  I said it.  Whew.  Kind of already starting to feel better.  I thought being a stay at home mom would be the BEST and so EASY.  I was wrong.  It is the BEST, but it is NOT EASY.  Oh yea, and then I have to go to classes and do homework too.  Man.  I am really looking forward to the holidays so I can get a small break!!!

Just needed to vent and thought this would be the best place to do so!!!

Have a happy Thursday evening :)



The Party!

Yesterday we celebrated Cole's birthday with all of our friends and family.  We had it at a local pizza place near our house.  The party turned out GREAT and I think everybody had a really FUN time!  Here are a few of the pictures from the big day :)

The "Candy Bar"

The handsome middle brother :)

The BIRTHDAY BOY!!!

Mimi, me, and Cole

Eating pizza...

Emersyn & Cole - aren't they the CUTEST?!

Me & my BFF ~ Nikki :)

Cole was already falling asleep and we hadn't even cut the cake!

We let him have a little "cat nap"...

Not a fan of being sung "Happy Birthday" to :(

 

Wasn't real sure what was going on!  HA!

I had them color the cake mix so when we cut into it it would be fun!

Giving Daddy a bite :)

Momma's turn :)



The BIG brother :)

Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with us. We loved being able to celebrate our baby boy's 1st birthday with those who love us the most!

Happy Birthday To You!

Today is Cole's 1st birthday!  WOW!!!  This year really has flown by.  I can't belive that my sweet baby is already one.  It makes me have teary eyes thinking about how much he has grown and changed over the last 12 months. 

Cole ~

You truely are the sweetest thing.  You are such a blessing and such a bright light in my life.  You have completed our family in so many ways.  I feel like the two of us have such a special bond shared by nobody else, and I love that.  I love holding you at night and just watching you look at me with those big, brown eyes and I wonder what is going on in that head of yours.  You just smile at me and laugh - all behind that passy!  I know how fast the years go by and I just really want to remember all the little things that make my heart so full with you.  I love how when I hold you now you lay your head on my shoulder and hold me back.  I love that you really don't want anyone else but me :)  It's a funny game to see if you will go to Daddy or Aidan, you pretend like you will and then laugh and hold on even tighter to me.  I love the bond you and Ryan share.  Y'all love each other so much and are just the best of friends.  I hope and pray that lasts forever.  You love Aidan and just laugh at him and climb all over him.  I think you know that he is your biggest brother and that he will always protect you.  I love that your nickname of "Deet" has stuck and now everybody calls you that!  You even got a birthday card today that said Deet Rodriguez :)  So cute!  I love you so much Cole Frances.  Happy Birthday Baby Boy!!!

This morning we took Cole to IHOP for breakfast.  He loves scrambled eggs and pancakes and he sure did enjoy it ALL today!  Aidan was at school so it was me, Roy, Ryan, and Cole, and then Uncle Bert met us too.

On our way out...it was COLD and RAINY :(

Waiting on his birthday breakfast :)

Ryan loves IHOP too!

After we left from there, we headed to Walmart to get some last minute stuff for the party on Saturday and then spent the rest of the afternoon at home.  The weather was just too cold and wet to have both of them out.  The boys napped and we just relaxed.  Roy's parents and his brother and our niece and nephew came over for dinner and cake/cupcakes.

Cole loves the song OMG by Usher and Will.I.Am - it is the funniest thing ever!  Roy was playing the video here and stopped Cole dead in his tracks so he could watch and dance :)

Looking at his card from his Godmother a.k.a my BFF Nikki :)

An attempt to get a picture of all the boys...

Not so much.  HA!

Sweet smile :)

Cupcakes and cake I made.  It was yummy!

Wasn't a fan of all of us singing Happy Birthday :(

Well...ok...let's see what this is all about...

 

Ok...not so bad...

Hmmm...

A bite for Pawpaw...

OK...this is GOOD...!!! :)

By the time he was done, his entire face was covered in chocolate!  Off to the tub he went!  We had a fantastic day and can't wait to celebrate with ALL of our friends and family on Saturday!!!

Happy Birthday, Deet!!!