Our week

The boys had a great time at their "Polar Express" day at school on Monday. Hayden loves trains so it was extra special for him to see a movie with trains. Tuesday and Wednesday were rather boring--no where to go and too cold to play outside. We did 3 projects on Wednesday--2 Christmas crafts and our gingerbread train kit. Carter has been begging ever since to eat the train! Tuesday evening I attended a meeting at our church with a group of ladies who are trying to start a Teen MOPS group. I am considering serving with this group and branching out in a new area with MOPS. Thursday I got to watch all the pre-K classes at MDO (77 kids) go Christmas carolling at the nursing home across the street from their school. It was so cute! They all had reindeer antlers on and red noses. Carter has been singing his songs around the house and I really enjoyed seeing him perform them with his friends. They did a handbell rendition of "Jingle Bells" and I was amazed how the kids were able to know when to play their specific bells. Thursday evening we had a special visitor at our house--Heath's friend from college, Matt. He currently lives in Spain with his wife and their new baby boy. Heath hasn't seen him in many years and it was a nice visit. Carter finished out his swimming lessons on Friday with a great class. Saturday evening Heath and I celebrated our 10-year-anniversary with a delicious dinner at Italianni's. We reminiced that last year at the same time we were trying to get everything done at our reception before our 7:30 flight to Dallas. What great memories! Sunday we enjoyed a great get-together with our friends, the Browns. Their daughter, Cassie, has really taken a liking to Hayden. So sweet.

On a sad note, a family friend whom I've been praying for for a year died this week from a brain tumor. She was only 36 and leaves behind 2 young boys. Her family attends the same church as my family in Los Alamos.


Cassie & Hayden


Our gingerbread train


Reindeer antlers from MDO

Christmas angels we made with Mommy




we LOVE to jump on the bed!

Carter - Aqua Kid @ Yahoo! Video

Busy week ahead

We sure have a busy week ahead! Monday begins with my last MOPS meeting of the semester and the boys have "Polar Express" day at MDO where they get to wear their pj's and watch the movie, Polar Express. Tuesday or Wednesday we will put together the gingerbread train kit we bought. Thursday is the boys' Christmas parties at MDO. Friday is the last day of swimming lessons for the winter for Carter. He'll start again in January and advance to the next level. We are so proud of him for all he's learned at AquaKids this fall! Saturday is Heath and I's 10-year anniversary--so exciting! We hope to go to dinner sans kids that evening. Gotta find a babysitter...Finally, Sunday we are getting together with our good friends, the Browns, for a little pre-Christmas get-together. All that plus some final Christmas shopping and hopefully getting a new vacuum (the Dysons are 20% off at Target this week!). Many pictures to follow of our busy week.

Day at Northpark

We spent the day in Dallas at Northpark Mall for some Christmas activities and then in McKinney for a birthday party for Carter's friend Wyatt. We listened to Santa tell some stories and do some magic tricks. Then we went to the "Trains" exhibit, benefitting the Ronald McDonald House. They had many different trains going through several iconic American landscapes. Both boys were mesmerized. We ate lunch and browsed a bit (even a Lego store!) before heading to the birthday party. Fun fun day!



the Dallas skyline at "Trains"

Carter wearing his conductor hat


Hayden & Daddy

Santa Claus

A Visit From Teddy

We had a special guest at our house this weekend--his name is Teddy. Carter's teachers send him home with a different student each weekend and he gets to hang out with the kids and then the parents write in Teddy's journal (and include pictures) of what they did all weekend. Here's what we wrote:


Dear Friends, This weekend I got to go home with Carter W. and I had so much fun with him! The very first thing we did together was play the Wii. Carter taught me how to race the car on the screen by using the controller.



The next thing we did was play basketball (indoors bceause it was very cold that day). I scored lots of baskets!

Carter and his little brother, Hayden, love to race their big yellow trucks around the house. I got to ride in Carter's truck and it was super fun!

Carter loves to play soccer too, so we bundled up in our coats (his Mommy had one just my size!) and we played soccer in Carter's backyard.

When Carter's Daddy got home from work, he said I looked a little dusty from all my travels, so Carter's Mom gave me a bath in the washing machine. I came out looking clean and smelling fresh! Every meal I would sit with Carter at the table and he would feed me. He also slept with me and I got to meet his other stuffed friends.

On Saturday we got to do something really special--we got to decorate the family's Christmas tree! It was so neat to see it filled with lights and ornaments. We also dressed up as "bandits" and hid in our secret lair.

On Sunday I went to church with Carter and then to eat at a restaurant. I have had so much fun here with Carter and his family. Tomorrow it's back to school to go home with another friend!

Love, Teddy

Brothers

My gangsters


matching pj's

Goings On...

We've had a couple of relaxing weeks here at the Watkins' household. The boys have been playing outside a lot--soccer, football, digging, etc. Carter painted his own soccer ball with a kit he got for his birthday (thanks Renae!). They have been learning all about Thanksgiving at MDO and had a Thanksgiving Feast this week. Aren't they just adorable in their "hats"? Other than that, not much else is going on. Carter is still doing his swimming lessons each week and he's going to continue that in the spring. We have had 5 boys' birthday parties to attend each weekend and there is another one in mid-December. Heath survived a massive lay-off at Motorola which hit his group with 60% losses. Now to decide what the future holds for us in terms of his job, etc. Big decisions....Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving!



Carter with his painted soccer ball


Hayden as a Little Indian

Carter as a turkey



I found Hayden reading in his big chair the other day.

Happy Halloween!

After 'Halloween overload' the last 2 years, we decided to keep it simple this year and skipped some activities we'd otherwise have attended. It was a good decision--the holiday was much more enjoyable for all of us. The boys wore their costumes to their MDO and had a pumpkin patch day there. (Unfortunately our visit to the real pumpkin patch was rained out.) Then we had a birthday party for one of Carter's friends on Halloween afternoon and the kids wore their costumes to that. Afterward we returned home for some trick-or-treating around our neighborhood. Hayden really got into it after the first couple of houses--he was running up to each door with his basket. Earlier in the week Carter and Heath carved pumpkins and I roasted the seeds. Yum!