Howerton Holla-days!

We had a WONDERFUL Christmas 2011! We were able to celebrate with all our family, all over! The boys opened enough gifts to fill 3 houses! We will definitely be doing spring cleaning early to make room! ;-) Jude can decide what toys he loves most and what "old toys" he wants to give to kiddos in need. Joel is just happy with anything chew worthy!



Jude's favorite gifts this year:
Pottery Barn "My First Table" from G-dad and Gigi
A CARS pop up tent from Mimi and Grumpa
His Little People Barn w/animals and tractors from Gramma Judy
Remote control JEEP from Great Granny

Jude's LEAST favorite gift this year was ofcourse, clothing. He gladly handed those presents over to mommy to look thru.

If you know me at all, you know I LOVE pictures...capturing moments! I have no doubt my obsession is largely due to the fact that we found so few pictures of my father or family shots after he passed away. With that said, my favorite gift received this Christmas was a new camera!! A Canon Rebel T3i...It's a beauty! I'm fully aware I'm no professional but I am very much looking forward to educating myself with youtube video tutorials and a possible class & most of all, enjoying crystal clear pictures of my 3 handsome boys!

Jon's dad, "Grumpa" Stan, came down December 17th to play "elf" delivering presents and we enjoyed a short visit. He and Melanie knew they would be overwhelmed with Jay & Mary's wedding plans (Wedding was Dec 28) and wouldn't be able to come down for Christmas. Stan brought the camera that he planned to give Melanie for Christmas and took pics of all the grandkids opening presents and some fam shots before wrapping it up so that when she opened it on Christmas day, she could feel like she had been a part of the event! Such a sweet and fun idea!! She loved it...the camera and the pics! :)

We were scared “Gramma” Judy, Jon’s mom, wasn’t going to make it down! Dalhart had a huge snow storm that closed down all roads leading out of town for days! She managed to escape Dec 21 and stayed with us thru Christmas Eve. I love the warmth she brings to our home! Jon had to work some of the week so Judy and I shopped (yay!), wrapped last minute gifts (yay!), baked (yay!) and played with the boys (yay!)! I am truly fortunate to have such a wonderful mother-in-law! She brings warmth to our home and is always such a help to me!



My Papa (dad's father) was in the hospital for a little over 3 weeks before Christmas for several reasons. We have the Box family "Christmas Tree" annually at his and my Grandma's house on Christmas Eve. We were all relieved to hear that Papa would be released in time to be home and plans could come together to continue on with the tradition this year! We enjoyed "mexican pile up" (as usual) and then Grandma Box read the Christmas story and we sang 'Silent Night' before stockings were handed out and presents were exchanged! Papa was thrilled to be home and he seemed in much better health than he has been in a long while. So thankful!! We did however miss Jacqueline and baby Timothy dearly!! Timothy wasn't feeling well (suffering from double Hernia and the winter crud) so Jac opted to be safe and stay home with him. Paul came in their place for a couple hours and we were able to send their gifts home with him. Timothy has since had surgery and is recovering well! We still had a very full house and it was so good seeing everyone that could make it!!









After finishing up with gifts at Papa and Grandma's house we headed west to Marc & mom's house. We got there about midnight, said our hellos and goodnights with hugs and went to bed! After an EARLY breakfast we went to Marc's mother's ranch house for Christmas lunch. Bobbie is always a very generous host with lots to eat and gifts for the boys. We stayed at mom's til' the 27th when we headed back home. I feel a possible 5 pounds heavier but I LOVE my mom's cooking! Worth the poundage...I suppose I'll deal. ;-) I always miss my mom the moment I leave her! She makes every house a home and her, Marc and my step-siblings are amazing with Jude & Joel! I'm so blessed to have them in my life! They make my mom happy & fill a true void in our lives! The boys are SO blessed to have their G-dad, Uncle Kev and Aunt Hannah to love on them so often!! :) GOD IS GOOD!










We do have one more trip to make next week, to Oklahoma. We'll celebrate Christmas as well as my Nana and Poppy's birthdays! We'll aslo see my sister's fam in Oklahoma city and all the cousins will get to play! Looking forward to that!!

I know I'm probably missing tons of details and stories but that's the “after boy’s bedtime” recap and NOW it's way past MY bedtime!! :)

XO,
Brooke

Ketchup…errr I mean CATCH UP! ;-)

I’m playing catch up {{eternally}} once again… I always thought I’d start this blog and have a couple entries a week and one day I’d publish them into a wonderful book for my children to read one day. I may even have to publish a book a year because there would be so much! Hmmm, wrong! I do still hope to publish my random posts and thoughts for my boys to look back on but that’s what it has become…a hobby I devote minutes to here and there when I can find some to spare. I’m okay with this! ;-)
Today I’m obsessing over my performance review at work. My manager has to have them done by tomorrow but for whatever reason, has pushed mine back til’ tmrw at noon! Why?! He completed one of my co-workers this morning...that received a high rating! Does that mean he’s leaving the low rater reviews for later?! I really despise the fact that I can literally drive myself crazy! Ugh. Clearly, I have an issue with patience… problem admitted. OK, I’m also a tiny bit OCD… I usually don’t fret too much over a review but I feel like since I’ve been back from maternity leave, I’ve been pretty solo in my job. I came back from leave under a new manager, who is extremely overloaded and therefore has little time to hand out feedback, etc. Bottom line, I don’t know him! No news is good news, right?! I keep telling myself that… *sigh* I’ll have to blog tmrw about the outcome. Stay tuned…
Other current life things… Jude’s birthday party is this Saturday! How is he already almost 2?! It just cannot be! Perhaps that is why I haven’t really planned much?? Oh yeah, mother of the year award right here…NOT! I was so spot on with his first birthday! I planned months in advance! This year…Costco cake & pizzas, bounce house, friends and family and call it a successful day! Lord help me! Joel is already over 7 months…before I know it his birthday will be here and gone. SOMEBODY STOP THE CLOCK!!
Foot surgery! I have a fractured toe. I walk the factory most days at work = ouch! I’ve actually had the fracture for almost a year and a half now but I’ve put off going to see a doctor. I finally bucked up and verdict is surgery. Minor…but in a boot for 3 weeks. Ew! The bright side is, I’ll be home! Wahoo! I won’t be returning to work til’ the 16th of January.
Let’s see…what else? OH! 2 of my sister in laws are pregnant! Yep, 2 of them! My “local SNL” is due April 29th (Joel’s bday!!) and my “Maryland SNL” is due in March! Local finds out what she’s having on the 13th! Happens to be the day of my surgery but I will be texting/calling as soon as I’m conscious. I feel like it’s a boy. :) Maryland finds out December 23rd…what a wonderful Christmas they’ll have dreaming! :)
Baby Timothy is home from the hospital!! I haven’t written about our wonderful friend and “cousin in law” {{not sure what her technical fam name would be??}} Jacqueline having her baby 9 weeks early!! INTENSE!! She was watching the boys and had planned to thru December 23rd. Apparently God had other plans! ;-) She called me a little over a month ago in the middle of the night to alert that she would not be over the next day to watch the boys because she was possibly in labor and headed to the hospital! I think I replied something like “okay, be safe and keep in touch”…who says that?! I was still half asleep! [[shaking my head]] Turns out she WAS indeed in labor and precious baby Timothy was born later that night! He stayed in the hospital just at a month, which in itself is a miracle! It’s hard for me to think that he still isn’t “due” for almost a month and he’s already been out of womb over a month! WOW! God is amazing!! We love Paul and Jacqueline and can’t wait to meet Timothy!! He’s still so new that we haven’t been able to go see him just yet. I did get a report from my Aunt that their pediatrician said he is almost 7 lbs and totally healthy! Again, Praise God!!
So…since Jacqueline did have Tiny Timothy so early, the boys went back to daycare much earlier than planned. Thankfully Building Blocks had an opening in both classrooms and the boys are getting back into a “wake up and go to school” routine. We miss Jac so very much! You just take for granted what you have until it’s gone… human nature. I did know we had it good but really, she was a gem! I enjoyed having her around as much as the boys did! That being said, I’m very thankful that BOTH boy’s teachers are super sweet and I really do enjoy them all. The only reason I hate that they are going is EAR INFECTIONS and WINTER CRUD! Be gone winter germ monster! I cannot seem to beat him…as soon as one cold/infection clears, another comes along. *sigh*
December checklist…
House decorated, check! Lights on outside of house, check! Santa pics of boys, check! Presents purchased and wrapped, check! Trial batch of cowboy cookies made and devoured, check! Travel plans with family made and confirmed, check! I love Christmas!!
That’s all the minutes I got today! Hoping to find some more to share/update pics this week! And if there's typos, forgive! Again...minutes up, no time to proof-read!
Much Love,
Brooke

Pumpkin Pictures!!

It was totally my lucky fortune to have called one of my best friends, Brandee, on my way back from my parent’s house Sunday to find her and another girlfriend, Andrea, had just carved a pumpkin perfectly sized for a baby/toddler and they were now taking fall pictures of Dre’s adorable baby boy, Tap, in her front yard! They were so sweet to invite me to come play too…my lucky day! How cute are these pictures?! ♥ ♥ ♥

♥ Sweet Baby Tap ♥♥ Joel was all smiles (and drool) ♥ ♥ Jude wasn't sure at first but after a few pics he ended up asking if HE could get in the pumpkin too... ♥ ♥ Ofcourse we let him...and soon the tears came fearing he was "stuck" in the pumpkin ♥ ♥ Give the kid candy and he's sure to be a hyper happy camper! ♥ ♥ Momma's lil' pumpkins ♥ ♥ putting his chocolate hands in brothers hair...little toot! ♥

A weekend visit to see G-Dad and Gigi!

Jon went with some of his friends to Vegas for a fun weekend so I packed up the boys and headed to Roscoe to see my parents. Two totally different weekend trips, both absolutely enjoyable! Mine was very relaxing; kid friendly and full of mom’s cooking (as usual). Jon’s was much faster paced; airports, an MGM hotel room (barely used for sleeping), table service and clubs to celebrate a birthday, poolside lounging/recovering and a massive hangover lasting until I think Tuesday morning.
Jude would ask “where’s daddy?” and almost immediately remember and tell himself “daddy in airplane!” all weekend! So cute!
“G-Dad” (my step-dad) had double knee replacement surgery Oct 10th so I figured he’d be stuck in his bed quite a bit…wrong! He’s a super star! He was up walking around and playing with the boys quite a bit! Jude kept trying to kiss his knees saying “G-dad boo boo, ouchie!”
We stayed around my parent’s house most of the weekend and just hung out. It’s such a nice “slow down” coming to visit them. I even get to sleep in! ;-) Gigi (my mom) spoils everyone! You want for nothing at their house! We did a mini photo shoot with the boys in the front yard, Jude helped carve his first pumpkin, we baked the seeds…all kinds of Fall fun! I love my family! ♥

The boys ♥ their Uncle Kevin!

4645 Daisy Leaf Dr...Listed!

After much thought...going back and forth and back and forth over whether or not we should sell our house, we've made the decision to list! 4645 Daisy Leaf Dr is officially on the market as of Monday. Alot of things have taken place in my life since purchasing the house...getting married and having the boys being the biggest events! *sigh* I will miss the area and house but I'm very excited at the potential sell and move! We really could use more room!
The constant cleaning for showings may just cause a "keel over" but I am one determined girl! We have carpet cleaners and our cleaning lady coming tomorrow and an open house scheduled for Sunday after church. Bring on the buyers! :-)
The ideal part about listing now I guess is that we're not in a "desperate to move" situation. If we don't get an offer that's acceptable to us, we are okay to stay put! I sure do love my backyard/Pergola patio! ;-)
Ofcourse I've been looking at home listings online but I don't dare look at any in person just yet. I don't want to get my hopes up! Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely optimistic...I just don't want to find a "perfect Howerton home" only to have it go off the market before ours sells.
I'm sure I'll ramble another post with updates but for now...this is all I have to share. :)

Busy Bee…most definitely ME!

TGIT (Thank God it’s Thursday!) I’m so thankful for Off Friday weeks! I don’t know that I could ever leave my current job simply for this very reason! Every week I look forward to the weekend with abundantly-increasing impatience as the days march on. I think mainly because, my week is typically so chaotic! On average, we usually have 1 night Mon-Thur where we are all home TOGETHER and without agenda. Even when the weekends are jam-packed, the alarm doesn’t go off at 6:00am, I’m allowed to be 5-10 minutes late somewhere, there is no “mandatory computer time” and I have my beautiful boys to love on!!
*sigh*

One would think that after all these years of wham bam weekend schedules, I would eventually cave to the evident proof that a “relaxing weekend” is a fallacy. Weekends may provide a change of scenery, sure, but 95% of the time I still don’t sleep in past max 7:30am, and when I do, there’s babies sharing the bed that enabled that last hour between the sheets. Projects around the house, family and friends, church…all sorts of other things that are just waiting for me, almost calling me by name for attention
One thing is for certain, weekends are way more fun, no matter the schedule! Especially in October!! There’s SO MUCH TO DO!! And most of it is outdoors, which is fabulous when you have toddlers!

*A Day at the FWT Zoo: Mom (Gigi), Jen & Me with all the kiddos!*

Already this month we have enjoyed the Fort Worth ZOO, “Oktoberfest” at Southlake Town Center, “Celebrate Roanoke” on Main St and I enjoyed some shopping at the FWT Junior League’s annual “Christmas in Cowtown.” Still hopeful/planning to make The Rahr Brewery Tour, “Boo at the Zoo”, The Flowermound Pumpkin Patch, The State Fair, The Dallas Arboretum and EVC’s annual “Trunk or Treat” night! Throw in all 3 Grown Howerton kid’s, my step dad and brother’s and brother-in-law’s birthdays, my signing up for a booth at a local craft fair to sell my “goods” and dedicating both the boys at church and I think that about covers it! Maybe we’ll skip the fair this year? LOL!!

Oh, did I mention we’re having a realtor out to the house tomorrow? Yep! After the 3rd notice was slapped on yet another neighboring house claiming the property was vacated and now belonged to the bank, we’re ready to “move on outta here!” Please Lord have your hand on us! Can I keep my house immaculate enough to appeal to a buyer? We’ll see…but either way, we’re giving it a go! I will be sad to leave my back porch & pergola most but thankfully, Jon built it so he can build again. “Right honey?” ;-) Where will we move? I’ll let you know when I know! :-) We’ll definitely be praying for first, a sale and then, guidance. It’s disheartening to invest so much in our house while have to continually watch renters/homeowners vacate without regards to what they’re doing to the value of OTHER’S homes! What can you do? I guess move! ;-)
Thanksgiving and Christmas time will probably be my favorite in a couple weeks (so sue me!) but I do so love October!! The weather is amazing, the foliage and Fall décor is beautiful, clothes are fun…It’s just all fun!
*Loving his very own "Jude sized" pumpkin!"


*Watching Jamie sing on the "Rising Star Stage"...she did so good!!*


*"Driving" the Fire truck at The Celebrate Roanoke Festival!*


*Playin' around in cut-outs*


*Celebrate Roanoke Festival with Shannon and the boys!*