Turkeys

Lita sent these cute outfits for the girls (and their dolls), and they couldn't wait to model them. Now they will be anxiously awaiting the month of November!

First Tooth!

Sebastian cut his first tooth Friday! The milestone was swallowed up by all of our weekend business, but he was sure a lot happier for all that with the teething temporarily over. He is back to being a little fussy and chewing a lot today, so I wonder if the next one will be coming soon?

Aquinasfest!

This is the weekend of our annual Parish festival. Lito has been here for it a few times by coincidence, so this year Allia decided to formally invite him. Much to our joy, he accepted! He didn't make it in time for Bingo on Friday, but he went to the dinner and dance Saturday after an exciting Aggie game and then to the games today. Tia Nana and Julian joined us today as well!

And some pics from home just for fun...

Soccer Saturday!

Allia had her first game of the season. Most of her team from last year moved up to the next division together with her coach. So the color has changed to light blue and the name to "Spirit," but most of the team is the same. They played well and won a tough game at 2-0!

Last Swim! (maybe)

With the weather cooling and fall activities gearing up, I took the children for our official last trip to the pool this week. They had a great time, even though the water was really chilly! Now I can clean all the swim stuff out of the laundry room and garage. Hooray! Although it looks like we will be having some toasty weather this week. Oh, well!

 It took all summer, and now Stephen finally worked up the courage to jump in sans floaty! Oh, well! ;P

6 Months Old!

Our little guys is half a year already!
Stats from our appointment this morning...
Weight: 18lbs 2oz 63%
Height:  26.8 inches 57%
Head: 18.15" 99 %

He is growing so fast. We all think he is huge, but apparently there are a lot more big baby boys out there (according to his percentages!). He definitely wins the best sleeper award. He is taking 3 naps of about an hour or sometimes more and sleeps at night about 10-11 hours! The night sleep varies some depending on illness or teething. He was up a lot recently when we had a cold but went right back to his old habits once he was feeling better! He still naps in the swing due to too many other changes going on. He was sick, then dropped his fourth nap and is now very near cutting his first tooth along with shots today! When things settle down I hope to get him to nap in his bed but am honestly dreading that transition! He really is the perfect baby except for bedtime (he has to have some flaw, right?). He still gets wiggly when tired, and especially so at bedtime (which is why I still swaddle him!). So instead of just nursing and conking out as I remember the others doing, he nurses and wiggles and nurses and wiggles while I rock and pat him until he finally relaxes. Crazy guy! ;)

A serious face...which we see more of as this first tooth gets near

 And his usual big happy open-mouth smile

Such a great gift and joy, our Sebastian!

Outside time!

We are having some gorgeous weather this week and are trying to spend lots of time outside. It is funny how, after a whole summer of inside unless we are swimming, the kids sort of forget how to play outside. I seem to always spend the first nice week of fall helping to reintroduce them to the joy of outside play! I had to come watch these two to convince them to play in the sandbox.

 My efforts paid off, though, because after dinner they all spontaneously ran out in the backyard to play. Yay!

Pulled tooth

Gloria lost her first top tooth today! She has been trying, and having me try, to pull it for several days. But they were rather squished in there with her extra baby tooth. So it was tough. Daddy caught wind of our efforts and yanked it out today when he was home for lunch...much to her chagrin at first! But as you can see, she was generously rewarded. :)

New shoes

Anastasia has really been growing and has outgrown her shoe size again...it seems like I just changed out her shoes! So I went up to the next size shoe bin and found these almost brand new sparkle shoes from when Gloria insisted on having some like the big girls and then promptly grew out of them. She was sooo excited! The only downfall is that she cannot put them on herself. She likes to do all things herself these days, in true 2 year old fashion. She can even buckle her car seat now!

And just for fun...

a Stephen funny (if you can call it that)

Randomly the other day,

"Mommy, if you die it is ok. I still have a Mommy. So it won't matter if you die."

(Me, a little taken aback) "You mean Mother Mary?"

(Stephen with a big smile) "Yes."

(Me, trying to stay cool) "That's right, buddy. And she loves you very much."

Gee. I am glad to see such strong faith, but don't go killing me off yet, k? ;)

More Anastasia funnies

"I gwoed up." After she teeteed on the potty the other day. Cute girl! We are making some very slow progress in that area.

Speaking of, when we were talking about the subject of "potty training," she said, "I get on the train and ride it into the potty." Oops! I didn't think about how that phrase would translate into a 2 year old mind!

and for the Catholics out there....we sometimes go for a "rosary walk" where we pray while walking around a wooded area near our house. Last night we were doing this, and Anastasia kept trying to take over leading. When it was time for Stephen to announce the second Glorious Mystery, Anastasia proudly announced, "The Agony of the Assumption of Heaven." We really tried to pray and not laugh, but most of us failed miserably!

He Jumps!

We broke out the good ol' ducky jumper, and Sebastian loves it, of course! He is really growing way to fast for this Momma. :(

It's Official

Pawpaw and Manah are now College Station residents...or at least they own a residency in College Station. They will be back and forth for some time!

And just as we were leaving the house to go back across the street, we saw this beautiful rainbow!

Happy Birthday!

Mariana and I began our day yesterday with a yummy breakfast of bacon and doughnuts (really healthy, I know!) and gift opening of course. She received a doll closet with lots of clothes from Lito and Lita (just like Allia's except different outfits!), AG clothes and goodies from Pawpaw and Manah, who actually arrived at lunchtime for a visit, and a bead craft, matching girl and doll outfit and undies and a book from Austin and I. Allia got her doll flip flops and Gloria a kite.

 So glad that a book is exciting to her!

 

 

 I found this outfit set at Wal-mart for an amazing price, and it happened to be Mariana's two favorite colors and strangely reminiscent of a former favorite outfit of hers. I just couldn't pass it up!

Austin whisked these two off to pick up pizza for lunch and grab something at HEB. Cuties!

 This guy was glad to have Manah and her necklace back!

 

Thursdays are crazy around here, but with extra help I managed to steal away for a "puddle walk," as we call it, with these two. So fun. And what a birthday gift of some good rain!

Other stuff

With all the birthday craziness going on, I haven't had a chance to keep up with the regular stuff! Here are a few pics...

 I just love this one of Anastasia. It really captures her well!

Birthday Party

The girls agreed to a shared party this year so they could have it at the ice skating rink...with a Frozen theme of course!

I made the cakes since Allia doesn't eat dairy and some friends of ours with food allergies were coming. It was fun but way more work than I anticipated, partly because of the party theme!

 They were resurfacing the ice right when the party started, so we took the opportunity for a group photo!

 Our two Godsons were both there. I tried to get pictures of both of them, but my phone doesn't take good motion photos. I managed this slightly blurry one of Stephen P. This was his first time on the ice, and he did great!

 Sweet Mariana helped William out, trying to build up some confidence after he crashed on his eye! Poor guy! What a trooper.

 Cake and gift time!

 

So fun to share such special times with such wonderful friends!