Cheers 2013

I fancied up, showered and came out in a new pair of jammies. We will be ringing in the new year at home. Just our little family. Why new jammies? Because the only person in the world that I care to impress is my date for the evening.

We splurged and bought the good steaks from Sam's (cheapest pack) and pulled out our finest mustache plates. Why? Because that is just who we are.

For many years I stressed over having the perfect plans for New Year's Eve. This year I can not think of any place in the world that I would rather be. At home, safe, and surrounded by my favorite people.

Our biggest decision of the night. LSU game or Beast of the Southern Wild? You can probably guess which option I am pulling for.

2012 was quite a year for the record books. I am looking forward to see what 2013 has to offer. We are never promised tomorrow therefore I try to always make the most of today.

Cheers and Happy New Year!
Andrea

Lefty the Elf 2012

Lefty the Elf is one wild and crazy dude.

He added so much joy to our month.  

The boys looked forward to finding him every morning.  

A few days into it I realized that they were waking up EXTRA early to find him.  {not cool boys}

Lefty kicked off the holiday season with a bang!  

We heard a knock on the door during our North Pole party.

The boys bum rushed ran to the door to find a wrapped package on the ground.  

The package was addressed to our boys and friends post marked from the North Pole.

The boys mauled unwrapped the package to find Lefty the Elf with this note:

Once Lefty entered the scene it was non-stop fun and games!

Here is a recap of Lefty's activity over the month.

1. Arrived in a wrapped package from the North Pole.

2. Toilet papered the chandelier with a note reminding boys to "have fun!"

3.He served up some snow man donuts for the boys.

4.Hanging out with the tough guys. {toy soldiers}

 5. Happy birthday Satch. {stached with a party hat}

6. Rode in on Rudolph the red nose monster truck.

7.The grand Marshall of the Mardi Gras parade.

8. He turned our van into a reindeer.

 9. While he was at it he turned the boys into Rudolph too!

10. Too much action.  He needed a break. Do not disturb, sleep mask, and cuddled with Thing 1.

11.Baked chocolate bears for the boys and left them some cool aprons.

12. The boys searched the house with flashlights to find Lefty hanging off the airplane in their room.

 13. Funny guy made copies of himself on the copier and scattered his picture around the house.

14. Re-enacting the living nativity holding Baby Jesus.

15. Photo booth props pictures with Santa.

16. Hiding out in the kissing booth under the tree.  He left the boys Hershey kisses.

 17. Lefty brought back magic soil from the North Pole and elf seeds for an extra special treat.

18. He gave the boys a gentle reminder to brushy brushy brushy.

19. Hilarious. He made an elf yourself video of the boys.

20.  The underwear were hung on the chimney with care.  

 21. He wanted in on a little s'mores action too.

22.  Lefty's 1st attempt to get back home. He packed his bags and was waiting at the train station.

23. He followed us to the hotel with a note. Santa lifted his power so the boys could tell him goodbye. 

{I thought this was the end of Lefty.  Boy was I wrong.  Griff found him in my purse.  He then found him in our suit case once we returned home.  Griff was all smiles.  I was not}

24. Lefty was placed back in his box next to the milk and cookies for Santa.  He FINALLY hitched a ride back to the North Pole with Santa.   

Here are a few photos from our very emotional goodbye #1 to Lefty.

Griff was able to touch Lefty for the first time.
Thanks to Santa for lifting the magic so the boys could bid their pal a proper farewell. 

Roman kissing Lefty.

The boys with Lefty.

Getting one final good-bye in.

Griff was very sad to see his pal go.
I was totally not expecting this.

Griff hugging Lefty very tight one last time.
Until next year...

Thanks to Lefty for adding so much fun to our holiday season.

The mornings just won't be the same without him.

Looking forward to next year!

Advent Calendar. Week 3 Recap.

Here is the final week of Give.Live.Love.

We had a wonderful week filled with great times and special memories.

9. Make others smile.

Call family and friends to wish them a Merry Christmas and sing

Christmas carols.

(the carols turned into a holiday medley.) 

8. Love others.

Here is $1 to buy a Christmas gift for your Daddy.

We headed to the Dollar tree and let the boys

pick out the perfect gifts for their Daddy and Big Poppa.

*Griff bought his Daddy- electronic cleaning kit

*Griff bought Poppa- a flashlight

*Roman bought his Daddy- a shammy

*Roman bought Poppa- a tape measure

7. Love your brother.

Make a gift for your brother.

Boys made snow globes for each other.

6. Share with others.

Bring treats to school to share with teachers and classmates.

*Bonus activity*

Griff made thank you notes to send out.

The handwritten note is such a special and dying art.

I hope to teach my boys the value of it.

5. Family date night

S'mores and a movie.

4. Daddy Time.

Make pancakes with Daddy.

3. Family fun.

Pack your bags and get ready for a day and overnight trip in the city.

We had a jam packed day. 

We went to the aquarium, saw Polar Express at the IMAX,

enjoyed the snow on Fulton Street, marveled at the beautiful light displays in the hotels,

rode a pedi-cab, had a night cap of ice cream, and dreamed of sugar plums in a big fluffy hotel bed.

2. Special time with MiMi.

Read the Cajun Night before Christmas.

{just like she used to read to Mommy and Tio}

Unfortunately the boys were sleeping before we got home

so we had to take a rain check. 

1. Merry Christmas

Celebrate Jesus' birthday!

We all enjoyed our Advent countdown.

The boys are already asking to do it again.

This is just the beginning of a beautiful Christmas tradition that we will share as a family.

With a little thought, very little money, and a whole lot of heart we celebrated the real meaning of the season.  We are practicing to live each day giving, living, and loving to the fullest. 

Merry Christmas to all... 

Advent Calendar. Week 2 Recap.

This project started out as an idea but has really taken on a life of its own.  Who knew that something so simple would come with such meaning.  I honestly believe that all of our hearts are being changed by this project.

18. Be a good citizen.

Clean up our neighborhood and be a part of our community.

We enjoyed the afternoon at a party with our neighbors.  

Once home the boys (joyfully) picked up trash along the boulevard.  

17. Surprise!

Sunday evening the boys received the Golden Ticket to take a ride on the Polar Express.

They took a trip around town while watching the movie and eating popcorn.  

We looked at lights and finished up the evening with frozen yogurt.

Such magical memories for all of us!

16. Help others.

Pick out 3 of your toys to give away.

Initially Griffin tried to give Roman's toys away.

He then warmed up and picked out a lizard, matching game, and a hot rod.

Roman picked a race track, Buzz Lightyear rocket, and a car carrier.

The next afternoon Griffin came with me to Goodwill and handed off his toys.

Out of all of our activities Griff told me that this was his favorite.

15. Serve others.

Prepare dinner and serve to MiMi and Pop.

Cook dinner and deliver to a family that is very sad.

The boys helped me to prepare dinner.  

They learned to set the table and served food to MiMi and Pop.

Roman blessed the meal.

"Dear God. Tank you for my fa-ma-lee."

14. Fun with friends.

Invite a friend over to play.

Griff gave Emma a ring and invited her over to play.

They decorated Christmas trees,

ate cookies and drank milk,

and took a spin in the Polar Express to look at lights in the neighborhood.

Since it was a party they even busted out the party hats!

13. Special time with Mommy.

Make a Christmas craft.

They boys made Santa faces out of plates and cotton balls.

12. Family movie night.

Boys watched Elf on the Shelf Movie

with MiMi and Pop while Mommy and Daddy headed out to a party.

11. Snow Day.

Snow day NOLA style!

We met up with several friends and enjoyed a snow day at the park.

10. Family Fun.

Decorate gingerbread houses.

Below is a video of Griff dropping off toys for donation.

Cohen Jacob 6 months old

Sweet Cohen,

You are 1/2 way to celebrating your first birthday.  We celebrate life with you every single day so by the time you reach the 1 year mark you will be a professional "celebrator!"  On the morning of the 13th I heard your big brothers singing "Happy 1/2 birthday to you" and it just warmed my heart.  

I will never be able to put into words what you mean to me.  You are are such a little light in all of our lives.  Your smile and personality lights up the world.  The world needs more "happy" and I pray that you always keep this quality.  

You are constantly covered in kisses by all of us.  Your big brothers just can't get enough of you.  Sometimes they "love" you a little too much so we have to keep a close eye on the tight hugs and slobbery kisses.  You just love when we kiss you.  It is so intoxicating.  You close your eyes and the biggest smile crosses your face.  I always want to remember these special moments that we share with you.

This past month you are popping out teeth.  You have 2 on the bottom and the top are not far behind.  You have absolutely no interest in sitting up on your own.  You love to play on the floor.  You also love to play with your toys.  You can entertain yourself for hours and enjoy keeping busy.  You are second away from crawling.  You pull up on all 4s and rock.  You then fall back down and move your feet really fast.  I am afraid that you will run before you crawl.  Slow down my baby.  You are growing up way too quickly...

Now that you have reached the 6 month mark we will introduce solids to you.  You are still nursing like a champ and weigh 21 lbs.  Yes a very solid 21 lbs of lovable goodness!  

Until next month.

All my love,

Mommy 

Stat update:

6/13/12 birth weight- 9.2

7/12/12 1 month- 12.2

8/11/12 2 months- 14.8

9/14/12 3 months- 17

10/14/12 4 months- 18. 4

11/13/12 5 months- 19.4

12/14/12 6 months 21 

Oh how I adore that smile!

Precious piggies.

The dimple.

Mommy you are so funny.

I mean HILARIOUS!
Check out that belly laugh.

Hurrah for photo bombers!

6 month comparison shot with giraffe.

MOMMY get me out of this seat!
I need space to move.
(check out those teeth!!)

Now this is more like it. 

Practicing my crawling.

I love to witness him taking in the world for the first time.
His first time playing in the grass.

He is just so full of happy.

6 month side-by-side shot of boys.