Beckett's 4-Year Portraits

Beckett will be four on April 14th! We took these pictures early, so we could do both kids together.  He is growing so quickly and is such a joy!

Beckett currently attends preschool at Building Blocks. The schedule and routine has been so great for him! He has developed so much this year, including developing an understanding of social rules and how to share, interact with others, as well as so much academic information.  I cannot believe how much he has learned.  He is very curious.  He is also somewhat cautious when it comes to new things. He watches and analyzes before he tries things, but always has a smile.

Beck is currently taking swimming lessons and his report card said, "Beckett is such a joy. He follows directions, listens, and is always smiling."  LOVE!

Favorite sayings and habits at age 4:

• Can I do (something), Dad? Handsome please? (Rationale: You say "pretty please" to girls, so "handsome please" works for guys.)
• How does (fill in the blank) work?
• Yeah. This is how that goes. (Explains his understanding of any process. e.g.; oil pump we pass on the way to school every morning.)
• Look at this cool machine I made!
• Can you cuddle with me? (Heart melted)
• Let's wrestle!
• Let's play chase!
• Loves brushing his teeth to get rid of "sugar bugs"
• Loves superheroes and Imaginext toys

Isn't he the most handsome little guy? And his heart is even more beautiful. 

Beckett and Harper's First Day Home

This is the best video ever, and such a sweet memory.

My Little Sister!

Beckett has been the sweetest, most loving big brother I could have ever prayed for.  He loves Harper and is adjusting remarkably well.  I am so thankful!  I can't believe he isn't even 2 yet.  He seems so grown up and big now!

Here are some pictures from their first week together.  This is really the meaning of life!

First Meeting!

"That's my sissy!"

"I love her!"

"I wanna hold her. By self."

Beckett gives Daddy and Harper the cards he made for them with Mee Maw Hild

"For sissy!"

Giving Harper a hug

First kiss.  <3 td="">

Our family feels complete!

Lots of kisses!

Teaching her how to pray

One of my FAVORITES!

He keeps saying, "Wanna hold her by myself!"  He did great!  

North Carolina or Bust!

Aunt Nancy, Meet Stinkerpants. Stinkerpants, your Aunt Nancy. (Thanks for the shirt!)

Beckett and Booker get acquainted.

Uncle Matthew talks to him about some serious baseball news.

Hi, Aunt Kathy!

Watch me walk all around the ottoman!

Whaaaaaaat? These aren't reindeer reins?

One of many delicious dinners. We have so much to be thankful for!

Oh my. Someone brought roast beast. And a beast seems to be eating it.

I love this shot.

Well, Aunt Kathy, the thing about this toy is that it is green.  And it jiggles.

Snuggled up with Grammy.

Beckett's first orange.  He LOVED it!

Still eating...

And this is what happened when he couldn't get anymore juice out of it!

Everybody's ready for turkey!

We went to North Carolina for Thanksgiving to visit my brother, my dad's mom, Granny Brown, and his sisters, Nancy and Kathy. Aunt Nancy and Uncle Bob live in Mebane, North Carolina, and Dad's other sister, Kathy, lives in Houston, but she flew up for the holiday weekend. This was the first time my aunts and Uncle Bob met Beckett, and it has been way too long since he saw his Uncle Matthew! It was such a wonderful weekend - we had tons (and tons and tons) of great food, lots of laughs, and some great memories. Dad drove an RV so we could sleep through the night as we drove the 14 hours there. He and Shonn split the drive on the way home, while Mom and I shopped on Shonn's iPad for Christmas gifts. :)

We got to Aunt Nancy's at 9:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning, and Uncle Bob made a delicious breakfast. We sat around and talked a ton. Then we started making the food for the feast! Once it was prepped, Shonn, Beckett and I took a little nap. When we woke up and got ready for the meal, the laughs and stories really got going. It was hilarious. The meal was a true feast - I especially love Orpha's Sweet Potato Casserole, Granny's stuffing, and Aunt Nancy's green beans. Then, in addition to pumpkin pie and Granny's cookies, Matthew made this gorgeous (and delicious) key lime pie. So,in essence, we ate ourselves into a coma. Friday, we told stories and spent time eating leftovers. We watched The Godfather that night. Saturday morning, Aunt Nancy and I created some place settings for her shops. It was so much fun! After lunch and getting ready, we set up her shop for Christmas, which I loved. We also got to look around Granddaddy's, where her shops are, and I got a couple things for my sister as well as a little rocking chair for Beckett.

We left early Sunday morning and drove back to Illinois. It was so wonderful to get to spend time with my family. they make us feel so welcome and it is such a relaxing place to visit. I've missed my brother and it was good to laugh with him again. Mom, Dad, and I got to talk and I so appreciate that they drove. Shonn was so patient and loving through the trip and we had a chance to laugh together and relax. It was a very blessed weekend!

 

The Stuarts' Housewarming

On Saturday, our friends Rachel and Rich had a Housewarming Party. It was a lot of fun, hosted by Ingrid. I forgot to take pictures of the amazing layout, complete with food labels, custom cupcakes, and sugar cookie favors, but I did get some pics of the event. Everything looked great, and it was fun catching up with all of my middle school friends! We are really happy for Rachel and Rich, who are all settled in their beautiful new home.
Here's "Kiki" playing with Molly:

Katie is so good with kids - it's probably part of why she's such a great teacher. Here she is with Miss Molly, in her custom dress. Adorable!

Beckett loves Miss Ingrid! She brought him a little lovie puppy that he has started snuggling with. It's easy to see why he has a little crush - she's gorgeous AND makes amazing cookies. (Beckett's dad loves them, too!)

Here is a picture featuring some of the middle school crew! Unfortunately, I didn't think to take pictures until the end (fail!), but here are the girls that were still around: Julia, Katie (with Molly), Rachel (the star of the day!), me, Ingrid, Megan, Sharon.

Here is Rachel with Ingrid. Such great girls!

Here are my guys, and you can see some of the landscaping in the back. It's gorgeous, and they have an amazing in-ground pool, too!

Thanks for a great time!