2012 - In Review

I started doing these year in review posts back in 2010 and they're my absolute favorites.

Here's 2011

Here's 2010

I try to limit my pictures, but have a REALLY hard time picking.  So here's a bunch!!!

January of 2012 we spent lots of time playing with new Christmas toys and enjoying some beautiful weather outside.  We had breakfast with Woody and Jessie and Luke played golf with Haha and Daddy.  I chaperoned winter formal and survived the flash flood that brought about "Lake MCA" and Mason started pulling up and came down with a bad case of RSV. 

February we celebrated my birthday with dinner out and Valentines Day with our Small Group peeps.  We went and saw the worlds worst circus and Luke's imagination ran wild as he ran around dressed like a shark  (which tied into his valentines perfect!) and created a "car shop" under our kitchen table.  Luke decided that having a baby brother wasn't all bad and told us that he kind of liked going on walks with him - and on a walk is where I captured one of my all time favorite pictures of Mason!

 In March we spent LOTS of time outside... exploring the grass, getting dirty and "helping" Haha build a dog house for Motley. The boys worked on "sharing" and Daddy took both boys to the Dallas Auto Show.

We kicked off April with Luke's 4th Annual Birthday Pancake Breakfast as well as Lilly's 7th Birthday Luau.  Later in the month we celebrated Mason's first birthday and the boys had a SUPER party.  I failed miserably and taking bluebonnet pictures, we met the easter bunny, went to LOTS of friends birthday parties and I got to volunteer with my NHS kids at Special Olympics.

May brought with it more golf, some time with the cousins, a great family photo session and lots of golf with Haha.  Luke had the messiest bed ever, the boys watched movies together in the tent and I attended Graduation while Luke and Haha went to Bike the Bricks again.  I had the opportunity to chaperone the senior trip and got to spend some awesome quality time with some of my favorite students in NYC and DC.

During June Luke's love of Legos turned into a full-on obsession, we spent LOTS of time at the pool and Mason perfected the art of the tantrum.  We finished the kitchen makeover, got a new playhouse, celebrated Father's Day and hung out with our friends, the Smiths.

In July Luke and I beat the heat with a date to see Madagascar 2 and we visited Dallas World Aquarium as a family.  We celebrated July 4th at the Parade (and the pool), got in some quality Mc-Family time and Luke attended Vacation Bible School.  We got geared up to head back to school and bid adieu to our friends the Gerbrandts with an end-of-the-summer pool/pizza party at the Ranch.

August was a month of high-drama, as we celebrated Dave's birthday with a trip to the ER for Mason, we took the plunge and bought a van and found out that we were having a THIRD BABY!  We soaked up the last little bit of summer at the pool (with yogurt on our faces) and in the sprinkler and then got back to the grind with Luke's first day of Pre-K.

I was either sleeping or sick during most of September, but I did manage to get a few shots of Luke at an awesome birthday party of a classmate, my boys on a walk (which they did lots of to let mommy rest - and barf - in peace) and Mason trying to stow away to school. I had a burst of enthusiasm and decorated for Halloween and Luke started soccer - GO GATORS!

October was a ROUGH month for me pregnancy-wise, but seeing our Little Bit for the first time was a definite highlight... as was watching Luke run TWENTY THREE laps in his first Jog-A-Thon, spending some cooler evenings on walks with Gibi and visiting Pumpkinville.  We had a fun photo shoot at home with Shannon Hunt, celebrated as Lilly was baptized and Luke decided he was too big for "matching pajamas".  As always, we ended the month with two of our favorite events - our BFG Harvest Party and Halloween!

November was a BIG relief for me, as I was able to stop taking Zofran multiple times a day (YAY!) and we found out that we were having a baby brother!  We worked outside, fostered our love of pumpkins and celebrated Mark and Diana's Wedding!  We kicked off the Holiday season with Grandparents Day, Thanksgiving (where we had TWO helpers!), a trip to Lego Land and then Dickens of a Christmas.

December closed out 2012 with a bang Buddy the Elf returned, bringing with him a North Pole breakfast and we got to eat at the country club twice... once with Buddy and once with Santa and Mrs Claus.  We attended the parade of lights and then, at our routine 21-week ultrasound that Griffin Henry was actually Griffin JOY!  We ended the month with lots of Christmas activities including a trip to the Gaylord Texan and Bass Pro Shops, Small Group at our house and then a snowy Christmas!

This year has been super fun, memorable and above all else - surprising :)

Mason has grown from a baby into a toddler and Luke is becoming less "little" and more "boy" every day.

We are beyond excited about 2013 and all that it has in store for our family.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight" - Proverbs 3:5-6

McChristmas 2012

On Thursday we headed to Jonathan and Tori's to celebrate Christmas with the McAnallys... our McChristmas :)

Mason made himself right at home, playing with Lilly's cash register...

... and hanging out in sweet Lilly's room :)

Luke tried on Lilly's "stomper" slippers (I think that's what they were called... the ears moved when you walked... I am WAY out of touch apparently - hahaha)

Luke took a quick nap in Lilly's bed :)

And in true McAnally form there was lots of "lifting" eachother (or attempting to!)

When Levi got there he and Mason checked each other out:

And then Mason gave his best "cheese face" for a couple of pictures :)

There was wrestling and lots of eating and then it was time for PRESENTS! :)

Mason got a Buzz Lightyear which was so cute because he just kept saying, "It's BUZZ!"

He pitched an absolute fit waiting for Dave to take it out of the box and then kept trying to hide in the corner to play with it by himself.

Luke got a HUGE Playmobil pirate ship (it took us over an hour and a half to assemble it that afternoon!)

The next series of photos should just be titled, "Poor Lilly"... 

Yes... Mason is about to smack Luke...

... and now Mason's grabbing Luke's eye...

So Luke decides to return the favor while Levi FREAKS!

We always have the best time when we get together with Dave's brothers and parents and this year was no exception.  The boys got some fantastic gifts and cried when it was time to leave.  :)

Luke's Christmas Program

The Thursday before Christmas Luke performed with his Pre-K class at MCA's Christmas Program. 

Gibi came over and watched Mason so Dave and I could enjoy the program (can I get an amen from anyone who has ever had a 20-month old boy?!?!) and we took a quick picture before we headed out the door:

Luke met with his class and then we didn't see him again until he walked on stage with the rest of the Pre-K and Kindergarten students to perform.  They sang two songs about bells... I honestly don't remember and Luke's asleep so I can't ask him.  OOOPS! :)  Here's our little man walking onto the stage...

And here he is during his performance (DANG poinsettia!)

 Mom of the year forgot to charge her camera, so these are the only pictures I have.  I'm hoping that after break one of the journalism students will have some pictures I can steal :)  He did SUCH a great job, looked SOOOOOOOOOOOO adorable and we couldn't be more proud!

Buddy the Elf 2012

We were so excited to welcome back our elf, Buddy, this year - especially after he arrived with such a SPLASH at our North Pole Breakfast.

I was not super great about documenting all of his antics, but here are a few (via Instagram, of course) that I managed to capture.

On Christmas Eve morning he had set up a little parade and was leading the way on the firetruck (this is Mason saying "WHY???" when I kept saying NO TOUCH!)

He barricaded Luke in his room one morning using crepe paper. 

He brought us supplies to make a "Happy Birthday, Jesus" cake.

We caught him playing with Luke's nativity finger puppets:

He made a giant snowflake out of Q-tips:

He hung out in the nativity scene:

He left countdown clues:

He crepe papered our Christmas tree and mantle:

And he even decorated the little tree on our buffet table with Luke's undies! (this was a BIG hit last year as well)

He hung from the chandelier with a countdown sign...

... and left messages with marshmallows.

And early on in the month he turned Luke's morning milk green (he wasn't about to turn a whole gallon green, so we settled on just a glass)

Buddy also left this note for the boys (along with the note from Santa) to find on Christmas morning.  SO SWEET!!!

December 24, 2012

Dear Luke and Mason,

I have so loved spending time with you this year. Watching you everyday has been a joy! Santa and all of my elf friends are so proud of you.  You were both very good and I loved getting to see you make good choices and obey your parents! 

I had so much fun turning your milk green, having my very own parade, putting streamers across your door and decorating the Christmas tree with your underwear :)

I wanted to remind you that even though presents are AWESOME Christmas is really about Jesus. Remember that God sent Jesus to earth a long, long time ago to live so that he would know how we feel about everything. So when you are sad, mad, scared, happy or anything Jesus knows exactly how you feel!

And when you put all your trust in Him you will have such an amazing life!
You know how I was always with you this month, watching over you???

Well Jesus does that everyday all day all year long!

Today was my last day to be with you and tonight I went back to the North Pole with Santa I’ll see you next year but just remember, even though you can't see Jesus - like you could see me - He is ALWAYS with you.

Merry Christmas

XOXO
Buddy

23 weeks & Crazy Dreams

Well... here's Griffin and I on Christmas... 23 weeks down!  I officially have my appetite back and I definitely put it to good use during the Holidays.  I mean - what better excuse to eat 4 shortbread cookies and THEN baked potato dip for a snack, can I get an Amen???  :)  

Right now pregnancy "symptoms" (do you call them symptoms??? I can't think of anything else to call them???) include having to pee every 7 minutes (plus every time I stand up) which wouldn't be super annoying if it didn't feel like I was going to BURST every single time!  Homegirl is moving a TON!  Especially at night when I lay down - we joke that she has her own little dance parties in there... LOTS of kicking, rolls, etc.  The movements are all really really low, and I know at my last two ultrasounds she's been breech (and yes, I know she moves around a lot in there), so I think that may just be her position of choice.

 When you ask Mason where our baby is he'll point to my belly and Luke tells me everyday that "Griffin must be growing!" which I think is just a nice way of telling me that I'm expanding my the minute :)

I'm not sure what I'm going to do when I return to work in January... because not having to wear real clothes for two weeks is SPOILING this pregnant mama.  Thankfully my principal is AWESOME... so maybe he won't object if I want to wear yoga pants and sweatshirts until my maternity leave in April. hahaha

I feel like now that Christmas is over I can start organizing and preparing everyone's spaces for Griffin's arrival. The boys are going to share a room and their furniture was supposed to arrive on the 26th (GRRRRR) and I have plans to at least attempt to move Mason into the big boy bed during this break.  I have plans to make the current nursery more girly... but that's all hinging on Mason transitioning to the shared room.  FINGERS CROSSED!

I've been a little anxious about how I'm going to "do things" with a third baby.  With Luke I pretty much hibernated the whole summer and complained to my mom about how hard it was having a newborn :)  With Mason we were out and about more because I couldn't keep Luke at home the entire summer and with Griffin I have a feeling we're going to be up and at 'em early on for all of our sanity.  That said, the thought of how I was logistically going to go to Target or the grocery store with all three (while still having room for groceries in the cart) was stressing me out.  I've been doing lots of research and settled on the Ergobaby carrier and I'm super excited.  I ordered the cute Petunia Pickle Bottom version (duh!) as well as the infant insert and I'm hoping that I (and Griffin!) love it. 

Well, 23 weeks down and only 17 (or so) more weeks to go!  Here's to a healthy appetite and NO SWELLING! :) hahaha