A Weekend of Firsts

We're going to have to take a step back to the first weekend of Winter Break. It's going to take me a hot minute to blog everything I want to about the past few weeks! But our first weekend of break included a lot of firsts for our family worth sharing.

First up, Drew finished her first season of volleyball! It was crazy how bad all these little girls were at first, I mean B.A.D. Little by little, they got better over the season and I loved watching Drew practice and work to get better! 

Her winning serves in her last game!

Her adorable team! She is standing between 2 of her besties - Raina and Zara.

 I hope she will keep playing!

THEN, later in the same day, we took Paige to get her ears pierced for the first time! She has wanted her ears pierced since she was 3.5, and the only reason we waited was because of stupid Covid. We got it done at Target with their Hey Rowan stands - done by a registered nurse and not with the ear-piercing gun. It took about 30 seconds to pierce both ears and Paige did great!

A little unsure {since it did hurt} but also loving it, ha.

The next first, in the same day, was the kids all roller-skating at a rink for the first time! This was HILARIOUS. They were all terrible at first but slowly got better! I have a million amazing videos but will limit myself. {grin}

Pretending to fall with Brinley

Drew and Paige getting so much better!

You can see Trent up at the top of the video killing it!

Sunday we had the first party for Paige away from home. Yay for no prep or cleanup! We celebrated at her gymnastics place, and she had a blast.

How does she look SO BIG?!

Why does Drew have to do this? sigh.

So loved and lucky

Our last first was taking care of the chickens Trent's class is responsible for. Their community has a micro-economy and have several ventures to raise money for their class. Over winter break, the chickens needed to be taken care of and we signed up for a few days. Trent was SO good with the chickens, it was really sweet to see him so nurturing to them.

See? I wasn't kidding that we had a lot of firsts ha!

Life Lately

We've had a busy and fun {mostly, see below} last couple of weekends. I know things are really going to pick up in the next couple of weeks, and I'm SO looking forward to the holidays, but I also want to remember the little things too!

I went to a baby shower last weekend at Kristen's house. It was such a nice shower, and there's nothing better than time with my BFF and my beautiful Godchildren.

BUT...later that day...Paige started throwing up. We had a really rough 5 hours, and I felt really terrible for exposing everyone at the shower to her germs, but luckily, it was only Paige! She finally fell asleep on me at 11 PMand was just so pitiful.

I don't talk much about Brent's nephew, but he has a 23 year-old nephew who has lived in Maryland for a long time, moved back to Texas last year, and decided to move to Tennessee. We were supposed to go to a farewell dinner at Brent's parents' house on Sunday, but we stayed at home to keep Paige's germs away. We met him for dinner on Thursday instead, and he drove there Saturday night! 

Nana and Papa with 4 grands

Friday was Grandparents' Day at Paige's school. She was, of course, the star of the show with her grandparents, but she was also super excited that 2 of her cousins were there! My parents had Miles and Blair, so they also went to Grandparents' Day.

Friday night was our Book Club Annual Gift Exchange! We missed 2017, but we've now done this since 2013 and have so much fun.

Gifts galore!

Back at home Brent and Riley {another book club spouse} held down the fort.

Friends watching America's Funniest Videos!

7 years of reading books, drinking lots of wine, and having fun!

When your dessert drink arrives before you've finished your wine...

I drank too much and stayed out too late, but I rallied for A Christmas Affair the next morning with Kristen and her mother-in-law {who made our amazing barnwood wall}.

Shopping partners in crime

THEN Saturday night, we went to the UT football game with Brent's cousin. It was my first UT game, and while it was no A&M game, we still managed to have a little bit of fun.

View from our seats!

Band nerd for life...

They sell Chick-fil-A in the stadium!

Yes, more alcohol, ha!

If we hadn't been busy enough, I took the kiddos and we spent the night at my sister's on Sunday night. David was in Washington visiting family and had Mayer with him. We had a great time...minus Paige continuing her streak of being a terrible sleeper at other places and had a party from 12:30-4:00 that I did NOT want to be at with her, ha. We went shopping at Old Navy, made pizza, and introduced the kids {minus Paige} to The Princess Bride, and I had a blast getting some 1-on-1 time with my sis.

Helping make the dough {'I helping'}

Why are little girls shoes and clothes so cute?!?!

Who wants to borrow my sister?

Sleeping sweeties

{The boys were inside a fort so I couldn't get a pic}

Boys doing boy things

Pancake breakfast

We've started off our week of no school and work by decorating for Christmas - we are going to wrap the trees outside this year - I'm so excited! I'm ready for lots of yummy food on Thursday and my sister's kids are all spending the night with us Saturday so my sister can go out to eat with David because she turns 40 on Sunday, so crazy!

This time of year is THE BEST!

Soccer, Splash Pads, Swinging, Sturgill, Selfies, and Swopes

I think if we had crammed any more into this weekend, we would have had our heads explode! We had a great weekend for sure, but it was super busy!

First up, we signed the big kids up for soccer, and they had practice on Saturday to meet their coaches and teams. Brent and I divided and conquered because we also had Beau's birthday party in the middle of their soccer practices, so I took the girls with me, and he took Trent to his practice.

Drew spreading out to do some soccer drills (second from the left)!

4-year-olds are too cute

Beau's party was at a splash pad across town, so we left soccer practice early to make it late to the party, ha.

There was a park next to the splash pad, so of course, Paige had to do some swinging.

Superhero Drew

Singing to the birthday girl!

Brent took this pic of T looking so enthused for practice.

Saturday night, Brent and I went to a Sturgill Simpson concert. The venue was about an hour from our house, and there were 18 people going, so we rented a van to shuttle us there and back.

Neighbors who are also close friends are the best!

#TexasStrong

We didn't get home until about 1:30, and Paige decided to make Saturday night a party for us from 2:00 - 3:00, so I was NOT ready to get up Sunday morning!

I love finding evidence of the kids' shenanigans on my phone!

My mom told me on Saturday {she and my dad watched the kids during the concert} that my sister and her kids were coming over on Sunday, so we asked to crash their party. We hadn't seen them since my birthday!

Sweet cousins!

And a rite of passage for Paige - riding in the red car!!!

Drew's newest pose cracks me up!

And another first for Paige - a big kid bath at Babs and Pops'!

See? A very busy weekend indeed!