Drew's {Super Late} 11th Birthday Party!

Well, 3 months after Drew's birthday, we finally celebrated her! For a while, we were waiting for my niece, Blair, to be able to join us and life just kind of got away from us. But I'm so glad we were able to get something on the calendar. Drew had 5 friends come over, and our main adventure was going to see the new Ghostbusters movie {review to come!}. Drew is SUPER into Taylor Swift right now so the party was loosely TS themed.

Snacks with Taylor Swift song titles ha {this was 100% Drew's idea!}

Playing What Do You Meme {but a G-rated version}

Choosing their snacks!

I meant to get a picture of the girls with the movie poster, but I forgot. We were too excited to get back for cupcakes!

Happy {super late} birthday to our favorite 11 year old!!

Living her best party life

Drew really wanted to make smores too,

and they were EXTRA gooey but so delicious!

The girls finished the party with dodgeball and hunter. So fun!

Blair spent the night, so we had to take her home the next day. My sister's family just moved last week, so it was our first chance to see the new digs.

And check out the neighborhood pool!

IT WAS SO COLD.

Per usual, I spent the whole time holding this little guy.

Almost giving the camera a smile here!

He is such a squishable little love bug!!

And everybody loves him!!!

So while it took a long time for us to get this together, I think our girl had an amazing weekelnd!

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!

Christmas 2017

Whew. We had a great Christmas! Grab a cup of hot chocolate and settle down because these pics are going to take some time to get through. {grin} This year it was nice to get back to our 'normal' Christmas after we took last year off with a 4-day-old baby. I definitely like life WITHOUT a newborn!

We started our holidays with a slumber party at Babs and Pops' house. They kept all the grandkids except Paige for the first time! Such an awesome treat for the kids who had a BLAST and for my sister and me. Patty and David actually had a date! 

The Swope Six!

Paige doesn't yet realize what she missed out on, but she'll have plenty of Swope Slumber Parties as she grows!

Oh Christmas Eve, we went to Brent's Nannie's house and enjoyed yummy food, great cousin time, and a few presents.

Nannie with my trio

It's present time!

Paige just wanted to pick up the boxes.

I also love in this pic that you can see how Drew is ALWAYS touching Paige.

 She has learned to climb and loves sitting on whatever she can climb on.

Papa and Paige

Starting 'em young...just kidding!

Drew telling Brent's Uncle Keith {you can see his reflection in the window} that she is a Longhorn and an Aggie. My girl has such a sweet heart.

Christmas morning started REALLY early for Paige and me. She is cutting her molars and we hung out 3 times in the middle of the night, so after she finally fell back asleep at 7:30 from our 3rd adventure, I let her sleep until 9:15. The big 2 woke up a little after 7:00, so we let them open their presents from us. Santa brought Trent a Nintendo 3DS, Drew a build-a-bear bunny kit {she asked Santa for a real rabbit, and he wrote her a letter saying all the baby bunnies weren't ready to leave their moms and dads}, and Paige got a cozy coupe.

Trent was SO EXCITED about his 3DS

Drew with her Santa gift

Opening the rest of their presents...

We built her bunny right away, and she loved it! Her name is Pink.

After I woke Paige up, we nursed really quickly and then headed to my parents. My sister and her family spend Christmas Eve night at my parents', so they were already there.

Paige with one of her new books - that girl loves books!

Tangled

Paige was more interested in Babs' phone than presents

Making phallic jokes with my brother-in-law using a present of Paige's - 

yes, I know that is extremely juvenile - if you know my BIL...it makes sense!

Yes, I also give my mom beer for Christmas

My brother-in-law

Babs got the girls this shirt - we all loved it!

Her grandma name comes from the Czech word for Grandma - Babicka

Bad quality but Trent got a new Kindle because his other screen is destroyed.

He was so excited and said 'Electronics forever!' That kid!! 

Although the gift that caused him to get up and hug someone was the bag of a million Pokemon figures my sister got him. We all couldn't believe that - Trent is not a very demonstrative kid {except with his Nana}.

We only stayed a couple hours at my parents because Paige needed a nap - hopefully next year we can spend a little longer because the big 2 were really sad to leave their cousins.

Normally we would have our Christmas afternoon/evening at Brent's parents' house, but they have been in a 1-bedroom apartment since April, so we hosted this year. They move Friday into their gorgeous new house that is 6 minutes from us!

The Gurley grands - 

first time we've had Brent's nephew, Branden, with us in 6 years! 

Our crew

Paige was so funny - she kept trying to sit on this one tiny present.

And climbing on Bubba's science experiments - that girl!

And that ends Christmas for us! It wasn't Paige's first Christmas, but it certainly felt more like it than last year - it was amazing watching my 3 babies enjoy Christmas so much, and I can't wait to see it for years to come.

And just for giggles...4 day old Paige last year! What a difference, huh??