Christmas Decorating-Day 2

This morning, Mommy had a FLB meeting with the girls (the networking/business group that we started about 4 months ago). This meeting was really just a great lunch to get away from business for a bit, and it was so good! Generations Tea Room is fabulous!

Then, back to Grandma Netty's to get some work done while Jackson napped. Once he got up, we were on a mission to pick up some extra decorations for the yard! Grandma went with us and we found some more great deals on lighted trees for my Winter Wonderland front yard!

We got back to our house and had Grandpa Scott and Aunt Tacey come over to see our lights. Once Daddy got home and the whole gang was there, we got to work putting the clips on the lights and getting them up on the house! They look great! Grandpa Scott helped Mommy figure out the cords (I hate cords! Why can't everything be cordless and wireless! It makes my life easier!)

We ate McDonalds hamburgers and fries, played in the front yard, listened to 99.1's Christmas songs...it was alot of fun! I am so excited about Christmas!!

Christmas Decorating!

After Thanksgiving, it's time to put away the fall foliage in the house and set up shop for Santa's arrival! On Monday, I cleaned. Did laundry, cleaned my bathrooms, cleaned my floors, etc. Tuesday, Grandma Netty came over to help finish the deep cleaning, watch Jackson while I mowed and edged the front yard, then assisted in getting all of the decorations out of the attic and into my house. Jackson was in awe!! It was so much fun! He was so excited to get the boxes out and see what was inside of them. He loved the lights!! We kept asking him "Is that Santa? What does Santa say?" and his response, as always, "HO! HO! HO!", with the cutest little round "O" mouth! Once everything was up and pretty, we soon came to realize that not much of my stuff from years past is Jackson-proof! All of the balls and bows on the tree are now all on the TOP half of the tree (it looks a little funny, but understandable). My manger is now on the entertainment center. My snowmen are all on the mantle instead of the end tables. And finally, my village, that in the past has sat on my fireplace with snow and trees and people, will now have to be moved--and I'm not happy about it b/c I really don't have anywhere else to put it!! You can tell Jackson, "No No, don't touch." But he will still gently put his finger on EACH AND EVERY GLASS HOUSE, look at me and shake his head and say "No-No! No-No!" Duh!! Isn't that what I just freaking said?! Why are you still putting fingerprints on it!!


So then tonight, Jack and I met Adam for dinner, then headed on to Target to buy our first set of Christmas lights and yard art! We didn't decorate when we were preggers, then we didn't do lights last year b/c we didn't have time and didn't think Jackson was big enough to understand...but this year, he is ALL ABOUT THE LIGHTS!! Target was overwhelming with all of the choices for outdoor lighting--colored, white, LED, blue, etched, star, chasers, round, flare, pointed, energy-saving, mini, big, dancing, twinkling...Adam nearly completely shut down all together with the idea of decorating, and I just got pissed b/c he was not into buying them anymore! And then Jackson started throwing a tantrum b/c he didn't want to be in the cart anymore. So, we re-grouped, bought some lights, and headed to Garden Ridge for yard art--in separate cars. When we got there, Adam was in a much better mood, I was in a better mood, and we told Jackson he had to sit in the cart and be a good boy or else we were going home (and he ACTUALLY listened!!) We found some really cute stuff and the best part--everything was 25% off!!

We got home at 9:00, but Jackson in his jammy-jams, slippers, and stocking hat, and headed outdoors to start the decorating!! We got the drive-way lined, the net lights up, the snowman, and the trees set up, along with my cutie snowmen that line the walkway! Tomorrow, we are on a mission to line the house, put the garland and bows up, and wrap the pillars....so much to do, so little time! But, we are the 2nd house on the block to get our lights done, so we are doing good!!






Jackson was super into helping! He was carrying the light stakes around and handing them to us. I'd say "I need another one!" and he'd say "Oh!" and then run over to me. He helped Daddy put the snowmen lights up, he carried the flashlight around for Daddy, he threw all the trash in the trashcans for us...and smiled and giggled the whole time! I'm telling you, he is all about the lights!! This is going to be a great Christmas!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

After an rediculously busy weekend, I am finally able to post the proof of our happenings! We started Thanksgiving with the Babcock's in El Campo. Wednesday night, Grandpa Doug and the grandkids decorated the Christmas Tree...so much fun! On Thursday, we started the day early with me taking pictures of Uncle Clint, Aunt Rickie, and Marley and Austin for their Christmas card, and Jackson and Adam lounging in their jammies and eating oatmeal! Then on to the Turkey Dinner and Irish Coffee's...yummy!


















Around 2:00pm, we hit the road for Turkey Dinner #2 in League City with the Carroll family--(almost) all of them!! Uncle Bob, Aunt Michelle, and Nicole came in from Wichita for games and beer and turkey and shopping....but mostly games! Scene it Squabble--gotta love it!





Friday we hung out and pretty much did nothing, other than shoot Uncle Russ, Aunt Di, Ashley, Nathan, and Aaron for their Christmas card. Saturday morning, we hit the road--EARLY at 7:00am--for Lake Sam Raburn. We were scheduled for a family session with the Hanegan family at their lake house, but it rained, and rained, and rained, and when it wasn't raining, it was COLD COLD COLD. 43*-46* the entire time we were there! But it was very relaxing...we got to hang out with Wade and Lauren and Wade's parents--they are so nice!! And I have to say, Jackson was on his BEST behavior!! He was an angel the entire time we were there!! Such good manners, no whining, just smiles and laughing and entertaining! It was a great visit. Sunday morning, it was BACK in the car for the 4 hour trip back to El Campo for Marley and Austin's birthday party!! Marley is now 3 and Austin is the last one to turn 1!!

It's Monday, and back to work...uhhhg. I cleaned my house most of the day and dreaded opening my email (78 to be exact). I plan on being DONE DONE DONE with work on December 1st. Mom is coming over tomorrow to help me finish deep cleaning the house and then put up my Christmas decorations--finally!! Yeah!! Here are a few of the pics from our weekend...more to come along with more stories!! (I'm hoping my life slows down a bit and I can catch up on my daily blog of Jacksonisms and stories...and MORE pictures!! I just haven't had the time to get my camera out for anything other than work over the past 2 months, so bare with me!! Thanks!!)

Nebraska Trip--Finally!!

Well, after weeks of delay, I have FINALLY had a little bit of time to process all of the images from our "mini" vacation to Lincoln, Nebraska for my grandfathers 85th Birthday Bash! Let me tell you, the weekend was a BLAST!! From seeing Grandpa to ALL of my crazy cousins, Me and Adam and Jackson made some memories!! We left Friday morning and had a 2 hour flight--the cutest part of the trip: Jackson's Monkey Backpack! Actually, it was a leash, which people can think is super mean, but we didn't have to take a stroller and he was free to walk/run through the airport. And, it was super cute!!

When we got there, we headed straight over the Grandpa's to see Popo Joe and Mama Lou. It was soooo beautiful up there! The leaves were changing colors--which doesn't happen here in Texas. The oranges, reds, yellows..so gorgeous. It really made me miss the midwest. And the PILES of LEAVES! Jackson was like a kid on a playground--he ran through them, jumped in them, threw them--it was fun to watch! We met up with the rest of the 28 members of our family for blue margaritas! After dinner, we had wine at Grandpa's and then called it a night...we were pooped!






















Saturday morning, we helped decorate the hall with all of the girls--and Jackson sneaked eating all of the Jelly Belly's on the tables!! We grabbed some lunch and then back to the hotel to get ready for the party! And it was a party! We ate, we drank, we chatted, Aunt Donna sang, we watched the slideshow I created, we took pictures of all the Schroer-girls' butts (long story!)
...after the party, we stopped by the hotel to grab some coffee with Popo Joe and Mama Lou
and chit chat for a bit before they turned in for the night--then the cousins hit the Karaoke bar!! The ENTIRE family--in-laws, out-laws, BABIES and all met up at Legends Bar and Grill (you can't smoke inside in Lincoln, so we took Jackson) EVERYONE Karaoked--even Aunt Tacey who can't carry a tune in a bucket (the only Schroer not blessed with the singing gene, poor thing) And Adam sang Piano Man (after a few shots with my cousins...thanks!) and the bar went nuts over it! It was pretty funny! My cousin Jeremy and my in-law cousin Nate were the backup singers/dancers--all at 1:00am--and Jackson was AWAKE and DANCING along with Daddy! I know--we are only allowed to be bad parents once, so that was our one chance, but when on vacation, what do you do?!

I don't know who gave him the carrot, but he choked--then no one would admit fault!

It was a super fun weekend--it's a shame we don't get to see them too often! A great time was had by all!! To see ALL of the images from our fun weekend, Click HERE!!