Chandler's Birthday

Chandler's Birthday and Reindeer Hunt

Chandler, Oma & Opa

(My parents hosted 2 days in a row and we had so much fun!)

Tyler, Leah & Talon

My sibs

Too cute!

The Stone Fam

My babies

Ry's EXCITED face...time for cake!!!

Happy 19th little sis

Baby Talon

Christmas Day - 2011

Christmas Day - 2011
(Cortney's side of the fam)
Oma and Opa's House

This year we tried something new and stayed the night at Oma and Opa's house.  Ry was relieved that Santa found him!  We had a fun morning of stockings and then went to church with the family.  Later that afternoon we opened some presents, took a break to eat (monkey on a stick, mashed potatoes, caesar salad, rolls and borscht), we opened some more presents and feasted on sweets all day!

Look what Santa brought!  Just what Ry asked for...a hockey bag with wheels and a Anakin alarm clock.  (PS - how sweet is it that the kid asked for an alarm clock?  Does this mean he will start getting himself up on school days???)

He fits in the hockey bag!

Papa taking him on a ride!

Baby T and Oma

Yikes...I never realized little boys need dress-up clothes, too...they just don't have glitter!

Christmas Eve - 2011

Christmas Eve - 2011
(Dustin's side of the fam)
Grandma and Grandpa's House

We had a fabulous Christmas Eve.  Gingerbread house decorating, present wrapping, reindeer hunting, a delicious meal (prime rib, green bean bundles, mashed potatoes, rolls, lobster bisque and tons of delicious sweets) and presents!

Gingerbread house time with cousin, Nyah

Yep, it was a Star Wars themed Christmas...gag...but he sure loved it!

Pocket watch for Grandpa from his grandkids!

Oh boy...

My niece...got make-up...and is growing up WAY too fast!

Dustin's parents - We had a fabulous time on Christmas Eve doing all of our traditions!!

Wrote his letter to Santa and left some treats and oatmeal for the reindeer.

My little hockey player

His tough face...

His sweet face...

Kitchen Facelift

My kitchen got a much-needed Christmas gift...a face lift!  Here are some before and after shots.

I cringe as I look at this.  Hated the textured charcoal gray counter tops.  Super hated the black & white back splash.

Demo started!

Granite in.

Back splash started.

Almost there.

Done.

Hat Trick!

Snowball Fight

Well, as everyone knows...we live in the great state of Texas.  Which means, we don't have a lot of opportunities to have snowball fights.  We make do...by having them inside!!!  Got snow?

Sick Papa?

Dustin is sick.  He went to bed early and after Ry and I finished eating he wanted to go tell Papa to get well soon.  I walk in there after him and see that he is crying.  I asked him what was wrong and got this answer..."I'm just so sad that Pop is sick.  I do not like him to be sick."

What. A. Sweetheart.

Sometimes, he leaves me speechless...in a good way.


Get well soon, Papa!

November 16th - Re-Adoption Day

November 16th, 2011 - Ryland's Re-Adoption Day

Top 4 Reasons to Re-Adopt
1. A Legal & Binding U.S. Birth Certificate
2. A Legal Name Change Can Be Completed
3. Not all U.S. States Will Recognize a Foreign Adoption Decree
4. Re-Adoption is Another Reason to Have a Party!


You know us, we love any reason to celebrate our family!  So we ventured out early this morning to Fort Worth for our hearing.  Our hearing was quick and painless.  There were 2 other families there at the same time doing their re-adoptions and it made for a cool experience.  My Dad and Dustin's parents were able to go to the hearing with us and it was nice to have them there with us.  We were able to video the experience and take some pictures.  Don't mind the quality...all we had were iPhones...(hint, hint Dust)

With the judge

The whole crew

The judge asked Ry to make it official with the gavel

A little nervous before we were called up.

The judge gave him a puppy!

Ry with Grandma

What a stud!

Our little mechanic

Ryland had a great time learning some mechanic basics.  These videos mean a lot to me.  It's so cool seeing Dustin do things like this with Ry.  Not every little boy has someone to teach him things like this.  So grateful for both of my guys!

Our little star

I forgot to mention that Ry scored 2 of the 4 goals in his game yesterday!  We are so proud of our little athlete!

Fall Family Fun Day - 2011

Last Saturday we had our annual Fall Family Fun Day or the triple FD as we like to call it.  We started the day out with a visit to the pumpkin patch for hayrides, mazes, pumpkin picking and lots of pictures.  Then we headed over to Tyler and Leah's for the real fun!  Witch's brew, cookie decorating, Halloween bingo and a Ghost Hunt.  Ry absolutely loved the Ghost Hunt and wanted to do it again as soon as he dug up his treasure!  Here are some pictures from our day of fun!

Ry's current obsession...Star Wars...I'm hoping this will pass quickly.

Sadie was sad to miss the pumpkin patch, but was excited to jump on the hay bale for the front yard pumpkin display!

Ryland & his Mama

Let the cookie decorating commence

Halloween Bingo!  Ry's marker of choice is candy corn.

Mrs. & Mr.

Absolutely amazed with the Witch's Brew!  He was fascinated by it!

Cookies!

Chandler & Baby T

Somehow Anakin showed up at the park!