Thanksgiving 2011

It was just the three of us for Thanksgiving this year, and it was so relaxing.  Lila and I watched a lot of Thanksgiving Day parades, and Shawn prepared a ridiculous amount of food.  

Lila was really into setting the table for "a family dinner".   I found it really funny because I don't normally use a tablecloth (or even have one that really fits the table); she must have picked this up at school, or Gran's or Granny G's.  She knew what to do to set the table, did it all by herself,  and took a lot of pride in it.

 

 She made the turkey at school and told me that it was the "centerpiece".  I don't know where all of this decorating wisdom came from

 We ate on my Christmas china and she thought that was really special

Halloween 2011

October

October has been a really busy month.  We tried to do as much as possible knowing that we would be homebound for the next few months, and mission accomplished!  

We started the month off with a bridal shower for Natalie.  It was a "Fiesta" shower and she got a lot of the Fiesta ware that she had registered for.  I love all the colors...made me crave a white kitchen with colored plates and bowls displayed in glass front cabinets, but that will have to wait

Of course, there was football and tailgating

Lila went to spend a few days in Ft. Worth with the Reeds and they went to Boo at the Zoo

I went with Natalie when she took her Bridal Portraits so we could get a couple of pictures together, and I could see her in her wedding dress (Just in case my little companions decide to make an early arrival and I can't make the wedding...a thought which brings me tears, but I made it through the day without being too emotional.)

The next day was the Bachelorette party

We painted pumpkins

Scary, huh?

We ended the month at my class reunion

and getting ready for Lila's Halloween party

A 3 3/4 yr old's view of pregnancy

1.  "Mom you're not very smart because your tummy's big, and I am smart because I don't have a big tummy"  (Now I just need her to remember that for the next 20 yrs).

2.  Lila:  Do the babies like Coke?
     Me:  What?
     Lila:  When you drink Coke, it goes to your tummy and they have their mouths open like this
     (demonstrating with mouth wide open), and they drink Coke, too.
     Me:  I guess
     Lila:  So...can I have some Coke, too?!

3.  Lila walks in room looking mad, arms folded over chest.
     Me:  Lila what's wrong?
     Lila:  I want to live in a water bubble, too.

4.  "Mom, can we make one of them be a baby brother"

5.  "Do they have toys in there?"

6.  Nana:  When you're a big sister you have to help feed the babies and bring Mom little towels
     Lila:  for what?
     Nana:  Well, babies have little tummies and sometimes they eat too much and spit up a little
     Lila:  Well, we're not going to have that at my house.

"Babies" Shower

Yesterday, my co-workers/friends, and a few friends who are former co-workers honored with us a baby shower at Z Tejas.  We received many nice, useful gifts and a lot of $$$$, and I had a really good time visiting and catching up with everyone.  I am very blessed to have all of these very generous, caring people in my life. 

Just a little of what I have been up to...
Cheryl and Morgan came to visit, and we had a blast playing "Schlitterbahn"
It made a huge, muddy mess in the backyard, but was well worth it!

It's football season!!!!

My Mom finally figured out what "twisted ponytails" are

Natalie's training me to be a mini-bridezilla


...and I am really into drawing.  Here is a picture of my Mom and Dad
(I also really like to draw aliens, and they look a lot like this also)

Williams Family Trip 2011

The trip started with Lila boarding Gran and Toby's RV on July 24 for the 5 day journey to Washington state.  Along for the ride were Gran, Toby, Ginger, Jana, Abbi, Alex and Aiden

The adventure included horny toads in New Mexico

Hiking in Arches National Park in Moab, Utah

(Lila hiked 2 miles by herself.  She kept saying, "Gran, I'm gonna climb that mountain")

Swimming in Salt Lake City, Utah

and horse back riding in Idaho (also Susie's dog Speckles 

made quite an impression; 

I have been hearing a lot about that dog)

Shawn and I flew into Seattle, WA on July 30th and I was sure ready to see my girl.  She just wanted to know what her Daddy had brought her back from his business trip to London (typical).

The next day, we headed to Pike's Market.  I never get tired of all the color in that place

On Monday, we packed up and caravanned to Salt Creek Park campgrounds in Port Angeles, WA

The park is located on the coast of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.  There are starfish, anemones, clam beds, hiking trails and a great playground. 

 

We even saw this bald eagle; there is a nest near the camp

Wednesday, we went on a whale watching tour.  We left from Port Townsend and sailed off to a town called Friday Harbor on San Juan Island.  We were able to see a lot of whales and couldn't have asked for better weather

 See the baby one

Thursday, a lot of the group headed into town for shopping.  The campgrounds had a lot of old World War II bunkers, and Shawn and I decided to go with his uncles Tony, Brian and Wayne on a "1 mile hike". It actually went more like this:  4 men, 1 pregnant woman who has to pee often, a dog, 1 bottle of water, 3 1/2 hours, about 5 miles, and a ride in a pick up truck.  It's a long story, but we actually hiked to the top of a small mountain and got up above the fog and got some really great pictures. We finally found the bunker but it was a lot less memorable...more importantly, we finally found our way back!

Friday, we took the kids to Crescent lake, toasted to the end of another family trip and started packing up for the trip back home

This trip takes so much planning and organizing and is so much work for the Williams' sisters, and we are very thankful to them for all the wonderful memories we make on these trips.