Now that's what I call a weekend!



Happy 2nd birthday to my neice, Kenadi!

 We had such a great weekend!  It was loaded with activities and fun.  Saturday our dearest friends, Sarah and Cody, called and said they were spending a get-a-way weekend in Dallas and asked if we could meet them for lunch.  We laughed because they dropped their kiddos off for a kid free weekend and then met us, with our child, so they didn't quite escape that.  :)  We met them at Sfuzzi, which is where I've been wanting to go and try.  It was a pretty hot day already.  I would say this Saturday is when our nice, perfect outdoor temperatures drastically took a leap into our infamous Texas summer.  Blech...  But, we sat on the patio and cooled off with mojitos and margaritas.  We went overboard with our food and had quite a variety on the table.  Best of all, we had some needed time chatting with them annnnddd of course building our excitement up for our trip which is quickly approaching in July.  We can't wait to spend a week in Belize with them.  Carter had a blast with his Aunt Sarah.  She spoiled him by letting him chew on the menu--a perfect toy!

After we left them, Luke came to catch up with us before heading to a wedding.  It doesn't sound like a lot of activity for most people, but we rarely are on the go from one thing to another so this was a big day for us. 
And this was all before heading to Kenadi, our nieces, 2 year birthday party at River Legacy Park. Wow!  Time has flown, we can't believe she is 2!  The party was wonderful.  It was just family this year and was outfitted with pizza, ice cream, and an Elmo cake.  What could be better? 

Beautiful 2 year old Kenadi

Elmo cake

It was so good that the green icing was all over her face!

We are with our family a whooollle ton, but as always, we loved hanging around and talking together.  You would think we'd run out of things to talk about at some point....But, not to date.

Captain and Carter played

Mom and I matched

Danny and Nathan ate pizza

Sammie, Kenadi, and Gregg walked

Mare and Mom talked

Deme and Sam snuggled

Zach and I loved on eachother :)

Uncle T and Carter hung out



Landon and Angie bounced and slept

 Kenadi got a whole lotta great birthday presents and had a blast opening them.  She was anxious to get home to play.

It was a great day at the park!  

Travis, Carter, Dad, and Zach

Sweet Sammie and I

Love my daddy!

Best Mother's Day with the whole family!

Mommy and Carter

Mom and all 3 of her kids

What a special Mother's Day this was!  It started with  touching cards from my hubby and son -- along with my watch I've been wanting! :)  Spoooiii---iiilllleeedd!  We headed off to go to church with my parents since this is always my Mom's special request.  She loves having her family together at church.  Carter was way past a nap, but was great at church, making us all smile, along with the people around.  He was bouncing from lap to lap and when he was near strangers, he was showing them his toys with a big ol smile! :)  He knows how to be a ham- it sure brought extra smiles on Mother's Day! :)
We went to Mom and Dad's after for our dinner cooked by the 4 guys (Of course Zach got Mom and I Starbucks ---you know your ladies all too well).  They came up with a wonderful menu.  We had salmon on cedar planks on the grill, huge chunky grilled veggies-zucchini, squash, red and green peppers, and 1.5 pounds of macaroni!   OOOOO it was amaizng.  And guess what...between 7 of us, everything was gone, including the macaroni in entirety!!!  What a feat!  They served us cheesecake for desert.  And yes, evern after that show of devouring the food, we stilll partook in it.
The wonderful thing about this Mother's Day was our special time with our whole family celebrating all 3 of us.  As always we had a great time with the kids and were sure to capture their fun too!

Carter practiced preparing to crawl

The boys played together- with their mommies

Kenadi played with Uncle Zach

The 4 of us girls were silly and decided that the Kentucky Derby was today, we needed to take a picture in Derby attire- bring on the hats!

It was pretty hot out but we couldn't pass up some photo opps since our family was all together! 

They truly enjoy eachother's company

Captain and Landon- my nephew

Gigi and Kenadi- my niece

Gigi and the boys

Christi and her babies

My wonderful husband and I

I have the greatest, most beautiful parents

Mom made sure to get a few special pictures of all her babies too.  She can do whatever she wants, it's her special day!

And I got a special one with my parents too!

We had such a fun day playing together.  We were all going our seperate ways around 3...orrr we thought so.  The Hiner crew were heading home to celebrate Danny's mom at dinner, Dad was heading to the airport to go to Prague for work, and the Johnston's were going home to have our special family celebration.  When we went to the car, we ran across a dilemma, we locked the keys in the car when we turned it on to cool it off....bummer!  Luckily, Pops moved up to Dallas today and is a block from our house.  So he went over, grabbed our spare key, and rescued us.  We made it home about 1 1/2 hours after planned but that wasn't much of a set back!
The very best part of Mother's Day happened next.  We were playing with Carter before putting him to bed.  I was singing him a silly song that didn't make sense, but seemed to be entertaining him.  When I got stumped on the next line --- looking quickly for something that rhymed with about--Zach said trout.  So, I incorporated that into the song....OHHHH we couldn't have come up with anything better.  Carter started hystarically laughing--so much so that he was gasping to breathe in between laughs.  We all had tears running down our faces from laughing so hard.  And it wasn't a one hit wonder.  It went on for a solid 15 minutes.  The 3 of us were just uncontrollably laughing.  And you know, any time a child starts laughing, you will do anything to keep it going.  So, that meant adding in a trout fish face.  Oh, that was the icing on the cake for Carter.  I would do it over and over though for the reaction it got!  It was definitely one of my favorite moments in C's 7 months so far and for sure the best part of Mother's Day!!  I wish at that moment, we were on a reality show so that I could have that on video.  But, it is permanently imprinted in my mind!  I'll never forget that.
When we put Carter to bed, Zach finished our celebration day by making blackberry pancakes and fresh fruit.  We talked over our coffee and meal and just sat in awe of how blessed we are with our little family, and our big family.  :)

Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year has many meanings.  It's new for me in the "Mother" sense.  I get to stand proudly at church now when they ask all of the Mommies to stand.  I get to gaze down at the (not so) little bundle that has made me overjoyed and given me this honorable title of "Mommy".  I get to cry with happiness during the sweet video they show at church of Mommies and their babies (of all ages) loving on eachother and talk about the special relationship that "Mom" is. I get to have a special day that my boys have planned and prepared to honor the job I'm doing in raising our son- though definitely not alone.  It has been alongside my husband, who is the best Daddy in the world.  It has been with the help, direction, and influence of my Mom.  It has been with the shared conversations and ideas with my sister and my closest friends who are going through this stage of life too.  It has been with the love that all of those that surround us have provided.  We have the most loving, supporting family and friends.  I couldn't do the job of "Mom" without all of you embracing, guiding, encouraging me.  I'm in the Mom club this year.  And it is such a blessing that I am sure to count daily.  It has been in the top 2 events of my life (the other being marrying Zach). 

My parents in 1982 at their prom--Aren't they beautiful!!

My mom on my wedding day!  Thanks for being my biggest support!

Always helping me- in every way.

But, on Mother's Day the first thing that I think of is celebrating my Mom.  What a woman.  She has been so many things to me through these years.  She has first and foremost been a loving caretaker.  My mom has shown me how to love my own son.  I think of the unconditional love she showed me my whole life through.  And does just as strongly today.  It fills my heart and I work towards being that to Carter and will continue to work towards that with my future child(ren).  She stood by my side through very tough moments.  In 1st grade, that was accompanying me to my teacher to admit that I cheated on a test and use that as a loving yet teachable moment.  Her and my teacher showed me such grace.  It was a small, but important lesson to learn.  Now, I have the conscience the size of the universe.
 In 6th grade, that was tending to the heartache of a young girls breakup.  You know, the relationship that you think is going to be "The One".  I remember crying on the stairs to our basement with Mom there hugging me and saying all the right things.  That's a moment that only Mom can make better. 
In 7th grade, that was helping guide a tempermental pre-teen through saying goodbye to friends and moving to another state, decalring the whole way through how "It's not fair" "I'm not going" "This is the worst thing that could happen to me".  I give her so much credit for that one.  It's hard enough to help show a child the good in leaving all they know, their friends, their school.  It's harder doing that with a pre-teen who thinks the world should evolve around them.  It's hardest coming to a social environment and guiding to fit in to what the "norm" is there.  In my case, it was going from the biggest, baggiest jeans that was the trend in Colorado with huge Nike T-shirts, brown lined white out lips and curled big bangs to wearing "preppy" (in my then opinion) clothes that Arlington, Texas demanded.  The school I went to was dress code enforced which was the grace I needed.  The Colorado outfit described above was what I planned on wearing the first day of 8th grade. That's the simplest "what everyone wears" outfit.  HA! The first birthday party I was invited to, my Mom saved me by letting me dig through her closet (probably making not so nice comments the whole way through) and borrowing her "fitted jeans and shirt" as I was told by a classmate that they wore.  She helped me find me and define me.  She embraced the awkward pre teen and loved me.  She guided gently though and helped me be the best I could be in that stage.  And the next. And the next. 

Islamorada, Florida 2010

Always up for fun!

Supporting every stage of my life.

She loves her grandson. <3

One of my favorite memories with my mom was her coming to visit me in Europe when I lived there.  We had so much fun together.  She first met me in Amsterdam, on the tail end of Zach's trip visiting me.  That meant she got to meet the man I was crazy in love with.  That was so special to me.  Her acceptance matters a lot to me because she is a huge part of my life and always will be.  The wonderful thing about her though, is she will find the good in anyone.  Luckily, that was easy with Zach and she fell in love with him too! :)  After we played in Amsterdam, I took her to my hometown, Vlissingen where she met all of my silly friends.  We had a dinner party so that she could meet everyone and see what we do every night too.  We took her to some of our favorite spots in Vlissingen.  She is such an amazing person to bring around anyone because she is so social and friendly.  Everyone falls in love with her.

Getting ready for a dinner party at Michyl's flat

We went to visit Cologne, Germany and Vienna, Austria.  We had a blast together going through the Christmas markets- which we are both Christmas Crazed!, running to a train so we wouldn't be late, getting stuck in a train for hours because of a storm, going to operas, drinking literally hunderds of Starbucks together (sorry Dad), celebrating Thanksgiving together- thanks Mom for allowing me to not be alone on a fmaily holiday!, exploring new things.  She was the greatest travel partner.  We talked non stop and loved every moment together.  It was a trip stacked full of memories.  You'll have to look for my Austria-Germany post to read details.  :)

Drinking Gluhwein in Germany to get warm. 

Mom's holding "Christi"--we brought her with us!

Our Thanksgiving meal in Vienna, Austria

Enjoying a yummy beer in Amsterdam

Now, it's everything.  I turn to her with one million questions about parenting, life, relationships, daily events.  Everything.  We talk daily, often multiple times a day.  We do so much together!  She has been my best friend, but now at an age that we bond on a different level, she is really my best friend.  She is that person who stands by me through it all.  My silliness, my happiness, my sadness, my mistakes and my wins! 

Celebrating Christi's upcoming marriage

I have so many wonderful memories with my mom and truly believe that I am blessed with the best mom in the world!! 
These days, my mom and I, as a mom too, relate on another level.  The mommy level.  Life keeps bringing us closer and closer.  She loves my son so much and it makes my heart happy.  She supports my family with all the love and care she shows.  I feel like now that I am a Mom, I understand a bit more the depth of the love she has for me too - as her child.  And it does make me have even more love for her.  It's a funny thing, but all of a sudden, things are more clear and love has a different, deeper definition.

We love you!

One of my favorite things is having slumber parties with her.  We do that fairly often now.  Usually when Zach travels for work, since I am a scaredy cat, my mom will spend the night with me.  We have so much fun cooking dinner and chatting.  I am not a night owl these days but for some reason when Mom spends the night, we both find ourselves staying up later than normal.  We just get wrapped up in talking and enjoying eachother that it keeps us wide eyed.  And I love that.  It's such a blessing having a loving Mom, but even more, a Mom I relate to, connect with, and have a blast being around!  Did I mention I truly have become my mom?  :)  They say that happens....and I think...if I'm going to "become" someone, I am so glad it's her!  She is the greatest!
Mom, I don't know what I would do without you!  I love you with my whole heart and love you more and more all the time.  I actually got teary eyed writing this and thinking of everything you are to me and how much I love you! 
Happy Mother's Day to the Greatest Mom in the World! (and we sure have traveled it over- I haven't seen any greater! ;)

We did it!

This weekend, Zach and I had a friend's engagement party to attend so Mom was going to come babysit Carter for us for a night out.  We also have a very quick approaching summer trip, in which we will be leaving our sweet baby for 1 week with his Gigi and Captain.  That means Carter (ok, Mommy really) needs to be comfortable being away overnight.  Truthfully, it will probably affect me more! :)  Zach and I have been trying to think of a night that would be great to leave Carter over night and realizing we're running out of time, thought why not this night? 
So, realizing that I think leaving for just a night would be easy, we had to do more.  C is a great sleeper and once in bed (usually between 7:15-7:45) he's out for the night.  We don't hear from him until the following morning around 6:30-7:00 so I figured it would be very simple for my parents.  Also, leaving for just a day is easy. I do this fairly often (at least once a week). There's comfort knowing that whatever kind of day he had, his Mommy will be able to soothe him, or just play if he doesn't need soothing, when she gets back.  Where I figured my struggle would be was combining a full day and night.  More than a 24 hour period.  So, that's just what I wanted to do.
We dropped Carter off before his first nap, around 8:30 and headed off for our special day.  We did many of our old favorites.  Nothing fancy, just had a coffee date at Starbucks, which many of you know is a staple for us.  We sat outside in the sunshine for a little over an hour, talking interruption free....though of course some of that conversation was about Lil C.  Then went to our usual shopping spots which included getting a few pairs of shoes each! :)  and some cute clothes for Carter.  We decided to grab lunch at Idle Rich to enjoy their patio and have an afternoon beer!  YUM! :)  Then we headed home to get ready for Kristen and Travis' engagement party. 



Great quality time with the man I love more every day!

 We had a great time celebrating their upcoming wedding.  It was a beautiful house, great dessert table! (a plus in my book), and a good time meeting her and catching up with him.  Zach and I also just enjoyed being out for an evening.  We dogo out sometimes, but those days have definitely dwindled in the last 7 months.  We wouldn't trade it though. 
Overall, it was successful!  I didn't cry at all.  I was a little anxious leaving him initially but my mom is so great and lets me call as often as I like so I called after each nap.  :)  When I woke up at 7 the next morning (out of habit), I was excited that I could go back to sleep but also ready to get Carter.  I dozed in and out until just before 9---when did this last happen?!?  Quite wonderful!  We headed to family dinner after that.
Everything went great for my parents.  Carter was good and easy and they discovered he LOVES dogs!  He went next door to play with the neighbor's and was squealing and laughing while they were licking and running around him. 
Zach and I are looking to see what our next over night will be!
Now I know I can and will survive...now we'll just see how a whole week goes!.....