Today was a beautiful Easter Sunday. After getting six inches of snow yesterday, we enjoyed a day filled with blue sky and sun. We went to Mimi and Poppie's for the afternoon. It was great hanging out with them and the boys since we hadn't seen them in a while. I can't tell you how much it means to have them so close to us. Mimi and Poppie cooked an incredible turkey dinner with all the sides. I think we all ate until we couldn't stuff ourselves anymore!! Jeremie and I were talking today about how weird it is that next Easter we will have our little one here with us. I can't wait to dress him/her in the cutest Easter clothes and show him/her off to everyone. We will have to do an Easter basket filled with goodies and hunt eggs. Even though he/she will still be too young to understand, our little one will add a whole new meaning to Easter next year.
Baby Jace, there are so many wonderful people I can't wait for you to meet. One of these people is my mom, your Gran. She is so excited for you to come. I want to tell you a little bit about my mom. She has always been a very important part of my life. I can't tell you how much she has sacrificed in her own life for me. She has been there for me no matter what. She has supported me in making my own decisions, even when she sometimes didn't agree. Over the years, we have been through a lot. Even when I was at my worst, she loved me unconditionally. On Mother's Day, I want to say thank you to my mom for all she has given me. She has done more for me than she will ever know. I just hope I can be the kind of mother to you, Jace, that she is to me. I love you mom!! Happy Mother's Day!! This picture is of me, Gran, and your Aunt Sara.
This year, we haven't made a huge deal out of Father's and Mother's Day since Jace isn't here yet. However, this Father's Day has brought on a whole new meaning for us. I just wanted to say a few things about the father-to-be. Jeremie has been so involved in the pregnancy, and I know he is going to be involved in every aspect of Jace's life. Jeremie is going to be the best father. He is so excited for Jace to get here. He talks all the time about what things they will do together and what he will teach him. He already has so much love for Jace! He talks to Jace a lot and kisses my belly. I am so excited to see Jeremie with Jace. I know they are going to have a bond like no other. I can't wait to see Jer hold him for the first time! I know that is going to be an incredible moment. Jeremie is so proud of his baby boy already! He is always telling everyone that that's his boy inside there! It's so cute! I want to say thank you, honey, for being the husband you are and the father that you are going to be! I love you!
Here are some pictures from our Fourth of July party we had last weekend. Thanks to Jeanne and John for opening up their home to us and our friends. We had a great time!!
Today, we took you to your first pumpkin patch. You were such a good boy while we were there. We took lots of pictures of you. Then, we bought you a nice, big pumpkin. We will carve it when it gets closer to Halloween. It was a great day!
We had a great Halloween! Saturday night, we went to a party with our friends and their kids. We got to show you off to everyone. You dressed up as a pea in a pod! You were so good at the party! Everyone passed you around and you loved looking at all the kids running around. Mommy and daddy were so proud of you! On Sunday, we went to Mimi and Poppie's house to carve pumpkins, eat chili, and watch the Bronco game. Here are some pictures of you in your costume and you and daddy watching the football game.
Jace, we spent your first Thanksgiving with Great Grandma and Grandpa Hicks in Weatherford, OK. We had a great time with them and your Aunt Danielle, Uncle Brady, cousin Maggie, Uncle Jeff and Aunt Lili. This was your first road trip. We had a long 11 hour drive to get there, but you did great. You slept most of the time and only got fussy about 20 minutes before we got there. We made lots of stops for you to eat and change your diaper and to let Hoss out too. This was an exciting trip because it was the first time your great-grandparents had gotten to see you. Of course, they thought you were a beautiful baby. Your cousin Maggie was very excited to see you. She loved to play with you when you were in your bouncy seat, and she would say "baby" and pat you. It was so cute! Just think, next Thanksgiving you guys will be running around the house together! We had such a wonderful time with everyone. Thanks grandma and grandpa Hicks for everything! We love you!
Saturday was such a good day, Jace. We had a day filled with Chrismtas activities. First, daddy and I took you to visit Santa at the mall. We went with mommy's friend Ali and her two girls Kathryn and Rylee. It was so exciting for your mommy and daddy to see you sit in Santa's lap. You didn't cry at all and were wide awake for your picture. We tried really hard to get you to smile, but you were too focused on what was going on around you. Then, we went to the Parade of Lights in downtown Denver with mimi and poppie and the boys. It was a cold night, so we got you all bundled up in your snow suit. (Thanks Ross! It kept Jace so nice and cozy.) You looked so cute all wrapped up in your blankets. Mommy made sure you didn't feel one bit of cold with all your layers on. You really liked the parade. Daddy held you when the floats and bands would come by and you would just look at all the lights. You got tired and fussy since it was past your bedtime, so we left a little early. Just think, we have started a tradition that we will continue every year. You had such a big day with your first visit to Santa and first parade! We are so proud of you for being such a good boy all day! We love you, honey!
Jace, we are traveling to Arkansas for your first Christmas today. We will be going on a long, long road trip. There are so many people anxiously waiting to see and meet you! We will be doing lots of traveling once we get there to see everyone. Mommy and daddy can't wait to show you off to all the family and friends. This will be a very special Christmas to remember.
Merry Christmas, Jace! What a wonderful Christmas we had with our family in Arkansas. Suprisingly, your first Christmas was a white one. Yes, it actually snowed a couple of days before Christmas and it lasted until Christmas day. This year, Christmas had a whole new meaning and feeling to it with you here. Santa was very good to you this year! You got so many things. Your gran got you a megasaucer, books, money, and lots of little toys. Aunt Sara and Uncle Gary got you the neatest electronic book, a piano, and a rolling ball. You got your first set of golf clubs from uncle BO, aunt Belinda, Ben, and Drew. I think they want you to be a golfer just like them! They also got you DVD's and a stuffed animal puppy dog that you love. Nana and PaDee got you toys, money, and books. You also got money from your Grandma McRae and the Myers family. You are so lucky to have such a loving and generous family! Mommy had to open all your gifts for you, but you loved looking at all of them. We have had so much fun reading your books and playing with all your toys. Thanks everyone for a wonderful Christmas! We will treasure this very special time with all of you!
Where has the year gone? It is so hard to believe 2004 is over! What a year this has been for us! We will never forget this year, because it was the year that our baby boy Jace was born. This time last year, we had no idea what was in store for us. We had made the decision to let nature take its course when it came to having a baby, and just a few weeks later we found out we were pregnant! The majority of 2004 was spent awaiting the arrival of baby Jace. What seemed like a long 9 months to Jeremie, actually flew by for me. I will never forget all the anticipation, preparation, and emotions that I experienced this past year. Finally, September 9th came! The happiest day of our lives (besides the day we were married)! Jeffrey Jace Hicks came into our lives, and our lives would be changed forever. I would like to say thanks to all our family and friends for your support this past year. You all made our journey into parenthood so special, and we could not have done it without you. Each one of you hold a very special place in our hearts. Wishing you all the best in 2005 and years to come! Jeremie, Tera, and Jace
Since we were in Arkansas for Christmas, we had to celebrate the holidays with Mimi, Poppie, and the boys when we got back. So Monday night, we headed over to their house for dinner and gifts. Jace, you got the cutest gifts! You got your first airplane and train. They are very cool, and I know one day you are going to love playing with them. Jake and Joe made you a very special blanket. It is nice and cozy and perfect for laying on while you play. Thanks guys for a wonderful night! We love you all!
This weekend, you got to see the Easter bunny for the first time. You weren't quite sure about him, but you didn't cry and sat on his lap for some pictures. Of course, mommy had to dress you up in your Easter outfit. This is one time of the year that daddy will allow mommy to dress you in all white! So of course, I took advantage of it! You looked beautiful in your outfit!
Jace, your first Easter was a gorgeous day! We had sunshine and warm weather all day long! We woke up to daddy feeling better and your diaper rash much better too! We went to Easter mass with our friends, Brad, Bridget, and Connor. You did great the first part of mass, but you got so tired because it was your nap time that you got fussy. Mommy spent the rest of the service outside with you. After church, we came home and you took a good nap for us. Then, we went over to the Turner's house for an Easter get together. Daddy didn't get to go because he was feeling sick once again. We had an egg hunt for the kids and a great dinner. You loved playing with all the kids. You were such a good boy! Your first Easter was such a special time! We love you, baby boy!
Today is a very special day for daddy because it is his first Father's Day. Jace, I can't tell you how lucky you are to have such an amazing father. You two already have a very special bond, and it will only grow deeper throughout the years. Since he was a little boy, your daddy has dreamed of being a father. The years we were together before you, all he could talk about was having a child. You are everything he ever dreamed of having. You make daddy so happy in everything you do. His heart melts everyday when he comes home from work, and you get so, so excited. You throw your hands up, squealing and smiling the whole time waiting for him to pick you up. Everytime you say dada, daddy's face lights up with so much pride. You have touched daddy's life in so many ways. To dada, I love you and thanks for being the daddy you are to me.
To my darling husband, I knew from the moment we met that you would be an amazing father one day. But little did I know just how amazing you would be. Watching you with Jace makes me fall deeper in love with you. You play so many roles in our family, husband, best friend, provider, partner, and father. You play each one in such a special way. I am so lucky to have you in my life and as my child's father. On this your first Father's Day, know how much you mean to me and my life. I love you! T
To PaDee, Grandpa Hicks, and Poppie, thanks for being such a special part of Jace's life. Each of you are wonderful role models for Jace. Thanks for always supporting Jer and I in the decisions we have made. Most of all, thanks for all the love you have given us over the years. Jeremie, Jace, and I love you all so very much!
To all the fathers reading this blog, have a terrific father's day. You all deserve it!
Our Fourth of July weekend was filled with much fun with family and friends. On Saturday night, we had a bbq at the Schultz's house with all our friends and kids. You love being around all the kids and watching them play. The girls already go nuts over you! Sunday, we went to Mimi and Poppie's for another bbq. The boys did some firecrackers for you, and you couldn't stop laughing when they would pop and make a loud sound. We got some really good pictures in front of Mimi's house too. On Monday, we went to the Highlands Ranch Fourth of July celebration at the new Town Center which is right across the street from our house. There were lots of rides, games, and activities for kids, and a parade for kids and pets. You loved watching all the dogs. That night, we took you to watch the fireworks. Daddy just couldn't let you sleep through it. The fireworks display was right across from our house, so we had a great view. We were a little nervous about how you would react to the lound booms, but you loved it. You were so tired as you can tell in the pictures since it was way past your bedtime, but you just laid on mommy and watched all the beautiful colors. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend. We just wish we had daddy home for three days every weekend.
The big day is drawing near, so I thought it would be fun to recap Jace's first year in photos. I have been so sentimental this week. Thinking alot about where I was just one year ago. To reminisce, I went back through all the pictures we have taken of Jace. Let me just tell you, there are thousands. I can't believe the changes that have occured over this past year. It has been incredible! The best year of my life! I hope you all enjoy reminiscing with me.
When everyone thinks of Colorado, they think of snow and skiing, but one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Colorado Rockies is Fall. This weekend, the Aspen were at their peak with their spectacular golden color. There is something really special about seeing the gold aspen leaves amongst the rich evergreens and both set under a deep blue sky! It is truely one of my favorite times to make a road trip up to the mountains. So, that is what we did today. We loaded everyone up in the car, including Hoss, and set out on your first trip to the mountains in the Fall. We took the Guanella Pass through the Pike and Arapahoe National Forests. This route was magnificent! It was such a special day with the whole family!
We took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch on Sunday. It isn't a real pumpkin patch, but it's a super cute little farm with lots of pumpkins, tractor rides, hay mazes, jumping castles, etc. They even had llamas and donkeys. You were most interested in pushing the wagon around. It was a great day with the family!
This Halloween was a special one because we got to spend it in Little Rock with the Davis', Hicks', and all their friends. Since we are driving this week to our new home in South Carolina, we stopped in Little Rock to celebrate Halloween. You dressed up as a little monkey. Your costume turned out so cute! The Davis' hosted a fabulous party on Halloween night. Aunt Danielle did such a wonderful job on all the decorations and food. Despite the weather, there was a hayride for all the kids, and we stopped along the way to trick or treat. You had so much fun with all the kids. Thanks to everyone for a great night! It was so good to see you all!
This Thanksgiving, we spent with just our little family here in Greenville. We didn't get to make our traditional trip to Weatherford, OK to spend the holiday with grandma and grandpa Hicks since we had just traveled a lot during the move. Mommy was able to pull off a wonderful dinner with the help of grandma Hicks of course. The turkey and all the fixin's turned out perfect. Your favorite were the mashed potatoes of course. You couldn't get enough! After dinner, we were all full and tired! Now, I know why moms and grandmas are always so exhausted at the end of the holiday. It's a lot of work pulling together a meal like that. To our family, we missed you all on this special day. We have so much to be thankful for this holiday season. Hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving!
Christmas is definitely in the air around the Hicks' household. We have been busy getting the house decorated for the holidays and starting on our Christmas shopping. You especially like our tree, and it's been quite a challenge keeping you from pulling the ornaments off. On Saturday, our neighborhood had a Christmas party for the kids. They had arts and crafts for the kids to make, and Santa was there to hand out gifts to all the kids. You didn't like Santa at all. At first, you didn't know what to think about him. You grabbed hold to mommy and just stared at him. When it came time for you to sit in his lap and get your gift, you cried and tried to get down. The party was fun, and we got to meet a lot of new people. We are getting more and more excited about our upcoming trip to Arkansas for the holidays. You and mommy will be traveling there early, and daddy will join us later in the week. We can't wait to see everyone and spend some quality time with our family. Alot of you have been asking for pictures of our house, so here are a few of our family room all decorated for Christmas.
Since you and mommy are leaving on Thursday for Arkansas for the holidays, mommy and daddy asked Santa to visit our house early this year. We didn't want you to have to wait until after Christmas to open all your presents. So, we celebrated Christmas in our home this weekend. Saturday morning when you came down the stairs, there were lots of surprises underneath the tree. Santa had left you a motorized 4-wheeler and lots of other toys. You loved playing with all of them, but you still aren't quite old enough to truely understand what is going on. You have played with your new toys all weekend. Last night, we started our tradition of driving around looking at Christmas lights. This is something mommy loves to do each year, and I want to make it a tradition for our family. Again, you aren't quite old enough to really understand all the the lights, but you did look at some of them. It was a great weekend for our family. Merry Christmas, little man!!
What a wonderful Christmas holiday we had this year! You and mommy got to spend 10 whole days in Arkansas with our family, then daddy joined us late Friday night through Christmas day. You had missed daddy so much. He woke you up when he got to Gran's because he couldn't wait to see you. When you saw him, you smiled the biggest smile and ran around the house like crazy. You wanted to show daddy all the fun things you had been doing since we had been at Gran's. You also missed your Hoss Hoss so much! You ran around chasing after him to give him love. On Christmas Eve, we enjoyed a relaxing day with the family. Aunt Sara and Uncle Gary came over to Gran's to play with you. Then, Uncle Bo, Aunt Belinda, Ben, and Drew came later that day and PaDee and Nana came for dinner. You had so many people to entertain. On Christmas morning, you woke up to find that Santa had visited you and left you a tricycle. You are so lucky because Santa had already visited you at our home in South Carolina, but he somehow knew that you would be at Gran's on Christmas morning. You got too many gifts to name. It was so much fun with you this year because you were actually excited about all the new toys you got. You got so many new toys that you were a little overwhelmed and not quite sure what to play with. After we opened gifts with Gran, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Gary, we all got dressed for church. After church, we went to Nana and PaDee's house to open more gifts and have a big Christmas lunch. That afternoon, we went to Little Rock to see Aunt Danielle, Uncle Brady, Maggie, Uncle Jeff, and Aunt Lili. We had another wonderful meal and opened more presents. You got to play with your cousin Maggie, too. You guys are so cute together. We are very blessed to have such an amazing family. This Christmas was so much more than presents and food. It was special because of the time we had with our family. We missed getting to see Grandma McRae, and Mimi, Poppie, and the boys though. Thanks to everyone for such a memorable Christmas! We love you all!!
Happy 2006 to everyone! Hope you all had a fabulous New Year! We had a quiet New Year's Eve here in the Hicks' household this year. We enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner with friends Ruben and Sasha, then watched the ball drop at midnight. I actually stayed up until 1:30am, which is quite a chore for a pregnant mommy! The evening was just what we needed....delicious food, great conversation with friends, and a big kiss to bring in the New Year!
Today was a beautiful New Year's Day in South Carolina. The weather was gorgeous, so we decided to go to the park for a picnic and playtime. Jace, you had so much fun running around and playing with your wagon and four wheeler. You enjoyed the pb&j's too! It was a perfect family day! As I watched you and your daddy play together today, I couldn't help but be reminded of how lucky and blessed our family has been in the year 2005. We celebrated so many of your "firsts" this year. From crawling, to eating, to talking, to walking... this year has been more than I have ever expected it would be. Along with so many good times, we have also been faced with some challenges this past year. The move from Colorado was extremely hard, but I believe that it will only make us stronger. I know that 2006 has many good things in store for our family, and I can't wait to experience them all with you and daddy. We love you, little man, and look forward to watching you grow and develop during the second year of your life. Thanks for keeping us laughing!! Love, Mommy
Happy Valentine's Day to our precious son! We had a great day together today, Jace. You and mommy did our usual daily activities, then daddy came home with flowers for mommy and balloons for you. You are very into balloons, so needless to say you loved them. You opened all the cards you got in the mail and opened a little gift from mommy and daddy. After you went to sleep, mommy and daddy had a nice, peaceful dinner to celebrate the day. There is so much love in our home and on this Valentine's Day I am especially thankful for that! You have both our hearts forever!
What a wonderful Easter Sunday! Jace, you woke up this morning to find that the Easter bunny had left you a basket filled with all kinds of new things. You were so excited when you ran into your room to find them waiting for you on your bed. Then, we attended an early church service where you got to play with some new friends. After we got home, our friends we met in the neighborhood came over for lunch. We had a great lunch with Jennie, Eric, Madison, and Kennedy. You and Madison hunted Easter eggs in the backyard. You guys were more interested in what was in the eggs than finding them, but it was so cute watching you two together. You had a big time playing together. After such a long morning and afternoon, you were wiped out. We all enjoyed a nice afternoon nap. What a great family day! We hope everyone had a very happy Easter!
We had a busy, but fun Memorial Day weekend. Saturday, we attended two pool parties. One was at Jennie and Eric's house. They just put in a pool, and Jace had a lot of fun swimming and playing with Madison. They are so cute together! Later in the day, we went to our community pool party opening. Our summer is definitely going to be filled with many pool outings. On Sunday, we went to a party at the Cook's house who live down the street from us. Jace loved playing with all the kids there. It's so cute to watch him interact and play with other kids. Jerod enjoyed sleeping through mostly all the parties. It was a great weekend spent with family and friends.
I know I'm a little late getting a post about Father's Day on the blog, but I couldn't let this year past without acknowledging what an amazing father you are, Jer. You do so much for our family and for that I am so grateful. You have such a special way with the boys, and it melts my heart everytime I see you with them. I have always been proud of you, but especially now. You have worked so hard since we moved to provide the best life for our family. You have helped out in so many ways since Jerod has been born. I couldn't do it without you. I am also so proud of you for your dedication to getting in shape. You have worked really hard, and it's paying off big time. For those of you who haven't seen Jer lately, he has lost over 40 pounds and continues to lose. In fact, he is running his first 5K this weekend! The boys and I are so lucky to have you, and we love you very much!
We had a great fourth of July weekend. We spent a lot of time with friends at the pool. On the fourth, we went downtown with two other couples and their kids to watch the fireworks. Despite the heat, humidity, and crowds, the kids did great and enjoyed running around at the park. The fireworks display was incredible. Jace really loved them. He would oooh and awe and clap his hands. Jerod was even awake to enjoy them. We hope all of you had a happy fourth!
We took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch this past weekend. The day couldn't have been more perfect. It was a beautiful fall day. We went to the cutest little pumpkin and apple farm. You could pick your own apples and pumpkins, they had hayrides, farm animals, a corn maze, etc. Jace, you have been learning all about fall at school, and you had been asking all week to go to the pumpkin patch. Anytime we are in the car, you point out pumpkins or Halloween decorations and get so excited. When we got to the pumpkin patch, you ran right to the pumpkins and started picking them up. It was so cute! Our friends the Eastlands went with us, and the boys had the best time. Trey is one of Jace's big buddies. They are actually building a house across the street from our new house, so we will soon be neighbors. We're so excited! Jerod, you were such a good boy at the pumpkin patch. I think you really liked the hayride. The boys looked so cute in their matching outfits, so I couldn't resist taking lots of pics. Enjoy!!
We had a great time at Boo in the Zoo last night. We weren't sure how Jace would do with all the Halloween stuff, but to say the least he loved it. He is so excited about Halloween and being a pirate, but still a little nervous about the spooky stuff that comes with Halloween. We went with our friends the Edens', and Gavin and Jace had so much fun together. Jace ran around the entire zoo acting like a pirate, checking out all the Halloween decorations, and saying "trick or treat" for candy. When he would get candy, he would say "thank you", then he would stand there and look at them and say "more." It was so funny!! He has no idea what candy is, and when we let him try some he spit it out and said "yuck", but he was very much into people putting candy into his sack. Jeremie and I laughed all night long at how much he was into it. Last year's Halloween he didn't have a clue, so this year is so much fun for us. As many of you know, he is obessed with pirates. He can't get enough of the pirate costume. He cried to sleep in it last night and wanted to wear it again today. He truely thinks he is a pirate! I think we might be wearing this costume even after Halloween is over. Jerod had a great time at the zoo, too. He was all snug as a bug in his pumpkin costume. It was a very cold night, so the costume was perfect for keeping him warm. He took in all the sights and sounds and even got in a little snooze along the way. We got comments all night long on how cute he looked in his little outfit. What a great night!!
Jace, you had the best time trick or treating last night. You went with your friend Madison around the neighborhood. You guys were so cute together. I couldn't believe how into trick or treating you were. You loved every minute. You would run up to the house, knock on the door, say trick or treat in the cutest little voice, get candy, say thank you, and run back to mommy. I was so proud of you! I think you could have trick or treated all night long. After trick or treating, we came home and handed out candy. You also loved doing this. I let you hand out the candy to the kids, and you would say "Happy Halloween." Holidays with you just keep getting better and better! We missed daddy so much last night. He went to Arkansas to be with Uncle Jeff and Aunt Lili when baby Ava is born. He hated that he missed Halloween with you, but there will be many more Halloweens to come. Now I wonder what you are going to think when all the pumpkins and decorations are gone. I guess it's on to Christmas from here.
Jerod, you were the cutest little pumpkin I've ever seen on your first Halloween. You didn't know what was going on, but you sure were a good boy when we went trick or treating. Just think, next year you will be trick or treating with your big brother. Love you, lil' pumpkin!
We are enjoying a beautiful Thanksgiving day at home in South Carolina. I've been busy cooking all morning and spending quality time as a family. All three boys are sleeping, so I have a few moments of quiet time as I wait for the turkey to be done. I can't help but reflect on all the things I have to be thankful for this year. I am so thankful for my incredible husband. He's everything I ever dreamed of having in a husband and more. Because of him, I have been able to be home with the boys in their first years of life. This time with the boys is priceless. He is such an amazing father to our boys. I know that one day, they are going to look up to him as a role model and best friend. I am so thankful for Jace and Jerod. They are my precious sons, and I can't imagine my life without them. I am also very thankful for everyone in my family...the Cox's, McRae's, Hicks', and Pucci's. You all mean so much to me, and I'm missing you today. Even though we can't be with you on Thanksgiving, we are thinking of you and remembering how special you are to us. Wishing you all a very happy day!
Sorry that I haven't updated the blog this week. My computer is not working, so I haven't had much access to the internet lately. Also, it's a very busy time at our house. We are getting ready for the holidays, packing up and getting ready to move, and dealing with last minute things for the new house. Jace is really getting excited about Christmas. Everywhere we go he points out santas and snowmen. We went to the Christmas parade downtown last weekend. He loved the parade! Jerod enjoyed all the lights and sounds of the parade, but he wasn't quite sure what was going on. Here are a few pics from the night. We hope to see Santa this week, so you can look forward to those pics soon.
We have been talking for a week now about going to visit Santa. Jace has been saying he wants to tell Santa to bring him a Thomas Train table and fire truck. He was so excited about going to see him all the way up until it was our turn to sit in his lap. He wanted nothing to do with Santa at that point. He did give a big smile when Santa handed him his gingerbread cookie though. After the long wait in line and the hassle of trying to get a decent picture with Santa which didn't happen, we were all worn out. Well, at least we tried and there's always hope for next year. Jace did however really enjoy the play area at the mall.
This was Jerod's first time in Santa's lap. He did wonderful and just sat there smiling at all of us. I'm sure he was thinking who in the world is this man with the white beard and why is my brother throwing such a fit. We did get a great picture to capture Jerod's first visit with Santa.
We had so much fun getting ready for Santa tonight. Jace, you have been talking all day about Santa coming tonight. You left him milk and cookies. The cookies were chocolate chip, which I believe are Santa's favorite. We wrote a letter to Santa together, and you signed your name. It was so cute! You had a really hard time tonight going to sleep. Daddy laid with you a long time, and you kept saying "Santa, Santa, Santa." Can't wait to see your face in the morning! Jerod, mommy is so excited that this is your first Christmas. I know you really don't understand anything right now, but you are right in the middle of everything just like your big brother. I think you are going to love all the new things you are getting. Mommy wishes tomorrow would hurry up and get here! Love both my boys so, so much!!
Christmas afternoon, we headed to Little Rock to spend the evening with Aunt Danielle, Uncle Brady, Maggie, Mimi, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Lili, and Ava. We had a fabulous meal prepared by Danielle, and Lili baked the delicious desserts. We all exchanged gifts and enjoyed watching the kids open their presents. It was a great ending to a perfect day! Thanks to the Davis' and Hicks' for everything! We treasure the time we get to spend with you guys. Love you all!
After spending Christmas morning at Ma's, we went to Nana and PaDee's house for more presents and lunch. The boys got so many wonderful gifts from Nana, PaDee, Uncle Bo, Aunt Belinda, Ben, and Drew. Thank you guys so, so much! The boys really love everything they received, but most of all they loved getting to spend so much time with you guys during our visit. Love you all!
What a wonderful Christmas we had this year. We spent the holiday in Arkansas with our families. We started the day at Ma's house where Santa brought lots of toys for both you boys. Jace, you really got into Christmas this year. You understood what Santa is all about. You barely slept at all Christmas eve because you were so excited about Santa coming. You were awake at 3:30am asking for Santa. Finally at 6:30am, we got up to see what Santa had left for you. You walked into the living room to find an electric train set going around the tree. You were so excited. Then, you saw your Thomas the Train table and were even more excited! You also got lots of neat toys from Ma, Uncle Gary, and Aunt Sara. Jerod, you had a very special first Christmas. To our surprise, you were really into opening your gifts. You loved tearing the paper! Santa brought you a learning table, and you also got lots of great toys from Ma, Uncle Gary, and Aunt Sara. What a fun time we had Christmas morning!
Happy 2007!! What a wonderful year 2006 was for our family! We are truely very blessed in so many ways! We will always remember this past year because it was the year we welcomed our baby boy Jerod into our family, our first year in Greenville, and the building of our home. We have been so busy the past few days, that I haven't even realized that a new year has begun. We are trying to get everything moved over to the new house. Hopefully by the end of the weekend, we will be able to say we are officially moved in. Sorry if there are a lack of updates on the blog the next few days. It's a crazy time in the Hicks' household! I'll try to post some pics of the kids and the house soon.
Here are some pics of my little love bugs on Valentine's Day. We had a great day together. Jace, you celebrated the day with a party at school. Your class exchanged Valentine cards and had Valentine cookies for snack. You were so cute giving your teachers their gifts. You got lots of Valentine's treats in the mail, and mommy and daddy got you some play dough. Jerod, you had a great first Valentine's Day. You also got lots of cards and gifts, and mommy and daddy got you some books. Jeremie and I celebrated the evening at home. We had sushi for dinner and exchanged our gifts. Jer got me some perfume I had been wanting, and I got him some wine glasses. It was a great day filled with love. Hope all of you had a wonderful Valentine's Day, too!
We began our Easter activities today by going to the Easter Eggstravaganza at Southside Park here in Greenville. We went with Dana and Trey while the daddies played golf for Robbie's birthday. It was a cute little festival with an egg hunt and games for kids. Jace, you are really into hunting eggs this year. You are all about getting "lollipops." You are also excited about the Easter bunny coming, but when we saw him today, you didn't want anything to do with him. Jerod, you didn't know quite what to think about the Easter bunny. You just stared at him. You were such a good boy today even though there weren't many activities for you to do. We are looking forward to a great Easter week!
We made our annual trip to visit the Easter Bunny at the mall on Monday. Jerod, this was your first time to meet the bunny. You didn't know quite what to think about him, but you did sit in his lap without crying. We captured the best picture of you and the Easter Bunny. Jace, you didn't want anything to do with him. You just sat in the stroller and watched your brother. You were all excited about seeing him until we got there. You like the idea of the Easter bunny because you know he is going to bring you a basket full of goodies. Maybe one day you will want to sit in his lap again. After our visit, we went to the play place in the mall. We can't go to the mall now without playing for at least a few minutes. We are getting ready for a great Easter weekend!
We had a wonderful Easter! Jace and Jerod, you both woke up to find that the Easter bunny had visited our house and left you baskets full of goodies. We had the Roush's over for lunch and an egg hunt. Jace, you were really into hunting eggs this year. Today was your fourth egg hunt this year! You ran around as fast as you could getting as many eggs as you could. You weren't into eating the candy though. You do not like chocolate! I gave you an M&M, and you said "yuck, I don't like it." I guess your like your mommy when it comes to chocolate. You did eat a few jelly beans though. Jerod, you didn't get to really hunt eggs this year, but we did give you a few eggs to put in your basket. You enjoyed putting them in your mouth since everything goes into your mouth these days. You tried to eat a piece of candy before mommy took it away from you. You boys both looked so handsome in your Easter outfits today. Love you boys so very much!
What a weekend! We had such a wonderful time with Ma, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Gary. On Friday, Jace had a mother's day program and luncheon at his school. It was so cute! Jace, you sang songs to mommy, and it just melted my heart. Everytime I see you performing, I can't help but tear up. You did such a good job, and made mommy so proud. Saturday, we celebrated Jerod's birthday, then mommy, daddy, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Gary went out for dinner and a movie. Thanks, mom for wathcing the boys so we could get out. On Sunday, mommy got to sleep in while daddy got up with you boys. I woke up to a pancake breakfast in bed. Jace, you ran into the room saying, "Happy Mother's Day, mommy!" and bringing me cards from you, Jerod, and daddy. We spent the morning playing, then mommy and ma had to take Uncle Gary and Aunt Sara to Charlotte to the airport. On the way back, we stopped at the outlet malls to do a little shopping. That night, we grilled a delicious meal of steak and shrimp. Mommy felt so very special all day! I'm so glad I got to spend Mother's Day with my whole family!! Jace and Jerod, I love you more than you will ever know! I never knew I would love motherhood this much, and it's all because of you, my sweet boys!
We had a fantastic Memorial Day weekend. It seems like we were outside playing or doing something all weekend long. We enjoyed going to the Freedom Weekend Aloft festival on Saturday with the kids. It's a big festival here where they have hot air balloon races, concerts, rides, and food. The kids had a blast riding the rides. Sunday night, we got a sitter and went to see the Goo Goo dolls with Dana and Robbie. We had a blast! We spent Memorial Day hanging out at home. We had friends over for lunch and played outside the rest of the day. We were disappointed that our neighborhood pool wasn't ready for the weekend, but we hope to be swimming in it soon. Hope everyone had a great long weekend!
Yeah! Summer is here! Since it was a really hot day, we decided to go downtown for some playtime in the water. There's a fun fountain area that shoots up water and a waterfall for the kids to run through. Dana, Trey, Dawn, Jackson, and Kate joined us. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch and played at the park. What a fun day!
We took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch this weekend. We went to Nivens' farm again this year and had a lot of fun. We went on a hayride, saw the animals, and picked out our pumpkins. Ma is here visiting, so she got to go with us. It was a great day!
The boys had a blast trick or treating tonight in our neighborhood. Jerod, you really got into it this year. You would run as fast as you could to keep up with your brother and all your friends. After the first few houses, you really got the hang of it and would go up and get candy on your own. You liked to put the candy in your bag all by yourself, then you would blow kisses and wave bye-bye. Everyone thought you were the cutest spider. Jace, you had so much fun running from house to house getting candy. You were a pro at it this year. You would say trick or treat and thank you. It was so neat to see all the boys running together in the neighborhood. Jace, you also had a big day at school today with more trick or treating and a party. We are headed to CO in the morning, so there won't be any updates on the blog until we get back home. Hope everyone had a safe and happy Halloween!
Happy Thanksgiving! What a wonderful day we had! We celebrated the holiday here at home with our good friends Dana, Robbie, and Trey. They are really like family to us. We cooked a huge turkey with all the sides. The meal came out beautiful and delicious! We have been so very blessed this year and are thankful for so many things. We are especially thankful for our family. You were all in our hearts and on our minds this Thanksgiving. We love you all! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, too.
Last night, we went downtown for the Christmas Parade. We went with the Eastland's and Bright's. We had a great time even with all the chaos of traffic, crowds, kids, and stollers. But, isn't that what the holidays are all about? This was Jerod's first parade, and he loved it. He was wide-eyed the entire time, smiling and clapping. Jace loved watching the parade on top of daddy's shoulders. I just love the holiday season!
The boys had a great time seeing all the holiday lights at the Roper Mountain Science Center this past weekend. They have the whole place lit up with holiday displays, and you drive your car through to see them. There was also a Winter Wonderland where you could park your car, get out, and walk through some displays. Santa was there, too. We were so proud of you, Jace, because you talked to Santa. You told him you wanted a big Diego truck and Thomas stuff. Jerod, you didn't want anything to do with him. We are still going to visit Santa at the mall and do our annual photos with Santa. We are loving all the holiday activities!
We enjoyed another holiday activity this weekend at Hollywild Animal Park. The entire park was lit up with millions of lights, and there was a deer forest where you could feed the deer. They would come right up to your car and eat from your hand. The kids thought that was pretty cool. There were lots of ooohhs and ahhhs from Jerod, and "come here deer!" from Jace. The kids are really into the holiday spirit this year, and it's so much fun! (As you can see, we went to Fuddruckers for dinner and Jace just had to wear his hat all night.)
We hosted our first Christmas party last night here in our home. I must say, it was quite an event! We managed to pull off a fantastic party. We had so much fun with our friends and neighbors! A big thanks to Dana for all your help! I couldn't have done it without you! And thanks to everyone who came and celebrated the holiday season with us. Lots of fun memories were made that we will always remember!
Jace performed in his annual Christmas program at preschool this week. His class sang three songs, "Jingle Bells", "Reindeer Pokey", and "Does the Baby Need a Blanket". He did very well, and it was so cute! He also enjoyed his class Christmas party. The video is of him singing the finale song with the whole preschool. He really got into "Go Tell It on the Mountain", and as you will see he was quite proud of himself at the end. We are so proud of you too, our big boy!!
Jace has been calling Santa to tell him want he wants for Christmas. I thought I would catch it on video since it is so cute. He wants a big Deigo truck with a new Deigo and animals, and Thomas stuff. At the end, he says "Feliz Navidad" and "Merry Christmas". Enjoy!
We went to see Santa yesterday at the mall. Jace, you were so exicted this year to sit on Santa's lap. You knew you had to tell him what you wanted so he would know what to bring you. I still wasn't quite sure if you would sit on his lap, but you did it!! You were such a big boy and jumped right up onto his lap. You guys talked for a while. I'm not sure what Santa was telling you, but you were sure listening. Jerod, you didn't want to sit on Santa's lap this year as you can tell from the picture. You were happy watching your brother from mommy's arms. Maybe next year, we can get a picture of both boys happy in Santa's lap.
What a wonderful Christmas we had this year! We woke up early Christmas morning to find that Santa had come and brought lots of toys! Jace, you were so very excited to find all the things you had been asking for and more. I think your favorite gifts were the Thomas set, Deigo truck, and Mystery Machine. Jerod, you couldn't stop saying "ooohhh" to everything you opened. You loved the Thomas set and trains and Deigo stuff the most. It was a very special day for us since it was our first Christmas in our home. We spent the day together as a family, and it couldn't have been more perfect.
We had a wonderful Christmas celebration with Uncle Jeff, Aunt Lili, Ava, Uncle Brady, Aunt Danielle, Maggie, and Mimi. The cousins have such a fun time whenever they get together. There are some really neat bonds forming between them that melts my heart to see. Thanks guys for a really fun night!
We couldn't wait to get to Ma's house to continue our holiday celebration. Jace, you were so excited to see your Ma. You knew she had more presents waiting for you. Jerod, you remembered who everyone was and gave them big hugs when we got there. You boys received so many fun toys. Thanks, Ma, Aunt Sara, and Uncle Gary for a wonderful Christmas!
Our last Christmas get together was at Nana and PaDee's house. The whole family was there to enjoy presents and good food. The boys once again received so many wonderful gifts that they love. Thanks to everyone who made this Christmas so special!
Today was Jace's Easter hunt and party at school. Jace, you had a great day! Mommy joined you for chapel and the egg hunt. Jerod, your class didn't do the egg hunt or have a party because you guys are still a bit young, but next year you will get to participate in all the fun activities. You did see mommy outside with Jace from your classroom window and got very upset. I had to pick you up early, because you just wouldn't settle down. After school, we headed to the mall to attempt to visit the Easter bunny, but neither of you wanted anything to do with him. We are looking forward to a big Easter weekend!
What a beautiful day for an Easter celebration! It was a bit chilly with the wind, but a gorgeous sunny day! The outfits mommy planned for you guys didn't quite agree with the weather, so we just wore our jeans and polos for the egg hunt. You guys loved hunting eggs at the Bright's house. We had a wonderful day as a family! Hope all of you had a wonderful Easter, too!
I had the absolute best Mother's Day weekend! All three of my boys made it extra special! It started on Friday with a Mother's Day program at the preschool where I enjoyed a wonderful brunch and Jace and his class sang songs to their mommies. It was so cute, and Jace did a great job singing his mommy songs. He had also painted a flower pot with a flower in it for me along with some special cards. I loved my morning with you, Jace. Saturday night, daddy treated me to a very nice dinner downtown at Brown Street. It is a Jazz restaurant with amazing food. A very romantic place, and just perfect! I also received a charm bracelet from the boys which I love! Sunday morning, we enjoyed a relaxing family day. Daddy helped cook and clean, and I got to enjoy a day off. I'm so blessed to have these three amazing men in my life! I love you boys more than you'll ever know!! Thanks for making this Mother's Day and everyday so special!
Happy Father's Day, daddy! Our Father's Day celebration began Friday night with dinner at Wasabi with friends. On Saturday, daddy got to play golf and hang out at the pool. That evening, we had friends over for dinner and to hang out on the patio. Sunday, daddy got served breakfast in bed. Jace helped mommy cook the pancakes and eggs. We had lunch with the Eastlands, then went to the pool. We ended the weekend with ice cream from Bruster's. Daddy, we want you to know how thankful we are to have you in our lives! You are an amazing father and husband. The boys think you are the best and look up to you so much already. Thanks for all you do for our family! We love you! We also want to wish Pa Dee, Poppie, and Grandpa Hicks a very happy Father's Day! We love and miss you all!
Yesterday, daddy turned 32 years old! We tried to make the day extra special for him even though he didn't want to do anything for his birthday. We made him birthday pancakes for breakfast and set up a one hour massage for him in the afternoon. You boys thought daddy would like to go to Frankie's Fun Park to celebrate, so that's what we did. We had a great time riding the go-carts and the rides. Jerod, this was your first time on the go-carts, and you loved it! You also got to ride the "up and down" ride as Jace calls it. You laughed the whole time! It's so fun having both you boys big enough to do these kinds of things with. What a fun night! Daddy, we hope you had a wonderful birthday! We love you so much and thank you for being so good to us! Mommy and daddy are getting to go out with our friends tonight to celebrate! You guys can't wait for Ms. Brittoni to babysit!
Happy 4th Birthday, Jace! Today, you are officially four! It's so hard to believe that our first born son is four years old! You are getting to be such a big boy! I don't know what it is about four, but it just seems so much older than three! You woke up this morning knowing it was your special day. Mommy made you birthday pancakes, and you opened your present from mommy, daddy, and Jerod. You loved the big pirate ship and have been playing with it all day. Since today was not a school day, you got to choose what you wanted to do today. You chose to go to Gattitown. Trey, Dana, and our new friends Rachel and Sophia joined us. This is one of your favorite places. We played games, rode the carousel, and ate lunch in the movie room. Tonight, you got to choose where we went for dinner. Of course, you chose Chili's another one of your favorite places. You had such a great day! Tomorrow, we are off to the beach for the weekend! I am so excited about our first family of four vacation! We love you so much, Jace! Happy 4 Years! (You also got to choose what you wanted to wear today...as you can see, it was your "museum shark shirt"...mommy just had to grin and bear it!)
We are gearing up for Halloween in the Hicks' household! Monday night, we went to Boo in the Zoo! The kids tested out their pirate costumes and enjoyed trick or treating at the zoo. We went with our friends the Thomas' and had a great time! We are looking forward to the Fall Festival and Halloween parties at school, our pumpkin carving party, and trick or treating in the neighborhood.I just love this time of the year!
We are participating in so many fun fall activities this year! On Sunday, we went to the Fall Festival at the preschool. The boys had a blast playing the games with their friends, Kaiden and Kaleb. After the festival, we got to "Trunk or Treat". This is where cars decorate their trunks for Halloween, and the kids trick or treat for candy. The boys decided not to wear their costumes. That was ok with me because we have already worn them once and have two more times to go. I sure hope they aren't tired of them by Halloween night!
Last night, we hosted our annual pumpkin carving party and contest. We had ten families from the neighborhood attend which was thirty two people in all! Yes, it was a little chaotic, but we all had a great time! Pulling off a party for this many people isn't a small chore....Jeremie worked hard on cleaning and organizing the garage so we had room to carve the pumpkins. Notice in the pics the shelves he made for our "junk." Those of you who know us well, know what our garage usually looks like. He also made carving tables which were really cool and very helpful in carving the pumpkins. Way to go, babe, nice work! I planned the food and activities for the kiddos. There was some serious carving going on! We had rules, a time limit, and awards. Here's the outcome of the night:
Overall Best Pumpkin- Ghost with dry ice- Tom Thomas
A Cut Above- Tiger Woods- Jeremie
Scariest- Mummy- Mark and Traci Thomas
1st Timer- Smiley Face-Collin Bright and Family
Coolest Tools- Tiger Woods- Jeremie
I can't leave out that Jeremie made a very cool flaming pumpkin ahead of time so it wasn't entered into the contest. Thanks to everyone who came and participated in the contest! What a fun night! (Pics have captions)
Happy Halloween! What fun Halloween was this year! Jace, you chose to be a pirate, and even picked out which pirate costume you wanted. You had to have the one with the boots. Jerod, mommy chose for you to be a pirate too since I knew you would want to be whatever your brother was. You both loved being pirates! You had eye patches, swords, and pirate flags to complete your costumes. Jace, you had a blast trick or treating with your friends in the neighborhood. You guys ran from house to house trying to get as much candy as possible. Jerod, you really got it this year. You would say "trick or treat" and "thank you". It was so cute! You refused to wear your hat and eye patch, but at least you wore the hat for boo in the zoo so I was able to get some pics of you in it then. We were out for about an hour and a half, and that's all you guys could take. You were both exhausted and ready to check out all your goodies. Neither one of you like chocolate, but you love the idea of having candy. You will eat skittles, smarties, and lollipops, but that's about it. I have no idea what we will do with all this candy! I can't believe Halloween has come and gone, and that the holidays are right around the corner!
Happy Thanksgiving from the Hicks' family! There are so many things to be thankful for this holiday season, but most of all we are thankful for our wonderful family and friends. We missed being with our family today and hope you all had a great day. Updates with pics to come soon....my hard drive on my computer is full from all the pictures I have taken, therefore I can't upload pics from my camera right now to update the blog. Jer is getting me an external hard drive hopefully tomorrow. I have some great pics coming your way....
We have had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! We celebrated on Thursday with our best friends the Eastlands and our new friends the Crawfords. The Eastlands' hosted at their house this year. I did the turkey, stuffing, and gravy, and Dana and Rachel did the sides. Jer did a great job carving the 23lb. turkey, too! Everything turned out so very good! We ate and ate and ate! It was a gorgeous day out, so after lunch we all enjoyed getting outside. Thanks to our dear friends for a terrific holiday! The rest of the weekend we have spent relaxing. We have enjoyed having daddy off work for four days. The house is now decorated for Christmas all but the outside lights, and the boys are getting more and more excited for Santa!
Last night, we made our annual trek out to Hollywild to see the lights. I call it a trek because it's way out in the country down these narrow curvy roads. We managed to only take one wrong turn and luckily didn't run out of gas (Dana and Rob!). Anyway, the kids had a blast getting to ride in the Eastland's car and not having to sit in their car seats as we drove through. We fed the deer and zebra in the enchanted forest. That was our fav part! Fun times!
We took the boys to ride the Polar Express in Bryson City, NC on Sunday. They had been anticipating this event for quite some time. They both love the movie, and Jace loves the book. I can't count how many times we have read that book since Thanksgiving! The ride was so cute! They made it just like the Polar Express by serving hot chocolate. The conductor punched out tickets, and they read the story to the children. We went to the North Pole to pick up Santa. When we got to the North Pole, they pointed out Santa's house, the elves' workshop, and Jack Frost's house. Santa was standing with the reindeer waving at the children as the train drove by. Then, Santa boarded the train and greeted each child by giving them a bell. We also sang lots of Christmas songs along the ride. The boys had a blast and seeing their little faces was priceless! It was definitely worth the four hour round trip drive. We are getting so excited for Christmas!
The boys had a visit with Santa this week. They mailed their letters to the North Pole and sat in Santa's lap. They both did it this year!! They told Santa what they wanted and even gave him hugs. Afterwards, I asked Jace what he asked Santa for and he informed me that it's a secret and I'll see when Santa brings it! Uh, oh!! I hope he told him the same things he has been telling us! They are counting the days until Santa visits!!
So, Jeanne has been begging for pics of our home during the holidays. Since she can't come out and see for herself, I promised to post some pics on the blog. The photos really don't do it justice though. For some reason, I can't get the lighting right. Jer and our neighbor Ryan did an awesome job on the outside of the house. We think we will be adding some things to the outside next year. As for the inside...mommy has her "fancy" tree, as the boys call it, in the foyer. That tree took me about 5 hours to do! I love it though! I did a smaller tree in our family room with more of a "homey" feel, and the boys each have a very small tree in their rooms which they decorated all by themselves. I just love the way our home feels during the holidays!
The boys and I hosted a Christmas cookie decorating party at our house for all our neighborhood friends. We haven't had the chance to get together much lately with everyone being on different school schedules and the weather being too cold to play outside in the afternoons. The kids had a great time decorating cookies for santa and playing while the mommies got to hang out and chat. Thanks everyone for coming!
We spent a quiet Christmas Eve at home getting ready for Santa. The boys made sure to leave the cookies they decorated for Santa and milk by the fireplace so Santa would be sure to eat them when he came down the chimney. We also left food for the reindeer in the front yard. Daddy read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" as our bedtime story. You were both very excited for Santa's visit!
Santa was very good to you boys this year! Jace, you were the first to wake up Christmas morning. You ran into our room and asked if Santa came. We told you that we would have to wait until Jerod woke up to see. As soon as Jerod woke up, we headed downstairs to see what Santa had left. You should have seen your faces!! I don't think you knew what to run to first. Jace, you got everything you had asked for and more...drum set, Diego rescue train, chair with your name on it, and lots more. Jerod, you got a Skuut (bicycle), chair with your name on it, and the Imaginext castle. Santa also brought cars, trains, balls, blocks, games, and lots more. Daddy surprised us with a flat screen tv for the playroom. Mommy surprised daddy with a ping pong table! He had no idea! And Daddy definitely spoiled mommy with gifts too! We played all morning with the new toys, then packed up and began the road trip to Arkansas. Christmas just keeps getting better and better!!
We had a wonderful holiday celebration with the Hicks and Davis families this year. We arrived in Little Rock on Friday and enjoyed the evening with everyone at the Davis' home. The kids played and played and played. They did so well together! You can already see the bonds forming! On Saturday, we enjoyed more family time and spent the evening at the Hicks' home opening gifts. We had a such a great time with everyone! Our visits always pass by too quickly! We love you all!
We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas at Ma's house this year! The boys were spoiled of course! Jace, you got a Leapster 2 and games to go with it. You are loving it! Jerod, you got a Leap Pad and books to go with it. You are loving yours too! Mommy and daddy got spoiled with money and gift cards. We loved getting to spend this Christmas with Teralee. She is so precious! We couldn't believe how much she had changed since the last time we saw her. As always, our visits go by way too quickly! We love you all!
Nana and PaDee hosted a wonderful Christmas at their home. Everyone was there for dinner and opening gifts. You boys got spoiled once again! Nana and PaDee got you Thomas the Train buildings for your wooden track and money. Uncle Bo, Aunt Belinda, and the boys got you GeoTrax sets. You guys were so excited! We had a great visit with everyone! We love and miss our family so much!
We've had a great Valentine's weekend. Jer and I celebrated a night early on Friday evening with a fabulous dinner at Coal Fired Wine Bar. They have a Enomatic Wine System which is a fun way to try new wines. On Saturday, we spent the day as a family and took the boys to dinner at their favorite OTB. Happy Valentine's Day to my three special Valentines. I love you boys so much! Also, thanks to Ma, Nana, and Sara for the Valentine cards and gifts! They boys loved them!
We had a wonderful Easter in Arkansas this year. The boys went to the church Easter Egg hunt on Saturday and found lots of eggs. Jerod, you found a prize egg and won $3! You were very excited about that! Jace, you also found a prize egg and won some bubbles. You weren't so excited about that, so Uncle gave you a dollar too! Are we a little spoiled or what?! Easter Sunday was a rainy, yucky day, so we took pics inside after church. We enjoyed lunch with the whole family, then went to Uncle Bo and Aunt Belinda's house to hunt eggs inside.
I know it's a little late for a Mother's Day post, but I had to write to my little men! Boys, you made this mother's day so very special! You both performed in the Mother's Day program/luncheon at school. It was so cute and as always brings tears to my eyes. You guys made special projects at school for me that I will treasure. You helped daddy make breakfast for me, and you each picked a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me. I got exactly what I wanted this year, all the flowers for the patio. Jer asked what I wanted for Mother's Day, and I told him a day of planting flowers and getting the patio ready for summer. It's therapuetic for me believe it or not! Thanks to all three of my boys for making me feel so special! I love you! Jace, you did a Mommy Fact Sheet for me, and I thought I would share it on the blog. I thought it was too sweet!
What is your mother's name? Tera
How old is she? 6 years old
How tall is she? 58 feet tall
Where does she work/what does she do during the day? workout at the big gym
What does she like to eat? taco's with cheese
What is her favorite thing to do around the house?
watch Jace ride his bike
What does she like to do with you? ride bikes
What is her favorite tv show? Hannah Montana
Where does she like to go? shopping
He hit the nail on the head with the working out, riding bikes, and shopping. I have no idea where Hannah Montana came from. We have never watched this show!
What a fun Memorial Day weekend! Daddy and I enjoyed a much needed date night on Saturday night, and just had an absolute blast! Sunday, we hosted a big cookout at our home for 10 families from the neighborhood. A great time was had by all! The kids played so hard and had a big dance party! It was so funny! The adults of course enjoyed catching up with each other. It actually stopped raining during the party, so we got to enjoy being on the patio. The guys enjoyed some ping pong in the garage as well. We served chicken, steak, and shrimp which turned out so yummy! Great job on the grilling, Jer! And the drink of the night was sangria, which I made for the first time! I learned that you can never make enough sangria! Monday, we finally enjoyed some pool time! The water is freezing still, but the boys didn't care! Jace, you are swimming like a pro! Jerod, you are doing so good without your floaties! You can jump in and swim to the steps. You should be swimming by the end of the summer! We also enjoyed some family time at the park riding bikes and playing football. Love weekends like these!
A little late, but wanted to wish the best daddy and husband a Happy Father's Day! We are so proud of you for winning your first tennis tournament on Father's Day! Way to go, daddy! We love you so much and want to be just like you when we grow up!!
Xoxo, Your Little Buddies
This year, we went to Boo in the Zoo with the Eastlands and Crawfords. Ma was here, so she got to go with us too. The boys enjoyed wearing their costumes for the first time. As you can see, they both chose to be superheroes this year. Who would've guessed?!
The boys had a fun Halloween this year! They both chose to be superheroes...Jace-spiderman and Jerod-superman. I tried to convince them to be batman and robin, but Jace was set on spiderman. They enjoyed trick-or-treating and parties at school. I included pics of their classes all dressed up, and there's a pic of Jerod and his girlfriend Madeline. Isn't she adorable?!! On Halloween night, we went trick-or-treating in the neighborhood with Trey and Sophia. We were out about an hour before it started pouring! That was ok though because the boys had plenty of candy! When we got home, they had to go through it all. Jace, who doesn't like chocolate, made himself a concoction of nerds and skittles and stirred it with a lollipop! Jerod, who thought he didn't like chocolate because his brother doesn't, had his first KitKat and found out he likes chocolate after all! We are now onto Thanksgiving and Christmas! We are super excited that the Hicks' and Davis' will be visiting our home for Thanksgiving this year. Then, we will be traveling to Arkansas for Christmas. We can't wait for the holidays!!
What a wonderful Thanksgiving we had this year! We were so blessed to have the Hicks' and Davis' drive out all the way to SC to visit and spend the holiday with us. Jeff, Lili, and Ava got here on Sunday evening. We enjoyed getting to spend quality time with them and showing them around Greenville. They got to go to the boys' Holiday program at school and watch them in their gymnastics class. We took them to our new Children's Museum which is super cool. The boys had so much fun with Ava. On Wednesday, the Davis crew made it in. We all enjoyed a terrific Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, and the adults got to get out on Friday night for dinner without the kids. Thanks to our amazing babysitter who watched all six kids like it was nothing! Throughout the week, you could see the bonds forming with the cousins. Maggie and Jace are already building that "best cousin" bond. It's so sweet to watch. All the kids got along so very well. Really, we didn't have to put out any arguments or deal with anyone fighting. We are so glad you guys chose to spend your Thanksgiving with us. I know it's a long drive, and it truely means so much! Can't wait to see you all Christmas!!
We are gearing up for Christmas here in the Hicks' house! The boys did a great job at their Holiday program at school. They sang Thanksgiving and Christmas songs this year. We also went to the Christmas parade downtown with our friends the Crawfords this past weekend. We have lots more holiday activities planned before Christmas! This time of year is so fun with the boys!
We headed to the mall yesterday to visit Santa. Jace was very excited about seeing him and telling him everything he wants for Christmas this year. Jerod wasn't so sure about sitting in Santa's lap. As you can see from the pictures, he wouldn't come close to Santa much less sit in his lap! He did great last year, so I'm not sure what happened to change his mind. Anyway, since he didn't get to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas, we made a call to him on the way home so Santa would be sure know. (Thanks to our good friend, Tom, for helping us out!) It was pretty funny!!
We celebrated Christmas with our dear friends the Eastlands before we left for Arkansas. They have become like family to us since living in South Carolina for the past four years. Ms. Brittoni also stopped by to bring the boys gifts. She is a very important person in our lives. We love her and don't know what we would do without her.
Santa was very good to us this year! The boys woke up Christmas morning to a living room full of toys! Santa brought them everything they asked for and more!
We all had a great Valentine's Day this year! Jer and I were able to celebrate with a very nice dinner out on Friday night thanks to Ms. Brittoni. The boys had parties at school with their friends on Friday, too. On Sunday, they opened their treats, and we took them to Chuck E. Cheese. They both got their "girlfriends" little surprises for the holiday. Jerod picked a special bear and card for Madeline. Madeline is in his class at school. They are the cutest friends. He told us last night at dinner that his heart likes Madeline's heart!!! Where did he get that?! Jace picked a special bear, balloon, and rose for Sophia. He asked to take her on a "date" to Chuck E Cheese. It was so cute! I think we have two little lovers on our hands!!
I had a great birthday this year! My boys definitely spoiled me, all three of them! They each gave me a special gift. Jace, you thought mommy would like a coffee mug since you said I love my coffee! Jerod, you picked a bag for me which was purple. It had your name written all over it. Of course, dad helped with the purchases. Ms. Brittoni came and took the boys to gymnastics, so I could go enjoy a mani/pedi. We went to dinner that night, and as soon as we walked into the restaurant Jace announced to the hostess that it was his mommy's birthday. That made me feel so special. We came home and enjoyed some yummy cake. That weekend, I got to take a girls trip with some special friends to Hilton Head. We had the best time, and it was much needed getaway! The boys had a great weekend with their daddy! They love boys' weekends!! Thanks to everyone for the calls, texts, cards, and gifts!
We spent Easter with our friends the Crawfords. We all went to church together, then enjoyed a wonderful lunch at their house. The boys also had Easter parties and an egg hunt at school before they went on spring break. We are so excited that spring is finally here!!
The boys had a great time playing golf with their dad for Father's Day. They played 9 holes, but I honestly think Jace could have played all day. He ran from hole to hole so excited to be on the golf course. It was very hot, so we had to stop at the ninth hole. Jerod played too and really like riding in the golf cart.
Welcome to our family blog! This blog serves as a journal of our adventures with our sons Jace and Jerod. Jace was born September 9, 2004 and Jerod was born May 12, 2006. Please leave us a comment when you visit our blog.
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