Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas 2010

This year we were a little uncertain how the Christmas would look like since Julie was told to stay home.  Pregnant women aren't supposed to travel after 32 weeks and Julie is now 35.5 weeks!!
Notice Caleb's jeans...they are Wranglers-he wouldn't put on his cowboy boots but he was pretty stinkin' cute in them!
Our first present to unwrap dress up,  Mommy was putting a few last bows on some gifts and had to put a few on our favorite little present!
Craig's parents drove in from Austin to spend Christmas Eve with us.  We actually went our own church for Christmas Eve and it was wonderful.  Then we had a yummy Sushi dinner! 
After we put Caleb to bed, we got to work on setting up the ultimate "Train City" for Caleb's present. 
The finished product, a few hours after 
Caleb on Christmas morning-thought this was the coolest thing! (It took him about 4 hours to notice that there were a few other presents to open and we weren't encouraging him to rush anything). 
He did notice a few things sticking out of his stocking that we let him get into first. 
Before, the unwrapping began, Caleb cuddled up with Daddy and "Baby Jesus" and read the Christmas Story from the bible-while we acted out with a Nativity Scene.   
Caleb opening a present from some of our sweet neighbors-A velcro baseball glove and ball
Caleb's very own tool belt, tools, and hard hat.  He is excited to go to his favorite construction site to show them off. 
Mammy and MeDad 
The table set for dinner-using our china for the first time!!! 
Julie's parents and uncle drove in from Austin later that afternoon and we had an incredible meal: Beef Tenderloin, Champagne Cranberry Vinaigrette Salad, Butternut Squash Mash, Balsamic Green Beans, Sister Schubert's Rolls, and Pecan Pie!! MMMM GOOD! 
On Sunday, after we held our own church service and Mammy and MeDad headed home, Caleb opened one last present from Mimi and Papa.  His own red car to drive! 
Caleb is dressed and ready to help Daddy and Uncle Willie fix the fence with his hammer and tool belt 
Caleb is a pretty good hammer-er! 
On Monday morning before Mimi, Papa, and Uncle Willie headed home-Papa had to do his traditional dress up like Santa.  But this year, he put on the suit in front of Caleb to show him that it was just Papa dressed up and there is nothing to be afraid of.   
Caleb was still a little scared, so we took one with Mrs. Claus 
Then Mommy had to get in the picture in order for him to get close to Santa 

See, it is Papa under there-Maybe next year will be better 
Uncle Willie is so silly and entertains Caleb ALL the time 
One last normal picture
A few of the decorations around the house 
Julie's Nativity Scene collection-a favorite! 

We hope you and your family had a very Merry Christmas, celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

December 2010

We thought we should post some pictures of the past month before we have the Christmas pictures to post next week.  This month has been fun, fast, and filled with new memories.  Speaking of memories, that is word for this month because Caleb DOESN'T forget a thing and talks about things we did months ago.  It is amazing what he remembers and what he retains for a particular event.  He also has quite the wardrobe in some of these pictures...
Naked Cowboy saying "cheese"
Naked Cowboy singing and dancing to a toy's music
Picking out the winning tree for the Wenning house this year!
Our Community Group got together for a Christmas party and I hate that I only got a few pictures but here are the kiddos eating dinner 
A few of the people in our group-still sad I didn't get more.
Kristin had a beautiful table set up for the adults but you wouldn't expect anything less from an incredible wedding coordinator.
A trip to the zoo on a chilly day with Julie (an ADPi friend) and her precious daughter Eloise

Our church had a family Christmas Brunch/Celebration/Birthday for Jesus and it was so fun to listen to music with Caleb.  What a great event!
One HUGE tree at our church
Caleb's new favorite "toy" -a sleeping bag! Who would have thought all the fun, hours, and different games we would all make up and have a ball!


Mesmerized by all the Trains at North Park.  Caleb loved this place and would have stayed there all day long if we would have let him.


Julie's precious Sophomore girls at our Christmas dinner
Our fun playgroup's Christmas Party: 14 mommas, 24 babies/toddlers, and 3 on the way (and that is not even the whole group!)
Caleb not wanting to let go of his new gift that he/we exchanged at our Playgroup party.
Richardson puts on quite a production around Christmas time.  They have an entire "Santa's Village" with all sorts of fun things for the kiddos to do.  Next year, will be fun to explore the little houses of treats for the kids.  But we did manage to get a decent picture with Santa and some quality time with Daddy.
Not too bad, except Caleb did NOT want to sit in Santa's lap and just had a strange look on his face.  Caleb's little sponge of a brain retained that Santa arrived on a fire truck, so now the two of them go together and are frequently talked about.  Pretty cute!
Daddy was able to go on the Ski Trip with our High School group at Church.  As Daddy was preparing to leave, Caleb too packed his back-pack and was ready to go on the "bus." 
Caleb has his bags ready to go. 
We haven't pushed the whole potty training thing but since we were moving Caleb's closet to the new room, he found a bag of hand-me-down underwear from his cousins.  He was most excited and wanted to wear them, so we let him...And it went very well.  No accidents but about an hour later it was time to go and this momma is not quite ready to have him in underwear in public.  But what a great start and fun that he initiated it on his own. 
Some friends of ours from church had a hay ride/caroling around our neighborhood.  It was so fun and Caleb is still singing his version of "Jingle Bells."  He definitely has the "Hey" down. 
Caleb is equipped with his bells, flash light, and a nice man's head light ready for the hay ride.
Yet another interesting outfit...kind of reminds me of some frat boy look.
While Daddy was gone we used a free coupon at IHOP for breakfast.  Caleb was not that much of a fan but liked a lick or two of the whip cream, so that I could get a picture.
We have spent many hours outside this construction site and Caleb is becoming quite the Project Manager, as he directs the trucks on where they should go.  He also thinks every time we come to this construction site we have to eat at the Whataburger and that every time we go to Whataburger there is a construction site to see.  Funny!!  (It has been a month of 12 giveaways at Whataburger-hence the reason we spend so much time there)
Corban, a friend from our Church Playgroup and a his mom is a friend of Julie's from high school-small world, had a birthday party a My Gym.  Such a fun place!!! Caleb LOVED it and we hope to take him back to a place like that soon.  He would not be still long enough for me to get a good picture of him enjoying it nor did I get a picture of the precious birthday boy.
This captures Caleb's night at the party-so much joy!! It appears that Caleb is sitting in the middle of the circle but there are other kids around him.  Corban is the kiddo in the background holding the football. 
Caleb and Jake enjoying a story 
ELMO showed up at the party!!!! But like Santa he only wanted to see him from afar.   
Ms. Jackie, Jake's mommy, is jumping on the trampoline with Caleb.  I was afraid the baby (or something else) would come out if I did that.
Last, but certainly not least, our good friends in our Community had their precious baby boys.  These little pumpkins were born on December 16th at 3:54 pm and 4:05 pm.  
Crew Anderson Smith - 5 pounds 14 ounces - 19 1/4 inches
Coyt Austin Smith - 6 pounds 5 ounces - 18 3/4 inches
Caryn is amazing- God blessed her with a perfect pregnancy with 2 healthy boys and then had a wonderful delivery!! Praise the Lord!!