thanksgiving, christmas, and my birthday also happened

So Rebecca and the crew came down for Thanksgiving and it was great! Mostly because we didn't travel to Houston, then Shreveport, and then Austin. In one car. With 5 adults (1 of which is giant sized), and 2 kids. All within a 4 day period. Don't get me wrong, I was sad not seeing my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. But man was I happy to only travel to one city. We made pies, went to the park every day, and generally had an awesome time.

Miles and I decided to include Rebecca on our usual photo shoot. She did pretty well for her first time.

Trees were decorated because this is what you do the day after Thanksgiving. On to Christmas!

Christmas was spent in Chicago like usual. It was so much fun!

This is the only picture I took from my birthday. Probably the best birthday card I have ever received. Thanks kiddo!

That basically brings us to present day. Lots of school work for my masters class, teaching, and trying to have some sort of a life. I promise to do a better job of updating this. And when that doesn't actually happen...I apologize now.

baby atticus

I've been living my summer life over here and just realized I haven't posted in quite some time. Sorry, not sorry. It's been a crazy, and fun, past few weeks traveling all over. It started with visiting the newest addition to my family, baby Atticus! I had an awesome week playing with Miles, and holding Atticus every chance I got. (When Miles allowed it.) 

Miles was really sweet, every morning he would come downstairs and quietly open my door and gently shake me to wake me up. Just kidding. My mornings began with Miles coming downstairs and screaming outside my door to wake up. I guess that's better than him yelling in my ear to wake up. I thought it was pretty cute that he wouldn't open the door. I would just yell back at him to come in so I wouldn't have to get out of bed. He would also help me put on makeup and choose my earrings. One day I got ready without him and he was very upset I didn't want to wear earrings. 

We did a lot of fun things while I was there, but you don't care about that. I know you're just wanting to see pictures of Atticus, and more of Miles. So here you go. You're welcome.

3 christmases

I know what you're thinking, and it's ok to be jealous. Getting 3 Christmases? It was pretty awesome. The first was in Austin with my girlfriends. We had dinner over at Allison's house, some of us dressed in our ugly sweater finest. Mine is legit, I found it in my grandma's house when we were cleaning it out last spring break. We also did our annual white elephant except with things we would all want. It was great! The next night we followed it up with Stephanie's party which was a blast!

The next Christmas was in Houston with my parents. Since we were doing a late Christmas in Chicago we did actual Christmas together. While Miles was in Houston for Thanksgiving, he got to get his own Christmas tree and decorate it. My parents kept it as our tree, it was a very Charlie Brown Christmas. We also all helped make our usual fancy lunch. It was delicious! I also made a really good gluten and dairy free pumpkin bread pudding. Super awesome! I also got to see all of my girls while I was home which was great. 

We then went to Chicago to celebrate Christmas with my sister and her people. Miles was obsessed with my mom which turned out to be great for us! Rebecca, Michael and I actually got to hang out for several days. We hadn't been able to do that since Miles was born, so I loved it! (yes I love Miles, but I've missed my sister time) We even got to see 2 movies! The trip started with our annual Christmas Eve tradition of making pizzas...

 and watching a Christmas movie.

Michael also chopped wood. Apparently this is something people do up north.

On "Christmas morning" the last present opened was something from my parents for Rebecca and I...

I can tell through the computer how jealous you are of these jackets! Again, another find in Marion and Joe's house. The best part about them? They are so old Russia is still the USSR, and it's made out of paper...we think. The worst part? It smells like their house. I'm currently trying different things to get the smell out so I can wear it for my Olympic opening ceremonies party. 

We played a lot of games and listened to the Mary Poppins record. (No, the polar vortex hadn't started at this point, but it was still about 9 degrees outside. No thanks)

I stuck around for New Years Eve and spent it eating lots of amazing food made by everyone,

hanging out with Rebecca's super fun friends, 

of course, getting to hang with this pregnant lady,

listening to the boys fight about football, again, 

stand up comedy from the guys,

complete with a champagne fountain!

The day before I left the insane snow storms started. I was luckily able to get out just before the worst of it hit. 

It was a great vacation with lots of fun people and great food!

thanksgiving

We decided it would be a good idea to do the whole Houston-Shreveport-Austin trip again. Remember the last time we tried? Yeah, that was the year Miles got everyone sick. I was worried the entire trip, just waiting to start puking. Spoiler alert, everyone was healthy and no one puked! 

To make this quick, here is a picture rundown of things that happened in Shreveport and Austin. When we got to Shreveport Diane had made red beans and rice for everyone. The stand off began for the cousins, all waiting to see who would be brave enough to take the first bite.

Miles was entertained, and not at all worried that "Carly was trying to eat him".

Dinner theater....

and a marching band performed.

Thanksgiving day Scott made his amazing duck, jalapeno and bacon appetizers.

We also pigged out on 5 pies. That meant each person would get to eat about half a pie. 

We fed turtles and tried not to fall in.

Back in Austin we rode the Zilker Zephyr, a first for me.

We went to Toy Joy, with Miles in the awesome shirt I bought for him.

That would be my dad, laying down on 6th street. 

A Very Hanksgiving at Alamo.

And that's it! Happy Thanksgiving y'all!