12.12.2012

He's ONE!!!


Our little sweetheart is ONE!  I can't believe how the time has flown!  It is absolutely crazy!  We have thoroughly enjoyed this past year as we've watched Jax change from a tiny little newborn to a spunky, happy, on-the-go kiddo.

Mark thinks I went a little overboard, but we celebrated not just once but three (four if you count just our little family) times!  I really enjoyed preparing things for his Airplane-themed celebrations and if you ask me, the more parties the better. ;)

The first celebration was in AZ with Mark's family.  We had some banana cupcakes and sang to the little cutie.  Since Jax loves bananas, I was surprised that he didn't dig in to the banana cake--maybe babies don't like cream cheese frosting as much as I do...?  Anyway, we definitely HADN'T eaten enough over Thanksgiving so we needed to have another reason to have treats. ha ha!







On Sugar's actual birthday, I wanted it to be a laid-back day at home with no parties so that I wasn't focused on the party instead of him.  This was a suggestion from my sister and I think it's a great one.  I really enjoyed the day with him.  He had bananas for breakfast--his favorite.  We went to Target to purchase a church outfit for the little man and then the mall after for a photo with Santa.  We had lunch at the mall with our friends and then headed home for the afternoon nap.  In the evening after dad got home from work, we just played and hung out.  It was pretty good weather so we let Jax play outside for a bit, something he thoroughly enjoys.  He opened up a couple of gifts from us outside then we sang to him and let him eat a yummy mini-lemon cake.  (He liked this one much better, I think).  It was a great day!!!

 The second formal celebration was at our house with Jax's little buddies and their families.  We had brunch-esque type items--parfait bar, muffins (my homemade poppy seed didn't quite go how I wanted..shame...but the store-bought blueberry were a hit), powdered donut-kabobs, Costco's lemon bites (YUM), and some baby snacks.  It was so much fun to have all of the babies playing and interacting.  We are so thankful for our friends!  Jax received lots of darling and fun gifts.  Thank you!

It was pretty funny trying to get all of these munchkins to stay put for a photo.  :)  If you're wondering, the "duh" look on their faces is due to all of the parents making weird faces and silly noises trying to get them to smile.  ha ha! :)
(P.S.  I'm sorta ticked...I can't find all of the pictures I took of the food, adults, or of Jax indulging in his #2 b-day cake!!!!....grr...for no real good reason, I'm blaming this on Mark....yeah...new year's resolution...be a nicer wife.  As soon as I find the pictures, I will add them to the post).

Party numero tres was in Hawaii at the Tripp's house (Post coming soon: Christmas in Paradise).  This party was celebrated with my side of the family.  We went with banana splits for this one.




  It was WONDERFUL to celebrate our little miracle and his one year of life with most of our family members and friends!!!    

12.02.2012

Counting Blessings...

We were thrilled to spend Thanksgiving this year in Arizona with Mark's family.  Scott and Kels were the gracious hosts.  Thank you!  We had a blast! 
 We played the Kinect for the first time and had a great time with it.  I think every night we laid in bed realizing our muscles were getting more sore as the time wore on.  :)  We played an array of games from river rafting to tennis.  We even threw a little kung-fu in there.  I thought that was the hardest one and best workout.  And....I ended up being the boxing Champ (out of me and Mark only).  I had to add that little tid bit in there. 

 Another highlight was going shooting.  Here I am instructing the gents how to shoot properly.  Just kidding, they are giving me some instruction.  :)  Since doing some T-Giving shooting, Mark now consistently talks about purchasing another gun.  Kidding hun, I know you wanted one before we even went to AZ. 

 Scott was pulling the "I'll show you how to shoot" so that he could flirt with his wife....oldest trick in the book.  ;)

 Messing around in the garage....



We also went to play pickleball, a Tew family favorite, as well as tennis, an anyone that's cool's favorite. :)  Thank you, Nana for tending so that we could play!

As for the feast itself, once again, it was fantastic!  S and K did a good job of delegating, I thought.  Everyone made something to contribute and it all tasted great.   


The day after Thanksgiving, we went out to eat at a cheap and yummy Mexican place that I have kept thinking about since we dined there.  It was ghetto but so good at the same time! Now I keep thinking that there must be some hole-in-the-wall, top secret, delicious and cheap Mexican food place like that here in San Antone.  I just need to search it out now. 

We opened some early Christmas gifts after our feast.  One of Jax's favorite was the big wooden truck made by papa.  It used to be Mark's, which is neat.  Thank you very much Papa and Nana for ALL of the wonderful gifts! 


I love Thanksgiving time!  It really is good to have a Holiday to focus on all of our many blessings.  We feel particularly blessed this year for our dear ones--family and friends, a living prophet, and our Savior Jesus Christ


Once again, THANK YOU to Scott and Kelsey!!!  Fabulous!!!
Until the next big party, Tews! 

11.12.2012

LiFe iS gOoD!

We went to Red Robin for a little family outing.  Life is good!

National Adoption Month


It's National Adoption Month! We are so grateful for our sweet baby boy, our courageous birth-mother, loving birth-grandparents, as well as supportive family and friends.   
Words truly can not express the depth of the gratitude and joy that we have felt through the miracle of adoption. 
Check out this link to read a letter from the President for National Adoption Month 2012

11.02.2012

Hot Diggity Dog!

 Happy Halloween!  
Little Jax was dressed up as a HOT DOG this year!  We participated in the ward trunk-or-treat and soup dinner a few days before Halloween.  Mark and I dressed as mustard and ketchup but I didn't get a picture of all 3 of us together!  ugh!   

 We are also carrying on the ORANGE DINNER tradition started by my mom.  Uncle John, Eli, and Maddie came over to celebrate with us.  Not everything was orange this year, but we did have a tasty Mexican-themed dinner.  John brought the caramel apple stuff, which was a hit. 

 Maddie refused to do "thumbs up" with the rest of us for this picture....teenagers these days. :)
 Caramel apple making