Day 3

On Day three we got up bright and early and went to the Grapevine Mills Mall for some shopping, ice skating, lunch, and Lego Land!  We started off at ice skating. I left Richard and Allison to ice skate and took the boys with me to shop.  Allison loves ice skating and we try to take her anywhere that has a rink.  Cooper was supper bummed about not ice skating so when we walked past this inflatable ball water activity it seemed like something fun to do.  Cooper accrued an audience trying to walk and balance.  Beckett thought the whole thing was hilarious and was laughing so hard.  After we stopped and got a treat at great American cookie.  My mom and I got some shopping in.  We were on the hunt to find my sister a birthday present and clothes for the kids.  I loved the mall and wish I had more time to shop for myself. 

Lego Land was just as awesome as the last time we went.  Beckett had a blast this time especially since he can walk now.  Cooper played for over an hour in the fire Lego obstacle course and playground.  Beckett had fun at the baby playground and Lego pit.  Allison and I rode rides, looked at the new star wars exhibit, and then she built a race car.  The exhibits are amazing, its wild how everything there is made out of Lego's!  Beckett got sleepy and I left to walk him around and do more shopping he slept for an hour while Richard and the kids watched some 4D movies in Lego Land.  Hours seriously fly by in Lego Land!  We stayed there tell 6pm!

Thanksgiving trip Day 1 and 2

We had plans to drive to Fort Worth for a few days and to spend thanksgiving with my mom.  We ended up leaving early because a winter storm was going to hit the area and we wanted to get out before we got stuck in the storm.  Apparently Midland was hit pretty bad with a small amount of snow but mainly ice and power shortages.  Fort Worth was freezing but nothing iced over and it didn't snow.  Since we left early we had an extra day and a half at my moms.  The first day we came in we went to dinner, unloaded, and went shopping for the thanksgiving meal.  It was fun going grocery shopping with just my mom, by the time we got back it was close to 11pm and we stayed up late chatting tell midnight!

Day two was pretty laid back.  We slept in and enjoyed a huge breakfast cooked by my mom.  We went to church and had a short meeting because all the classes were canceled because of the weather.  We enjoyed a quiet day filled with naps, laying around by the fire, playing with the dogs, and watching Wizard of Oz. 

Guilty plesure and other things..

 I have two guilty pleasure shows on my DVR list.  I don't often have time to watch TV but I allow myself a lunch break everyday for 30 minutes and most times its snuggle time with Beckett.  My two shows are Glee and Dancing With The Stars!  I am not sure if its the music that both these shows have in common but Beckett sits totally still and in my lap.  I also wanted to share that I made this amazing chocolate cheesecake recipe from Pinterest a few days ago, seriously amazing! Check out my dessert board on my Pinterest and make that bad boy!  I ate three slices in one day it was so good!!!

Some days are so hectic and my little B boy adds to the chaos most days.  Some times Beckett drives me crazy, growing pains ugh!  He is so destructive and mischievous right know.  All my sweet boy has to do is look up at me and he melts my heart.  I am really enjoying are days together and its a very crucial time for Beckett.  We are learning boundaries right now.  Beckett has become so curious and has really gotten himself into trouble getting into things.  Last week he got into my quad eye shadow and my blush and destroyed it with the motorized tooth brush.  A couple weeks ago Beckett got a bug bite and had a terrible allergic reaction to it.  I had to take him into his pediatrician because it was swelling up so much it looked like a goose egg bruise!  Any insect bite he seems to have reactions to, like last month when he sat in a ant pile it took three weeks to clear up.  My little guy has brought such a change to our family.  Even though so days I feel so stressed I try to remember that's these days are so fleeting and my baby will grow up faster than I can imagine.

 

 

 

Baby shower..

On Saturday my nephews girlfriend had her baby shower.  I had been putting her gift together for a while.  I have definitely used my sewing skills for this task.  I made my usual gift of washcloths/burp cloths, but this time I made a blanket all on my own with out my sister Courtney here to help.  Although I will be honest and called to clarify a few steps lol!  Allison and I headed to the shower and left the boys with my father in law.  I was so bummed that I left my camera, thank goodness I had Cooper snap the picture of Allison and I before we left!  I also bought a bath tub full of goodies and a rock in play for my new great niece.  So excited to have a girl come into the family, Allison was the last baby girl on the Sanchez side.  I really enjoyed myself at the shower.  When Richard's on his 10 days on I feel like I need a break from the kids and adult conversation!  I loved seeing all the cute girly clothes, bows, and shoes Miss Harper received.  That sweet baby girl will have an entire outfit head to toe for every occasion!  I also really enjoyed siting with Richard's family and chatting with everyone.  Two more months and Miss Harper will be here!!!

Thankful

The last couple years I  participated in 30 days of thanks on Facebook or my blog.  I didn't get going soon enough this year so I thought I would share a post on what I am thankful for.


I am thankful for my mom and that she can tell me like it is.  Last week I had a min "mommy" break down.  I knew I needed a conversation with my own mom.  I needed a wake up call and a plan and she gave me both.  I am so grateful I have her advice and outlook on things.  I will forever be grateful to have her be such an influence in my family. 

I am thankful for my husband.  No matter what kind of crazy I am dishing he is always trying to make me happy.  He loves me and puts up with me!  He is a wonderful dad and gets down and dirty in the parenting department.  Richard has always helped fill in the gaps where I fall short.  I am so in love with that man.

I am thankful for my in laws, I literally hit the jackpot with loving supportive extended family.  I am so lucky to have there constant presence and support in my children's lives.

I am thankful that my younger sister taught me how to sew.  My sister Courtney is super talented in the sewing department, well in a lot of other areas to!  Courtney's patience is exactly what I needed to help me learn.  I have used this new talent a lot lately and I know it wouldn't be possible if I didn't have an amazing teacher.

I am thankful to be a mom.  On a cold day in May Allison made me mother and my life truly began.  I know that my purpose in life is to be a mother.  I give absolutely everything I have to my children.  I definitely struggle some times with finding the balance between my three.  But I wouldn't want to be any where else but in the thick of parenting.

I am thankful for my faith in God. Having a strong foundation and raising our children with the same values is very important to me.  I try to thank my Heavenly Father everyday for my blessing. 

I am thankful for friendships.  Friends come and go and weave into your life at different times.  I always strive to be a good friend and serve when I can. 

I am thankful to have sisters.  Built in best friends is what I like to call it.  There is always someone to talk to and something entertaining always going on.  I am not sure where my life would be today if I didn't grow up with houseful of girls.  Each one of my sisters bring there own characteristics to our family and I love each one of them differently.

I am thankful for my home.  Home is where your hear is.  Home is where I am raising my little family with my sweetheart.  Many memories to be had in this little house.

Lastly I am thankful for my life and the opportunity I have to live on the earth and to have experiences.  I try to never forget to count my blessings and to live in the now.  I am thankful for my life and the opportunity to be a wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, cousin, and friend. 

 

The other night right before bed, Cooper climbed in my lap in the rocking chair while I was taking off my makeup.  Beckett immediately wanted up and Allison soon followed.  I was so content holding my three babies, each one of them has brought me so much joy.

 

Soccer parties times 2!

Cooper had his soccer party last weekend.  We meet his team and parents at the park and the kiddos munched on pizza, chips, and cupcakes!  The boys mainly ran around the playground, climbed trees, and tossed a football around.  I really love Cooper's team, the parents are very friendly and supportive.  I enjoyed just chatting with the coach and parents.  Richard and I took turns running after Beckett, we left the stroller and wagon behind to bring the cooler.  Beckett thinks he is such a big boy and was trying so hard to climbed up the playground, but this particular park is geared to bigger kids.  The equipment is large and for Beckett just to climb the steps is a huge task!  Although he did get to enjoy the slide over and over since Richard would climb up and take him.  Allison even had fun at the park her good friend from church was there and she played with her most of the time.  I feel very blessed Cooper was put on this team he has made such good friends and the coach is so nice and understands how to deal with boys!

Allison had her soccer party on Saturday.  One of the parents offered to host the party, they live out in Greenwood on a few acre property.  Allison was so excited to go and see all her teammates.  J's parents went all out with food, desserts, and games for the girls.  When it was time to go none of the girls wanted to leave.  Cooper even had a good time, playing and running around there huge back yard.  Beckett was totally exploring things around him, its an exhausting but cute phase.  Its been an interesting season joining a new team for Allison and for Richard to coach a new set of girls.  I am thankful for this off season to recoup.

Girl time

Some times I cant believe how big Allison is, on the 4th of November was Allison's half birthday 8 1/2!  As Cooper and Beckett grow some times I'm reminded of stages that Allison went through.  Mostly I am remind of how quickly children grow and how fast time passes.

Mother daughter date times 2! This past weekend Allison and I went on the hunt for a dress to wear to my nephews girlfriends baby shower coming up.  Just us girls and shopping trip to the mall!  We stopped by Great American Cookie and got a treat and a coke.  I had so much fun looking and shopping with Allison.  I indulged her and let her look at a few of her favorite stores like Claire's and Justice.  We talked and talked about school and Christmas and we did find a dress!  On Monday Allison came home from school begging for boots.  I already had buying her boots on my mind and had been looking with no success.  So after dinner, homework, and practicing the piano we went out to shoe carnival and she picked out boots!  I love seeing her sense of style even though I would have picked something different for her.  She has worn her boots to school everyday since!  After buying her boots we went for ice cream at Baskin Robins. 

Right know the relationship I have with her is so much deeper than with my boys!  Don't get confused I am still super close to Cooper and he tells me everything, even how he has a crush on a girl at school and didn't want to cut his hair to short because he was afraid Madi wouldn't like it!  Allison is so internal about her feelings and can be such a drama queen sometimes.  I love that she shares things with me and I will always strive to have a close relationship with her.  I really enjoyed our girl time together and plan to make it a more regular thing!

Our home

Since we had Richard's birthday I figured its time to load pictures of the house on the blog.

 

First off sorry the picture quality is so awful I took all of these pictures on my phone.  Secondly we are not done!  We still have so much more updating to do: bathroom's to reno, light fixtures, ceiling fans, add mud room area etc.  For now though we are taking a much need break from the move, renovations we already completed, and soccer season!  It is wonderful to be back in Midland because this town is our home.  We love our new house and the kids love the space.  They live in the playroom and especially love the back yard!  When I see all three of my kids crammed in the sandboxes I especially feel complete.

This is really the only picture I have pre-renovations.  My mom took an entire video.  I was worried when we showed her what we were buying she would think it was a mistake that we were taking on to much but she shared my vision!  In the picture you can barely see the ginormous book case towards the left, we tour that off the wall!  In the background you can see the paneling and that my friend was all over the house, we ripped it all off!  You can also see the carpet which is now wood.  Also the mantel before I painted it. Anyway that's a little peek inside the Sanchez household!!

Math and Science Night

 

 

Things have been crazy busy in the Sanchez house.  I have a lot of post saved that I need to finish and add pictures too.  Hopefully I will find the time to share them this week!  Okay so back tracking last week the kids had a math and science night at there school.  I love all the fun things there school puts on!!  The kids were more interested in the science part then the math part.  First both kids had to guess how much money it cost to purchase a whole basket of groceries and whoever guessed it correctly would get to keep all the food!  Allison was 4 dollars off her guess!  Another fun guessing game was to guess how heavy a small basket of cleaning supplies weighed.  Allison was also pretty close to the answer because the cleaning supplies was almost the same weight as Beckett, she was off by 2 pounds!  Cooper made crazy guess!  Most of our night was spent in the gym at the science part!  Cooper kept playing with the magnets and Allison loved the dry ice exhibit.  Beckett pretty much just ran around while Richard tried to keep up!

Richard's birthday weekend!!

I have been planning Richard's big birthday party for awhile.  I decided to throw a party at our house since no one has seen our new home.  I didn't want to invite a lot of people because I was inviting Richard's family and that's 11 people.  So we invited 3 of our friends and there spouses.  Richard's actual birthday was Saturday but our friends and niece and nephew were going to be out of town at the Texas Tech game.  So I moved the party a day up and planned other things to do with Richard on his birthday.  I decided to have the party catered since I didn't want Richard or I cooking.  My friends husband's best friends owns this brick oven wood baked pizza company and I hired them for the party.  Leading up to the party things were very hectic the caterer was running late and forgot drinks, I was picking up cake/drinks/ice/balloons, keeping the house clean, getting the kids from school, and receiving phone calls from friends who couldn't make it( sick child/death in there family).  With all the crazy things leading up to the party I think everything feel into place!  Everyone seemed to enjoy them selves comfortably in our home, ate pizza, and took pictures in the photo booth.  I think Richard enjoyed his celebration surrounded by friends and family!

On Saturday Richard's actual birthday he had to work, bummer!  But when he got home we went out to the new Cinergy movie complex.  My in laws watched the kiddos for us.  We ate dinner and watched the movie Enders Game and then we did two rounds of Laser tag!  I even made Richard a snickers cake!  In all it was a fun filled weekend celebrating my sweetheart!