Snow Day!!!

We actually got to have a real snow day on Friday. It was so beautiful. I woke up at about 2 a.m. and peeked outside to see it. There was a blanket of snow on the ground! They said that it was the 7th largest snow we have ever had. Neil and I both had off because they cancelled work so we got to play in the snow! Bennett would not keep on his mittens so we only lasted about 15 minutes.

Here is Bennett holding the "sneaux" mans hand.

Since we did not have 1 drop of snow in our own yard, we had to use neighbor's snow.

This is why we didn't have any snow in our yard. It all landed in our tree.

It was like a winter wonderland.

Our neighbor happened to be driving by so we got him to take a family pic with our snowman.

Here they are building the snowman.

Here is our street!

Sweet snow baby.

Bennett was wearing his footie pj's with pants and socks underneath!

Here's our sneaux-man!

Welcome Home Uncle Checkers!

Andrew came home today from his New Zealand/Australia/Singapore trip. You can read about his travels here. Since we had some bad weather, we had the honor of picking him up from the airport. I made a sign today and had a lot of plans for Neil and I to hold it and then let Bennett run up to Andrew...it didn't really work out that way. We didn't even know that Andrew was in town until Rebecca sent me a text.

Welcome Home Andrew!

Andrew brought souvenirs for all of us. He brought this stuffed manatee type animal for Bennett from the Sydney Aquarium. Bennett loved it.

Here are all of our gifts. He brought Neil a tapestry and some chopsticks for me from Tokyo.

After Bennett and I went to Supper Club at the Blacks, we went and met the rest of the family at Wine Country. They were so excited to see Bennett.

He had the bet time "flying" with Aunt Becky and Uncle Checkers.

Yay! Welcome Home Andrew! Glad you are back!

14 cute months!

Bennett, you are 14 months old today! I say it every month, but I cannot believe it! You are growing and changing every day. We love when you learn something new. We get so excited!

• You have your same 6 front teeth with 2 top molars coming through. They aren't totally in yet.
• You STILL wake up at night. Mommy and Daddy are not loving the interrupted sleep, but we know it will get better...one day. We are taking away your pacifier on Spring Break. I said this at Christmas, but it didn't happen. We will see...
• You now know where your nose is located. We are so proud when you point to it. Some may think that you should know more, but we are content.
• You are not loving your new class at daycare yet. We know you will start loving it soon.
• You DO go right to sleep on your mat at daycare. They don't even have to rub your back.
• You will still eat almost anything. I mean anything! You LOVE to eat.
• You are a generally happy baby. You are able to entertain yourself with toys or tupperware. You are able to keep yourself happy if Mommy or Daddy need to shower, do dishes, or laundry. This is SO helpful.
• You are in a size 4 diaper.
• You wear size 12 month clothes...some are too short though. I just move down the buttons. 18 month size clothes are way too big for you. They need to make a size 15 months!
• The only baby signing you will do is "more." It is modified in to pointing you finger to the palm of you hand. We all know what it means so it works for us.
• The words you say are "uh (long pause) oh," bye bye (with waving), and a few other things here and there if we say the word first. Sometimes you repeat them.
• Anytime you are in your car seat you take off your shoes and socks and chew on your socks!
• We just think you are doing fine and dandy. You love to play and will sit for about 4-6 pages of a book.

For the most part, seeing you is the best part of our day. We love getting to spend time together watching you grow! Happy 14 months, Bennett!

Black and Gold Super Bowl!

The Montgomerys were so nice to invite us over for a fun Super Bowl party. Casey made tons of good food! We had a relaxing time just letting the kids play. I don't think I even really saw very much of the game.

We got there and of course Bennett had to eat. Mason let Bennett borrow his booster chair.

This was Bennett's first time to take a bath with friends. He really didn't notice them! Georgia was really helpful...she was rinsing Bennett!

Bennett has his first Valentine's Party on Thursday at day care. I am so excited about it! I signed up for us to bring the treat bags. I didn't want to bring bags of candy so it was hard to come up with something for 1 year olds. I decided to go with a book and bath toys. I think that is something that they will actually use. Lindsay, Casey, Erinn, and Leslie helped me make the bags during the party.

Trey, Cole, Neil, and Matthew enjoying the game.

Here I am trying to get us to take a family photo. Neil was really in to the game and Bennett was really NOT in to the picture.

Casey sent these cute pictures of Mason, Georgia, and Bennett. They really had a fun time playing together.

Georgia loves Ring around the Rosy. She is very good at it too. Bennett really enjoyed it! Especially the "all fall down" part.

We "all fall down!"

Thanks Casey, Matthew, and Mason! We had a great time!

I almost forgot...The SAINTS won the Super Bowl! They beat the Colts 31-17. I had no idea until after I got home and the game was already over. The state of Louisiana was so excited. You could not even get through on the phone because everyone was using them. They said that it was the #1 watched TV show in history. Who Dat???!!! Neil was THRILLED to say the least. He said that people at work were congratulating him like he actually played in the game! haha!

Krewe of Centaur Parade

We had a totally freezing fun time at the parade on Saturday. The Dicharry family invited us along with the Buteaus and Montgomerys to partake in the fun. They have had a couple of spots out their for years so we had a great place to watch the parade. The parade did not decide to make its way to us until after 7 p.m. and it was COLD! I sort of felt like I was practicing some poor parenting skills having my 1 year old out in the sub zero temperatures. There were tons of kids and babies out there so I think it was OK.

I had Bennett bundled up in a long all with pants underneath. He was wearing a pea-coat, hat and mittens too. He would not keep the mittens on AT ALL.

Here is our family. This would have been really cute if Bennett would have looked at the camera. I have been really trying to get a good family photo of us so that I can get my free photo canvas. Maybe next week.

Here are Maddie and Bennett.

Here are the boys. They were all looking at a different camera.

My Lewis Boys.

Here we all are in "jail." This was the ONLY place that we could keep the kiddos contained. They were not content to sit and sleep like they used to be. They wanted to get down and run. They loved all of the action.

Neil and Bennett went for a walk down the street and came back with this "He Dyed for You" tie-dyed shirt. Bennett looked like a football player the rest of the night.

Side note about his outfit: I bought it from the Black Friday sale on Remember Nguyen where they had all sale items an additional 50% off. So I got a great deal on it. Well...I bought it size 18 months and he really needed a 12 month. I had to move buttons and roll the pants legs under. Goodness! Maybe he will be able to wear it next year!

We will not be braving the cold next Saturday for the Krewe of Gemini. We have the Highland parade next Sunday afternoon. It is the perfect family parade!

Movin' On Up.

Bennett is such a big boy now! He moved up to a big boy room at day care today. I was excited/sad for him to move up. Sad because it is getting so big and excited because his old room was pretty "babyish" for him and I want him to learn and experience new things. I was able to arrange for someone to watch my first hour class so that I could go with Neil to take Bennett. When we arrived, we unloaded the car with TONS of supplies. Neil carried most of it in.

We got inside and checked in and the computer was already changed to the Toddler 1 room!

I was excited to get to take him to his new room, but I guess so was his old teacher. She just picked him up and took him to his new room as we followed. Neil told me that I "better hurry" if I wanted to take him. Oh well. I am just glad that they all love him so much. We got to his new room and met his new teacher, Ms. Lynn.

Of course, I had to get a family photo before we left him.

When we left, he tried to make a run for it!

In Bennett's new room, he has to sleep on a mat on the floor. No more cribs in Toddler 1. I was really worried about if he would be able to do it. We tried it out the other day at home.

Here he is inspecting the new nap mat. Thanks so much Pops! He loves it!

All in all I think it was an OK day. They said that he took a long nap, but cried a little off and on all day. Poor little thing. I wanted to watch him today on the camera to see if was OK but the cameras weren't switched over yet. Maybe tomorrow!

Saturday Fun!

Neil went to a Dallas Mavericks game with Matthew and Trey today. The Mavericks are in the NBA in case you didn't know...I didn't! They left around noon for a night of fun! I got right in the kitchen and started cooking. I think I cooked for 5 solid hours sitting down only 1 time. I made the Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls and the best Lasagna recipe from Cotton Country Cookbook. Talk about an all day cooking marathon! I loved it though.

While I was cooking away, Max and Ann came over for a fun play date. I was sort of being a bad hostess because I was rolling out my cinnamon roll dough while they were here. I was glad that we were able to get the boys together.

I set up my table scape on Friday night and added the flowers today. I just love a good table scape! I think I get this quality from Sandra Lee. I used some left over fabric from the pillows on my bed and whipped it up. I actually got to use my ice beverage glasses for the 2nd time!

Mason and Georgia arrived with their moms and grandmothers. Gammy, Carol, and Leslie came over too. We had a great meal of Lasagna, salad, olive bread, and homemade king cake. Leslie always makes a wonderful Greek salad. Casey made the olive cheese bread from the Pioneer Woman's cookbook. And Erinn made the apple/cream cheese/pecan king cake.

The kids played and made us laugh before we ate. Mason drove Georgia and Bennett around on the 4 wheeler. We were glad that someone knew how to steer! Mason is such a big boy!

After dinner... Here are Carol, Mom, Donna, Leslie, and the back of Sally.

I was so glad that we were all able to get together. This is making me think I need to have my Mother/Daughter brunch again for Mother's Day!...with matching outfits!

I made these for each person to take home for their "party favor!" I used almond extract instead of maple extract for the frosting though.