It will be impossible for me to include all that has happened or changed in the last 8 months in one sitting so I am going to use mostly pictures of Tripp and then the next post will be all about RHETT!!! Oh, who's Rhett, you ask? He's the precious new baby we will be welcoming in a few short weeks! It's OK, I have been horrible(and had so much guilt :/) about not taking more pictures or keeping everyone up to date on his growth but he is very loved and we are all EXCITED about his arrival!!
Half of our 2011 year:
- Summer - We had a blast spending lots of time together in June, July, and August. I don't remember being super busy which was nice! If we weren't out of town we were at home and Tripp was dirty or getting a bath because of something he got in to! All boy and we LOVE it!
5/31/2011 - Had ketchup for the first time and has it on EVERYTHING now! I didn't get many pics of him covered in dirt head to toe but just imagine the ketchup as dirt and that's what he looked like the rest of the time!
After the ketchup experience and playing outside that day!
6/4/2011 - We went on a little "field trip" to the Science Spectrum in Lubbock with Berk Tate and Jack....they had lots of fun exploring together and I think us Mama's were exhausted after trying to keep up!
6/12/2011 - Most of his summer was spent just hanging out and causing mischief at home...I promise he was never left unattended in the dryer and I didn't let him close the door...which didn't sit well with Mr. Independent!
7/4/2011 - We were able to visit Daddy Max and June at "the lake" for the 4th. First time for Tripp to swim in a lake and he loved every minute!
A May fly landed on his arm!
7/10/2011 - He also spent some time swimming at Meme and Papa's this summer - he LOVES water!
I love the expression on his face in this one....you can just tell his Papa has a special place in his heart!
7/15/2011 - We all went to the Abilene Zoo and it was a perfect little place! It was just the right size since it was sooo HOT out and Tripp's attention span is still short sometimes. We really enjoyed watching him check out all the animal exhibits!
For some reason the flamingos were not his favorite so he kept pressing his face against their fence and yelling at them - "QUIET birds...no, no!" - whatever, we all have our preferences I guess!
This guy was our first favorite and I would love to have one at home....so COOL!
Giraffes were our next favorite! They sold crackers you could feed them and Tripp was AMAZED that HE could feed such a neat animal.
God created some neat animals but these are just awesome!
8/21/2011 - A perfect ending to summer - we got to eat lunch with our friends Sterling and Heather and Tripp got to see his buddy Guy Maddox! They are both very sweet and going to be wonderful young men but can you also say - Double TROUBLE.
Fall - This time of year always brings chaos. I start back to teaching, which means football season starts as well, fall festivities and holidays, and more "inside" time for Tripp since the weather starts changing - this inside time is not always welcome but just one of those things! Some changes this fall also included Levi starting the Fire Academy in Lubbock and a new job at Diversity D in Brownfield! He will have classes each evening until late May/early June 2012. These two changes are definitely answers to countless prayers and have been huge blessings in many different ways - welcoming and exciting but sometimes answered prayers also come with unexpected lessons. It has been an adjustment for us at home and beyond. This adjustment has been enlightening to us in the context of our family/social life and shown us a new perspective on our involvement within our community. We love being involved and serving in ways we feel God leads us to but Levi being in class in the evenings meant he had to step back from his responsibilities to the volunteer fire department and school board - something that has laid hard on his heart and has shown us some truths about relationships we had trust in. We give praise to God for showing us a positive path for our future and will continue to accept His will in changes that may bring. I am very hopeful that, in the near future, Levi will be able and given the opportunity to resume some of his work in our community but I pray when that time comes it will be more out of service for God's purposes before any other.
8/26/2011 - It's FOOTBALL season!!!
Tripp and his friend TAC - TAC and his sweet family just welcomed a new baby on December 19th - Miss Ainsley Grayce - these 2 boys will have lots of fun being big brothers together!
TAC and Tripp enjoying some rough housing with Kanyon - I think Kanyon had just as much fun as they did :)
8/27/2011 - He has had this horse at his Meme and Papa's for months and FINALLY got on it and LIKED riding it...since horse riding wasn't enough that day he also went outside with Daddy(see below) and rode his tricycle - the Hendons gave a all of the boys around here one. Thanks again to Ronnie and Sharon!
And later....staying true to the theme of that day he rode his horse at home before bath time - he will kill me for this one someday hahaha :)
9/2/2011 - More Dragons football!
Throwing the ball with Jett
9/12/2011 - Tripp started a tumbling class in Lamesa - look close at his expression - not to excited the first few times which is why I couldn't get any good pics but now he begs to go every Monday and is doing very well
9/20/2011 - Look who's in big boy UNDIES! That's right - he informed me the day before this while changing his diaper "Mama! No more diapers!" soooo although I was reluctant since he wasn't even 2 yet we spent the next day talking about using the potty and testing it out a few times. He did great so I told him I would get him some underwear and he kept it up from there! We were extremely proud of him for deciding this and practically doing it all on his own...I'm scared training Rhett will be another story since we really lucked out this first time :/ Oh and the "shiner" he is sporting was from falling into the corner of a table after told MANY times not to run in Mrs. Lisa's house...stubborn.
10/14/2011 - Before Halloween festivities began Levi and I took Tripp to "The Maze" outside Shallowater - we didn't take him through the big corn maze because it would take a little too long for a 2 year old to endure. He did get to go on a "cow train ride", play in the dirt and hay, feed a calf, pick the ugliest pumpkin they had, and a few other fun things! We will going back next year...it was lots of fun!
10/17/2011 - Just wanted to include pictures of a bad dust storm that blew through one evening. It caused quite a bit of damage in Lubbock then looked like this as it came our way. It was a little eerie even for someone who has lived in West Texas her whole life!
Halloween 2011 - Oh what a time we had this year! Our little Thomas the Train Conductor was adorable and ate way too much candy. We went to our church's festival and played with some friends, went to a Halloween party and trick or treating hosted by the Scott and Robison families here in Welch. Thanks to Krista and Mandy for making it a festive, family friendly evening!
10/27/2011 - Church Festival
Things were so wild I didn't get many good pictures but this is Tripp's "best buddy" Jack as Peter Pan - sister Berk was Tinker Bell, Noah was a cute chicken, Graham was a pirate, and below Slayde as Fred Flinstone obviously having a very serious conversation with the train conductor...these kids are all way too cute!
Thanksgiving 2011 - he painted and helped glue together this hilarious turkey hat and actually wore it haha...then enjoyed lots of yummy food of course
- 2nd Birthday!!! - I absolutely CANNOT believe our sweet baby boy is already a 2 year old. That is all I have to say about that with tears in my eyes. We had a wonderful FIREFIGHTER PARTY!!!! Lots of thanks to all those who came and the Lamesa Fire Department for bringing the fire truck out for the kids to play on/in! We also went to TAC's 2nd birthday party that evening but I left my camera at home and didn't get any pictures :/
First a few 2 year pics Diana Meadows took for us...she did AWESOME!
12/10/2011 - The birthday boy helping make the traditional chocolate chip birthday pancakes
and they were so "nummmy"
12/10/2011 - It's party time!
Makes my heart smile.
The AMAZING cake done by the one and only Mrs. Lisa...she is a very special lady who loves Tripp Ray...we are thankful for her each day!
Being shy about everyone singing to him :)
His Papa is so proud.
What fun bubbles must be! Look at that face! haha
Noah Ben taking his turn to drive...such a sweetie.
Cousin Whitney coming to join the fun!
favors for all the kiddos
Aunt Kelcie keeping him entertained during clean-up!! Kelcie and Justin will be welcoming a sweet baby boy in April!!! We are so excited for another cousin!- Christmas 2011 - Our Christmas was absolutely wonderful and we are indescribably grateful for God's blessings - especially our families.
After visiting him we made a big deal about Santa sending a special "helper" to our house! Meet our elf "Thomas"(Tripp got to name him and of course picked his favorite train's name)....
He loved the story and we had fun moving "Thomas" around and making it seem like he was watching for "nice" behavior for Santa - which totally backfired - stay tuned for details about that...
12/21/2011 - The Meadows hosted a gingerbread house decorating party and the kids had a blast! Tripp was WAY more interested in eating the candy for decorating so I ended up doing it but we had fun and made good memories together! Thanks again, Diana!
Can you tell he was close to falling into a sugar coma???
12/24/2011 - Daddy and Tripp leaving cookies and milk for Santa!
Tripp's reaction to the hype of Santa coming the next morning - again stay tuned for details about how that has changed....
Most important order of business - tradition of reading "The Christmas Story" - Tripp pointed to each picture and asked about Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, etc. - it really made Levi and I feel humbled that he was just as interested and excited about the TRUE purpose of Christmas than anything else. We are really looking forward to starting a "Jesse Tree" with him and Rhett next year which will teach them a bible verse a day that relates to Christmas.
12/25/2011 - Christmas Morning - after opening his gifts we had breakfast and oh yes, i DID make green eggs and red velvet pancakes, haha(a Pinterest recipe) - they were soooo good!
After doing Santa at home we were off to Grandma and Grandaddy's - Grandma let him eat sherbert BEFORE lunch :) - he was loving it and I loved watching them have a special moment together.
I tried to make him wait until everyone got there but Grandaddy couldn't stand it any more and let him open his big gift from them - a big, red WAGON! He loved it and I'm sure will load lots of stuff including his brother in it soon!!
When we finished Christmas at Grandma and Grandaddy's it was on to Meme and Papa's - I guess I was tired by then because I didn't get it good pics of us with them but this is the face he made each time he opened a gift - so SERIOUS!
Gets every toy and other thing you could ever want annnnd what do kids always end up playing in/with....boxes.Now remember I said stay tuned for details about Tripp's Santa/Elf/Christmas thoughts...well...the last five nights have been interesting. Our child is obviously an over-analyzer and thinks way deeper about things than we give him credit for because he has woken up every night since Christmas screaming and calling for us which is very unusual - he is a great sleeper and would normally just run in our room and get in bed with us if he was scared so what could it be? After night three and questioning him about what was wrong he tells me(while sobbing...poor baby) "Santa coming in my window and took Thomas". Are you kidding??? In all my years of life I have never thought about it - it IS a little scary that a hairy, fat stranger "magically" gets in your house, eats your food, leaves things you may or may not have "told" him you wanted, and then takes your "elf - Thomas" with him!!! We had a little talk about Santa ONLY coming again next Christmas and that the North Pole was Thomas' home so he was safe...we will see how tonight goes after that explanation. Ridiculous how much a 2 year old actually listens and pays attention...sometimes.
That about sums it up...there have been trials, struggles, celebrations, lots of fun, wonderful memories, and many changes in 2011 and we know each of these are things God has provided us as blessings and lessons. His love, grace, and mercy will guide us in the coming year as well and we are excited for the abundant blessings the 2012 year will bring!! We pray our hearts and lives are open to His will and all our family and friends will be a part of many happy memories to be made!
Love you all - Nicole
Thank you for the update!! Loved the pictures!
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