The Horton House: November 2014

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Thankful Hearts

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.

(Photo by: lb studios, this is one of my favorites)

I love these people fiercely.

I have so much to be thankful for this year.

Health.

Jobs.

Family.

Friends.

Food.

Shelter.

Transportation.

Freedom.

And The Lord, without him we'd have nothing.

There is so much hurt and heartache in the world. It's hard to understand why some people go through the things they go through. We just have to have Faith that His plan is the best plan. I hope everyone can find something to be thankful for this year. We are all blessed, we just have to take the time to realize it.

The Horton House wishes you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 24, 2014

2014 Homecoming at the Capstone

Saturday was Homecoming in Tuscaloosa. It was really late this year. I really wanted to go and take Barrett. Patrick was supposed to go with us but he ended up having to work. We left Gardendale around 9:00am and traffic was at a stand still in Fultondale. Luckily my mom noticed it before we got on the the on ramp. After our little detour we made it just in time to walk to the end of my cousin's street to watch the parade.

Barrett was a little scared at first but he eventually warmed up and started waving at all the pretty sorority pledges.

He did not like when the big trucks blew their horns. I loved getting to do this with him.

He did great all day. It was very surreal to see Barrett and Matthew playing. Matthew came to his first Alabama game when I was in school. He was just a little older than Barrett. Now he's as tall as I am. The kids were so sweet to let Barrett play with them.

Before long it was time to head to the stadium. We had to get our picture in front of the sign.

Barrett didn't get take a nap and he started to get fussy during the game. Luckily the sweet lady behind us shared her popcorn with him and he was happy.

Ava sat with us too. It wasn't that long ago that I took her to her first Bama game.

He was very interested in the dancers. He liked the football too. He cheered and clapped.

I just loved getting to take him to the game. I took him to homecoming last year and I'm hoping we can make it a tradition. I was so proud I didn't cry at all. I did get a little teary eyed while we were watching the parade and again when we first got to the stadium. I just love being a mom and I love getting to share things that I love with my son. He may or may not like football or Alabama and that's okay but until he decides I'm going to enjoy days like this. I hope I never take for granted how blessed we are to get to do these things with our baby.

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Week-in-Review

We've had a fun week.

Last Tuesday my friend Brittany invited me to attend a dinner and live auction to support Just Keep Smiling. It was so much fun. We didn't win anything but I loved the auction. It was very exciting. They also played "Minute to Win It" type games and our table was called to send up a person. I volunteered to go and I had to stack ding-dong snack cakes on my forehead. I didn't win but it was still fun. I thought this was a pretty picture of Brittany and me before we went in.

We finally got Barrett a new carseat for Patrick's truck. He was very excited about his box. Patrick cut a door and a window in it. They played in it all night.

Saturday I headed to Tuscaloosa. For an unexpectedly big game. It was a cold one and we won! So that always makes for a fun day!

This is a terrible picture of me but Jennifer and I had so much fun together. I didn't take any pictures because I dropped my phone and shattered the screen. Luckily it still works but Patrick's got to replace the screen. After the game we went to the Houndstooth. It was fun. Every time I go there I feel older and older.

Sunday, Barrett and I braved the yucky weather to go to church. After church we went to John and Hope's house so Patrick could help John run all the wires for the TV through the wall. Barrett was trying to do whatever the boys did. It was cute. We enjoyed getting to visit with them. Now it's about 30 degrees and we're just trying to stay warm. I'm not usually a Christmas music before Thanksgiving kind of person but this weather has me in the spirit. Maybe I'll put the trees up this week... Maybe not.

Monday, November 10, 2014

Weekend(s) Review

It's been over a week since I posted. We've been staying busy. I keep saying I don't want to be busy but I keep finding fun things to do. Oh well...

Jackson and his mom and dad came and watched the Auburn/ Ole Miss game (Last week). These boys are so cute together. They wanted a front row seat for all the action

Last Sunday we went to Mass on the cemetary where my mom's parents are buried. I love getting to be with all that side of the family. Barrett wanted to play football with the big boys in the back yard.

There were so many times in my childhood that I wanted to play football with the boys in this backyard and they wouldn't let me. (Sometimes they let me play, well they let me stand around and pretend to play.)

He needs another haircut.

All my parent's grandkids.

Some family pictures.

I love these boys to much!

On Tuesday we had family pictures made. I loved choosing our outfits. Thankfully my friend Brittany let me borrow something cute to wear! I can't wait to get all the pictures back. She's posted a couple sneak peeks on facebook and I'm in love. (Local people, Lacey Barnwell at LB studios is amazing. She did our family pictures when Barrett was 6 months old and I'm kicking myself for not booking a newborn session with her when he was a baby.)

The rest of the week was spent working. I'm so thankful for the growth of Signs of Sophie this year. This is typically a slow time but not this year and there are no signs of it slowing down. I love it! Barrett had speech last week. He's doing so great. I need to do an update on all of his progress.

He's also started climbing. I routinely find him on top of the table. I'm pretty sure he would climb on the cabinets if he could get the chair up to them.

Saturday we watched a lot of football. Barrett cheered his little heart out although i'm not sure who he really wanted to win. Unfortunately for Patrick Auburn lost. Barrett and I left to go watch Alabama/LSU play at our friend Matt's house. Barrett was so good. He stayed up way past his bedtime and was still so pleasant. He played with his cars and teased the dog.

Here he is climbing on the cooler to keep Matt company. It was a nailbiter of a game and I thought Matt was going to have a heart attack. Somehow we pulled out a victory in overtime. It was a really good game...and I'm really glad we won!

Sunday we celebrated Cruz's second birthday with Mickey Mouse himself. Barrett was so upset when Mickey showed up. He was so scared and cried and cried. It surprised me because he did fine when we met the mouse this summer. He was not a fan this time. Makes me really excited for our visit with Santa this year. I'm pretty sure it will be a disaster. We're geared up for another busy week at work and another big game this week! Only four more days until the weekend!

Saturday, November 1, 2014

November Goals

I can't believe October is over. It seems like I was just writing these goals.

I did pretty good with my October goals. I kind of feel like I cheated because I made my goals things I already had planned but they were the main things I wanted to get accomplished this month. 1) Pumpkin Patch. We finally squeezed that in on the 30th. 2) Take a Girls Trip. This had been on the calendar since May and I was so excited to finally go! We had a blast. 3) Start Christmas Shopping. I didn't get as much done as I was hoping but I did put a little dent in it. I also got some things marked off my to do list for Barrett's birthday playdate. 4) Host 2nd Annual Trick or Treating. We had a blast last night! 5) Exercise! I just don't think this is going to happen. I just haven't made time for it and I don't see it happening any time soon.

Finish Christmas Shopping. I don't think this we happen but I really hope to knock a big chunk of it out this month. I don't want to spend all of December shopping. Plan Barrett's Birthday Playdate. I've almost got all of it planned. I need to find invitations and get them ordered and in the mail this month. I also need to start getting the supplies. Have Family Pictures Made. I'm so excited about this. We're scheduled to do this Tuesday afternoon and I can't wait. I hope everything goes well! Order Christmas Cards. I've been browsing cards a bit and I can't pick a favorite just yet. I've got a few marked and then I'll decide when we choose a photo. Decorate For Christmas. I usually do this either the weekend before Thanksgiving or the week after. I'm anxious to see what Barrett is going to think of everything this year. Make Advent Calendar Cards for this year. I loved our activity advent calendar last year. I'm looking forward to it this year too. I need to sit down and plan when we want to do things. I'm hoping we can do a few fun things this year like the Zoolight Safari but we'll see. Barrett loves lights so I can't wait to see him with Christmas lights!

Horton House Halloween 2014

Halloween is moving up in my list of favorite holidays. Barrett put on his ghost shirt and we headed to the office.

After work I had to run to the store to get some last minute things for our get together.

I had to dig past the CHRISTMAS candy and Christmas tree cakes to find some Halloween candy.

Then I stopped by my favorite local place and got some mums. I was so proud of myself because I talked the guy down on a big pot because it was damaged on the back. Then I walked off and left it.

This year we added the hayride so we could all ride and hit more houses together. We were kind nervous how it would work. It was perfect. We may have to upgrade to a bigger trailer next year.

This picture just makes my heart nearly explode.

This is exactly how I visioned these years. Making fun memories with friends.

It was so cold. I, for one, loved it because we got to bundle up. We piled all the blankets on the hayride and headed out. Patrick was so excited!

This was right before we headed out.

The best we could get of Prince Charming and Cinderella.

Sweet pirate Jackson snuck in!

Cinderella decided she'd rather have the ninja turtle.

She was so excited with the "glass slipper". It was a near perfect fit!

We died when Jackson and Barrett got my phone and looked like they're trying to take selfies.

Joseph is a children's minister and he some how convinced all the kiddos to pick up the toys and then lay down and watch a movie. (Barrett bailed pretty quickly) These four laid there for a lot longer than we thought they would.
We had such a fun night. I'm just really loving this stage of life. I know i've said it a million times but my goal in life has always been to have a family and enjoy life together. Now that I'm getting to do it, it's even better than I'd imagined. I think it'll get more fun as the kids get older and we add more to the group. Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Party & The Pumpkin Patch

We've been busy this week.

Wednesday, Barrett had a "Pumpkin Party" at school. I was so excited to get to go and see him with all his friends. I barely got his costume finished in time.

My sweet Prince Charming. I had the hardest time decided what he was going to be for Halloween this year. One afternoon we were playing with the Keeley boys and Barrett wanted something Amy had. He went up to her and gave her the most precious face trying to get her to give in and she was like, "he should be Prince Charming for Halloween, that is a very charming face he's giving me." Then I was telling Lorie and she told me that Elise was going to be Cinderella. That sealed the deal.

I started looking for a costume and the only one I could find that I liked was around $100. I wasn't about to pay that for a costume he was going to wear twice. So I headed to pinterest and found a picture of one I liked. They had sewn the entire thing. I started with a white sweatshirt and hot glued all the stuff on it. I spent about $35 and 2 afternoons. I love how it turned out. I've had to re-glue a few things but overall it's held up better than I thought it would.

The minute I walked into his classroom he started crying. His teachers looked shocked. The said he never, ever cries. I just laughed. He whines all the time for me. Turns out he was hungry. Once we got him some food he was fine.

I loved watching him play.

My sweet boy and me. This was my first party as a mom. It was kind of surreal to be there, with my son. I can remember my mom always coming to our school parties. I'm so thankful I get to do all these things. It is such a blessing to me that I get to work and enjoy all these fun things with my boy!

With our sweet friends Anna & Drake. Barrett and Drake play so well together and Anna is that mom I can talk to when I'm afraid other moms will think I'm crazy. Our brains just work the same way, I think. She's the person that I know won't judge me when I have a weird question or comment about something. She loves pop culture/ celebrity gossip as much as I do (maybe even more). I feel like she just gets me as a mom and even just as a person. It's funny how there are people that have been in your life all along but then all of a sudden you get why. I feel like 15+ years ago when Anna and my sister became friends God knew that our babies would be close in age and that we'd be friends. {Woah, didn't mean for that to get all sentimental. It just happens sometimes. I think I always get this way around the holidays.}

Steven was so afraid Barrett wasn't going to have a pumpkin for Halloween he went a got a few. Barrett chose this one. He was pretty excited! Thursday afternoon we finally made it to the Pumpkin Patch.

We were going to go to the same one we went to last year but I was checking the website before we left and it said they closed at 4:00 it was already 4:00 so we decided to go to one a little further in Cullman. Well everyone said it was "a little further", I didn't think we were ever going to get there. but we did. We only had an hour and I was sad we didn't get to do a lot of the stuff. We will definitely go back.