Beach Part Deux

Our buds Carl an Amber are expecting a little bundle of joy this May and decided to get away for some of what I like to call, "married people time.". We watched Thia for the night and then headed to Pointe West in Galveston to all hang out at the beach. I was super excited since I had gone to the beach with linc without Jay before and felt a little guilty. On Friday afternoon I felt adventurous and took both kiddos to the grocery store by myself. We picked out ice cream, Thia's favorite, pink. It was Lincolns first experience with ice cream and he was a big fan!

We loaded up and headed out Saturday morning. I was totally blown away by this place! The pool and beach club was amazing. It was cloudy and windy but we didn't care!!





Jay and Carl had fun trying to teach the kiddos how to build sand castles. They were more interested in tearing them down.




This was also the first day in Lincolns life that he didn't nap. There was just too much excitement! After the beach we hit the baby pool and that was linc's first pool experience besides the backyard.

The kiddos slept good that night!!















This was our sunset view - it was so nice!! The boys grilled down on the BBQ pits while we put the kiddos down then enjoyed the deck.

Spring Break Beach Day!

We went to Galveston with Amber and Thia for the day over spring break. It was Linc's first beach trip and I was so excited, I love the beach so much and while I thought that he would, I couldn't be sure until we got there. He was ecstatic from the moment we arrived.




Thia showed Linc the ropes and they dug and shoveled all day. I was so worried about him getting sunburned that I kept putting more sunscreen on him, especially his head since he won't wear a hat. Each time I did about a half of a cup of sand would get stuck in his hair and he looked like Guy Fiere.




When we got home he had so much sand in his hair that I had to hose him down in my shower then shampoo his hair 3 times to get it all out.




It was white with sand. It was a great trip with our friends!!

MDO

Lincoln is in Mothers Day Out! I have to say, I thought this day would never come. First, because when I first learned what MDO was when I was pregnant, I thought, Really!? So you stay home, don't work, AND take your child to daycare twice a week!??

So yes, I was totally judgemental. And you can all judge me for it. I just didn't get it. I wanted to stay home and care for Lincoln and at that point I didn't know if that was going to be an option for me. But thank God, He made that happen. We downsized, we moved, lots of other stuff happened but now I get to take care of my baby boy! All day!! Even when I am trying to scrub the toilet and he's trying to drown his Cookie Monster at the same time! From sun up to sun down! And in the middle of the night!

Now I get it. They made MDO so that Stay at Home Moms won't carry an AK47 to HEB and mow down the stock boy when he tells us they are all out of organic applesauce.

So I was also convinced it wouldn't happen because of our "ahem" tighter budget. I also had a lot of guilt about it because I QUIT MY JOB so I could stay and home... so now I wanted to send him to Moms day out? What did that say about me? But with lots of prayer and conversations with my hubby, I realized that it was a good thing. Lincoln LOVES being around other kids, he loves to play with them and interact. AND my hubby helped by being awesome and making a big bonus that allowed us to sqeeeeeeeze some MDO money out of the budget. I think its also because he likes me better when I'm sane.

God also confirmed it in the way that Lincoln took to his class instantly. By instantly I mean that he didn't even cry the first day when I dropped him off!! I couldn't believe it, but I was so glad. I knew he was in a good place and loved being there.

Now Linc goes 2 days a week and I use that time to clean, run errands, take showers by myself, take Nani to doctors appointments, and even sometimes get a quiet cup of coffee and quiet time in. Its amazing what I can get done in 4 1/2 hours by myself! Then I'm ready to go get him, I miss him! It makes me a better Mommy.

The top picture is of Linc on the first day of MDO. Sort of like the first day of school. The middle one is him showing off his Shark backpack and impatiently waiting to go out to door to school. He kept looking at me like, "Really Mom! No more pictures, lets go!!"

Each day they send home little projects that the kiddos work on, cute art projects, etc. I know I cant keep them all but feel a bit sinful throwing them away. The picture above is Linc's nap mat. I ordered it on Etsy and it is so cute!

Christmas in April

We visited Santa at the mall this year. I was afraid that Lincoln was going to freak his freak when we dragged him close to a large old man dressed in garish colors and shouting HO HO HO! But he wasn't - at all!! I was so proud. He walked up and said hi then let me put him on his lap for the picture. This little grin was all we could get out of him. I think he was too overwhelmed by all the decorations to give us a bigger grin, but I was happy with how it turned out. What a big boy!!! (18 months old) After we were done, Daddy and Linc were walking around while I paid and got the prints and Linc kept trying to go back in the exit to see his buddy Santa again.

I love Christmas! And even though this one was a little sad after the loss of Jim and Baba last year, we had a great Christmas. Lincoln isn't too sure about all of it yet, but he loves to beat the crap of Christmas trees and really loves opening presents!

He loved playing in all the decorations, including tulle and making ornaments sorry they every were manufactured and ended up in the Foy house. Before Christmas, we went to the Sugar Land town center for the big Christmas hooo-ha. It was really fun with carolers, choirs, Santa, and tons of people.

Jay and Linc posed with the super big elf - which confused me because aren't they supposed to be tiny?

We headed to Georgetown for Christmas 2010. Lincoln was super excited to see his BFF-cousin Matt. He wanted to be wherever Matt was the whole time. Christmas eve was nice, we had tamales and other good Christmas junk. We played cards and had a little Christmas cheer. I also started my new Christmas tradition by making Cinnamon rolls from scratch from the Pioneer Woman's recipe. I made the dough Christmas eve, then rolled and baked them on Christmas morning.
Yes, they were as good as they looked... if you like to cook, I recommend the recipe!!

Lincoln had a great time making art for the family as his gift this year. I bought some canvases at Big Lots and had some acrylics and brushed already. I think everyone liked the paintings but no one as much as Nani. She insists that hers is a bird on a branch and shows everyone at her Assisted Living and they have declared him a young Picasso.

Nani went with us this Christmas and had a nice time at Mary's house. We opened presents after coffee and rolls and it was a blast!
Here is Mary showing off her sassy fluffy slippers...
Here is Brother looking chipper on Christmas morning. I don't think he's used to having a toddler rise at 6:30 each morning. :)
Linc got a ton of presents of course, and we all enjoyed watching him open them. Some of his favorites were the Elmo phone, his tool kit, and train set.

Next year I'm putting on makeup first...
After all the excitement Matt and Nani needed a nap. This year we are planning on hosting Christmas at our house... I cant wait!

Coming soon....

Beach trips I and II
Nani's Birthday Party
MDO
Corpus House Clean out

Sad Goodbyes

Jimmie McBratney Foy

1936-2010

2010 was a year of blessings and sad goodbyes. As you know if you read this, we lost Baba in April and thought were were done with goodbyes for the year. But, Jim went to be with the Lord on December 6, 2010. We thought we had more time with him. We thought we had more chances to chat with him and watch his favorite shows, Criminal Minds and NCIS with him.

Jim spent his life doing what he loved, being a pharmacist, a photographer, a lover of classical music, and a lifelong friend of his beloved BTHOOTEB buddies. One of my favorite stories of Jim that Jay told me is of the time Jay, Mike, and Mary came home to Jim blasting, at full volume, his favorite symphony and madly conducting - without knowing they had come home to witness it! He was a man of passion and opinions, and was even known to invite the Mormon missionaries in to his home so they could have an in depth chat about the Bible.

The truth is that Gods timing is not always our timing. We miss him but are so thankful that after 10+ years of battling cancer, he did not linger in pain. He went peacefully with his wife and two sons by his side. I pray that when my end comes, I am blessed as he was.

Jim was an awesome father in law to me, father to Jay and Mike, and husband to Mary. He was also a very loving and devoted Grand-pop to his grandson Lincoln. He loved that little guy so much and the feeling was mutual as you tell in the pictures posted here.

Thanksgiving 2010

They CAME! My whole family - well almost - came for Thanksgiving at my house! Under one roof! And no one used a gun or any other explosive! God is so good!



Ok well I didn't really expect anyone to shoot anyone else. Or blow anyone up either. But my Mom and Dads side of the family have historically not been the best of comrades so I was super pumped when Mom, Pop, Granddad, Aline, AND Nani were all at our home for Thanksgiving this year. Jay had to work on Friday so we stayed at home and invited everyone over for the big day.Here is my table(s). I made the table runner/cloths out of fabric I had in my sewing closet. It was a kind of tweed-looking stuff that was black, white and brown. I used our china and crystal cause - why not! The center pieces were modern candle holders and glossy white and silver pumpkins and gourds and even a turkey and pilgrim that I-ene brought for me. She is so crafty - she painted them herself to match my theme. I also got to use the butter dish that Nani got at her wedding shower, real silver!

I love this picture, so in love!

Big Happy Family! I made the whole sha-bang - Turkey, dressing, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole with fresh green beans, and Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie! Mom brought homemade cranberry relish and vino, and Granddad and Iene brought cake, pie, and a bunch of goodies, in our family known as a sack-r-full. Misti and Black brought sticky pumpkin bars and yummy rolls and Nani provided the relish tray.

Those crazy kids! It was a great holiday... we are so thankful that 2010 is over! HAH! More soon!

Sick baby

My little captain Destructor is sick. This pic is from this morning when he was feeling better than he does now. I hate it when he is sick. And to make it worse he fell off the ottoman yesterday and hurt his leg and has a little limp. Today was his 18 month well child visit and I swear they must think I beat this child. (The last time we were there was because I dropped him. He was flopping in my arms and got away from me. He was fine but I cried for 2 hours!)


So we went for his well child appointment today even though he was running a fever as of last night. I think he knows when shots are coming and finds some germs to gobble up. Anyhow he has his first ear infection. We have been lucky thus far in avoiding them but our time has come.

As for his stats, he is 34 1/2 inches long and weighs 28lbs 11oz. He is a big boy!

He has hit all his other markers developmentally except speech. He just ain't talking yet. We go back for a hearing test next month and I am praying that by then he is ready to give an oral dissertation on toys to the doc. Please pray with us. More soon.