A Visit to the Greenbelt with BDaddy

Today was one of those perfect Sunday afternoons.  After church, we met up with Mama and Daddy, just as we have for most Sundays since they've moved to Austin.  We ate lunch together as a family, then Daddy, Merrick, and I went off on an adventure to the Austin Greenbelt.  

The weather was amaaaaazing.  One of the first t-shirt days we've had since before winter.  

After a few minutes hike down the belt, where Merrick explored almost every area but the path, we came to a good spot to check out the stream.  There were lots of folks there, many with their dogs, all grateful to be fortunate enough to enjoy the riches of Austin nature. 

Daddy started to tell Merrick to dip his feet into the water, but before he could even get the words out of his mouth, Merrick just jumped right in.  It was hilarious.  He didn't even dip his toe in first to check out the temp of the water.  Which was freeeeezing, by the way.  Dad and I were shocked that Merrick not only withstood the cold, but didn't complain at all.  I won't say exactly what Merrick did when he first got into the water, or how brazenly he announced it.  I'll just say that I hope no one was drinking the water downstream of us.

Merrick was on cloud 9 all day.  He was high as a kite.  It was the best feeling in the world to watch him.  I loved being with my dad and am so grateful that my son gets to grow up making memories like this with his granddaddy.

Boys will be boys.  Merrick was eager as a beaver to splash any thing that moved.  Since I threatened him within an inch of his life, that meant he mostly splashed the heck out of BDaddy.

BDaddy got him back, though...

...and Merrick enjoyed every drop of it the revenge.

After a healthy dose of splashing, BDaddy tried to teach Merrick how to skip rocks.  Merrick didn't quite get the concept, but enjoyed the practice.

Afterward, Merrick dried out on the rocks.  This was so special to me because it reminded me of the times when I was younger and went to the North Carolina mountain streams with my dad.  I would lay out on the rocks and read for ever.

After a great afternoon on the Greenbelt, BDaddy took us for ice cream at Amy's.  Merrick got chocolate ice cream with gummy bears and m&ms mixed in.  The entire cup was then dipped in sprinkles.  It was every kid's dream and every parent's nightmare.  :)  

Great.Day.

Christmas 2011

It is almost Valentine's Day of 2012, and I have yet to post about Christmas 2011.  It's been a whirlwind of a year already, I suppose.  Never the less, here are just a few (OK, tons) pictures capturing just some of the amazing memories of Christmas 2011:

This is one of my favorite things we did this past Christmas - a Walk To the Manager.  It was one local church's version of a living manger.  At the beginning of the evening, you met a Biblical character who needs traveling companions to Bethlehem.  Along the way, you met the shepherds, wise men, and even King Herod.  

I took Merrick and left the twins at home with Marcos.  It was a really great Son-Mama Christmas date.  Merrick did not hesitate to interact with the characters.  His favorite part was the angel at the end of the journey.  They did some sort of "smoke and mirrors" trick so that the angel really looked luminous.

We did a lot of baking this past Christmas.  It was a month of complete diet fails.  This (below) was a precious memory for me.  While making a batch of cookies, all three kids had to help and had to put their hands on the blender at the same time.  

We ended up making reindeer cookies for our neighbors.  Not sure they were all that great.  I'm pretty sure I'll stick to pumpkin bread next year.

It's official: making gingerbread cookies is one of the Esparza Christmas traditions!  I found an unbelievable recipe here.  

Just like last year, Merrick wanted to make his gingerbread man a muscle man.  

Whooaa...Merrick is really getting into this muscle thing...

Great.  I think I see a future for Merrick in the WWF.

This picture below is Merrick sneaking into the Christmas room, checking out his presents.

For the first time ever, we made salt dough ornaments this Christmas.  Sawyer made an angel, Merrick made a star, and Scout made a gingerbread man.

And, just like last year, we made a gingerbread house.  I was very surprised this year when walking around the stores; Merrick saw the houses and remembered making one last year.  He insisted we make another this year.

The finished product...

I finally got to buy the kids' their stockings!  After 5 years of insisting that I would make the stockings on my own, I finally gave in and bought them online.  I love them!  (We actually hang them on the mantel but they photographed better here.)

This was the first year since we've been married that we got to wake up on Christmas Day in our own home.  It was WONDERFUL.  Marcos's cousin Waldina Maria stayed with us and on Christmas Day, her boyfriend came over to unwrap presents with us.

Marcos decided to start us off with a scripture and a prayer.

I got a cordless drill for Christmas!  Just what every crafty mama dreams of!  

Scout got a slew of Princess gear this year.  She has definitely embraced her inner Princess.  I'm surprised it happened so quickly, especially with two brothers.  

After we opened presents at our home, we went over to my parents' house to celebrate Christmas with my family.  Scout wore her Princess costume, of course.

I love this shot of Merrick and his Uncle David spending some real quality time together.  

Sawyer loved the Santa hat!

Dee Dee and BDaddy goofing off with Sawyer!

Amazingly, we were able get every kid on the couch at the same time...

Here's a pic of the three kids playing in the Christmas tree box.  These are the moments I treasure the most: those few seconds when they are all three playing together and laughing together (right before someone gets hurt and they all have melt downs).

Merry Christmas to my beautiful family.