Family Date Night

Chris and I have made it a point for 2012 to have a date night once a month.  This date night is just about us two.  The kids know about date night and always want to go.  So Chris had a great idea that we should do a Family date night.  He mentioned this to me one evening when he was working an extra job and I mentioned it to Colten before bed that night and he was sooo excited! The fact that we were calling it "Date Night" made Colten giddy over the idea.  He wouldn't have cared what we did or where we went.  We mentioned some ideas Park, Zoo, Dinner, then I came up with bowling.  Colten squealed when I asked him if thats what he wanted to do.  The funny thing is, I don't think he even really knew what it was, because on the way there he kept asking so many questions about it. "Where is da bow-wing place?" "What is bow-wing?" "What do a pin do?" But he was certain of one thing "I going to be da WINNER!!" 

The kids had a blast! And so did Chris and I, watching them get so excited and squeal as their ball went rolling down the lane.   The bowling alley has this cool ramp thing.  So even if the child is too little to carry and throw their own ball they can place it on top of the ramp and push it down.  This is how the kids both started off bowling, but Colten soon proved that he could throw his own ball. So he'd carry his 6lb, orange bowling ball down to the lane and chunk it down the lane. And I mean chunk it. Not gently roll it, but more of a "throw as hard as I can" chunk it.  It would make a loud thud and slowly roll down the lane.  It was so cute.  And he would squeal and clap for himself.  He absolutely LOVED it!  Allie had a blast too.  But her favorite part was getting her own Coke to drink, Oh and the skittles too. Cant forget her skittles!!

Sure do love these little stinkers ;)

Mmmm!! COKE!

Daddy and Allie

This is the ramp that Allie had to use.  Colten used it at first but soon figured out he could throw the ball!

Bowling like a big kid.  

First game.  On the next game Chris bowled a 170! WHAT?!?!

A big pile of leaves!

I did yard work today. Yep, I went to the shed and found the rake, brought the kiddos outside and we raked up all the leaves into a huge pile. Which was the perfect size for jumping in.  Which, of course, was the whole point of the "work" I had just done :)

Its funny how something as simple as a pile of leaves can entertain 2 toddlers for over an hour.  They ran and laughed and jumped and rolled. I of course joined in too.  It was a wonderful afternoon spent playing in the front yard with my kiddos.

Our Christmas in Pictures

Christmas was amazing.  Its always so hard to figure out how to go and see everyone and do all the family gatherings that occur for Christmas.  So, Chris and I decided to have our own little family Christmas morning a day early - On Christmas Eve morning.  I explained to the kids that I had written Santa and asked him to come early, and since the kids have been so good this year and my sugar cookies are THAT yummy, Santa agreed to come early ;)  Then we did Christmas Eve night at my Aunt Judy's and then Christmas morning at my parents house and then Christmas lunch with Chris' family! BUSY but so so fun!  Here is how our Christmas went in pictures.....

What we woke up to Christmas EVE morning.  Looks like Santa came!! Kids first words were "ohhhh!"

Looks like Santa can be a bit demanding.....

Coltens words when he pulled out his very own chapstick "Ohhh!! I always wanted one of these!"

The kids loved their stockings.  Once Allie discovered there were lollipops in there, she was done for the morning! We practically had to force the girl to open presents! All she wanted was her "CAAANNNDYYY!" Chris and I had to cut her off after lollipop #13... seriously....

Checking out her really cool playhouse Gigi and Nana got her. 

Loving on her new doll!

haha fixing to have to help Colten rip off the tag, look at his tongue!

Love his excited expression!

I love Allie's Lalaloopsy dolls! They are too cute!

Just trying to get a Daddy and Colten picture and I get shot at ;)

Santa brought Allie a pink pony!!!

Family pic under our tree. <3 It was such a great morning.

Christmas Eve! Allie with Gigi! 

Christmas Eve, Me and my cousin Kate.  Before the annual card game of  "Spoons" takes place.  Which we play with forks, because we are dangerous like that.... I had battle wounds.

Christmas morning at my parents!! GrandBob and Gigi had lots of presents for the kiddos (and me!)

5 years ago on that same day he got down on one knee and proposed in that EXACT same spot.  And on that day too, I was also in my pjs.  So glad I said "Yes!" It was the easiest and greatest decision of my life, look where's it gotten me <3

And dancing Christmas night away in Quihi, TX! (With some very special friends!)

Christmas Cookies and sick kiddos

Woopsy. Long time and no blogging from me! To my surprise I have been really busy with my little photography business.  The support from friends and family has been AMAZING.  I am truly blessed by their encouragement.

I can't believe Christmas is this weekend! It came so fast! It should be a fun Christmas for us Scotts.  Colten is 3 and some what understands Santa.  He even got an email video from Santa yesterday and Santa told him he made the "nice list" and would be getting a special toy.  He made me watch the video over and over and over. LOL And whenever he is caught doing something bad (which lately has been a lot! That little stinker is on a roll.) Ive been telling him Jesus is watching and will tell Santa... he replies "noooo!" Allie is over a year and a half and gets sooo excited about toys.  She is really into baby dolls and guns.  Odd combo, huh?  My little Country girl.  I actually got Christmas cards out ON TIME! And I couldn't believe that we got a pic with everyone smiling and looking at the camera.  I thought it was going to be a battle.  Setting the camera up on the tripod, setting it on timer mode, running back to the fence and yelling say CHEEEEESE to the kids. I thought no way, they will not be looking, not smiling, not posing cute.  But we got a good one on the 3rd try and we were done!

Yep, we were rockin' our camo and Yep! Thats a          camo tutu!

Both kids have been sick for now a week.  Started with a fever and a viral cold that turned to ear infections and RSV.  Allies fever got really high one night. 104.  Scared Chris and I.  She is still fighting off a 102-103 fever today. Ugh! When will it end?  She is doing breathing treatments and is on antibiotics for her ears.  Colten is mostly better with just a cough left.  Im praying that the kids will be better by Christmas!

Today, the kids and I made sugar cookies.  It was... interesting.  Lets just say when it was all over with this momma had to have a glass of wine! Sprinkles everywhere, dough being snuck into little slobbery mouths, fingers in the frosting. Mmmm!! Makes you want to try some of our sugar cookies doesn't it?? It was definitely a memory!

I am going to try to stay up with my blog.  I really want this to be "here" in years to come for Chris, or I or the kiddos to look back on.  And if they are reading this one day here is a little note just for them.  I love you guys- Chris, Colten and Allie.  You make my life a joy to live and I daily thank God for you. <3

Country Grace Photography

I am branching out into the photography world!! And I'm super excited! Ive always enjoyed taking pictures. Mostly wildlife shots from our ranch, sitting in a deer blind shooting with my camera instead of my gun.  Then once I had kids my camera card was, naturally, filled with pics of them.  Since college I would day dream about starting my own photography business, but never really voiced it outloud.  One day I was talking with my dad about how to bring in extra income for our family and i mentioned my desire to take pictures. He surprised me at how excited and supportive of the idea he was! It made me voice my idea a loud more often and eventually I just dove in head first. (not really knowing WHAT I was doing!) I researched cameras... went out just to look at some.... and came home with the Canon 7d! I loooove it! Next came hitting up family and friends for some free practice and VIOLA!! Country Grace Photography is in its beginning stages.  I still have lots to learn... lots. And Im still practicing on my editing technique.  But Im having a blast!  So here our some of my faves from the photo shoots Ive done so far! I would love to hear any feedback or constructive comments! 

 

                                                               

                                                               

                                            

                                                                                                                   

                                         

                                             

                                             

                             

Well.... Whatcha' think?  

  

                                      

Dove hunting!

This past weekend Chris and I and the kids went home for one of our favorite weekends of the year- Opening dove season! We missed The Friday hunt because Chris had to work but we made it in time for Saturday. Allie got dropped off with Gigi, ( she was decked out in camo - even a camo bow!) but Colten got to tag along and hunt with Daddy. Chris would shoot and Colten would run to get the birds. (I can remember doing this with my dad) We had a great hunt, killed a lot of birds and cooked them over the fire that night. Then all us "big kids" as in me, Chris, my brothers and cousins (almost all in our 20s) played Annie Over. A game we invented when we were younger. Colten tagged along and tried to play too. We stayed over at my cousins until midnight, I can't believe Colten lasted that long!!

It always feels good to go home for a weekend and spend it with my family. I'm blessed to have a very close, very big extended family! Now I'm anxiously awaiting deer season and more weekend hunts with the Zerrs :)

Colten turns 3!!

How? How has it been 3 years since I became a mommy? 3 years since Colten was born? I can't believe it!!! He is so big and he thinks he's even bigger. Coltens bday party isn't until the 17th but we had to do something special on his big day. Ever since we went to the State Aquarium this summer, Colten has talked about the dolphin show. So we told him we would take him to Sea World for his birthday. He was so excited!! We have been talking about Shamu all week and he was so happy this morning when I told him it was the day we get to go. He literally jumped up from his bed- tackled/hugged me and said "I want to get dressed!". So we were off to Sea World- Chris, Me, Colten and Allie! I was really excited about this trip. Grammie used to get us season passes for christmas as kids and we used to go with all the cousins. It was way different from when I was a kid.... I guess since I'm the adult paying for everything. Sea world sucks the money from your wallet!!! 114$ for 2 adult tickets. $15 to park! (whaaaaaat??) and you can't bring in any food or drinks. So 29$ for a pizza buffet lunch. Oh! And 8$ for a large coke. And to top it off they even get you to PAY to feed their animals. (genius!) 6$ for a tray of 4 small fish to feed the dolphins. But we had to feed the dolphins. Mainly, because I wanted to pet them :)

Now that my griping about what a greedy, money hungry, brat, Sea World is, is out of the way... Let me tell you we had a GREAT time! The weather was perfect! High of 90 with a cool breeze. Amazing! It's been topping out at 111 so this cool front was a lovely surprise. The kids had a blast. They "oohed" and "awed" at all the animal exhibits. They loved watching the shows. They ran around on the playgrounds and even rode a kiddie ride. And posed for pics with the shamu character!! Maybe we will make it a yearly trip on Coltens birthday.

Colten and me at the dolphin show

Chris and Allie watching Shamu!

And then Allie fell asleep...

Feeding and touching dolphins!!

After Sea World we went to Chilis for dinner. And then home to open presents. Colten got a big stuffed Shamu, a bubble football, puzzle and a new nerf gun. He also got a little tykes pick-up truck that even has a bed that Allie can sit in and Colten can drive them around. Of cours his favorite was the gun! And his target? Yep, mommy!

I'm slowly accepting the fact that my little baby is growing up. Colten is such the little blessing in our lives. I treasure every hug, kiss and wet willy I get from my little guy. And there isn't a day that goes by that I don't praise God for giving me my Colten.

I love you Colten!!! Happy 3rd birthday!!!