Skunk Train

I have no idea why it's called the Skunk Train but we loved it none the less! A few days before we headed to Dallas we took a little Christmas train ride through the redwoods. Jake is pretty much obsessed with trains (especially Thomas) so we knew that he would love it! He spent most of the ride with his nose plastered to the window. It was about a 90 minute ride (probably 25 minutes too long for a 2 year old!) and all the kids were encouraged to wear their jammies. The train stopped half way and who do you think boarded... none other than Santa and Mrs Claus. They passed out cookies, candy canes and hot chocolate. Jake wanted nothing to do with Santa, just the cookies :) He did love the cute man who played the guitar and harmonica and sang Christmas songs. We had a great time!


Getting ready to board.


So excited!





The "Train Singer"





No thank you!


I'm trying to picture my little buddy without his 2 front teeth... I can't!
(We head to the pedi dentist in the morning to find out when they will be pulled!)





Peek-a-boo


Until next year...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

18 under 8

...that's how many children I had in my house this morning... and my house is NOT that big!! My sweet neighbor, Sara and I threw a Christmas party this morning for some of our favorite little people. We had a ball and I know the kids did as well. Everyone started off in our house with some fun cookie decorating and candy cane reindeer making. Then we went over to Sara's house (across the driveway) and waited for none other than Santa himself! But instead of coming in on his sleigh, he graced us with his appearance on a real live firetruck! The kids LOVED it. Too bad it was pouring down rain or everyone could have really had fun with this huge red truck. Santa came in for a story (The Elf on the Shelf) and reminded all these cute faces to be on their best behavior for a couple more weeks. (They of course, had to spot our little elf friend who they named "Salt"- ok!) We then had some lunch - turkey and cheese rollups, fruit skewers, ADORABLE snowmen cupcakes, and rice krispies. We sent the kids home on a sugar high, apologized to the mommies and prayed that the kids would at least take a good nap when they got home! :) After all, they did all show up in their christmas jammies!


how cute are these?!? sara's hubby made them- impressive! :)


... the calm before the storm!


Jake's new friend Max. We love playing with him!


Testing his creation.


Taking a break from the madness. He fell asleep right after this and missed the lunch. :(


Sweet Klara and her mommy Libby.


My precious friend Sara and Ruby.


This little guy's daddy drove Santa to the party.


Here comes Santa Clause, Here comes Santa Clause, Right down Piper Street Lane...





Story time.


Max and Ruby


And of course, Pierce sleeping through another fun activity! :)

Car Heaven

If you are a mom of boys then I'm almost positive that you have the entire movie "Cars" memorized. Jake is obsessed with it! Well, today we had the opportunity to go meet a real live Mack! Mark's uncle's company sponsors a car and "Mack" just so happened to be out in Healdsburg this morning dropping off very special Christmas presents for Arista and the McWilliams family. You would have thought Jake died and went to car heaven. I bet he circled that huge truck a hundred times. He kept saying "mack" over and over and over and over... and then would throw in some race car noises. He was able to go up inside the trailer. No, sadly, there were no bobble head car trophy's, or a starry ceiling, or a fun phone and TV or something able to give back rubs! But Jake sure didn't mind! He was INSIDE Mack! It brought so much joy to Mark and I just watching Jake. We have never seen him so excited!

Thank you so much Uncle Jim and Aunt Jean for making my son (and my husband's) YEAR!!! We love you so much!




A real live Mack!








Lightening McQueen was absent but in his place were 2 Very FUN Christmas presents!





(note the Longhorn!)





And I couldn't leave out this happy boy! :)

Lighted Tractor Parade

Last night we had a really fun adventure as a family with some great friends. Every year, the little town of Calistoga (in Napa) has a lighted tractor parade. There were all kinds of different tractors and other big trucks completely decorated with lights. We decided that Jake was at the perfect age to enjoy it so off we went. We went with Mark's parents and sister and our neighbors. It was incredible and Jake loved every second of it despite it being 34 degrees!!!

Getting ready to leave and Pierce was VERY excited!


Sweet Ruby wanted Jake to sit next to her- hysterical!


All bundled up.






This thing was ENORMOUS!!! The tires were about 6.5 feet tall.





We already can't wait till next year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sorry, all the posts are so out of order. My whole body lately has been out of order too! :)

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year! I have so much to be thankful for that it is overwhelming. I am so thankful for my little young family. Thankful that everyone's healthy. Thankful for my incredible husband and our marriage that seems to just get stronger and stronger. Thankful for what the Lord is doing in me. Thankful for amazing parents and my sister and brother. Thankful for a wonderful extended family. Thankful for smiles and laughter and hugs. Thankful for the countless of provisions that we have been blessed with over the past year.

We spent the day with Mark's family. Janis made an incredible lunch. The Cowboys won. The Longhorns won. It was a good day!

Lack of sleep!

Lately, the whole McWilliams family has had some serious lack of sleep. It seems like the person who has or is suffering the most is, no, not me, but sweet Jake. He has never been a great sleeper. A few months ago, he started waking up in the middle of the night just screaming. We guessed that he was having night terrors. Let me tell you, nothing will bring you to the Lord quicker than watching your child go ballistic in the middle of the night and not being able to calm him down- as much as you try. It was like he was being tortured. My heart was being tortured just watching him. Then Jake got his first ear infection (this past late spring) and has 5 since then. Then he started cutting his 2 year molars. Then his world got turned upside down when mommy went away and came back with a new baby. Now we are dealing with 2 abscessed front teeth which evidently can be painful. Just saw a pediatric dentist and found out that they will have to be removed... another post! So with ALL of that, Jake has needed some serious help falling back to sleep when he wakes up in the middle of the night.

Last night was a rough one with the little man. So today, I decided that it was time for him to re-learn how to get back to sleep without mommy or daddy- yikes! I thought it would be better to start it during naps than in the middle of the night :) After about an hour of crying this afternoon, he was finally quiet and I went back to take a peek. This is what I saw...

Sweet little guy had fallen asleep standing up!

2 months!

Sweet baby Pierce is TWO months old!!! As slow as some days are, these past 2 months have flown by. Pierce has been such a great and easy baby. He doesn't seem to mind being shuffled around by everyone. Doesn't seem to mind the big hugs from his brother or going on roller coaster swing rides courtesy of his brother (much to mommy's terror). Doesn't seem to mind being a little road for Jake's hot wheels (again, terror!) Seems to be able to sleep anywhere (maybe he will have different sleeping habits than Jake!) He is constantly smiling and has really found his voice this past week. Today I spent about an hour on the floor with him just talking and cooing. I have never had so much fun! My mouth hurt from all the smiling I did with him :)

We took a trip to the pediatrician for his 2 month checkup today and he is doing great. Weighing in at 12.6 pounds and 23.5 inches long. Both around the 50%. We are happy with that!

Here are a few pictures from a mini photo session we had on the floor this morning. Enjoy!

Yeah for me, I'm 2 months old!