Dentist

We finally got dental insurance for Roman and decided to take him a couple weeks ago to get his teeth cleaned. Sure enough, my poor guy has a bad cavity in one of his molars. I feel terrible! We have always been so consistent with brushing twice a day and he really doesn't eat that many sweets. He got it filled today.  He did amazing!  I was praying for a simple procedure and that's exactly what it was.  Grateful!

Big boy at his check up

Batman was waiting patiently for his filling

Meema time

My mom came and spent almost two weeks with us after Christmas and New years.  It was so great to have her here.  As I mentioned before, she is planning on moving to Georgia at the end of April to an active adult community about 10 minutes from us.  We are thrilled!  The condo is being built right now, so we picked out paints and met with the plantation shutter dealer while she was here.  It's so fun to get to work on another home project!  She watched the kids for us while we went to Pigeon forge for the weekend.  She also got to go to my bible study with me twice, go shopping, and hit up the donut store with this preggo a few times.  We had a great visit.  As she was leaving, I got sad, but realized that I hopefully won't be saying goodbye to her for these long periods again.  We can't wait for her to get here!!!

Small Group Retreat to the mountains

Matt and I are part of a small group at Brown's Bridge Church.  It's so great to "do life together" with 7 other couples that are in the same life stage as us.  We meet every Thursday night in our different homes and  do a bible study together.  This past semester we've just been getting to all know each other.  I'm so glad to be part of a great group of people.  We had a little retreat at Pigeon Forge, TN two weekends ago.  Matt and I drove with Allison and Mike.  It was a great drive and we got to stop and really view the smoky mountains with all the fog.

We got to the huge cabin last and ended up with the worst room.  Matt and I had to stay in a room with queen bunk beds and no windows while everyone else had beautiful views, double shower heads, a jacuzzi in the room, and king size beds.  Needless to say, I was a little bummed to be paying the same price as everyone, but I tried to hold my tongue and go with the flow.  It wasn't that much of a nice vacation for Matt and I.  We definitely slept 10 hours once we got home in our pillow top king mattress!

Saturday afternoon, we headed for a hike in the mountains.  It was beautiful.  We really enjoyed spending time with Denny and Ashley.  After our little hike, we rewarded ourselves with milk shakes.  It was great! 

Ashley and Ashly hiking

The Franks

The Tuckers

My hippie tree huger

Denny wouldn't get in the water.  It was freezing!

Our drive home on Sunday was uninterrupted with a tire blowout.  Everyone was fine and Matt handled the car so carefully.  He did great!  The tire was completely ruined!

We made it home safely on Sunday afternoon to our babies by 3.  It was a good weekend for bonding with good friends.

Christmas in Tulsa

Matt made it to Tulsa on the 26th.  We were all thrilled!  We headed to lunch at Charlestons and then my mom drove home.  

We celebrated Christmas with Matt's immediate family on the 28th because Mike and Meg didn't fly in town until the night before.  We all went to Charlestons again for our big dinner.

Roman, of course, had to sit with "grandma"

The beautiful Mark and Whitney

Crazy girl was obsessed with her daddy

The Franks ladies at dinner

We attempted kid pictures forever.  A little Carmen wasn't going to have it!

Our little family

Preggo pics!  Meg is only two weeks ahead of me with a boy too!!  

Roman decided he needed a preggo pic too!

Sisters! 

Pam said she cut back this year on gifts!

Pa and Grandma with their grandchildren

We had a great Christmas and feel blessed to have such loving families.  God is so good!

Christmas Day

Roman left some pretzels and milk for Santa.  He decided that he would leave the cookies for himself. Oh boy!

Santa went a little small this year.  Roman got the Captain America that he's been wanting for forever!

Carmen got a Mrs. Potato head.  

After we opened gifts, Mom and I headed to Tulsa for the rest of the day to spend with Matt's family.  Poor Matt was in San Juan, but his family is so great for having us come!

We all went to Matt's Grandma's house for lots more present opening

silly kids!

Carmen never napped that day, but sat quietly on Pa's lap for a long time.  It was so cute!

Christmas in Springfield

I flew out to Springfield about a week before Christmas because Matt was able to take me to the airport and help put me on the plane, but he couldn't fly with us because he had to fly to New York that day.  I managed to fly with both kids and Captain sitting below Roman's seat all by myself.  We managed!  I realized really fast that all of my music and movies had been deleted from my phone, so Roman just played with his superheroes.  He did great!  Carmen was a little more difficult, but oh well, what do you expect from an 18 month old!

Matt came to visit for a night in between flying.  Poor guy flew the entire weekend before Christmas and spent Christmas  Day in San Juan on the beach by himself.

Meema and I helped the kids bake and decorate cookies all day Friday.

Sunday after church, we all went to my uncle Randy's house on the farm.  The kids were in heaven!

Caroline, Roman, and Catherine

Carmen actually let Elizabeth hold her!

My little diva farmer girl!

Roman LOVES his girls!

We decorated gingerbread houses!

Roman, of course, wouldn't pose for the photo.

Christmas Eve before we headed to church

I had to give Carmen her blankie and bells to take the picture.  Roman decided that he needed his blanket too.

Meema and her grandkids

We opened gifts before church on Christmas Eve night 

Roman got his Captain America sheets for his new big boy bedroom and  his spider-man helmet

Carmen got a bitty baby from Meema!

I think my mom is officially telling everyone now, but she is planning to move to Georgia at the end of April. I am so thrilled that she will be 10 minutes away from us.  Anyways, it was a little sad to think that this might be the last time I'm in Springfield for a long time!  Crazy!  We had a great pre-Christmas as a family together, just missed Matt lots!