adorable artwork

Carson made this cornucopia at school today. I guess this sums it up...he is thankful for everything. Me too Carson!! I have so many things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

Annual Austin Adventures

Last weekend Chelsi and I headed to Austin for our 6th annual shopping trip and best friend's weekend. This year we had a special guest come along...sweet baby Carter. We had a great trip! All of our regular stops (minus just a couple) were made; Round Rock Outlet Mall, Chuy's, Einsteins Brother's Bagels (x2), San Marcos Outlet Mall, and Barton Creek Mall. The only 2 "regulars" that we didn't make it to were The Arboretum (lack of time), and Amy's Ice Cream,(the line was out of the door)! It is so cool to me that we have made this a tradition that we DO NOT plan on breaking! We talked about someday staying downtown in The Driscoll instead of staying in a motel like we always do. I think that might be many years down the road, but I am looking forward to each and every trip that we have ahead of us...I am so thankful for our special tradition! The picture above was taken after we ate at Chuy's.

Chels and Carter were posing in front of The Chuy's sign.

This was the sign in front of our hotel. The sign looks awful, but we actually had a very nice and peaceful stay at the hotel.

Here are Carter and Chels before we left our hotel for a day of shopping. Carter was the best baby EVER the entire trip!

Chelsi noticed that Carter's bottom right tooth had broken through the skin on our first night in Austin. I was glad to be around for this special 1st!!

Carter and Bevo at the co-op.

Carter learned how to drink out of a straw on our second night in Austin. How exciting!!

Carter's 1st bagel at Einstein's on our last morning in Austin...I was sad to leave!! : (

The kids got elfed!!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9548380097
Click here to see the kids elfed! Thanks Chels!!

Really Rare

I am posting this picture because it is VERY rare that both Sam and I are in a picture with all (or in this case most) of our children. I love family pictures, but these days in our house they are not common. It is too hard to contain all of the kids, and then have someone else take the picture. I know that there are many places that we could go to and pay big bucks to have our picture taken, but time-wise and money-wise that is not an option for us right now. I am hoping that as the kids get older family photo opportunities become much easier. Anyway, I am thankful for this picture even if only 3 of the 5 people photographed are looking at the camera, even though our living room is littered with toys, even though the girls are not matching (one hang up of mine) because Ella Cate already has her jammies on, even though Carson's face can't be seen, and even though Caden isn't pictured because he is being sweet enough to capture this moment (he got the camera and snapped this on his own, by the way)!

Party at the Park

On Saturday Carson's girlfriend, Ashlynn, had her 3rd birthday party at Trinity Park in Fort Worth. The whole Stewart family went and enjoyed a gorgeous November day outdoors. We played outside, ate hot dogs, and then got to take a fun ride on the Trinity train. It was the girls' very first ride on the train. I love this train! It takes you on a very scenic, almost 45 minute ride, through Trinity Park. Sadly, I didn't get any good pictures on the train because I was sitting next to Ella Cate. Her idea of the train ride was standing up and trying to touch everything we passed. So, instead of taking pictures I fed her every snack that I had in my diaper bag to keep her seated.
Carson is hanging out with his best bud, Ethan, and his g-friend, Ashlynn.

Carsy and Ethy... their names for each other

Ella Cate and Emma Claire lounging in a Budweiser chair at the party....it's not mine!

Ethan, Carson, and the girlys getting ready to eat their hot dogs.

Tired Trick-Or-Treaters

After our evening of Halloween fun at Grancie's house we stripped off the kids costumes and started our long drive home. We finally arrived at our house around 10:00. Ella Cate decided to snooze on our drive.

Carson was out like a light!

Emma and Caden kept each other awake in the backseat.

Halloween Happenings

On Halloween night we all went to Grancie and Robin's house for our annual trick-or-treat. We have been going since Caden was 2....so 8 years now. It is always an undertaking for Sam and I to get all of the kids from Arlington to Carrollton, considering we don't leave Arlington until Sam gets home from work. However, it is sooo worth it. To the kids it wouldn't be Halloween if we weren't with Grancie and Robin! This year we had quite a group; all 6 members of the Stewart family, Grancie, Robin, Uncle Caleb, his girlfriend Jessica, Chels, and Carter (his 1st Halloween). We were quite a bunch. Here we are at the beginning of our walk around the neighborhood.


Here are my Minnie Mice! Chels and I got these costumes last year on our annual San Marcos trip. We found them for a great deal at The Disney Store Outlet. Chels takes full credit for talking me into buying them. I am so glad that I listened to her...they turned out really cute!

Here is Carson a.k.a. Red Power Ranger, Emma Claire, and Caden a.k.a. scary zombie. They are sitting on the stairs because that is the only way that I could keep them contained for a picture. Even that didn't work with Ella Cate...as you can see she escaped!

Our family in front of a random house that we trick-or-treated at.

After we trick-or-treated Uncle Caleb and Jessica relaxed on the couch with Grancie's dog, Tuxedo.