Labor Day 2011

(Colin & Abby, Jen & Owen, Hayley & Emma, Kris & James, Kate- Elly & Michael in front)

We have been looking forward to this weekend for a long time! Not only to get time to relax and hang out, but also to see great friends and have our kids play:) Life has been pretty crazy around here with school starting for me, James starting daycare and Michael starting a new school! Michael LOVES his new school- we switched him to a Montessori School in Plano and it is incredible! He runs down the hall and into the classroom every morning, yelling "Bye Mommy! See you later!". Makes me a little sad that my little boy is growing up, but so happy that he loves his school so much!
James started the daycare at my school, which I love, so I get to go hang out with him during my planning period:) He is such a cuddle-bug and is getting SO much attention from his Carmen and Teresa (they watched Michael too)- they are wonderful! We are so blessed to have them!
My school year has started off great! I love my middle school classes! I have an all-boy class for 2 hours and I think they are my favorite:) Girl drama in the middle school is so exhausting! My 6th grade class is VERY challenging this year, but I think it is good for me to have them- they keep me on my toes:)
Geoff is still working away at B of A- I love that he is home by the time I get home with the boys. They are both SO excited to see him when we walk in the door- I definitely have 2 Daddy Boys on my hands right now!
We had a little BBQ today to get together with some friends we haven't seen in awhile. I met Colin, Ryan and Kris when I was in high school and we have still managed to remain good friends! We all have kids about the same age and it is such a blast to get them all together! We also had my parents and cousins over to hang out- I love, love, love having family close! Now, if only we can get Geoff's family to move to Dallas...:)
Geoff experimented with making Brisket Burgers, which turned out to be a big hit! Everything was gone! Now, both boys are sleeping soundly and we are praying for a quiet night!
I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!

(Precious Emma) (Sweet Kylah)


(Lil' James)


(Taking turns pushing each other)


(When it was Michael's turn to push Elly, he said "You too heavy!" Elly replied, "No I not!")

Summer Fun!

We have been busy, busy this summer! Michael is a very active 2 year old and his poor baby brother just can't seem to keep up with him! So, I enrolled him in a gymnastics camp, (thank you Ellen for the info) and he loved it!!! It was a great way for him to get his energy out during the day, and Mommy and James to hang out and lay low until big brother got home. Unfortunately, Michael will no longer take naps, so we are working on the enforcement of the "Quiet Time" which consists of Michael on the couch watching a movie- we are still working on the "staying" on the couch, but will get there, hopefully! We have had several playdates, including playing in the fountains at the Purple Cow Fairview with Michael's buddy Phinn- they had a blast!!! Unfortunately, Mama got burnt, bad! Luckily Michael did not:) Michael also was able to watch his first baseball game, his cousin Gino's- unfortunately it was his last game:( Michael loved watching Gino "hit the ball!" and he still talks about it today!

James is 12 weeks old now and getting so big so fast! He is so, so sweet and LOVES to be held and talked to. He has the sweetest smile and giggle- I can't get enough of this baby!!! Such a happy boy and has now been sleeping through the night, 10-7, for a week and a half!!! Go James Go! Hopefully this will continue! I love getting him up in the morning because he has the biggest grin and is so happy to see you!! Michael is obsessed with James and is always excited to give him big hugs and kisses when he wakes up and when he gets home from school!
He also likes to share with James, when he is playing with his trains, Michael is always sure to put a train on James' tummy so he can play too:)

Michael started his new school this past Tuesday and so far so good- we have rough drop-offs, but I know it is a huge adjustment from his old daycare- thank goodness he has his "D" there! Lindsey goes to the same school and so does his other buddy Carson. I love that they will all 3 be in the same class! So cute:)

We had a great 4th of July at my Uncle Mark and Aunt Caren's house! It was so fun to let Michael play with his cousin Gino and James to hang out with all of the guys! We always have such a great time at Marks and love going over there! Michael absolutely loves to swim and has no fear! Thank goodness for his life jacket!!!

Here are some pictures from the summer- I also got a fabulous camera for my 30th birthday and our 4 year anniversary, so I have been playing with it over the past week- I can't wait for my photo session with Hayley Roebuck so I can learn some of her tricks- she is a fabulous photographer:)

Life with 2

It has been a crazy past few weeks! We welcomed our newest Hatch, James Patrick, on April 14th. He weighed 8lbs 6oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. James is such a sweet baby and Michael loves his little brother. He is always asking to hold him and kiss him:) I have been blessed to have great help while adjusting to life with 2 little ones. Nana and Pops came in town before James' arrival to take care of Michael while we were in the hospital, and Nana stayed with us for almost 2 1/2 weeks! Geoff took off an entire month! I love Bank of America and their paid paternity leave:) Michael has stayed in school and has been adjusting to life with a little brother nicely. Unfortunately, the day we brought James home, we discovered Michael had croup, followed by ruptured eardrums and nasty ear infections:( Even with all of the yuckiness that was going on with Bear, he was such a trooper and wanted to spend time with his little brother:)

Shortly after bringing home James', we celebrated Easter quietly at home with Nana and Pops and then went to my sisters house for a little family egg hunt for the kids- Michael had so much fun running around with his cousins.

And, of course, we held the Annual Hatch Crawfish Boil even though we had a 3 week old at home:) We couldn't break tradition, it is the 17th year after all:) Luckily, Geoff's brother Steve and his wife Lorraine came in town for the Boil and were so, so helpful! There is no way we could have pulled it off without them! Michael loved playing with his Uncle Steve and Aunt "uh-wain":) He was asking me about them this morning when I got him up to go to school:) I think Lorraine held James more this past weekend than I did and I know James loved every moment of it! They are going to be great parents one day!!

Geoff goes back to work next Monday and I am so sad, but so thankful I have had his help these past 4 weeks! I know he has loved every minute of it too:) These are definitely moments you can't get back... I can't believe on Thursday, James will be 4 weeks old! Where does the time go?

Mothers day was so wonderful this year! I cannot imagine life without my boys!

Circus Fun!

We had a great trip to the Shrine Circus with Celina and Phinn! Michael had a blast with his pal! They ate popcorn and cotton candy and played with their light swords while watching the show! Michael loved the elephants and clowns- not too big of a fan of the acrobats and such though, I think his attention span is a little too short for that:)




My sweet kids at school threw a little shower for me at school- I love my 8th graders and miss them already! They decorated the classroom, brought in cupcakes and Burger House and had some sweet gifts for Baby James:)



And Geoff and I went to the Red Sox game as our last outing before Baby James arrives:)




Tomorrow is the big day for Baby James to arrive- I can't believe how fast this has gone by and that we will be a family of 4 very soon:) I will post once I get a chance:) Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly:)

Spring Break 2011

We had a VERY busy Spring Break!I think we had a playdate every day, with very few naps as Michael has now decided to refuse them. This meant very little downtime for 35 weeks pregnant Mommy:( BUT, we had a great time and I am so glad I had this one on one time with Michael before Baby James arrives:)
Monday we went and had breakfast with Kim and Sydney at Cafe Brazil, (Yummy!) and then went back to the Pope's house for the kids to play- Kim's niece Gracie came to play too!



Then on Tuesday we went to Ellen and Christian's house to play. The boys ran circles around the house and then we took them to ASI Gymnastics for Open Gym- so much fun! I can't wait to get Bear into Gymnastics! We then went to Chik-Fil-A for lunch, home for a nap and then off to Stonebriar Mall to ride the merry-go-round with Kim and Lindsey Palmer! Michael was terrified at first, then was screaming because he did not want to get off!




Wednesday I had my 35 Week check-up with my Doctor, everything was right on for Baby James, they are estimating he will be 8 to 9 pounds! Grandma Annie kept Michael for me while I went and then we went to lunch at Moo Ya and saw the Palmers:)
Thursday we went on a playdate with Jenn and Carson to the play area at Willow Bend Mall- they boys ran all over and played and then ate lunch and attempted a nap...no luck!
Friday we went on a playdate with with Laura and Charlie at Gallareia Mall- the boys loved it and played great together! We then went to eat at Mi Cocina where Michael inhaled an entire order of Guacamole!



Although I think I needed a vacation after Spring Break, I would not have traded in those fabulous days of one on one time with Michael for anything:)