Our Florida Vacation to JuJu and bumpa's house

(babies are laughing at their dog molly)

Last week, we were blessed to visit the sunshine state.  Daniel had a business trip and so, me and the babies tagged along.  We stayed with my parents (JuJu & Bumpa) and were totally spoiled.  I would have to say this was probably one of my all-time fave vacations!  (I got to sleep in every single day...nothing can beat that)  Anyway, we left early Monday morning.  This was the first "trip" with both babies...so, needless to say, we were a bit worried about how they would handle/act on the flight.  With Cooper being so active we were concerned the 3 hour flight would not just drive him crazy...but it could very well drive everyone around us crazy.  God truly answered our prayers...both babies were amazing!  Tennyson slept through every take-off and landing.  Cooper was on airplane (or "airpo" in Cooper language) overload....that he stayed busy watching out the window.  we had NO meltdowns and we arrived in Florida with 2 happy babies...until we got in the car...Tennyson decided she didn't like the new carseat.  

All week, the babies woke up super early.  Cooper slept in a crib in my parents room and Tennyson was in a pack-n-play in our room...although Tennyson decided that 5:30 am was a great time to start playing, my mom was soon in to get her...so, I could sleep in.  Oh how I love sleep!!!  The babies loved being able to go outside...they went on walks (walked my parents dog Molly) several times a day.  Tennyson started crawling the week before we left...so, she was more mobile and loved getting into stuff.  She is crawling way earlier than Cooper did...she's only 6 months old!!! he didn't crawl until 9 months.  it will be interesting how fast she starts walking...Coop walked at 10 months but really went straight to running.  we just hope that tennyson isn't one of those who crawls early but doesn't start walking till she's 1.5.

here are some pics from our trip

Ready to go on evening walk with juju and bumpa.

babies meet their great grandma and grandpa...this was a blessing.  I'm so happy they were able to meet my children.

coop & TT...they already love each other

just had to post this pic

Tennyson gets her ears pierced

Tennyson turns 6 months tomorrow...so, we decided it was time to get her ears pierced.  I got my ears pierced when I was a little girl.  We went to the mall on Sunday...I actually went first.  In Jr. high I (actually a friend) double pierced my left ear...back then the "cool" thing was to only double pierce the left ear (double piercing the right ear meant you were gay.)  anyway...it was time to even out my piercings so i got my right ear double pierced first...and it sure did hurt a lot more than I thought it would...ya, Tennyson isn't going to like this.  Then it was her turn...as the lady got everything ready Tennyson just smiled at her and laughed...obviously, she had no clue what was about to happen.  Here are the pics.

my happy baby...she has no clue

ear #1

are you kidding me...mean mommy!

ok...that wasn't that bad..she didn't know that we had the left side to do too.

coop was ready to leave..."ear piercing is totally overrated!"

we never took a picture of her with both ears pierced...pic coming soon.

what?!?...its 2009 already!

So, here's a little recap of the last few weeks. 

Christmas was great...very relaxing!  I didn't have to cook at all!!!  (Which was a gift in itself)

Daniel got off early on  Christmas Eve and we got to experience an amazing Christmas Eve service at our church...lifechurch.tv.  This year both grandma,papa and uncle matt joined us...it was so special to have them ALL with us.  After naps we had dinner at AAAHH's (Cooper's name for grandma) and opened presents.  The babies got lots of books and Cooper got a basketball goal.

Christmas morning Cooper got up to find Santa had left him more books, a helicopter, and a sight and sound stage (which was actually for tennyson...but she doesn't mind sharing.)  Tennyson slept in...and actually had a tummy bug...which had been passed from coop-to-daddy-to-TT.  We all played with the new toys and grandma "aaahhh" came over and brought a yummy stew over for lunch.  That afternoon we headed to papa's house for some good cajun cooking...etouffee and gumbo.  Cooper got a riding john deer tractor from papa...he hasn't quite got the "pedal makes it go" down yet.  he'll get lots of practice though if we have beautiful weather like today.  

Here's a pic of my Christmas gift!  Finally...I've been wanting another forever....but I've been pregnant for the last 2 years.

After Christmas, Jon and Amanda came to stay with us for several days.  (Jon has been Daniel's best friend since like 3rd grade)  we ate sooooo much while they were here...anytime we're with them...pretty much everything revolves around good food!  They surprised us during our first dinner at Ted's...that they were expecting their first baby!  FINALLY!  we're already planning to be in-laws someday...watch out cooper or tennyson!

New Year's Eve was filled with food (of course) and LSU Football.  i celebrated the stroke of midnight in bed sound asleep.  Yep that's right...i was exhausted and couldn't keep my eyes open...i was in bed by like 9:30pm...man, priorities change when you have kids...in more ways than one.  apparently, everyone else in the house was in bed by 12:30am too.  ;)

Tennyson (and the rest of us) want to say happy new year and we hope 2009 is a blessed one!  is she not the cutest thing you've ever seen. 

JuJu & Grandpa Scott are here!

We have been enjoying time with JuJu and Grandpa Scott since Friday.  They are truly a blessing and we wish they could stay longer...or live closer!  Both Cooper and Tennyson have LOVED having them here...and they are getting super spoiled....and so is MaMa!  I got to sleep in till almost 11 on Saturday!  What a treat!  We did Christmas with them on Sunday afternoon...and they actually granted our wish...NO MORE TOYS!!!  The babies got lots of cute new clothes...and Mommy and Daddy got a new Dryer that matches our fairly new washer!  

Housley Family Christmas

Tennyson & Grandpa

Tennyson & JuJu...(Poor T...she didn't get our skin color genes)

Coop had enough of the pictures...so, we'll have to get pics of him with JuJu & Grandpa later

Thankful...

Wow...I know this is a little late...but the few days prior to Thanksgiving were crazy...and unfortunately, I haven't even touched the computer since I think last Monday...so, I wanted to catch up with my blogging.

Monday prior to Thankgiving...Tennyson started showing signs of CROUP...ughh! Cooper had just gotten over it and I seriously thought she would make it untouched. well...since she is so little her airways are super small and she struggled big time to breath...throughout Monday night Daniel and I switched off holding her on the back porch for 20 minutes (the cold air is supposed to relieve the swelling of the airways) by 4am...the back porch rocking wasn't working anymore and she was getting worse. i ended up taking her to the ER...we walked right in and they started immediate breathing treatments...when they were putting the iv in her head...i about passed out...i was super hot and ended up throwing up in the trash can(so, who was the patient? just kidding) after a sip of water...i was good...the nurse said...you wouldn't believe how often that happens. great! they ended up transferring Tennyson to St. Francis Children's hospital by ambulance...they couldn't get her heartrate to slow down and her breathing was increasingly getting worse. she was held in the Pediatric ICU for about 6 hours...given 2 steroid treatments and she was finally able to breathe and ultimately able to rest. we stayed over night...and she did well throughout the stay. we got to leave about 10am on wednesday...just in time for Thanksgiving. I am thankful she is doing better and is back to her happy self!

Thanksgiving was very laid back...we ended up frying a turkey and just having turkey sandwiches and chips...now, that's a "dressed-down" meal!!! we were just not in the mood for all the work and energy a big huge meal would take...it was perfect!!!

I'm so thankful for all that the LORD has blessed me with...this year has been the greatest year ever...2 beautiful kids...celebrated 5 years of married life with the most amazing husband and father...celebrated my 30th birthday (ok...i'm only partly thankful for that ;) ..I'm thankful for the best family...parents (on both sides) that love and support us...a great brother-in-law who is going to do great things in the future...a dream job-staying home taking care of my family...and last but not least...my relationship with Jesus...who loves me unconditionally...despite my sometimes flakiness.

Storytime

Cooper loves his books.  every day he will sit in tennyson's bouncy chair and just "read" for a long time...he doesn't sit still for very long doing other stuff...but this activity he will just sit there till he's "read" all his books.  here are some pics of him reading to tennyson...she loves to watch him.  i catch her cracking up at him often throughout the day.